OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL, PORTLAND, SUNDAY MORNINQ, OCTOBERS
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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