TRAVELLING through the sage-brush country a Jackass met a rabbit,
who exclaimed in great astonishment:

  "Good heavens! how did you grow so big?  You are doubtless the
largest rabbit living."

  "No," said the Jackass, "you are the smallest donkey."

  After a good deal of fruitless argument the question was referred
for decision to a passing Coyote, who was a bit of a demagogue and
desirous to stand well with both.

  "Gentlemen," said he, "you are both right, as was to have been
expected by persons so gifted with appliances for receiving
instruction from the wise.  You, sir," - turning to the superior
animal - "are, as he has accurately¹ observed, a rabbit.  And you" -
to the other - "are correctly described as a jackass.  In
transposing your names man has acted with incredible folly²."

  They were so pleased with the decision that they declared the
Coyote their candidate for the Grizzly³ Bearship; but whether he
ever obtained the office history does not relate.

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