The Elephant in Favour.
Once upon a time, the Elephant stood high in the good graces of the Lion. The forest immediately began to talk about the matter, and, as usual, many guesses were made as to the means by which the Elephant had gained such favour.
"It is no beauty," say the beasts to each other, "and it is not amusing. And what habits it has! what manners!"
Says the Fox, whisking about his brush, "If it had possessed such a bushy tail as mine, I should not have wondered."
"Or, sister," says the Bear, "if it had got into favour on account of claws, no one would have found the matter at all extraordinary; but it has no claws at all, as we all know well."
"Isn't it its tusks that have got it into favour?" thus the Ox broke in upon their conversation. "Haven't they, per haps, been mistaken for horns?"
"Is it possible," said the Ass, shaking its ears, "that you don't know how it has succeeded in making itself liked, and in becoming distinguished? Why, I have guessed the reason. If it hadn't been distinguished for its long ears, it never would have got into favour."
