THE SNOW-WHITE FOX.
There was once a lion with a bushy mane, whose name was Muffler. Helived in a country, called Antartika, where the hills were high, thevalleys low, the forests thick, and the waters broad and deep. It wasa fertile land, where grass and fruits and flowers grew in abundance.It was also a rich, rich country, full of precious stones lying on theground, shining in the beds of the rivers, and glittering on the faceof the mountains. Antartika was indeed a beautiful land.
But no people lived there, nothing but birds and beasts and fishes, anda wonderful race of tailless apes that died out long ago. And Muffler,the lion, was king.
On a certain day, a law-court day, Muffler sat on a diamond rock, andat his back was a rock of ruby blazing in the sun. On his head was acrown of laurel powdered with gold-dust and pearls. Beside him stoodOld Primeval the ape, his faithful adviser, wearing on his neck awreath of white poplar leaves dusted with silver, and holding in hishand a club inlaid with shining emeralds. On each side of the king andbehind him were many young lions looking respectful and brave. Somedistance in front was a crowd of all kinds of beasts, such as tigers,panthers, bears, wild-boars, wolves, hyenas, foxes, wild-cats, and evendeer, sheep and goats, while the trees around were covered with birdsof brilliant plumage. And they were all very quiet, because they wereexpecting something.
"Who is next?" enquired the king.
"Crafticus, come forward," cried old Primeval.
There was a movement among the beasts as of someone pushing his way,and then there came out from among them a snow-white fox with a bushytail. He walked forward with bowed head till he stood before the greatMuffler, who looked down at him sternly and haughtily.
"Stand up," commanded the king.
Crafticus stood on his hind legs, and his eyes blinked because of thelight from the ruby, which made him look as if covered with blood.
"State the charge," said the king turning to his counsellor.
"Crafticus," said Primeval solemnly, "you are charged with wilfullyslaying Awkwardibus, the king's gander, last night up beside Lake Snowamong the Topaz Hills. What have you got to say in self-defence?"
"I did not know that the gander was the king's," replied the fox in ahumble tone.
"Crafticus, you must have known, knowing that the king's ganders andgeese are green, while all the others are gray, black, and white," andthe counsellor thought he had promptly caught the fox, and that theking would be highly pleased.
But Crafticus replied--"There was a storm up there last night, and thegander was covered with snow--in my eyes he was white."
Old Primeval looked perplexed and annoyed.
But king Muffler laughed and his mane shook. "Crafticus is clever,"said he. "I know something myself about the case, nevertheless callfor witnesses."
"There is but one witness, O king, and that is the gander's widow."
"Call her," said the king.
"Stupidify, come to the front," cried the counsellor.
The green goose waddled up before the king, napped her wings, cackled,and screamed hysterically.
"Be silent, you idiot, don't you see the king?" Primeval shoutedbetween her cries.
"Where?" replied the goose, looking around her confused.
"There," said Primeval emphatically, pointing his emerald club atMuffler's nose.
"Oh yes, I think I see him," cried the goose through her tears. "But Ithought the king was like my lovely husband. Oh dear me," and shecried bitterly.
King Muffler cast his eyes down towards her with pity and contempt.
"Stupidify," said Primeval gravely, "was there a fall of snow lastnight?"
"What? What?" enquired the goose.
"Are you deaf, you silly creature?" cried Primeval angrily. "Was therenot a fall of snow last night?" He wanted to frighten her into sayingthere was, for he thought the king admired the fox and wished him toescape.
"Be patient, be patient," said king Muffler, "my counsellor's conductshould be dignified. Be gentle with the poor widow."
"Pardon me, O king," replied Primeval bowing low. Then turning to thegoose he enquired,
"Are you deaf, dear?"
"Yes, sir," answered she, and receiving such sympathy she screamedloudly; which was rather annoying to Muffler's ears, for they jerked asif wasps were at their tips.
When the goose quieted down, Primeval asked: "You don't think of coursethere was any snow last night, my dear?" He wanted to coax her to saythere wasn't, for he now thought the king was in her favor.
"I don't remember," answered Stupidify; and Primeval scratched his headin disgust, while the king gave a muffled laugh.
"O king Muffler," said Primeval, "I can proceed no further, for thegreen goose is no use as a witness. Is the explanation given byCrafticus satisfactory? Does he go free?"
"No," replied the king, "his explanation is cunning, but untrue. Iwent to the top of the Topaz Mountain last night to get nearer the earof the man in the moon, in order to invite him down to see me and mycountry. He did not seem to hear me, although I roared and shouted athim all night, and during the time I was there not a flake of snowfell. Therefore my judgment is that Crafticus did know thatAwkwardibus the gander was mine, for it was green and nothing else allthe time. Crafticus, I do therefore sentence you to leave your wifeand children, with all the rest of the Craftikites, and to stay withwidow Stupidify in my barn and its near surroundings, and to providefood and comfort for her as long as she lives."
