Show f F 1 b MRS FOXS FOX'S VANITY Mr Fox had not been very successful successful successful success success- ful he had prowled about all night but not a door or a window did he find unlatched and here it was almost morning and he was going home empty handed Just as he was sliding along close beside the stone wall so his shadow would not be seen seed In fading moonlight moonlight moonlight moon moon- light he caught sight of something that made his heart stand still It was a bright looking object and Mr Fox was sure he saw something moving so he slid behind a a. rock and listened Not a sound did he hear all was as still as could be and 1 Mr r. r Fox peeked out Nothing to be seen either that could hurt him in any way but still something something something some some- thing shone not far away and Mr Fox decided to out what that something something some some- thing was What Mr Fox saw was a piece of broken mirror but he had never seen seena a mirror before so of course it looked strange to Mr 11 Fox to see a fierce looking head staring at him him and he at once growled And when the fierce looking head did not growl back Mr Fox put out his paw paw and touched touched It it and then he discovered discovered discovered dis dis- dis- dis covered the head was smooth That Is a looking glass said Mr Fox heard there were such things but I never saw one before Til rn take it home perhaps Mrs Fox will forgive me for not bringing home a good breakfast st and off off he ran with the piece of mirror Mrs Fox did not like It Very well wen when sh she found her husband had not brought home a duck or a fat goose but Mr l Fox tacked the mirror on the wall after tying a piece of string about it and led his wife up to It There my dear he said now you youcan youcan youcan can see as well as I can how handsome handsom you are I have always felt selfish because because be be- cause ause I had all the pleasure of beholding beholding beholding behold behold- ing you but now you you can share It with me Mrs Fox smiled In spite of herself at this compliment and she took a look into the mirror and then she smiled again That afternoon Mr fr Fox went out again to see if he could find a stray hen or goose and he told Mrs Fox she better go to In the thee opposite direction and look about also I Mrs Fox said she would and she shei i fully Intended to do so so but when she start started d she happened happen d to think of the mirror and looked In It Mercy l she exclaimed If my nose Isn't shiny it would scare away even an inquisitive hen I must put some Bome powder on it this minute Then she discovered a place on her face where the fur was not quite smooth and 1 Irs Fox began to rub and smooth the place until it suited her Well Vell well she said at last I never before knew I had such really good looking king eyes I must smooth smoothes the he wrinkles wrinkles wrin wrin- kles es ou out around i them with some goose grease and I believe that would do my whole face good too Mrs Fox got the goose grease and began her work of or making herself beautiful and before she realized how time was going Mr Fox came in the thedoor thedoor thedoor door with a fat goose and hen What In the world is the matter with your face he asked when he saw Mrs 1 Foxs Fox's face covered with the I grease I Oh my dear Reynard why did you I never tell me how wrinkled I was getting getting getting get get- ting and how shiny my nose was I Really I was quite a sight and I am I j trying to make myself beautiful for forI I 1 really have nice looking eyes I Mr Fox dropped the hen and goose he was carrying and looked at his wife j I Do you mean to tell me that you have been standing before that lookingglass looking glass ever ever since I went out fixing your your race he asked Mrs Fox said she had and she Intended in intended intended In- In tended to continue to do so every day until she had smoothed out the wrinkles wrinkles wrin wrin- kles lles and made her face nice and soft How long will It take asked Mr 21 Fox thinking it would not take long perhaps and that he would not find d fault Oh I do not know answered hl his wife but after the wrinkles are out outI I will have to spend some time on my face every day you know so that the wrinkles will not come again You were a dear Reynard to bring home home this mirror I never knew how much much I needed it ft before Mr Fox said not a word In reply to his wife but he thought much and that was bow how to be rid of the mirror If It she keeps this up he thought I will never have anything to eat cat and besides I will win have all the work to do She will never go hunting hens hensor or ducks again for tor fear of spoiling her herskin herskin skin So one day when Mrs Fox was out Mr F Fox x said he would mend the roof that had needed mending mending- for a a. long tong time and Mrs Fox was very glad lad he had found the time at last to do It Bang bang went Mr Foxs Fox's hammer hammer hammer ham ham- mer mer on the roof and then he leaned over tho the side of the house and about the pl place ce where he thought the mirror hung he gave an extra hard bang and crack when the mirror on the floor tInor When his wife returned Mr Fox was still busy the on-the roof and he heard her scream as she went in the door She will get over it It thought Mr Fox She will be pretty angry for a awhile awhile awhile while so I guess I better stay here After a a. while Mr Fox got anxious for not a sound did he hear so he climbed down and went In the house and there on the floor lay his wife In Ina Ina ina a faint Oh Reynard Reynard She sinned sighed as he water over her It Is terrible bad luck It will last for seven years too J. J What is bad luck lucIer asked Mr Fox In surprise Why Thy to have hav a mirror break T Look My mirror fell on the floor and Is broken and everybody knows that seven years of bad luck will follow that Mr Fox assured her It was s all an foolishness foolIShness fool fool- that old saying and he thought to himself that any sort of luck would be De good luck now that the mirror was out of the way for he felt sure there would never be another In their house So he told Mrs Fox that she was entirely mistaken about that saying anyhow that seven years year of good was sure to follow the breaking of a a al mirror and she should be happy Instead In I hi- hi stead of sorry he was quite sure euro he lIe was rejoicing Copyright lilt 1018 by the p 5 New Yak City |