An Antidote

by Ambrose Bierce

　　A YOUNG Ostrich came to its Mother, groaning with pain and with its wings tightly crossed upon its stomach."What have you been eating?" the Mother asked, with solicitude."Nothing but a keg of Nails," was the reply."What!" exclaimed the Mother; "a whole keg of Nails, at your age! Why, you will kill yourself that way. Go quickly, my child, and swallow a claw-hammer."