"
"Tis a cruel part," said Trove. "He is the murderer of the play.
I cannot understand why there are so many villains in its cast,
Both the cat and the serpent baffle me."
"Marry, boy, the world is a great school--an' this little drama o'
the good God is part of it," said Darrel. "An' the play hath a
great moral--thou shalt learn to use thy brain or die. Now, there
be many perils in this land o' the woods--so many that all its
people must learn to think or perish by them. A pretty bit o'
wisdom it is, sor. It keeps the great van moving--ever moving, in
the long way to perfection. Now, among animals, a growing brain
works the legs of its owner, sending them far on diverse errands
until they are strong. Mind thee, boy, perfection o' brain and
body is the aim o' Nature. The cat's paw an' the serpent's coil
are but the penalties o' weakness an' folly. The world is for the
strong. Therefore, God keep thee so, or there be serpents will
enter thy blood an' devour thee--millions o' them."
"And what is the meaning of this law?"
"That the weak shall not live to perpetuate their kind," said
Darrel. "Every year there is a tournament o' the sparrows. Which
deserves the fair--that is the question to be settled.
Pages:
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171