The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-05-02

| necessary" Ar<"%.. = 4
Surely you are not afraid Of me-
are you?" said the panther Especial
~ after I've told you 7 won't hurt
you" + II & 81. 5*9t" &
my folks may be q little peculiar"
answered the racoon. but we pay .
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 a fine supper. and perhaps after
you have eaten q hearty meal I'll sit
down and have a friendly chat with
you. How high can you Jump" asked
the racoon.
"Oh. l can leap pretty high in the
air if there is anything worth Jump
ing after. replied he'panther. "But
tell me where is this good supper you
talk about!".rl. :: =
i; Nov / 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 a moment later
the panther followed.
When you see me climb tree"
said the racocn, you come under that
tree, and there hanging to limb you
will see nice big chunk of venison.
Just jump up and grab it. then sit
down and eat until your sides bulge
out You see caper about in these
woods great deal and know all that's
going on. saw a hunter hang up
that piece Of meat for safe keeping.
l don't care for deer meat myself, so
you are welcome to it. Perhaps you'll
be my friend after this?"
Indeed will. little coon. Its aw-
fully good of you to help me get
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 a safe distance.
II know" he said to himself. "how
for him.
And then he laughed at the thought
Of what he was really going to do to
that mean panther. Pm busy more
than half my time." he continued.
keeping out of that rascals jaws. He
prowls around here every night. and
all the creatures in the woods are
afraid to enjoy themselves for fear
he will slip up and grab him"
Here's your supper, Mr.. Panther"
said the little coon as he hurried up
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 jump
up and grab the meat. He shifted the
ground all around the tree, and not
finding the cause for suspecting any
thing wrong he crouched low and leap
ed for the meat. AS he grabbed it
the string with which it was tied to
the limb broke and down he came
with a fine supper in his mouth, but
just as his feet touched the ground,
click! went the big jaws of a steel
trap!
The trap had been we'll covered with
leaves SO that it was nqt visible, but
as soon as one Of the panther's mind
feet had touched Ut the panther's leg
was, caught in it's terrible grip. The
panther set up such howl of mingled
rage and pain that all the creatures in
the woods became alarmed and for a
time were! terribly frightened. but
they soon realized that their, old
enemy was in trouble and they came
out to learn how serious it was
The turkeys few down from their
roosts in the big cypress trees and
cautiously drew near to the trapped
panther The little rabbits scurried
out of their forms in the thick under
brush and timidly approached their
terrible enemy. The deer stopped
feeding and came to within respectful
distance of the bowling monster that
had made life miserable for them
Even the smaller animals were awak-
ened and came out to see the savage
creature they dreaded 50, fast In
trap. The raving and jumping Of the
panther and the clanking of the trap
chains that was fastened to the tree.
made all the creatures SILVER with
fright But they were rejoiced to know
that the panther would trouble them
no longer.
How do you like your supper" the
little coon called down from the tree.
And then he laughed and said to the
panther that he would have to be 20
ing home.
Just about sunrise all the creatures
were startled by the bang of a gun!
The little coon peered out of his nest:
THE hunter has come to his trap" he
laughed, land that mean rascal of a
panther has gone the way all vicious
creatures deserve to CO."
All the creatures in that big woods
held meeting and voted that the "a,
coon was not only a wise creature,
but hero as we'll.
'Copyrisht lsl3. by Universal Press Syn.
- - - dicate.)
A PerpIexed Child.
Papa" said little girl who had
been looking on while her father was
building the furnace fire, which had
gone out because the crate had be-
come clogged with clinkers, Il read in