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CLEMENCE DE LA BAERE
905
CLEMENCE DE LA BAERE
Sacramento, Cal.
.ftn-F3
fed
I
a.
I
I!
Entered according to the Act of Congress in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C, September, 1905.
All rights reserved.
IINDBX.
THE FROG AND THE BIRD ENGLAND AND IRELAND ENVY
A TYRANNICAL KING
7
9
12
13
17
A GOOD FOWL
ONE-OF-THEM
A NURSE
18
19
THE VEIL NEW GENERATION IDEAL TALK AND SILENT POWER AN UNLUCKY NUMBER THE PROBLEM OF LIFE GRIEVE NOT, BUT REJOICE ENDOWMENTS SPRING FROM WITHIN IT IS MINE A POINT OF ATTRACTION
A MUDDY CREST
20 22
23
24 26
27
29
31
32
33 35
A JACKASS
REYNARD AGAIN
36
PREFACE.
ask the indulgence of the public on the following fables, for I am aware that they are far from being perfect. I did the best I could. Born in France I could not speak English when I came to sunny California where I have since writen these, and it is with reluctance that I venture
I
their publication.
Fable-lore with
its
humor has
will
He who loves nature and has a man and beast vibrates with the
lives in
acts
for
human
ramifications.
CLEMENCE DE LA BAERE.
BIRD.
dew
and breakfasting on the tiny insects from a budding sweet The song briar, settled down on a twig and sang a song.
was so melodious and so tenderly pathetic that it fascinated a frog which had been observing it from below. He was
a licentious materialistic frog and like
ceited.
all of his
kind, con-
He
distance between
wink and to
and spattering
to the sun.
in the
mud.
It
was
all in
upward
The
frog
He
charms
of living in a
muddy
in turbid waters.
if it
He
how
to croak
to remain below.
The
my
but
if
your feelings
me
are as
you
say, Sir,
to
me and we
will fly
The
while.
mud and
stopped croaking
for
brotherhood.
As
a result
as they do today.
in their
and the
We
it all
hap-
we
pride
to live in perfect
harmony and
But we must
battle
was
to take place
and
it
Lord
to the
superior in number,
When
all
and began
skelter
fighting.
were
rolling helter
upon the
battlefield, still
showing
defiance.
pity
on seeing
about.
is
all,
them
all
to
life.
"So you may," replied the good Lord, "but do you not
see that they
would then
fight
"That
is
10
that they should transfer the heads of the Irish to the shoul-
The dead arose. Each was now a part of the other. There was no more desire for murderous or selfish prayers, and for a period the golden age was realized by the two
nations.
But the
relentless
is
now on
its
new
cycle.
11
was imit
re-
When
it
as
and decided to an intrusion upon find out what all body upon the stranger so as to
call in
ado
and
which had brought them spurred them on, and envy could find no fault they resorted to spite and sarcasm ready weapons of the incompetent. "Can you mew?" said the cat. "Can you quack?" said the duck. "Can you crow?" said the rooster "Can you bleat?" said the goat. "Can you bray?" said the donkey. "Can you croak?" said the frog.
The
illwill
as their jealous
"What
is all
"Ha! Ha! Ha! He does not know anything go; we do not want to associate with a fool."
Come
let
us
all
On
their
own
hearts.
12
minds had grown indifferent to the fair beauties of nature. In poverty and distress, ill fed, ill clothed and ill lodged, they had no heart, even for love. Few of them married, not
feeling equal to providing for a family.
who
for
many
was
at last presented
The happy event was celebrated by a grand jubilee in the it was of short duration, for the rumor soon spread that the young prince was so feeble that he was not
live.
all
expected to
the doc-
They examined
the emaciated
little
form,
the
The wizard's arts were then put under contribution with same result. The king offered his private favors, the half of his kingtreasury to the
vain.
dom and
all
man who
was in At last
there
came a man nobody knew whence, who He had but three hairs on his head.
The
colors of the rainbow radiated from his luminous eyes, and caused the king to tremble when their gaze was turned upon him. In a modulated rythmical tone, which sounded more like
me what
is
needed
could
upon
my
shall
have
it!"
an-
"Make
what
his
it is."
kingdom.
It is a
mattress
made
new born
shall
"you
shall
have
it!
You
have
it
at once." sad.
his son
as his reign
it
was
bald, wrinkled
and aged-looking.
when they
the king flew into a rage of passion. the wasted form of his suffering child,
gave way to grief. He dropped at the feet of the sage and humiliating himself implored his advice in this cruel emergency.
14
your exactions.
Do you
realize that
which
your
support?"
"I
to save the
of
my
The sage
replied:
a small pillow,
were
it
but an
Even
until
this little
may
all
within him
more
and comfort to
means
fam-
Acquaint
it
15
who
rules,
were
it
your
own
will return to
Endow
young
smile
many
may
many
the prince's
life."
my
add
my own
standing of
many
things.
