the young who heed an elder’s warning
show evidence of wisdom’s dawning.
little joe otter.
“do you remember the terrible two-legged creature who chased us on our way from the laughing brook to this brook?” little joe otter asked the two young otters.
both nodded their heads. “i guess i do!” exclaimed one. “he gave me a dreadful fright.”
“have you seen anything of him since we have been staying over here?” mrs. joe asked.
this time both the young otters shook their heads. “no,” said the one who had spoken before. “the truth is, i had forgotten all about him. i guess he doesn’t know we are over here.”
“i guess he does,” said little joe otter. “i know he does. he has set traps for us.”
“what are traps?” asked one of the young otters.
“they are terrible things with awful jaws which are hidden where they are not likely to be seen and are always ready to jump up and seize an otter by the leg. then they will never let go, and there is no way of making them let go,” explained little joe.
the eyes of the young otters grew round with wonder and fear. “but what have they to do with that terrible creature who chased us?” asked one of them.
“those traps belong to him,” replied little joe. “he is the one who has hidden those traps, hoping to catch us. if one of you should be caught in one of those traps, that terrible two-legged creature would come and kill you.”
“but how do you know that he has hidden any of those dreadful traps around here?” inquired the smallest otter.
“your father has just found one,” replied mrs. joe. “it was set over on that old log where your father has been in the habit of eating his fish. probably there are more traps, and so it is not going to be safe for any of us to go to the places we have been in the habit of going. that means that you must not use the slippery slide again, not even once. you must keep away from the bank at the place where we have been in the habit of climbing it to reach the top of the slippery slide. each of you must promise not to once use that little path we have made across the point to reach that other bend in the brook.”
“but can’t we slide any more?” asked one young otter, looking very much disappointed. “there won’t be any fun if we can’t go sliding.”
“it is better to go without fun than to lose your life,” said little joe otter gravely. “however, we will make a new slippery slide. there is one thing more: if one of you should find a dead fish, keep away from it.”
“why?” demanded one of the young otters.
“because the only safe fish for an otter is a live fish. no matter how hungry you are or how hard it is to catch a fish, don’t be tempted by a dead fish. there is likely to be a trap hidden close by. if the fishing were not so good here, we would move on at once. now remember to keep away from every place you have been in the habit of going to, and don’t touch a dead fish.”