This was a deep humiliation, and Crafticus howled with shame anddisgust. When he moved away from the king's presence with the fatgoose waddling by his side, all the hyenas laughed and laughed. Andthis was so vexing to him that he slyly turned his head towardStupidify and showed her all his teeth in anger.
So they walked away in the direction of the king's barn, which was tobe their home when they were not out in search of food.
* * * * *
That night before the goose came in, Crafticus thought and thought howhe could get rid of Stupidify. At last he rose up and sniffed throughthe dried grass in search of Furrier, the black cat.
Furrier was asleep; but Crafticus nipped his left ear gently, and heawoke with a yawn and stretched out his claws.
"What do you want?" said he, looking up.
"I wish you to help me to get rid of that hateful goose, dear Furrier."
"I am afraid of the king," replied the cat.
"You needn't, you will be quite safe. I have a cunning plan, but Ineed your help, and I will reward you well."
CRAFTICUS. "I have a cunning plan."]
Crafticus then told his plan, and Purrier agreed and went out to meetthe goose, while the fox lay down in a low broad box, as if fast asleep.
* * * * *
"Hail, Stupidify, lovely fat goose," cried Furrier, when he met her andsaw her by the light of the moon.
"Joy be with you, dear sooty cat."
"Has Crafticus provided any food for you to-day?"
"Not a single speck, and I have been searching till now and havescarcely got any--this place is new to me, as you know."
"Oh my poor dear goose, how sorry I am."
And hearing this she sat down and screamed.
"Arise and assert your rights," said Purrier, "and I will help you.Let us go together to Crafticus, and if he be as careless about yourbed as about your food, you just scream and scream till you get whatyou want."
So they went along side by side, and when they entered the barn andlooked into the box, Crafticus appeared to be in a deep sleep, but hewas only pretending.
Purrier leaped in softly and lay beside him. "Oh this is cold," saidhe. Then he went to the other side and lay down. "Oh, this is coldalso," and he rose up shivering. Then he poked his paw under the foxand whispered--"Ha, ha, this is warm. The selfish fellow--it is justlike him to choose the warmest spot. Come and judge for yourself, poorneglected Stupidify."
The goose jumped i
n clumsily and fell on her fat breast. Then shepoked her beak under Crafticus and found it to be as the cat had said.It never struck her that the heat came from the fox's own body.
"Now, demand your rights," said Purrier, "demand a share of thecomfortable spot," and he went away and lay down among the dried grass.
"I want my rights," cried the goose, in the fox's ear.
"What?" said Crafticus, rubbing his eyes.
"I want my rights, I want you to move."
"You have got your rights and double your rights. You can rest oneither side of me and I have only the centre."
"I want my share of the warm part."
"How can the centre be warmer than the sides?"
"Let me try," said the goose.
"All right, but it is very disturbing," replied the fox, and he rose upand let the goose sit down.
"It is just as I felt with my beak, it is the warmest spot, and youcan't deny it. Now, I want my share of it."
"You won't get it, your request is absurd," and he pushed her aside.Then he lay down and buried his eyes in his tail, as if trying to sleep.
Stupidify looked as if she might give in.
"Demand your rights," cried Purrier, in a shrill menacing voice; "theking is on your side," he added, with an emphatic yell.
"I want my rights," cried the goose, encouraged to quarrelsomeness, andshe bit Crafticus on the ear.
"Stupidify," said the fox, slowly raising his head, "you are breakingmy rest. Don't you know that I have to run in the king's chamois chaseto-morrow, and that I need all the sleep I can get?"
"The king is my friend," answered the goose with a chuckle and astubborn look.
"Do let me alone," rejoined the fox, as he buried his face again in histail. But it was no use.
"I want my rights, I want my rights," screamed the goose, and she wenton demanding them or scolding and hissing every now and then tillmidnight.
At last Crafticus arose and said--"I can't stand this any longer. Ican't get any sleep, and I shall be quite unfit for the king's chase."Then turning to the goose he cried--"Wretch, you have provoked me tokill you, and you have yourself to blame"; and having said this, heseized Stupidify by the neck and killed her.
Purrier now sprang from his bed and leaped into the box besideCrafticus, and they had a right royal feast together. They chatted andlaughed, and Purrier told what he said to the goose when he met her andwalked with her towards the barn.
"You have done well, Purrier, and I'll never forget you."
"Oh, my part was nothing," replied he, "it was your own wise head thatplanned the whole trick. And when your case comes again before theking, I am sure it can't be broken."
"Thank you sincerely," rejoined Crafticus. "I shall now get back to mydear, sorrowing wife and children."
* * * * *
Two days afterwards, the fox stood again before the king.
"Crafticus," said the counsellor, with a grave face, "you are chargedthis time with wilfully killing Stupidify, the king's fat goose. Nowwhat have you to say for yourself?"
