Part 4 (1/2)
”Not I,” says the Creeper; ”I am stuck fast here to this tree, and I couldn't get away to please a fat little Mouse.”
Then he went to the Scythe, and said, ”Scythe, please cut loose the Creeper, that it may choke the Elephant, and the Elephant may drink up the Ocean, and the Ocean may put out the Fire, and the Fire may burn the Stick, and the Stick may beat the Snake, and the Snake may bite the Queen, and the Queen may divorce the King, and the King may tell the Carpenter to pare down my ribs, and let me get into my hole.”
”With pleasure,” said the Scythe, who is always sharp.
So the Scythe cut the Creeper loose, and the Creeper began to choke the Elephant, and the Elephant ran off and began to drink up the Ocean, and the Ocean began to put out the Fire, and the Fire began to burn the Stick, and the Stick began to beat the Snake, and the Snake began to bite the Queen, and the Queen told the King she was going to divorce him, and the King was frightened, and ordered the Carpenter to pare Sleekie's ribs, and at last Sleekie got into his hole.
King Solomon and the Owl
ONCE King Solomon was hunting all alone in the forest. Night fell, and King Solomon lay down under a tree to sleep. Over his head, on the branch of a tree, sat a huge Owl; and the Owl hooted so loud and so long, Too-whit too-woo! Too-whit too-woo! that Solomon could not sleep.
Solomon looked up at the Owl, and said--
”Tell me, O Owl, why do you hoot all night long upon the trees?”
Said the Owl--
”I hoot to waken those that sleep, As soon as day's first beams do peep; That they may rise, and say their prayers, And not be caught in this world's cares.”
Then he went on again, Too-whit! too-woo! shaking his solemn old head to and fro. He was a melancholy Owl; I think he must have been crossed in love.
Solomon thought this Owl very clever to roll out beautiful poetry like that, off-hand as it were. He asked the Owl again--
”Tell me, O wise Owl, why do you shake your very solemn old head?”
Said the Owl--
”I shake my head, to let all know This world is but a fleeting show.
Men's days are flying with quick wings; So take no joy in earthly things.
”Yet men will fix their hearts below Upon the pleasures that must go.
Their joy is gone when they are dead; And that is why I shake my head.”
This touched King Solomon in a tender place, for he was himself rather fond of earthly delights. He sighed, and asked again--
”O most ancient and wise Owl! tell me why you never eat grain?”
Answered the Owl--
”The bearded grain I do not eat, Because, when Adam ate some wheat, He was turned out of Paradise: So Adam's sin has made me wise.
”If I should eat a single grain, The joys of heaven I should not gain.
And so, to keep my erring feet, The bearded grain I never eat.”
Thought Solomon to himself, ”I don't remember reading that story in Genesis, but perhaps he is right. I must look it up when I get home.”