When
You
affairs
you have
upon
oth-
and atone
for
ere
you go
to your
grave."
16
A
He
crowing capering red cock soon attracted his attention. pointed him out to his servant and said
in his cage.
Trembling with
that
if
fear,
would only
hasten the day of his execution, replied: "Honored master, how could I be anything but happy
receiving as I do so
many
who
said contentedly
his lips
"He
"Kill
It
is
a good fowl."
!"
Then smacking
he ordered
him today
masters.
17
"We
'tis
like
quadru-
the devil
who
invented doctors
no power over
us, for
we
alone can
we happen
structs
and completes
man walking
without a head?
'tis
least.
Therefore
clear, 'tis
my
point
of
their superiors."
of
view of One-of-
own
point of
18
Sitting
by a pink-lined
"They
call
out
all
the tenderness of
my
heart.
revere
my
would resign it reluctantly even in Heaven." After a pause, "Nor can I see what I could do there, as there is no need of nurses, I suppose." A gentle drowsiness stole upon her, a purple curtain was lifted and she saw a vision of another sphere. A whiterobed One approached her and said: "Here are the nurseries of new-born ideals. They are more delicate even than the flesh babes below. A foul
profession and
breath will contaminate them. An ill-begotten zephyr will poison them, an erroneous suggestion will destroy them. In
the future,
these.
if
thou so
desirest,
They need loving watchfulness and devotion." The nurse awoke with heart and mind moved to com-
She resolved to begin now to nurse and protect the high ideals of those around her.
passion and self-renunciation.
19
THE
A man
died.
VEIL.
good man upon earth, but do not know the meaning of their alphabet as you shall soon see.
called a
earth's children
He was
On awakening
to his
new
consciousness this
man was
less
His blindness confused his wits, of which he had much than he had been credited with.
He
called for his servants, his friends, all the dear ones
left
he had
on earth, but
"Where am
I?
Where am
I?
Where
in
thunder
ages
passed,
and
in
our good
am I?" man
Where
until eternity
thunder am I? is at an end?
not have
it!"
"Why
" I
Thou
are in Heaven,"
said a voice.
am
I
"But
man
confounded.
man.
to
remove
it."
voice, "thou
must
recognize
its
must
all
will
it
away
WILL,"
said the
the strenuous-
ness of
the veil be
removed
it
NOW."
made
so
is
act.
ful-
"Unkept
filled to
resolutions, postponed
please others,
mere
effect,
who were
"Oh! that
cried out the
could
my
friends
good man.
it,
"They
voice,
all
know
it,"
replied the
and again
all
was dead
silence.
cX
21
NEW
A
An
"Be
it
GENERATION.
away
the prickly burr.
of the advice-giving
tried long
older
and wait
until
it
"But
am hungry
is
New
Generation.
is
To
give advice
another.
22
mortals;
shadow, "I can play a thousand tricks upon can delude them by countless projections and
appearances, I can cause them to enter a lifelong pursuit of me, despoil themselves of all their real possessions and
frantically attempt to seize the illusory
phantoms
of
my
I
creation.
rule
it
is
my
sporting-ground, and
"O but
according to my whim and fancy." I!" said the stream of water, "I travel playfully
throughout the land bestowing my favors upon whatever Sometimes I take pleasure in posies my fancy chooses. devastation, run riot among those that displease me, or
tear
out.
Again
gate, but whatever I do I choose my be straight or crooked, for 'tis plain I own the land." "Nay, nay," said the fog, "why all this prattle? when it seeing even is well known that I can prevent you from yourselves and knowing where you are. I can make the
My
sternation
upon a
battlefield
from recognizing his own. ocean is unlimited and 'tis but justice that my accomplishment should take the precedence over your mediocrity.
The Sun came out, and in silent solemnity dried out the stream and dissipated the shadow and the fog.
As
a matter of course
differs
all
manner
of
at
whomsoever
from themselves.
The unfortunate duckling inquired why it should be so unkindly treated since it had done no harm. "Thou art webfooted and wicked, besides thou art an unlucky number," retorted the chorus, while pecking at it with increased animosity. The suffering victim waddled to the mother-hen for
solace
and protection. She called her brood together, and used all the conciliatory eloquence her motherly heart could suggest in defense of her prosecuted one. She explained that they were
24
and as
if
hast
more capacity
lucky number, thou must die!" and intending to drown it they pursued it to the river's edge and drove it into the water.
Here
little
own
gifts
and
swam
his freedom.
The smaller
river
and prided themselves upon having rid the world of an unlucky number.
The
ill
us to our
own element
25
in vain!"
The
elder
crow called granny was as old as time to say was highly venerated throughout crowdom.
She now commenced to flutter and limp about, to search and seek all throughout the tower in the manner of a woman
who
"Where
"Where
she?
where
is
she?"
who?" queried
granny?"
is
the man.
