OLD ROUGH THE MISER.
[Illustration: “And, with a few prodigious leaps, gained the stream,
into which she sprang.”
PAGE 273]
OLD ROUGH THE MISER.
A Fable for Children.
BY
LILY F. WESSELHOEFT,
AUTHOR OF “SPARROW THE TRAMP,” “FLIPWING THE SPY,” “THE WINDS,
THE WOODS, AND THE WANDERER.”
_ILLUSTRATED BY J. F. GOODRIDGE._
[Illustration]
BOSTON:
ROBERTS BROTHERS.
1891.
_Copyright, 1891_,
BY ROBERTS BROTHERS.
UNIVERSITY PRESS:
JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PAGE
I. THE BEGINNING OF THE FEUD 7
II. OLD ROUGH AT HOME 14
III. OLD CAW’S COUNSEL 30
IV. THE CORNFIELD 45
V. THE GREAT BASSO-PROFUNDO 63
VI. THE YOUNG CROWS’ TRICK 80
VII. DECLARATION OF WAR 93
VIII. SWIFT PUTS BOBTILLA AND THE SQUIRRELS ON THEIR GUARD 111
IX. THE CROWS PLAN A SURPRISE FOR OLD ROUGH 128
X. OLD ROUGH IN DANGER 145
XI. THE COMBAT 162
XII. THE WIDOW O’WARTY’S RECEPTION 176
XIII. THE RIVALS 188
XIV. FLUFF IS LOST 204
XV. FLIPWING MAKES AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY 218
XVI. OLD ROUGH EXPOUNDS A LAW OF THE WOODS,
AND OLD CAW FORMS A PLAN 236
XVII. THE BATTLE 254
XVIII. THE CHAPERON 274
XIX. THE CHARM 291
XX. THE SPELL IS BROKEN 308
[Illustration: “At last, bleeding and maimed, they agreed to lay the
case before the owl.”]
CHAPTER I.
THE BEGINNING OF THE FEUD.
Once upon a time there lived on a large farm a crow, a water-rat, an
owl, a frog, and a weasel. Large as the farm was, with its meadows,
its fields, and many acres of woodland, it would seem as if these
little animals might have lived in harmony, without encroaching on one
another’s domains. Such was not the case, however; and indeed it is
a well-known fact that the more one has the more one wants, and that
there are some who wish to possess the earth.
This is how the quarrel began. The water-rat, who lived on the edge of
the brook, claimed the right to a cornfield near by, which the crow had
always considered his own. The quarrel ended in a fierce fight which
lasted many hours, neither being able to conquer the other. At last,
bleeding and maimed, they agreed to lay the case before the owl and
abide by his decision, for he had the reputation of being very wise.
One moonlight night, the owl repaired to a large oak-tree on the edge
of the wood; and about him assembled the crow and the water-rat, with
various friends whom they had brought as witnesses, besides many other
interested parties.
Very solemn did Judge Owl look, as he sat with his great yellow eyes
wide open and staring straight before him. The trial was conducted with
great formality, each party stating his own case.
First the crow called up his witnesses, field-mice and squirrels. All
expressed the opinion that the cornfield belonged by right to the crow,
because they had been told by their fathers and grandfathers that the
crows had always held possession of it.
After this testimony, the water-rat stated _his_ case, and summoned
_his_ witnesses the frogs. They were of opinion that the water-rat
should have the cornfield because he had always had it, and because he
couldn’t live on the food the brook afforded him. Much bickering went
on between the witnesses of both parties, until Judge Owl interposed
thus,--
“Come to order, and pay attention to what I say. I have heard both
sides, and my mind is made up. The cornfield belongs to the crow.”
Angry squeals were heard from the water-rat, and loud croaks of
disapproval from his witnesses the frogs, who sided with him,--not from
a conviction that he was right, but because he held control of the
brook and threatened to keep them out of it unless they testified in
his favor.
“Silence!” commanded the judge, with an angry hoot. “The cornfield, I
say, belongs to the crow, for corn is his natural food. What business
has a water-rat with corn? None at all. I am told it is indigestible
for him; and all I can say is, that if it _does_ agree with him it
ought not to, and that it is a mistake. The brook is the place for the
water-rat: let him stay there, and live on what he can find in it. If
he can’t find anything, let him go without it,--that is his look out.
Can crows live in the water? No. Consequently the cornfield belongs by
right to the crow.
“Another argument in favor of the crow is that he can fly off when
anybody comes. Can a water-rat fly? Not that I ever heard of. There is
still another argument, and one that is indisputable. Was there ever a
cornfield that didn’t have a scare-crow in it? Did anybody ever hear of
a scare-_rat_? General opinion carries the day,--the cornfield belongs
to the crow.
“Now I command you to keep the peace. As long as the water-rat persists
in his absurd claims, there will be bloodshed and strife. I will repeat
to you a verse from ‘The Laws of the Woods,’ that states the case as
clearly as daylight--I should say moonlight.
“‘War and strife, grief and woe,
Follow you where’er you go.
Never more shall you know rest
For weary feet and aching breast,
Till body round and lithe and long
Shall vanquish body thick and strong.
Then shall dawn a day of peace,
And every strife and sorrow cease.’
“Now the matter is settled, and I must be off, as I have another case
to decide on the farther side of the wood;” and away flew Judge Owl.
Exulting caws from the victorious crow and triumphant squeaks from
the mice followed; but with an angry squeal the water-rat announced
his determination to keep possession of the cornfield. The verse from
the “Laws of the Woods” that the judge had read, had no meaning for
the assembled party; nor indeed had it for the judge himself, who had
pondered long over it, and perhaps this had something to do with his
hasty departure.
Consequently, the decision of the owl did not change matters in the
least,--both the crow and the water-rat claimed the cornfield as
before. The mice and squirrels sided with the crow, and the frogs with
the water-rat; and the water-rat hated the crow even more than before,
and vowed vengeance on the mice and squirrels for taking part against
him.
The weasel, like the owl, had no especial interest in the matter
at stake, but kept by himself, living under stone walls or in the
neighborhood of hen-roosts and barns,--a deadly enemy of rats and mice,
and consequently carefully avoided by them.
In this manner things went on until our story opens, several
generations later. The scene of action is the same farm, but the
originators of the quarrel have been long dead and forgotten, having
transmitted the feud to their descendants.
[Illustration: “He soon reached the opening, before which stood a
little field-mouse, who glanced timidly up.”]