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THE ÆSOP FOR CHILDREN



[Illustration: THE COCK AND THE FOX Fable, Page 58]









The ÆSOP for



CHILDREN



WITH PICTURES BY



MILO WINTER



[Illustration]



RAND MCNALLY & CO.



CHICAGO









_Copyright, 1919, by_

RAND MCNALLY & COMPANY









A LIST OF THE FABLES



                                               PAGE

  The Wolf and the Kid                           11

  The Tortoise and the Ducks                     12

  The Young Crab and His Mother                  13

  The Frogs and the Ox                           13

  The Dog, the Cock, and the Fox                 14

  Belling the Cat                                15

  The Eagle and the Jackdaw                      16

  The Boy and the Filberts                       16

  Hercules and the Wagoner                       17

  The Kid and the Wolf                           17

  The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse           18

  The Fox and the Grapes                         20

  The Bundle of Sticks                           20

  The Wolf and the Crane                         21

  The Ass and His Driver                         22

  The Oxen and the Wheels                        22

  The Lion and the Mouse                         23

  The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf                  24

  The Gnat and the Bull                          25

  The Plane Tree                                 25

  The Farmer and the Stork                       26

  The Sheep and the Pig                          26

  The Travelers and the Purse                    28

  The Lion and the Ass                           28

  The Frogs Who Wished for a King                29

  The Owl and the Grasshopper                    30

  The Wolf and His Shadow                        31

  The Oak and the Reeds                          32

  The Rat and the Elephant                       33

  The Boys and the Frogs                         33

  The Crow and the Pitcher                       34

  The Ants and the Grasshopper                   34

  The Ass Carrying the Image                     35

  A Raven and a Swan                             35

  The Two Goats                                  36

  The Ass and the Load of Salt                   36

  The Lion and the Gnat                          38

  The Leap at Rhodes                             38

  The Cock and the Jewel                         39

  The Monkey and the Camel                       39

  The Wild Boar and the Fox                      40

  The Ass, the Fox, and the Lion                 40

  The Birds, the Beasts, and the Bat             41

  The Lion, the Bear, and the Fox                41

  The Wolf and the Lamb                          42

  The Wolf and the Sheep                         43

  The Hares and the Frogs                        43

  The Fox and the Stork                          44

  The Travelers and the Sea                      45

  The Wolf and the Lion                          45

  The Stag and His Reflection                    46

  The Peacock                                    46

  The Mice and the Weasels                       48

  The Wolf and the Lean Dog                      48

  The Fox and the Lion                           49

  The Lion and the Ass                           50

  The Dog and His Master's Dinner                50

  The Vain Jackdaw and his Borrowed Feathers     51

  The Monkey and the Dolphin                     52

  The Wolf and the Ass                           53

  The Monkey and the Cat                         54

  The Dogs and the Fox                           54

  The Dogs and the Hides                         55

  The Rabbit, the Weasel, and the Cat            55

  The Bear and the Bees                          56

  The Fox and the Leopard                        56

  The Heron                                      58

  The Cock and the Fox                           58

  The Dog in the Manger                          59

  The Wolf and the Goat                          60

  The Ass and the Grasshoppers                   60

  The Mule                                       61

  The Fox and the Goat                           61

  The Cat, the Cock, and the Young Mouse         62

  The Wolf and the Shepherd                      63

  The Peacock and the Crane                      64

  The Farmer and the Cranes                      64

  The Farmer and His Sons                        65

  The Two Pots                                   66

  The Goose and the Golden Egg                   66

  The Fighting Bulls and the Frog                68

  The Mouse and the Weasel                       68

  The Farmer and the Snake                       69

  The Goatherd and the Wild Goats                69

  The Spendthrift and the Swallow                70

  The Cat and the Birds                          70

  The Dog and the Oyster                         71

  The Astrologer                                 71

  Three Bullocks and a Lion                      72

  Mercury and the Woodman                        72

  The Frog and the Mouse                         74

  The Fox and the Crab                           74

