The Washington times., 1911-07-29
FOR LITTLE FOLK JUST BEFORE BEDTIME
The Sandman S Stories
MISTER FOX TELLS A FAMILY STORY.

, from starving until something better
comes along
4" 'T:ut how could help you to get q
| fsn7' asked the rabbit.
In this way said the fox. II the ice
were strong enough to hold me would
make small hole in It and then put
my tail through the hole, and when a
fish. thinking 1t was something good to
eat. took hold of 1t would pull II out
quickly. and having got the fish on top
Of the ice 1 could easily take il 10
shore and there eat 1t. But the ice Is
Is quite thick enough, ana besides that
the fish would bite much quicker at
Your beautiful tail than at mine
The rabbit being an accommodating
animal and willing to help his fellow
creatures agreed TO do as the fox asked.
and walking out on the ice soon had a
small hole through which he stuck his
long and beautiful tail.
Just at this moment a wagon was
heard driving hy, and from 1t the fox
thought he heard the sound Of mems be-
ing carried to market.
Il do not believe" said the fox from
the shore, that 1 might steal one OF
he said, speaking to the rabbit. do not
pull your tail out Of the ice until T
return because shall be all the more
hungry for having run after the wagon
and maybe by that time you will have
two fish hold Of your tall" and or he
started after the wagon.
The rabbit waited and waited, ex-
pecttng the fox to return, but 1t was
nearly an hour before he put in an ap-
pearance looking very well satisfied, and
well he might be for the farmer, leav-
Ing his wagon for a moment, the fox
had stolen two plump hens and had
eaten them both
Il am sorry to have kept you wait
Ing" he said as he came to the bank OF
the pond, ''and since / have hade A.
fishing any longer
But when the rabbit attempted to pull
his tall out Of the water he could not
move it. He tugged and tugged, but II
would not stir. II must have as many
as ten fish hold Of my tall" he said,
CO."
The fox seeing the trouble into which
the RABBIT had got, venteured out on
the Ice to help him, for by this time
1t had frozen hard enough to hold his
weight. He got hold of the rabbits
front paws and pulled as hard as he
could, but the tail did not move He
went around and looked at where the
rabbits tail went into the water and
then he saw that 1t was frozen In. He
truth, but decided to make one more
try to pull II out.
This time he took hold Of the rab-
bits ears and, bracing himself, pulled
as hard as he could. and when he did
the rabbits tail broke off right at the
edge Of the ice. leaving It only about
an inch long. And at the same time
the fox had pulled so hard on his ears
they were stretched all out of shape.
''Of course. the rabbit cried, not only
with pain, but to think that he had lost
his beautiful tail. But there was moth
ing to be done, and ever since that time
rabbits have had very long ears, but no
tails at all or not enough to speak Of"
DO you think asked Jack Rabbit,
that it was very kind Of the Fox not
to have offered to assist the Rabbit by
giving him 4 part Of his tail in the
place of the one he had lost?"
You will fni." said Mister Fox. that
n great many people are willing to
share your joys and avail themselves OF
your wealth. either in money or talents;
hut once YOU have lost YOUR ability to
assist or entertain them they care very
little for your society. That. however,
should not keep US from being charit-
able to those wko are needy. but at the
same time we must look cut for our
selves"
Charity begins at home" said Jack
Rabbit as he got up. land am a long
way from: there and 1t is getting dark
Good-by until 1 see you again.