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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 11, 1908)
OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL, PORTLAND, SUNDAY MORNINQ, OCTOBERS 1 "..!::. : ';: :.,:!.!!, .'Ih;.'1..:! . i,!.::':111"11!''!!1!: -' " -''-I - i... .'".: ....li:::'..'..' . . :.' :l ....... . -f I... 1. mUiiiiniiit - ... .? P Wr m iv?0 f !$!)(! glinted J By & Boyd Stnilb V W cou raged, dear; you are to clever that you will surely find aom way of getting ui a dinner.' 'This to encouraged Mr. Fox that ha twirled hi mustache and then proucwy smoothed out hii bushy tail, and auured her that he had a few tricki left yet "So off ha started, after telling the little onet to be good and not to worry their poor mother. Ai he trotted along h reflected, 'Now it won't pay me to go near the barn-yard again to-day. They will surely be on the lookout for me. And I 'm not ashamed to lay that I'm afraid of the gun. for I can't dodge shot, no natter how fait I scamper' Juit here he came . to tbe' river, and itopped to look at hit own reflection In the water. 'I m qui fellow he thought. quite a srood-lookinsr Then his attention was attracted ONT you please tell us another story, Uncle Henri?" asked Victor one eve ning as they sat around the supper table. '''.' 'Another story? Deaf me!" cried the good man, as though quit ' embarrassed by their eager demandi. "I 'm afraid I hare n't one about nj to-day. But wait a minute. I '11 tell you about Mr. Fox. "A great scamp, the fox," he went on, "but an Inter esting one. Bright as a dollar. . And sly I I tell you, one must get up early In the morning to steal a march on him: Farmers think him a thief, too, and he has more tricks at the ends of his fingers than a dozen. "He is a pretty . little fellow, with hii sharp nose, bright eyes, and long, bushy tail. And he is a good papa to his little ones- He digs them a warm hole in the ground, and goes out fofaging; to get them some thing to eat Then he becomes quite brave and takes all sorts of risks. "This fox about which I am going to tell you, and his mate, had two young ones. And as they were always hungry, like most healthy children, he was out hunting from, morning till night, and often through the night, too, trying to get them enough to eat. But sometimes luck was against him, and now and then Mrs. Fox complained that he was letting the children starve. . " I do the best I can' he said, mournfully, 'but everything has gone wrong to-day I-hung 'about the barn-yard for nearly two hours in the cold, trying to catch the black hen. But she, always kept too near the barn, out of. my way. Ai last I got desperate and made up my mind to brave every danger. So when soon he got a bit. One of the crawfish had caught his tall with its claws. Up, with a swiih, he jerked it out of the water. With a good nip he made it let go. Then he sat down and quietly ate it, smiling afl over. The trick struck him as such a good on that he threw back his head and silently laughed, till be nesrly fell into the water. "He recovered himself, and said seriously, 'I must catch soma more for the children,' and again dropped his line into the stream. The crawfish nipped him every time, and every time he landed them success fully. When he thought he had as many as he could carry, he took them up in his mouth and started for home. Mrs. Fox welcomed him and the fish with sparkling eyes. 'I hope the children will like theml' she exclaimed. "The littletfoxes did like them very much, and soon (he whole catch had disappeared. Now things looked a little brighter to the family. "'But still, you know aid Mrs. Fox, 'that won't last us till to-morrow. You must try to bring in something more.' "So away went Mr. Fox again. 'Children are a great care, he sighed. He trotted along the river bank, hoping that something might happen to help him. Finally, he came to the fish-house. He did n't like to approach too near, as the men were working inside. But luckily he found some stray fish-heads which had been thrown out. "'Ha, ha I here's luck he cried, and, capturing several, away he scampered, hurrying a little as he heard a dog bark. "But while running along he thought. If I take these things home the wife may complain. People can't live on fish all the time, and I 're just given them one fish course.' "He was troubled, and sat down to reflect. While wondering whether he had better take th fish-heads home or not, he was disturbed by a party of crows flying above him. They had been attracted y the appetizing odor. '"If I could only catch a crow, that would be worth while!' he thought. 'But how?' That was the problem. T have it he gleefully cried, as he suddenly spied a hollow tree. "At once he set to work and placed the fish-heads temptingly in a row before it. Then he hid himself in the hollow and waited. " 'Now we shall see fun,' he said to himself, and . chuckled over his clever plan. "The crows kept circling about the spot, attracted vet fearful. As th fox had disappeared, they became bolder. The first bird dropped upon tha prize. Quick as a flash, out sprang Mr. Fox and seised him by the neck. There was a short, sharp struggle, and then tha fox was again in his hiding-place, his prey still and silent beside him. Back cam the other birds. Another descended warily, and was in a like manner captured, by the nimble fox. And yet other wer his victims, so that before the afternoon was over he bad caught four. 1 ..'