"That is certainly a handy way to get fat. I think I will try it myself."
When the Rabbit started for home he invited the Bear to come and take dinner with him four days later. When the Bear came, on the appointed day, the Babbit said:
"I have beans for dinner, too. Now, I'll get the fat for them." So he took a knife, just as he had seen the Bear do, and pricked himself with it, but instead of oil all he got was a few drops of blood. The poor little Rabbit cried out, although he was more frightened than hurt. The Bear picked him up and bandaged the cut and then scolded the Rabbit roundly, "You little fool!" he said, "I am big and strong and lined with fat all over; the knife doesn't hurt me. But you are small and thin and weak, and you can't do such things!"
(Adapted from Myths of the Cherokee, by James Mooney.)
THE OWL AND THE LEMMING
AN Owl saw a Lemming feeding just outside of his burrow. Accordingly, the Owl flew down from the tree and perched at the entrance to the burrow, and then said to the Lemming: "Two dog-teams are coming this way!" This frightened the Lemming so badly that he came up close to his burrow, pretending that he would rather be eaten by the Owl than caught by the dogs. He said, "I am very fat and you can have a good meal. Take me! But if you wish to celebrate before eating me, I will sing while you dance."
The Owl agreed to this; he drew himself up and the Lemming began to sing while the Owl danced. When dancing, the Owl looked up to the sky and quite forgot about the Lemming. While he was moving about, he spread his legs far apart, and instantly the Lem-
