Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-07-07

for the dance. He told the cricket just
what to do, and went on about his
business.
Next morning the cricket went TO the
opossum's house. The opossum stretch
cd himself out, and shut his eyes,
while the cricket combcd his tail, and
wrapped rcd string about it to keep
il smooth until night. But all this
time as hr wound the string he was
clipping off the hair close to the roots.
That night the opossum went to the
I'community house where the dance was
to be held. and found the best scat
was ready for him, just as the rabbit
promised. When his turn came in the
dance he looscncd the string from his
tail, and stepped into the middle of the
floor. The drummcrs began to drum.
'Sec my beautiful tail" the opossum
began to sing.
The animals laughed so loudly that
the opossum wondered what they
meant. He looked down at his bcauti-
ful tail, and saw there was not hair
left on it, but that it was bare as the
tail of the lizard. He was so astonish-
cd and ashamed that he could not say
a word but rolled over on the ground,
and grinncd, as the opossum does to
this day when taken by surprise.
Shortly after this time the animals
got into discussion, and concluded to
settle it by a contest. At that time
tho deer had no horns, but was great
runner, and the rabbit was d great
iumpcr. The animals were all curious
to know who could go farther in the
same time, and they talked great
deal about it. At last they arranged TO
match. A large pair of antlers was
thc prize for the winner. The rabbit
and the deer were to start together
from one side of .thickct, so through
if. turn, and come back. The one who
camc out first was to get the horns. on
the day fixed the animals gathered
The antlers or the ground at the edge
Of the thicket marked the starting
point,
81 don't know this part of the coun-
try" said the rabbit while the animals
were admiring the antlers, "and want
to look through the bushes where I'm
TO run"
The request seemed reasonable and
the rabbit went into the thickct. He
was gone such long time, however,
q M
sent a messenger to look for him.
Away in the middle of the thicket he
found the rabbit gnawing down the
bushes and pulling them away, until he
had a road cleared nearly to the other
side
The messenger turned around quiet
ly came back, and reported to the ami
mails. They agreed that such Il trick
stcr had no right to race at ALL ana
gave the horns to the deer, who has
worn them since. The animals tod
the rabbit that since he was so fond
of cutting down bushes he might do
that for a living thereafter, and he
docs it to this day.
AS time went on and human beings
increased rapidly, the animals found
themselves cramped for room. To
make matters worse, human beings
invented weapons, and slaughtered the
larger animals and birds for their 1lesh
and skins, and trod upon and crushed
the smaller creatures.
Therefore, the animals and other
creatures resolved to consult upon
measures for their common safety
the bears were the first to assemble.
White Bear, the chief presided.
After each bear had complained OF
the actions of the human beings, 1t
was decided to begin war at once
Some one asked what weapons human
beings used to destroy the animals
Bows and arrows Of course cried
all the bears.
what are they made OFF," another
bear asked.
The bow of wood, and the strings
of our entrails," replied the chief. IL
vas then proposed to make bow and
some arrows 10 see if the bears could
not use the same weapons against hu-
man beings. One bear got a piece Oi
locust for the bow, and another sacri-
feed himself to furnish a piece of his
cntrails for the string. But when cv-
crything was ready, and the first bear
stepped forward To make Il trial, ii was
found that in letting the arrow fly ant
or drawing back the bow his long claws
caught the string and spoiled the shot
some one suggested that he trim his
claws, which was done and on the Sec
ond trial it was found that the arrow
went straight to the mark. Hut here
the chief objected, saying it was nee
Cssary to have long claws in order tC
climb trees.
"Onc Of us has already died to fur
nish the bow string" he said. NOW
if we cut off our claws We must al
starve together. 1t IS better to trust tf
the teeth and claws that Nature gave
us, for il is plain that weapons of hu'
man beings were not intended for us
No one could think Of any better plan