"Where
is
too good,
why you
life,
"And you
to
make
a hole
himself.
26
after
for recreation.
On
his
way he found an
Pagan
Fortune,
who was
bitterly
sued:
Socrates:
"Friend,
what
is
have
lost all
my
riches."
and
estates."
The Pagan
(surprised)
them a
Socrates:
"How
didst thou
come by them?"
to
me
as a reward of
my honest life,
Socrates
If it
:
no doubt."
is
it
were a reward
said
could not be a
gifts
;
gift,
and
be
it
among
us the gods
make no
but in what
way
pray?"
27
"I ministered
them
to the best of
my
ability
all
my
time to them."
thyself?"
"To please the gods or to please The Pagan: "What a strange question."
:
Socrates
The Pagan: "I fear I cannot very well answer." Socrates "Thou canst but darest not but tell me further, what good didst thou do unto others with thy riches?" The Pagan: "I was too much absorbed by the administration of my own affairs to take much concern in those of
: ;
others."
Socrates:
"Then thy
riches
by
thine
own
fault.
Now
them so as not
and
will
judgment any
farther,
in better hands,
now have
28
plishments the father proudly declared: Many great men did not have as much to start with as
this
twelve-pounder of ours." fully admitted the verity of the fact, and added "If we only lived in the time of the fairies so that they might endow our precious darling with their gifts." Immediately a fragrant mist surrounded the cradle, from
The wife
which emerged two handsome fairies, who said "Dear friends, we come to endow your child and will fill its head with the best of our gifts." Then they produced a great variety of sweet smelling boxes and aromatic sachets, endeavoring to introduce the contents of them into the baby's head through all the available orifices, including the sutures of the skull. But they
could not succeed in causing them to penetrate.
as
plumb
full as
a spring
and the
"It cannot be
if
you
will give
fill it
we
from within."
saw was immediately produced, and though the child kicked and squalled some instead of submitting quietly, its little head was laid open. On examination it was found
that
all
could be added.
Upon this the father indignantly cried out: "Ladies, make haste to repair our babe's little pate, and be gone, ye givers of gifts You have caused us a world of trouble, and
!
all for
nothing."
quite," replied the fairies,
"Not
to
start kicking,
an essential function in
and we
already
also proved to
you that
is
when
a mortal
born he
is
Endowments
30
IT IS MINE.
young
calf staggering
on
its
as a
gem
of grace
and
perfection.
31
grove that
it
"But
grove,
why
if I
this haste.
am
I shall
only be
all
the
more
at-
32
A MUDDY CREST.
Because of his powerful crowing capacity a certain chanticleer
and the
He
crowed
Then
But
than
crest,
ample commanding
was muddy.
LOFC,
33
affected
tion
by the eloquence
of his exhortation.
Their attencrest,
the the
muddy
and
another,
muddy."
muddy
crest of the
He who presumes
ished.
unblem-
34
The weather was threatening. The north wind was blowing. The fragrance of the wild thyme along
bearable.
The continuous strain of the singing birds was a nuisance. The bright-dotted butterflies fluttering in the sunshine
injured her eyesight.
one day she had almost reached school when, in was a patch of thistles wafted by the wind. This to our jackass represented all the music of the spheres. She could now well afford to say fie to whoever mentioned dainty morsels. Had she not thistles ? Not only was school dispensed with but the very resolution was dismissed. Later when in the company of those that had received school training Dame Jackass never failed to make her point by saying "Yes, yes, that is so, I remember having heard it when But all she knew was how to bray I used to go to school." for she had never reached school.
At
last,
a barren spot
35
REYNARD AGAIN.
In a certain district where
many
nocturnal depredations
last
had taken
that he
place,
trial
before a jury.
However, like all great criminals, an opportunity was given him to present his defense.
So,
bowing
my
favor, but,
when
I
I shall
my
motives,
am
me
at once
made
against me.
You
my
father I
but one
who
tries to correct
and reform
"My
birds
service.
first
responsible act
was
I
to catch a
few perverse
to disturb the
happened that
36
so immoderately
the
it
a kindness to them to
swallow the
glutton.
I
"On
save
another occasion
muddy
I
pond, and to
it
killed
before
deemed
it
my
good
I rid
on a road where
passing
and
quickly
night.
"When
it
I see
consider
again.
it
it
it
And when
took that
lion
sheep yesterday
lurking in the
was
to save
from an execrable
woods near
by.
37
discovered a
vile,
crafty
skunk
in quest of
of tender ducklings
was
from the
ordained
villain's
it
maw.
be laid up against
"Neither can
it
me
if
nature has so
my
should
the
I
of the jury,
not to de
to prevent
and punish
I
in others.
"Therefore
like
yourselves also
punishment."
The
following verdict:
"That inasmuch as
it
was
true that
Reynard deserves
to
new
tree.
among
like
would presumably
him
Honor
in
payment
of his fee."
38
SEP
26
1905