The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-04-19


ground" said the racooa, besides /
don't know that have any serious
trouble to talk about. / try to attend
to my own affairs and let the rest Of
the creatures in the world enjoy them
selves. I've had good supper and
when l get through playing / will go
to my nice nest away up in big tree
and sleep in peace. Of course have
some trouble keeping out Of the way
of the big, mean creatures who want
to eat me. but that don't bother me
much, because I know their ways and
have few little tricks of my own /
can play on them when it becomes
necessary"
Surely you are not afraid of me-,
are you?" said the panther. Especial
ly after I've told you won't hurt
| YOU
my folks may be a little peculiar"
answered the racoon, but we pay a
/ great deal more attention to the repu-
tation of those we associate with than
We do to what they say. That's why
We live to such good old age and en-
joy life Your talk sounds good, but
your reputation Is bad
But just to show you I'm a good
little coon, I'll tell you where you can
get fine supper, and perhaps after
you have eaten a hearty meal I'll sit
down and have d friendly chat with
you. How high can you jump" asked
the racoon.
'Oh, can leap pretty high in the
air If there is anything worth jump
ing AFTER replied the panther. But
tell me where Is this good supper you
talk about"
Nov I want to assure you, Mr..
Panther, I'm not afraid Of you, but
you might make me nervous If you
got too close to me, SO If you'll follow
at safe distance I'll lead you to a
fine supper" And down the tree came
the little racoon, and moment later
the panther followed.
when you see me climb tree, y
said the racoon, you come under that
tree, and there hanging to limb you
will see a nice big chunk Of venison.
Just jump up and grab it, then sit
down and eat until your sides bulge
out. You see I caper about In these
woods great deal and knew all that's
going on. saw hunter hang up
that piece Of meat for safe keeping.
don't care for deer meat myself, SO
you are welcome to 1t. Perhaps youth
be my friend after this?"
indeed ] will, little coon. It's aw-
fully good Of you to help me get a
meal when I'm so hungry"
And away they went through the
woods, the little coon looking over his
shoulders occasionally to see that the
panther kept at safe distance.
81 know" he said to himself, chow
4 he will appreciate what am doing
for him"
And then he laughed at the thought
E of what he was really going to do t.
8 that mean panther. I'm busy mors
than half my time" he continued
keeping out of that rascaI's jaws. Hk
prowls around here every night, ane
all the creatures in the woods ars
afraid to enjoy themselves for feal
he will slip up and grab him."
Here's your supper, Mr.. Panther
said the little coon as he hurried VI
the big tree.
Now the panther is a pretty sly, sus
picious sort of chap, and hungry as he
was, he did not make haste to jumI
up and grab the meat. He shifted ths
ground all around the tree, and mo-
| g. 4N1 fn1s
thing wrong he crouched low and leap
ed for the meat. AS he grabbed Il
the string with which 1t was tied t
!, the limb broke and down he came
with a fine supper In his mouth, bu
} just as his feet touched the ground
: click! went the big jaws Of a stee
: trap!
The trap had been well covered witt
. leaves SO that 1t was not visible, bu
as soon as one OF the panther's hint
. feet had touched it the panther's les
was caught in its terrible grip. Ths
panther set up such howl Of mingled
rage and pain that all the creatures II
/ the woods became alarmed and for
time were terribly frightened. bu
they soon realized that their oil
enemy was in trouble and they came
out to learn how serious it was.
} The turkeys flew down from theil
i roosts in the big cypress trees ant
J cautiously drew near to the trapped
} panther. The little rabbits scurriet
i out of their forms in the thick under
brush and timidly approached thei'
| terrible enemy. The deer stoppes
} feeding and came to within respectful
} distance of the bowling monster tina
} had made life miserable for them
Even the smaller animals were awak
, ened and came out to see the sayag'
creature they dreaded SO, fast In /;
, trap. The raving and jumping Of th'
panther and the clanking of the tral
chains that was fastened to the tree
. made all the creatures shiver witt