. . - ,-4 "Off he started for home, dragging his crows ajfur him. i "'Won't the good wife rejoice? he thought "And she really did. For now the whole family dined well, and still something was left for tha nor row's breakfast , "The two foxea laughed loudly over tha trick. v "'You really are the wisest fox I crtx knew aajl Mrs. Fox, admiringly. . j OMxramo to th childim " 1 think perhaps I sun op with the times answered! Mr. Fox, in a very eeJf-satisfied tone. "'Papa tell us about ft again, won't roar asked tha little ones, already anxious to learn thrr trade. "But the old fox was tired. 'Be good and go to. sleep: when yon 're bigger I H teach you everything; he told them. ' "And, the day's work and the good dinner finished, the family cuddled up comfortably in their den andi slept, and dreamed of crows and clever tricks; while) the north wind blew keenly outside, and other hungry foxes, less clever, still hunted here and there foe their dinner" - - HE THREW A BIO ONE AT MB" tain. a a poor husband aga " Of course 1 scrambled over the fence as, fast as I could go, and just had time to. get to the trees when the dog got after me. I hate that dog; he is so by some crawfish bright idea struck some, he thought swimming along the bottom. A him. '1 wonder if I cant catch He tried hard to resell tnern wuu his paw, but they always dodged the stroke, MR. FOX TAKES TO FISHING the farmer's back was turned I nimbly hopped over the fence and dashed at her. But just as I seized her she set up a terrible screaming. The farmer turned to see what was the matter. He was putting turnips in a bag, and, when he saw what was happening, quickly threw a big- one at me. I did n't have tiny: to dodge, and it struck me squarely. Over I rolled. I thought my back was broken I And I 've been feeling stiff ever since. It was lucky for me that he did n't throw the pitchfork; you 'd never have seen your I v "I rmwiTriRBAM t am vr with the times, awswerkd mi. rox' RHYMEINATE. BY J. O. O. PATEHSOIf mr. rox' a trap rox the ciows brutal! Some day I must play a trick on him to get even." " You must be more careful next time said Mrs. Fox, anxiously,' 'for I would never get on alone with these two children on my hands. But don't be dis- "Still he wouldn't give up. 1 've seen boys fishing with lines he meditated. 'Why can't I try to fish with my tail?- It's quite long.' So, very quietly and cautiously, he dropped his tail into the water, just above the fish. 'Rather cold work,' he thought. But What do yon think the sailor ate? Why, nothing more nor less than bait. Which some one left in an old crate Of very long-forgotten date. Then with his head and heart elate, He cried, "I mind not any fate," And firmly walked out past the gate. But a Turkish Khan, with ardent hate, At this saying grew irate, And said, "He shall not jubilate While I am Khan of this Khanate; And though it now may be too late. On board my yacht I'll make him mate ; And'sKould he there his lies narrate, . Or to my crew try to orate, ; With a capstan-bar TU break his pate. And hang him np on a board quadrate And then to my subjects HI relate, In an address on affairs of state. That this man had one serious tra(t, Which would tend to underrate The nation's honor, and snake vibrate . The lives of all, so I couldn't wait So long as the life of a Xerobate ', To throw him down from the minaret rate. Or give him a dost of irrconata. 1 he rrofessor s lVlysterious Jtvecital BY TUDOR JENKS. -w-T was a very hot day. Even on th piazzas, under I the broad roof and awnings, there was hardly IL air enough to move the leaves of the honeyiuc-kle-vines. Out in the pasture, the cattle gathered in the shadows and did not move except to lash lazily at the flies. The children had come in from the lawn, and were sitting still. Their mother and father were in the city, and the only grown person at horg? was thir visitor, an old friend of the family, a professor, who had come to stay over Sunday. He had been reading, but had now put down bis book, and sat listening to the chil dren's talk. At length one of the little girls looked op and caught the Professor's kind glance. H smiled at her, and she had a happy thought , ' "Professor, won't you tell ns a story?" ah asked. "Oh, yes do ! said another little girl, and then one of the brothers drew his chair closer, and the other brother pnt down his book to listen. ' "Why, Daiy," the Professor said, a link tmeasfly. TI never told a story in my life. I hardly imagin I am capable of the feat" TVase do," said the second little girl, whose nam was Violet Tie; that s a ft4 fellow said Hal "If yoo lnit, I H try to aowmimodate myself to cfr nrmstancrs." the Professor said, after a moment. "But X am more accustomed to delivering lectures than to the narration of fiction. What shall I tell you about?" "Oh, anything." said Stephea "But make it lively." "Did you ever hear th story of Havelock the Dane?'' asked the Professor, looking severely at his young audience. "No," came a chorus ; "tell tis that" "Very well," said the Professor, "I H tell you about him," x Therhildren settled themselves very comfortably, and the Professor began: "In a remote period of antiquity, when much of our history partook of the nature of fabulous tradition, the reigning sovereign of Demnark died, leaving an only son. As the royal consort had previously died also, this son was an orphan, and his bringing-up devolved upon" "What doe devohti uon mean?" asked Daiy, when a pause came. "Devolved npon mean fell to that is, became the duty of." answered the Professor. "Oh," said Daisy. "Go on, please." "His bringing-up fell Upcn certain high officials of the court Tbe boy's name was Havelock, and th officials at length came to regard the little prince as aa obstacle In th way of their own ambition. So thev resolved to sacrifce