Notes by the Office-Boy
Knowing the anxiety of my chiefs to keep our readers posted up in news, I take the liberty of writing in my turn, and shall go on until I am arrested.
My masters had just finished speaking, when the door flew to atoms. The Elephant had rung out the hour of doom at the door bell, and shivered the door with his foot. The pen fell from Mr. Parroquet’s claw, and his eyes closed as if in deep thought.
“What do you see?” he inquired of Mr. Cock, who stood at the window.
“I see trouble upon trouble; we are menaced on all sides! Confound them!!” cried he bravely; “why should we yield?”
“Yield only to reason!” said the Monkey; “never to force!”
“What!” crowed the Cock, jumping on the back of the Ape; “you cowardly, man-like animal, reason would tempt you to yield up your post?”
“No doubt about it,” replied the Ape, who became as livid as this paper; “if I am”——
He had no time to finish his sentence; the cabinet door flew open and the Fox entered.
“Arrest these gentlemen,” said he to the Dogs who followed him, pointing to the trio of editors.
The Parroquet flew up the chimney, the Monkey hid beneath his arm-chair, while the Cock stood defiant, his comb never having assumed a hue so red. They were arrested.
“What are you doing here?” said the Fox to me.
“Whatever you choose, my lord,” I replied.
“Well, remain here,” he continued.
Many others had entered with the speaker, and shouted, “Long live my lord the Fox!” They were right, for never had I beheld so affable a prince.
“My friends,” he said, “nothing in this office is changed; only one additional animal appears.” (Cheers.)
The Fox, taking up the abandoned pen of the Ape, sat down to write his first proclamation.