Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-05-28
or ANIMALS
Interesting Old Time Stories Of
Bird and Beast.
THE HORSE AND THE CAMEL.
An Arabian Folklore Tale Tells Why
Every steed Shoulders on q First
Meeting With cameI--solomon and
the Neck OF the Vulture.

Every steed shudders on a First
Meeting With a cameI-Solomon and
the Neck OF the Vulture.
In the beginning the birds had no
feathers. but nt last word was brought
that the Great Spirit had their clothes
ready II they would send some one for
them. AS the distance was long, the
turkey buzzard was selected on nc.
count OF his endurance. aud In recogni.
ton of the service he was to have first
choice OF apparel. the one condition be-
Ing that he could try no suit on the
second time. Can you guess the re-
suit! For one trifiing objection or
another he let all the fine feathers go
by until. to his Mortified establishment,
there was nothing left but the poor,
commonplace suit that he wears to-
day.
We talk conceltedly Of the alrship
as though n brand new invention Of
the modern brain when thousands of
years ago King Solomon had a most
satisfactory one. n magic carpet upon
which he frequently took n spin
through space. Only one fault could
be found with this carpet touring car.
II had no covering. and too often the
sun shone uncomfortably upon the
royal head. Now. the wisdom of Solo
mon included rare linguistic accom-
plishmcnt. The king spoke the Ian.
guage of birds. So one day when out
riding on his carpet no called upon
some passing vultures TO hold their
wings over him by way OF awning
But they were going north. the king
toward the south. and to his righteous
Indignation the birds insolently re-
fused
"Cursed be We. o vultures" he cried
In wrath. "And because you Will no
obey the commands OF your lord whc
rules over the whole world the feath-
ers of your necks shall fall or and tho
heat OF the sun and the GOODNESS OF
winter and the keenness of the wind
and the bentIng Of the rain shall fall
upon your rebellious necks. which shall
not be protected with feathers like the
necks OF other birds. and. whereas you
have hitherto Jared dellcately. hence
forward you shall eat carbon and
your race shall be impure until the end
of the world"
According 10 Arab folklore. one day
Allah called the south wind to him,
condensed II. took handful. blew
upon II the breath of life and thus Gre
ated horse. But the stced at once
began TO lind fault. His neck. he com
planned. was too short to reach the
grass. his back had nothing TO steady
n saddle. his hoofs were so sharp that
they would surely sink into the sand.
lnsfend of reproving his ingratitude
Ia words Allah then created the camel
as an object lesson of reproach.
The horse shuddcrcd AT the sight of
what he wanted TO become. aud this
Is the reason that every horse starts
when first meeting his caricature.
Perhaps you have not had the op-
portunily OF gazing dentist-wise into
the mouth of coyote and so have
never wondered why It's back teeth
looked as though they were broken or
aud forced down Into the gums. but
you must surely have come across
many an empty locust skin.
10 the south OF the Zuni lands In
New Mexico coyote once started out
hunting. but got no farther than the
foot OF n certain old pine tree. so fas-
cinated did lie become In locust who
sat playing hute and singing IN one
OF It's branches. In fact. such was the
animals enthusiasm that he insisted
upon taking lesson on the spot. His
voice proved hoarse and grOwly. but
he persevered until he learned the
words OF the locust song and turned
homeward. proudly repeating them.
when by bad luck be fell into go
piers hole, said other words under his
breath and forgot his lines.
Back TO the pine tree he trotted,
again Imposed upon the locust's good
nature. once more sailed forth In tri-
umph Hut this time rs he practiced
aloud he frightened n flock of pigeons
that dew out with such n noise as com.
pleteiy to muddIe his brain. and there
was nothing left for him but another
appeal 10 the wornout locust.
Now, even n music teacher will turn.
aud the locust. seeing him coming from
afar and having heard That coyotes ate
insects, decided to rid himself of this
tiresome fellow. No sooner thought
than done. In flash he swelled up.
split his skin and crawled out. Find
Ing at hand n clear. light colored bit
of quartz. he put II In the empty skin,
mucllaged II up the back with pitch
aud flew of TO another tree.
The trick worked 10 charm. The
coyote called out 10 the supposed To-
Gust again and again without receiving
a reply. became enraged. snatched the
eiiigy out Of the tree and bit so hard
on the stone that he ran yelping away.
The water OF creek partly soothed