Then Crafticus told the whole story of his provocation in a persuasive,modest manner, and he finished by saying--
"Purrier, if I mistake not, was present at the time, and, if so, hewill be able to support every word I have spoken."
"Call for the black cat," commanded the king.
"Purrier, to the front," cried Primeval.
With a few fine springs the cat was in his place and on his hind legsbefore the king. But his eyes were closed because of the glare oflight from the ruby and the diamond.
"Tell king Muffler all you know about Stupidify's treatment ofCrafticus."
Purrier did so and added--
"I was so sorry and indignant after the selfish goose sat down in thepoor fox's warm place that I called out to him--'Demand your rights,the king is on your side.'"
Then Purrier finished by saying--
"Pardon me, O king, if I venture to say that such senseless, irritatingconduct as the goose exhibited all that night might almost try your owngreat patience."
"It would indeed," said Muffler, "it was absurd and provoking in thehighest degree, and if there be nothing to set aside your testimony,Crafticus shall go free." And when Purrier bowed and sprang away, theking smiled approvingly and called after him--"You are a sympathetic,clever little fellow, and I like your glossy, black coat."
"Next witness," said Muffler.
"Niblius, come forward," cried the counsellor.
But although everyone looked, no one could see Niblius, and theywondered if he had dared not to be present. At last a little mousewith a white face and white feet was seen running up the hairy body ofPrimeval and out along his extended arm, and then sitting bolt uprighton his broad palm. Then it bowed with a pretty jerk to king Muffler,and he nodded back and smiled.
"I suppose you will be able to prove the black cat's words to be true?"remarked Primeval.
"No, my king," replied the little fellow bravely, and he toldeverything he overheard in the barn.
King Muffler opened his eyes in astonishment and enquired--
"Is Niblius truthful?"
"He was never known to tell a lie in all his life," answered Primeval.
"Then Purrier must be very treacherous," rejoined the king.
"He is," said the counsellor.
"It is no new thing," remarked the king, "for crafty creatures to getthe simple to begin a foolish quarrel."
KING MUFFLER. "It is no new thing," remarked the king,"for crafty creatures to get the simple to begin a foolish quarrel."]
"True, O king, and the crafty gain their end by seeming to be in theright."
"If not found out," said Muffler. "Crafticus," he added, indignantly,"such trickery, if practised by all my subjects, would break up mymighty realm. And, besides, you showed no mercy. I do thereforesentence you to be struck down by the lion Thunderpeal, my grumblinguncle, or, if you choose, to be torn in pieces by the tiger Clawnailia,my cruel cousin, or to the mercy of anyone as cruel-hearted asyourself, and if you can escape their terrible clutches, good and well.I am sorry for you, and I am doubly sorry that talent like yours shouldbe so much abused."
"I bow to your will, O King," said Crafticus meekly.
The fox's wife and children now came forward to bid him farewellforever. They were beautiful creatures, especially the little foxes,and their cries were heart-rending. They looked wistfully into theeyes of the condemned Crafticus, and placed their heads gently andaffectionately beside his drooping head.
When Thunderpeal advanced by the counsellor's request to separate them,he had much difficulty in pushing them away, and king Muffler's bigheart was touched with sorrow.
Then Crafticus stood alone by the side of Thunderpeal, who waitedimpatiently the signal to strike him down.
"O king," said Crafticus, "may I speak one word?"
"You may, but make haste, for my uncle's face is getting dark andcloudy."
"You gave me my choice of a slayer, O king?"
"I did, but of one as cruel as yourself."
"You placed me in their mercy, O king?"
"I did, and I am very sorry for you, but the law must take its course."
"Then, O king Muffler, I choose my wife."
On hearing this the king's eyes opened wide, while Thunderpeal brokeinto a roar of anger, but a flash of Muffler's eyes sent him howlingaway. Then the king turned toward his counsellor and said--
"Well, well, isn't Crafticus clever? He catches at words as a lawyerhandles them among mankind. Who would have thought that he would turnmy words in his own favor?" Then Muffler laughed, and said--"hedeserves to escape. After all, it was only a goose, and the goose wasmy own, and I can well afford the loss." And he laughed till his maneshook. "Go, Crafticus," he added, "and be slain by the mercy of yourwife--by one indeed as cruel as yourself when it is a case of geese andganders."
Crafticus bowed low and answered--
"I
am deeply thankful, O king Muffler, for your justice and sympathy."
"Before you go," said the king, "there is one command I desire to make."
"I await your pleasure, O king."
"Make a right use of your talents, my Crafticus--be straightforward, bestraightforward."
"I will, my king, I will."
Old Primeval smiled but said nothing.
Then Crafticus left with a bound, and getting into the presence of hiswife and children, they killed him nearly--with kindness.
The Fairy School of Castle Frank Page 9