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THE FOX WITHOUT A TAIL.

A fox was caught in a trap and could get away only by leaving his tail behind him. He was a sorry sight without a tail, and he wished he were dead, for he could never get another. For a long time he kept away from the other foxes; but one day he thought that perhaps he could get

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THE FOX WITHOUT A TAIL all the foxes to cut

off their tails, and

then he would look like the others.

So he had them called together and told them that he had found his tail was of no use, but was really a great trouble to him, and so he had had it cut off. He wished them to notice how much better he looked and to believe him when he told them how much better he felt. He said he had called them together so that they might all know this and go and do the same as he had done.

When he was through speaking, an old fox said that it seemed to him that his friend, the fox without the tail, was thinking of the good of those who had no tails, and not of making those who had them look better, or feel better. "As for myself," said the old fox, "I shall keep my tail as long as I

can."

And all the other foxes agreed with him.

AESOP.

O SAILOR, COME ASHORE.

O sailor, come ashore,

What have you brought for me?

Red coral, white coral,

Coral from the sea.

. did not dig it in the ground,
Nor pluck it from a tree;

Feeble insects made it

In the stormy sea.

CHRISTINA ROSSETI.

"It

WHAT THE MOON SAW.

was in a little country town," said the moon; "I saw it last year, but that is no matter, I saw it so well. A man who leads a dancing bear about was sitting in an inn, eating his supper. The bear was tied outside to a log. Poor bear! he never would hurt anyone, though he looked so fierce."

"In the attic of the house, three little children were playing in my bright light. The eldest was about six years old; the youngest was not more than two. Pit, pat, pit, pat, there was someone coming up the stairs, who could it be?"

"The door flew open, and there was the big shaggy bear. He was tired of staying down in the yard, and had found his way up into the attic. I saw it all," said the moon.

"The children were very much frightened when they first saw the big shaggy bear, and they tried to hide themselves in the corners of the room. The bear found them and rubbed his nose against them, but he did not hurt them.

Then they thought he was a big dog and began to pat him.

He lay down on the floor and the smallest boy rolled about on top of him and tried to hide his golden curls in the bear's long black fur,"

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"Then the biggest boy took his drum and played upon it as hard as ever he could; as soon as he heard the drum, the bear got up on his hind legs and danced. That was fun to see! Each boy took his gun and gave the bear one too; he held his as tight as any soldier. This was a fine playmate ! Up and down they marched-one, two-one, two."

"Just then some one opened the door; it was the mother of the children. You should have seen her! She could not move or speak, her face was white as a sheet, her mouth open, and her eyes seemed starting from her head. The smallest boy was laughing, he was so pleased. When he saw his mother he cried out, Mother, we are playing soldier,' And then the bear leader came in."

HOW THE COON FISHES.

The coon is found in nearly all parts of the United States. It lives only in North and South America. Most of its food comes from rivers and ponds and from the seashore, but it is also very fond of corn and sugar-cane and sometimes even goes into the hen-coop, when very hungry. It always dips its food in water before eating it. It is very fond of crabs and shell-fish.

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A coon, called the crab-eating coon, is found in South America. It is a little larger than our common coon. It shows great cunning in catching crabs. The coon stands beside the water and lets his tail hang over so as to reach down into the water. The crab sees the tail, thinks it is something to eat, and takes hold of it. Then the coon jerks his tail out of the water with the crab hanging to it. He takes the crab a little ways from the water, eats it, and then goes back to fish again.

The coon is easily tamed and makes a very fine pet.

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