Camden Commercial Courier

From Fraser's Magazine.
THE YOUTH, THE SERPENT, THE
COW AND THE FOX.

An Arabian youth, mounted according to the custom of his country, on a fleet and sure-footed camel, was journeying over the vast desert of Keramaun; he was in pursuit of the caravan, and arrived late one evening on the borders of a forest great as the power of Allah, and extensive as the plain of destruction. The travellers had proceeded onwards, and on leaving this their last halting place, some negligent wretch had omitted to extinguish his fire. The sparks being still alive, and the western gale springing up, had fanned them into a flame, which, proceeding from brake to bush, and from bush to tree, speedily set the whole forest ablaze. The youth, arrested in his progress, was gazing on the awful spectacle before him, when on a sudden the voice of lamentation reached his ear. He looked about and beheld, at a little distance from him, surrounded by the all devouring element, a large serpent, writhing, as it seemed in the last agonies of death, bound and fastened as he was in the fetters of the flames.

On observing the approach of the traveller, the serpent lifted up his voice and said, 'Oh youth! pity my miserable condition; and although we are, it is true naturally enemies, yet extend a helping hand, and save me from the wretched fate which, without assistance instantly awaits me.'

The youth had drunk deep of the bitter cup of adversity, and from experience had learned the value of kindness and compassion. He said, 'although we are taught the maxim that to serve the wicked is to injure the good,' yet thy condition is so deplorable, and thy destruction so sure unless I help thee, that I will for once act contrary to the advice of the wise.' Having said this, he fixed his wallet to the end of his spear; and stretching out the hand of assistance, desired the serpent to take speedy advantage of the means of escape offered to him. The serpent lost no time in coiling himself up in the bag, and was drawn safely out of his perilous situation.

'Go,' said the youth, 'wherever thy inclination may lead thee, and henceforth out of gratitude for the service now rendered thee, abstain from injuring man.'

'What!' asked the serpent, 'dost thou require me to abandon the dictates of my very nature? Knowest thou not that there is an inherent principle fixed within me, which bids, nay commands me to do all the harm I can to every son of man? I cannot, and will not give up that disposition, which was planted within me by my Creator; and sir, I will not go from this spot, till I have inserted my deadly fangs both into thee and into thy camel.'

'Did I not, but this instant,' replied the youth, 'render thee an important service? And among what class of God's creatures is the custom to return evil for good? and with what tribe is it held right to sully the pure stream of kindness and affection, with the foul dross of cruelty and ingratitude?'

'It is the practice of you men,' said the serpent, 'and although to render a service, is abstractly considered to do good, yet when misapplied as in the present instance, it becomes a sin. I will therefore punish your presumption and folly, that your example may be a warning to others. I will sell you the very article I purchased in your market; you will surely buy for once that which you sell all the year.'

The youth in great alarm, bent the knee in supplication to the earth; but compassion was a stranger to the adamantine heart of the serpent who called out, 'Prepare quickly, and say whither I shall bite thee first or the beast.'

The youth repeated that it was most unjust and cruel to return evil for good, and defied the serpent to prove by credible witnesses, that such was the practice of mankind, adding, that if the snake should really produce evidence in support of his proposition he would cast aside the mantle of hope, and hold out the hand of despair to be bitten by him.

'Well, then,' said the serpent, 'let us refer our dispute to the cow grazing in yonder meadow.'

They went, and no sooner asked the cow what was the usual return for good, than she replied, if you ask what is the practice of man, I must unhesitatingly tell you, it is evil. I myself was for a long time in the possession of a man: morning and evening I supplied him with milk and butter; year after year I brought forth a calf, which he sold to supply the wants of his family. At length from increase of years, my milk dried and I lost the power of bearing young. My tyrant master no sooner perceived this, than, unmindful of my good and faithful services, he drove me from his yard to seek for food and shelter, he cared not where. I strayed into this plain, and being unfettered and at my ease, I have regained somewhat of my former fat and sleek appearance. It was but yesterday, that my master passed this way, and observing the improvement in my condition, actually sold me to his butcher, and to-morrow I am to be led to the slaughter-house. Such is the return man makes for good!'

'Prepare yourself quickly,' said the serpent.

'To condemn,' answered the dismayed youth 'upon the testimony of a single witness is contrary to our most holy law, produce another and then act as you desire.'

They were standing near a tree and they appealed to it and said, 'I have sprung up as you see me, in this desolate place; and here, standing upon one stem, and occupying but a small portion of God's earth, am ever at the service of passers by. I spread out my branches in every direction, to afford shelter to the scorched and weary traveller. Often have I saved a wretched miserable man, who but for my timely aid, must have sunk under the burning rays of the sun. Mark the result. He no sooner begins to derive the advantage of my assistance, and to recover from the fatigue of his journey, even yet while he is reposing under the shade I cheerfully give him than he looks above and around him; saying "How gracefully bends yon branch it will serve me for bow. This limb, how beautiful? how straight! I will have it for a handle to my spear." He then, utterly regardless of the injury he inflicts, severs them from my body, and so recompenses me for the service I have done him. I am thinking how I can best afford shelter, while he is meditating upon the readiest way to tear me up by the very roots.'

There now,' exclaimed the serpent, 'are the two witnesses you required; prepare instantly to meet your fate.'

'Life,' answered the youth, 'is dear to all - give me one chance more, and if you produce yet another witness, I will resist no longer, but will then submit to the will of God.'

It happened that a fox was standing near, and was listening with great attention to their dispute.

'We will ask the fox,' said the serpent; 'and when he pronounces judgment against thee, I will delay no longer.' Before the young man could put his question the fox shouted, 'Man always returns evil for good; but pray sir, what service do you pretend to have rendered the snake, that you should have made yourself obnoxious to punishment?' The youth related all that had passed. 'You appear an intelligent person,' answered the fox, 'why therefore do you state what is so contrary to reason and common sense? You know it ill becomes a wise man to advance any thing that is opposed to truth and justice.'

The snake assured the fox that the words of the young man were true, and directed his attention to the bag hanging at the saddle bow; by means of which he had been drawn out of the flames. 'Now,' said the fox, 'I know that thou speakest false; for how could a serpent of thy great size be contained in so small a compass?'

The deluded serpent bent on the destruction of the youth, was anxious to prove to the fox the truth of his assertion, and offered to convince him by again placing himself within the bag. The fox said that indeed if he should witness it with his own eyes, he could no longer doubt; and would then fairly and impartially decide between them.

Upon this the young man stretched open the mouth of the bag, and the serpent deceived by the words of the wily fox, coiled himself up in it as before.

The fox instantly called 'O youth, thou hast now thy enemy in thy power; give him no quarter; he is in thy hand, spare him not.'

The youth with all speed closed the mouth of the bag, and dashing it with violence to the ground, preserved himself and the rest of mankind from the fangs of the ungrateful serpent.

The wise say, dimly indeed must burn the lamp of that man's understanding, who suffers himself to be cajoled by his enemy.