The Southern herald., 1913-04-25

in earnest when you are keeping time
with that tail of yours Ill be glad |
to visit with you, but you sit on big |
limb and I'll sit on little limb out Of |
your reach"
why little coon," said the panther,
you must not be afraid of me. l |
rather like you and would enjoy sit
ting right close up to you We could
tell each other our troubles and sym
pathize with each other and finally be-
come fast friends. Lets go down on
the ground and talk 1t over"
I'm afraid my troubles would be
at an end soon after l reached the
ground" said the racoon, 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 get through playing l will go
to my nice nest away uP in big tree
and sleep in peace. OF course l 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 l know their ways and
have a few little tricks Of my own
can play on them when 1t becomes
necessary"
Surely you are not afraid of me,
are your" 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
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 a good old age and en-.
Joy life Your talk sounds good, but
your reputation is bad.
. But just to show you I'm good
little coon, I'll tell you where you can
get a fine supper, ana perhaps after
, you have eaten a hearty meal I'll sit
down and have friendly chat with
you How high can you jump?" asked
= the racoon.
"oh, can leap pretty high In the
air II there Is anything worth jump
!. ing AFTER" replied the panther. But
tell me where is this good supper you
4 talk about!"
Nov I want to assure you, Mr.
Panther, I'm not afraid of you, but
'' you might make me nervous II you
, got too close to me, 80 If you'll follow
= at safe distance I'll lead you to .
9 fine supper" And down the tree came
. the little racoon, ah~tS 7oment latel
y the panther followed.
When you see me climb tree,
said the racoon, you come under tina
. tree, and there hanging to limb yoi
4 will see q nice big chunk Of Ventson
Il Just jump up and grab 1t, then 81
down and eat until your sides bulg'
out You see Caper about In thes
woods a great deal and know all that
going on. l saw hunter hang u
that piece Of meat for safe keeping
don't care for deer meat myself, o
you are welcome to 1t, Perhaps YOU
be my friend after this?" ,
Indeed will, little coon. Its aV
fully good Of you to help me get
81 meal when I'm so hungry"
II And away they went through tn
"A woods, the little coon looking over hi
shoulders occasionally to see that th
n panther kept at safe distance.
And then he laughed at the though
of what he was really going to DO
that mean panther. "I'm busy mol
than half my time" he continue
keeping out of that rascal's jaws. 4
N prowls around here every night, ar
all the creatures In the woods al
u afraid to enjoy themselves for fe'
he will slip up and grab him"
Here's your supper, Mr.. Panther
ng said the little coon as he hurried
er- the big tree.
SO Now the panther is pretty sly, 81
MT picious sort Of chap, and hungry as
'aT was, he did not make haste to jun
up and grab the meat. He sniffed Il
Ter ground all around the tree. and n
ION finding the cause for suBpecting an
1t thing wrong he crouched low and lea
the ed for the meat As he grabbed
Ted the string with which it was tied
vas the limb broke and down he car
In with fine supper in his mouth, b
vas Just as his feet touched the grouE
no click! went the big jaws of st'
eep trapl
~ The trap had been well covered vi
lno leaves so that it was not visible,
as soon as one of the panther's HI
- ~ feet had touched 1t tAe panther's
Sno 'no was caught in it's terrible grip. ]
o0n panther set up such howl Of ming
20 rage and pain that oil the creatures
uS '-oa the woods became alarmed and fol
- time were terribly frightened.
tuo .uo they soon realized that their
.ne W enemy was in trsuble and they ca
H out to learn how serious Il was
'nO "How do you IKE your supper"
. little coon called down from the II
ca, And then he laughed and said to
Olt panther that be would have to be
- ing home.
80 Just ABOUT sunrise ell the creatu
onr were startled by the bang OF q g