gong？〃
〃Yes； your Majesty；〃 said the Woodpecker； 〃but I had to。〃
〃Why？〃 said the king。
〃Your Majesty knows；〃 said the Woodpecker； 〃that I am Chief Beater
of the War…gong； and I sounded the gong because I saw the Great Lizard
wearing his sword。〃
〃Send for the Great Lizard；〃 said King Solomon。 When the Great
Lizard came； he asked him； 〃Was it you who were wearing your sword？〃
〃Yes； your Majesty；〃 said the Great Lizard； 〃but I had to。〃
〃Why？〃 said the king。
〃Your Majesty knows；〃 said the Great Lizard； 〃that I am Chief
Protector of the Sword。 I wore my sword because the Tortoise came
wearing his coat of mail。〃
So the Tortoise was sent for。
〃Why did you wear your coat of mail？〃 said the king。
〃I put it on； your Majesty；〃 said the Tortoise； 〃because I saw the King…
crab trailing his three…edged pike。〃
Then the King…crab was sent for。
〃Why were you trailing your three… edged pike？〃 said King Solomon。
〃Because； your Majesty；〃 said the Kingerab； 〃I saw that the Crayfish
had shouldered his lance。〃
Immediately the Crayfish was sent for。
〃Why did you shoulder your lance？〃 said the king。
〃Because； your Majesty；〃 said the Crayfish； 〃I saw the Otter coming
down to the river to kill my children。〃
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〃Oh；〃 said King Solomon； 〃if that is the case； the Otter killed the
Otter's children。 And the Mouse…deer cannot be held； by the law of the
land！〃
EARLY＇1＇
＇1＇ From The singing Leaves； by Josephine Preston Peabody
（Houghton； Mifflin and Co。）。
I like to lie and wait to see My mother braid her hair。 It is as long as it
can be； And yet she doesn't care。 I love my mother's hair。
And then the way her fingers go； They look so quick and white； In
and out； and to and fro； And braiding in the light； And it is always right。
So then she winds it； shiny brown； Around her head into a crown；
Just like the day before。 And then she looks and pats it down； And looks a
minute more； While I stay here all still and cool。 Oh； isn't morning
beautiful？
THE BRAHMIN； THE TIGER； AND THE
JACKAL
Do you know what a Brahmin is？ A Brahmin is a very good and
gentle kind of man who lives in India； and who treats all the beasts as if
they were his brothers。 There is a great deal more to know about Brahmins；
but that is enough for the story。
One day a Brahmin was walking along a country road when he came
upon a Tiger； shut up in a strong iron cage。 The villagers had caught him
and shut him up there for his wickedness。
〃Oh； Brother Brahmin； Brother Brahmin；〃 said the Tiger； 〃please let
me out； to get a little drink！ I am so thirsty； and there is no water here。〃
〃But Brother Tiger；〃 said the Brahmin； 〃you know if I should let you
out； you would spring on me and eat me up。〃
〃Never； Brother Brahmin！〃 said the Tiger。 〃Never in the world would I
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do such an ungrateful thing！ Just let me out a little minute； to get a little；
little drink of water； Brother Brahmin！〃
So the Brahmin unlocked the door and let the Tiger out。 The moment
he was out he sprang on the Brahmin； and was about to eat him up。
〃But； Brother Tiger；〃 said the Brahmin； 〃you promised you would not。
It is not fair or just that you should eat me； when I set you free。〃
〃It is perfectly right and just；〃 said the Tiger； 〃and I shall eat you up。〃
However； the Brahmin argued so hard that at last the Tiger agreed to
wait and ask the first five whom they should meet； whether it was fair for
him to eat the Brahmin； and to abide by their decision。
The first thing they came to； to ask； was an old Banyan Tree； by the
wayside。 （A banyan tree is a kind of fruit tree。）
〃Brother Banyan；〃 said the Brahmin； eagerly； 〃does it seem to you
right or just that this Tiger should eat me； when I set him free from his
cage？〃
The Banyan Tree looked down at them and spoke in a tired voice。
〃In the summer；〃 he said； 〃when the sun is hot； men come and sit in
the cool of my shade and refresh themselves with the fruit of my branches。
But when evening falls； and they are rested； they break my twigs and
scatter my leaves； and stone my boughs for more fruit。 Men are an
ungrateful race。 Let the Tiger eat the Brahmin。〃
The Tiger sprang to eat the Brahmin； but the Brahmin said；
〃Wait； wait； we have asked only one。 We have still four to ask。〃
Presently they came to a place where an old Bullock was lying by the
road。 The Brahmin went up to him and said；
〃Brother Bullock； oh； Brother Bullock； does it seem to you a fair thing
that this Tiger should eat me up； after I have just freed him from a cage？〃
The Bullock looked up； and answered in a deep； grumbling voice；
〃When I was young and strong my master used me hard； and I served
him well。 I carried heavy loads and carried them far。 Now that I am old
and weak and cannot work； he leaves me without food or water； to die by
the wayside。 Men are a thankless lot。 Let the Tiger eat the Brahmin。〃
The Tiger sprang； but the Brahmin spoke very quickly：
〃Oh； but this is only the second； Brother Tiger； you promised to ask
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five。〃
The Tiger grumbled a good deal； but at last he went on again with the
Brahmin。 And after a time they saw an Eagle； high overhead。 The
Brahmin called up to him imploringly；
〃Oh； Brother Eagle； Brother Eagle！ Tell us if it seems to you fair that
this Tiger should eat me up； when I have just saved him from a frightful
cage？〃
The Eagle soared slowly overhead a moment； then he came lower； and
spoke in a thin； clear voice。
〃I live high in the air；〃 he said； 〃and I do no man any harm。 Yet as
often as they find my eyrie； men stone my young and rob my nest and
shoot at me with arrows。 Men are a cruel breed。 Let the Tiger eat the
Brahmin！〃
The Tiger sprang upon the Brahmin； to eat him up； and this time the
Brahmin had very hard work to persuade him to wait。 At last he did
persuade him； however； and they walked on together。 And in a little while
they saw an old Alligator； lying half buried in mud and slime； at the river's
edge。
〃Brother Alligator； oh； Brother Alligator！〃 said the Brahmin； 〃does it
seem at all right or fair to you that this Tiger should eat me up； when I
have just now let him out of a cage？〃
The old Alligator turned in the mud； and grunted； and snorted； then he
said；
〃I lie here in the mud all day； as harmless as a pigeon； I hunt no man；
yet every time a man sees me； he throws stones at me； and pokes me with
sharp sticks； and jeers at me。 Men are a worthless lot。 Let the Tiger eat the
Brahmin！〃
At this the Tiger was bound to eat the Brahmin at once。 The poor
Brahmin had to remind him； again and again； that they had asked only
four。
〃Wait till we've asked one more！ Wait until we see a fifth！〃 he begged。
Finally； the Tiger walked on with him。
After a time； they met the little Jackal； coming gayly down the road
toward them。
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〃Oh； Brother Jackal； dear Brother Jackal；〃 said the Brahmin； 〃give us
your opinion！ Do you think it right or fair that this Tiger should eat me；
when I set him free from a terrible cage？〃
〃Beg pardon？〃 said the little Jackal。
〃I said；〃 said the Brahmin； raising his voice； 〃do you think it is fair that
the Tiger should eat me； when I set him free from his cage？〃
〃Cage？〃 said the little Jackal； vacantly。
〃Yes； yes； his cage；〃 said the Brahmin。 〃We want your opinion。 Do you
think〃
〃Oh；〃 said the little Jackal； 〃you want my opinion？ Then may I beg
you to speak a little more loudly； and make the
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