The Cat and The Tiger.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 29, 17 July 1902, Page 29

The Cat and The Tiger.

The cat i\iid the tiger were once on \ei.v good terms They considetetl themsel\eb members of the same family, and, whenever any disputes ai ose among the animals, they were both found vigorously supporting the other's cause Tho,j were olten to be seen loaning about the country together, and they frequently did each other great ser\ ice.s, the tiger by his .superior .strength, and the cat by his more nimble wit. Although, fur the most part, fast friends, the tiger, when they were by themselves, would often harass tho cat by ins conceited speeches. ' You may be \ery well for small game,' hu would say, striding 5 up and down, and lashing Ins tail to and fro, ' but you must know that you ar.e but a small and \ cry plain edition of me 1 can easil\ ' luring down duel , and [ ha\e e\en put the great elephant to flight. Look how my Jmj.lm 1111111 11 111 s't,i ipes fla,slh m tho sun. An* \ou not proud uf belonging to m\ lannl.v '•" ' To this the cat said nothing, but closed Ins e\ es and mused that the tune would come again, as it haft frequently in the past, when he would be able to e\en the score. Now. it is well known that, though tho tiger can easily climb a tree . once he is up. if he wishes to come down, he mu^t either leap or fall, since he is unable to climb down. One flay he said to the cat : ' I ha\e long wished that 1 could climb .1 'tee JVlunv of mv tormenting uneinies estape fi.oni me because 1 must, stick on the giound You climb very well, though you are so little Whywill you not teach me '> ' with pleasure,' %vid the cat, leading ' Come along , 1 will teach jou tho way to a tall tree After a, deal of instruction the tiger succeeded in getting up the tree, but tho cat, seeing now an opportunity to retaliate for some of the tiger's unpleasant words, ian off, laughing 1 1 am up vary well.' said the tiger, a little frighiened at finding himself so far fi om the ground , ' now sihow mo how to get down.' ' Oli, no,' said the cat. ' 1 was only to show you how to get up Now Jim must get down the best way you can. Since you are so much more powerful and beautiful, surely >ou can do that much better than T ' The tiger tried to caiole his small' friend, then begged him for help ; but, hnding- him obdurate, flew into a rage and leaped to the ground,

meaning to catch him and crush him at once. Instead, he was almost crushed himself, and lay on the ground for some moments gasping for breath. At last when ho was able to rise, he rushed after tho cat witn the best! speed he could master. Lame as ho was he gained rapidly, and it would have gono hard with the cat had ho not, luckily, .spied a man's house a littlo way off. Jn this ho took rofuge. and ho has never yet mustered up courage enough to leave that protection.