The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-12-30
THE PARABLE OF THE TOMCAT
AND THE BUNDLE BEES

ldtlOn OF tnc Ieifs tOmcataCus Oh SCI
enoe. Therefore, whenas employ
the designation, tomcat, do so that
! may be understood of the ignorant
as we'll as Of the learned, who will
make no difficulty of my discourse.
And ! hold that all writing should
be either for the instruction of the
backward who lack wisdom, or for
the entertainment Of the wise who
need no instruction.
II came TO pass when that the tom
cat had arrived at the age Of matur-
ity and discretion (which is fifteen
months) that he bathed himself. and
perfumed his body with cataria, and
girded up his loins and said, "Yea,
why tarry ! here? am Of a goodly
weight and stature, and withal val
liant disposition. Have ] not caugns
and eaten two young robins and n
striped lizard? Have I not overcome
Jones pup, and marked his tender
countenance as the lines are marked
upon a sheet Of music? Go to,
will leave the house Of my fathers
and the land of my birth, and go into
far country and seek my fortune
and high adventure"
And he shook the dust Of that place
from his feet and took the way along
the garden fence and through the
barn lot and across the pasture, and
he came unto a creek. And his steps
were stayed for a little space. But
after that he had turned aside for
the matter Of half Of a bowshot, he
found a fallen tree above the water,
and passed over dry shod. And
he departed from the house of his
fathers and his place knew him no
more.
Now after that he had gone an
hours journey into the new land be-
yond the creek, he looked round about
him and he beheld an oak Of the
girdle Of mans body and about ten
cubits in height. When that he be-
held the tree he said, "Yea, will
abide here for little season and re-
fresh myself in this grateful shade.
And, peradventure, chipmunk or
other small animal will stir abroad,
that | may fall upon him and Stay
him. and he shall be a spoil unto me,
and | will devour him straightway,
for the emptiness Of my belly tor
menteth me sorely.
And he approached the tree and
raised himself upon his hinder legs
and sharpened his claws upon the
body thereof. And while he sharp
ened, a strange sound, like unto the
sound Of drops Of water in hot EN-
bers, issued forth from the bowels
Of the tree. Whereupon, the tomcat
marveled. and sought diligently for
the cause thereof. And, behold, there
was a small hole in the tree, half a
cubit above the ground, and from
/ the hole there issued forth the strange
noise.
Being of a cautious mind, the tom
cat safe upon the ground and con-
sidered earnestly what he should do
There being nothing in his previous
experience to go upon, he consulted
his present inclinations and desires
and the emptiness of his belly, ans
he said. "Yea, though something
telleth me that ] should flee from
this place and look not back, some
thing else urgeth me to thrust my
paw into this hole and discover what
is concealed therein Peradventure
will pluck a music box with a mouse
in il, or in any event. gain some
useful knowledge.
And he thrust in his paw, and NJ
felt that which had all the outward
seeming of a rats nest that is filled
with callow sucklings. And his spirit
was lifted up so that he stirred th'
nest bravely: And as the noise came
again to his ears, he felt that legioT
Of devils had laid hold of his paw
and he drew it forth. And, behold
seventeen humble bees of mature
age, and sound mind and members
safe thereon. Then he lifted up hi
voice and cried with an exceeding
great and bitter wall.
And he fled. And six hundre,
other humble bees came forth iron
the nest and arose up and pursued
after him and smote him hip an'
thigh. And one slighted upon hi
back and stuck there even as Dan
nunzio, or a case of influenza, or |
wart on a mules nose, and stanG
with exceeding fury and drave hin
forward, even to the waters edge
He looked neither 10 the right nor Il
the left for the foot log, but plunge'
in, and the waters closed above hin