the lad t their ri ad newer They were point" to kill Mm" asked Hal "Not just that Though far inferior to more modern peoples, they yet seen to have recognized the sanctity ' " of human life, and consequently determined to rid themselves of him. Constructing, therefore, a rude raft, they set the orphan prince adrift, confiding him to the uncertain mercy of the winds and waves." "They put him on a raft, and then let the raft go, did n't they?" Stephen said. . "Precisely," answered the Professor. "But the ele ments proved less unfeeling than his human fruardians. Havelock upon his clumsy vessel accomplished a voyage that is hardly credible, for he is reported finally to have stranded upon th coast of Lincolnshire an eastern county of - England. Here the helpless infant was fortunately discovered by a fisherman whom tra dition accords the name of Grim; and Grim not only succored the foundling, but carefully tended his youth ful years until the young man bad fair to do credit to his foster-parent." ' "To his what?" asked Hal "Foster-parent. One who stands in loco parentis is so called that is," the Professor explained, "one act ing as a father to. a child, though not a father really or a mother, either is known as a foster father or mother. Foster, you know, is to cherish or care for; and a foster-parent is one who" "Please go on. Professor," said Violet; "I see what you mean. It is one who takes care of a child like a parent" "Yes." the Professor agreed. . "Such was this benev olent Grim to Havehxk, the waif whom chance or an overruling Providence had intrusted to his charge. Vow. when the young Dane, dispossessed of his patri mony, and an exile in a foreign land, was, in spirt of his huraWe ftation, grown to be a man in years and bearing, it happened that political events in England had caused a beautiful princess also to b left heiress to sn extended xlominion." "Oh. I 'm glad there 's a princess !" said Daisy, clap ping her hand. "I believe it 's going to be a fairy storv, after all. ' "Not nt that." said the Professor. milirg indul gently; "but, at all events, a story tha is not without corrmcKT r Tug cknturt compart its romantic features though probably fabulous to some extent" "Please go on abouj the princess," said Violet "Was she beautiful?" "Doubtless she was so reported, as the narrative was woven into troubadour's ballad," said the Professor. "We are at liberty to assume that she was a paragon of personal attractions." "Does that mean handsome?" asked Stephen. "Yes," said the Professor. "Where was I? Oh, I remember. Being thus in a situation very similar to that occupied by Havelock before his expatriation" "What is expa " Daisy began. "It means before he was sent out on the raft," said HaL "Don't interrupt please. Go on, Professor." "She, too, was in the way of some powerful aristo crats who desired to usurp the throne. And in order to guardfgamst her ever becoming the wife of one willing and able to espouse her cause, these nobles came to th conclusion htat they would wed her to some occupant of a humble station." "And did they?" asked Stephen. "Yes," the Professor went on. "And by a remark able combination of events it came about that th sup posed humble groom selected was none other than Havelock, the reputed son of Grim, the fisherman." "And what did they do?" asked Violet. "They married the princess to Havelock, making merry over the nuptials of the wroneed heiress and him they regarded as the fisher-lad of Lincolnshire. But it happened that Grim had preserved some of the gar ments in which the boy Havelock was dressed at the time he was despatched from the Danish coast And these furnished a due to the young seafarer's natlbnal ity. This clu gave a starting-pomt for Havelock's inquiring spirit and by patient analysis and persistent inquiry the yotmg Danish prince at length succeeded in establishing his identity." . m . What was Jiat?" asked Stephen. Me round on', vho He xa be found on: .""e tr Danish prince and the missing heir to th throne, Ap pealing to some of the adherents to his dynasty, Have- lock established his claim to sovereignty, and aftef some controversy attained supremacy." , " "Did he get to b a .king?" Hal inquired, "Yes; and then being King of Denmark, ha found himself in a position successfully to enforce the claim of the princess to her own usurped .dominions." . "So she got back her throne, too?" asked HaL 1 ' " "Yes ; and so Havelock the Dan came to be Unk not only of what was his inheritance, bat also of the realm in Albion over which his wife's title brought him sovereignty." "Is that all?" asked Violet as the Professor paused. "Yes," answered the Professor; "but the legend, if authentic, certainly furnishes a noteworthy example of poetic justice," "And we are very nvich "Yei, sir," said Stephen, obliged to you." "Quite welcome, I m sure," said the Professor, pick ing up his book and going indoors. ' ,- "Wake tip. Daisy 1" said Hal, shaking his sister genMy by the shoulder. "It is at polit to go to aleep lika that-" - ' ' . "Ts the ory over?" asked Daisy, rubbing her eye t. "Yes," said Violet - . "What, was it about fth " last . part of it?" Dai' asked drowisly. t ' . . "I dan't know quite. said HaL "I feel sure Have lock married the princess, anyway. But k wis n't a fairy story." -.- ' "What kind of a story was it?" VioM ! "A kind of a dictionary story, I gvt said 5r' '" "It most be nir to r to eofr and Utrn w-t ? -words mean. Th FrOfrsor irmsr hr, I Vi h t ' Fifth Reader, and t could nt tell what he r at t. " about" - "Kar T either." raid TTst "Bit T Vi -.--r i ? ztrry wbea t 'm grown cp asd Lire t?-: . colleger
