A famous elephant, called Jack, was once
travelling with his keeper from Margate to
Canterbury in England, when they came to a
toll-bar. Jack's keeper offered the right toll,
but the toll-bar man would not take it. He
wanted to make them pay more than was right. So
he kept the gate shut. On this the keeper went
through the little foot-gate to the other side
of the bar, calling out, "Come on, Jack!" and
at once the elephant applied his trunk to the
rails of the gate, lifted it from its hinges,
and dashed it to the ground. He then went on
his way, while the toll-bar man stood petrified
to see what a mistake he had made in demanding
an unjust toll from an elephant.
"Now, Clarence," said his papa, "I suppose you would say that the
elephant 'trunked' the toll-gate, and so he did; but, you see, it was
because he did not choose to be imposed upon."
CLARENCE'S PAPA.
[Illustration]
"TOUCH MY CHICKS IF YOU DARE!"
THAT is what the old hen must have said to our little pup Bravo, who,
being three months old, thought he was a match for any chicken or hen in
the whole barnyard. He made up his mind that he would first try his
courage on a little yellow chick named Downy, who was just three days
old, and who had strayed away from his mother's wing to pick up a crumb.
So with a fearful growl, and a bark that might have frightened a lion,
Bravo made a leap and a spring after poor little Downy. But Downy was
too intent on his crumb of bread to take much notice of the enemy; and
then Bravo, like a prudent general, stopped short, and tried his
artillery before approaching any nearer. In other words, he began to
bark in such a terrible manner, that any reasonable person would have
shown his respect by running away.
But Downy was too young to reason, or show respect. Bravo, though as
valiant as Julius Caesar, was, at the same time, as cautious and careful
as Fabius; and, if you do not know who Fabius was, I must tell you. He
was a Roman general who was very famous for his ability in retreating,
and getting out of an enemy's way.
Bravo thought to himself, "It holds to reason, since that little chick
isn't afraid of such a powerful dog as I am, that there must be help
near at hand." And, sure enough, hardly had Bravo thought this, when
from behind some rushes ran out an old hen, followed by four, five, six
chickens; and the old hen, with her feathers all ruffled, went right at
Bravo, while the chicks stood behind sharpening their bills, and getting
ready to join in the battle with their mother.
[Illustration]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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