Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-04-05

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 a good supper and
when | 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
70 eat me. but that don't bother me
much because know their ways and
have a 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
great deal more attention to the repu-
tation of those we associate with than
We do 10 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 a good
little coon, I'll tell YOU where YOU can
get a fine supper, and perhaps after
YOU have eaten a hearty meal I'll sit
down and have a 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"
Now 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 a moment later
the panther followed.
When you see me climb a tree"
said the rac0On. 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,
ont You see ! caper about in these
woods a great deal and know all that's
going on | saw a hunter hang up
that piece of meat for safe keeping
don't care for deer meat myself, so
you are welcome to it. Perhaps you IL
be my friend after this?"
Indeed | will. little coon. Its 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.
Il know" he said to himself, how
he will appreciate what | am doing
for him"
And then he laughed at the thought
of what he was really going to do to
that mean panther I'm busy more
than half my time" he continued,
keeping out Of that rascars 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 mot
finding the cause for suspecting any
thing wrong he crouched low and leap
ed for the meat. AS he grabbed il
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
t click, went the big jaws of a stee
r trap.
The trap had been well covered with
r leaves so that it was not visible, but
l as soon as one of the panther's hind
t feet had touched it the panther's leg
e was caught in it's terrible grip. The
! panther set up such howl of mingled
5 rage and pain that all the creatures il
4 the woods became alarmed and for &
5 time we're terribly frightened, bu
= they soon realized that their ole
p enemy was in trouble and they came
e out to learn how serious it was.
The turkeys flew down from theil
n roosts in the big cypress trees ant
s cautiously drew near to the trapped
e panther The little rabbits scurrieC
n out of their forms in the thick under
brush and timidly approached thei
q terrible enemy The deer stopped
g feeding and came to within respectful
e distance of the bowling monster tina
e had made life miserable for them
l. Even the smaller animals were awak
b ened and came out to see the savag
creature they dreaded so, fast in
trap. The raving and jumping of tn
t panther and the clanking of the tral
e chains that was fastened to the tree
a made all the creatures SILVER witt
t fright. But they were rejoiced to know
y that the panther would trouble then
X no longer.
d How do you like your supper" tn
little coon called down from the tree
e And then he laughed and said to tn
" panther that he would have to be gC
ing home.
n Just about sunrise all the creature
Il we're startled by the bang of a gun
I The little coon peered out of his nest
II The hunter has come to his trap" b
"a