THE ANIMALS' FAIR. 



PART I. 



Once upon a time — for this is a fairy 

 story — all the beasts and birds and bugs 

 gathered in a solemn convention. The 

 object of their meeting was explained by 

 the dog, who — because of his intelligence 

 and his intimacy with men and their 

 ways — had been elected chairman of the 

 convention. 



He spoke thus : 



''My friends, we have gathered here to 

 discuss an important question, namely, 

 'Our dealings with men, and men's deal- 

 ings with us.' It is a sad fact that al- 

 though we are the benefactors of man- 

 kind, and positively necessary to their 

 well-being and even to their lives, they 

 do not appreciate us as they should. If 

 you will pardon my egotism, I will illus- 

 trate this assertion by my own experi- 

 ence. I may say modestl}^ — for I am 

 only quoting men's words — that I am 

 considered the most intelligent of beasts, 

 and am chosen as the companion, the 

 playmate, the assistant, yea, the protector 

 of man. I cheer hours of his loneliness 

 from the cradle to the grave, and am 

 ever ready to assist him in a thousand 

 different ways. Yet how am I treated? 

 A hard crust, a dry bone, kicks and 

 curses and harsh words, a bed on a hard 

 plank or on the cold ground, wherever 

 I can find it. These are too often the 

 inventory of my rewards ; while the tor- 

 ments inflicted by small boys, and the in- 

 dignity and torture of tin cans tied to 

 my tail, fill the full record of my tale of 

 woe. No doubt the rest of you have 

 grievances many and various. 



"We will be pleased to hear from any 

 of you who desire to speak, and will be 

 glad of any suggestion, or plan for the 

 general good which may present itself to 

 you. The meeting is now open for re- 

 marks." 



He sat down on his tail and assumed 

 his most dignified and intelligent expres- 

 sion, while he looked about the miscella- 

 neous assembly. In an instant the horse 



walked forward, and was duly recog- 

 nized by the chairman. 



"The words of our chairman have 

 struck a responsive chord in my heart," 

 he said gravely. 'T have pondered on 

 this subject many times when suffering 

 from the abuse of men. Sometimes I am 

 driven at my utmost speed for hours at 

 a time, while my head is held unnaturally 

 high and my graceful neck cramped and 

 stiffened by the cruel check-rain; my 

 body exposed to the torments of flies be- 

 cause my beautiful tail has been docked ; 

 and then, when weary and sore and over- 

 heated, I am tied up in some chilling 

 draught of wind while my feet are 

 obliged to stand in a wet gutter, and I 

 am stiffened and ruined for life by some 

 person's ignorance or fooHshness. 



'Tt does seem a pity, to me, that some 

 more rational creature than man had not 

 been chosen as 'The lord of creation' irt 

 the beginning. Why, he cannot govern 

 himself. Then how can he be capable of 

 governing us who follow unerring in- 

 stincts with unfailing faithfulness ? The- 

 question is wide as the world and deep aS' 

 the sea. As I have said, I have pon- 

 dered it many times in all its aspects, but 

 as yet have reached no definite conclu- 

 sion which might suggest a remedy. 



"Therefore, let me urge upon you all 

 to give us your wisest thoughts upon this- 

 subject, which is of vital importance to- 

 us all." 



He returned to his place and waited 

 anxiously for the next speaker. 



The cat took the floor with a graceful 

 step and a gentle expression which 

 caught the favor of the assembly. 



"I am small among beasts, but my 

 grievances are many and great. I am 

 chosen by men as a playmate for their 

 children, so that the mothers may be free 

 to attend to what they call their 'neces- 

 sary work' in peace and without inter- 

 ruption. How am I rewarded? 



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