  The Serpent and the Eagle                      75

  The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing                   75

  The Bull and the Goat                          76

  The Eagle and the Beetle                       76

  The Old Lion and the Fox                       78

  The Man and the Lion                           78

  The Ass and the Lap Dog                        79

  The Milkmaid and Her Pail                      80

  The Wolf and the Shepherd                      80

  The Goatherd and the Goat                      81

  The Miser                                      81

  The Wolf and the House Dog                     82

  The Fox and the Hedgehog                       83

  The Bat and the Weasels                        84

  The Quack Toad                                 84

  The Fox Without a Tail                         85

  The Mischievous Dog                            86

  The Rose and the Butterfly                     86

  The Cat and the Fox                            88

  The Boy and the Nettles                        88

  The Old Lion                                   89

  The Fox and the Pheasants                      89

  Two Travelers and a Bear                       90

  The Porcupine and the Snakes                   91

  The Fox and the Monkey                         91

  The Mother and the Wolf                        92

  The Flies and the Honey                        92

  The Eagle and the Kite                         93

  The Stag, the Sheep, and the Wolf              93

  The Animals and the Plague                     94

  The Shepherd and the Lion                      95

  The Dog and His Reflection                     96

  The Hare and the Tortoise                      96

  The Bees and Wasps, and the Hornet             98

  The Lark and Her Young Ones                    99

  The Cat and the Old Rat                       100

  The Fox and the Crow                          101

  The Ass and His Shadow                        102

  The Miller, His Son, and the Ass              102

  The Ant and the Dove                          104

  The Man and the Satyr                         104

  The Wolf, the Kid, and the Goat               106

  The Swallow and the Crow                      106

  Jupiter and the Monkey                        107

  The Lion, the Ass, and the Fox                107

  The Lion's Share                              108

  The Mole and his Mother                       108

  The North Wind and the Sun                    109

  The Hare and His Ears                         110

  The Wolves and the Sheep                      110

  The Fox and the Cock                          111

  The Ass in the Lion's Skin                    111

  The Fisherman and the Little Fish             112

  The Fighting Cocks and the Eagle              112



[Illustration: THE WOLF AND THE KID]









THE ÆSOP FOR CHILDREN









THE WOLF AND THE KID





There was once a little Kid whose growing horns made him think he

was a grown-up Billy Goat and able to take care of himself. So

one evening when the flock started home from the pasture and his

mother called, the Kid paid no heed and kept right on nibbling

the tender grass. A little later when he lifted his head, the

flock was gone.



He was all alone. The sun was sinking. Long shadows came creeping

over the ground. A chilly little wind came creeping with them

making scary noises in the grass. The Kid shivered as he thought

of the terrible Wolf. Then he started wildly over the field,

bleating for his mother. But not half-way, near a clump of trees,

there was the Wolf!



The Kid knew there was little hope for him.



"Please, Mr. Wolf," he said trembling, "I know you are going to

eat me. But first please pipe me a tune, for I want to dance and

be merry as long as I can."



The Wolf liked the idea of a little music before eating, so he

struck up a merry tune and the Kid leaped and frisked gaily.



Meanwhile, the flock was moving slowly homeward. In the still

evening air the Wolf's piping carried far. The Shepherd Dogs

pricked up their ears. They recognized the song the Wolf sings

before a feast, and in a moment they were racing back to the

pasture. The Wolf's song ended suddenly, and as he ran, with the

Dogs at his heels, he called himself a fool for turning piper to

please a Kid, when he should have stuck to his butcher's trade.



_Do not let anything turn you from your purpose._



[Illustration]









THE TORTOISE AND THE DUCKS





The Tortoise, you know, carries his house on his back. No matter

how hard he tries, he cannot leave home. They say that Jupiter

punished him so, because he was such a lazy stay-at-home that he

would not go to Jupiter's wedding, even when especially invited.



After many years, Tortoise began to wish he had gone to that

wedding. When he saw how gaily the birds flew about and how the

Hare and the Chipmunk and all the other animals ran nimbly by,

always eager to see everything there was to be seen, the Tortoise

felt very sad and discontented. He wanted to see the world too,

and there he was with a house on his back and little short legs

that could hardly drag him along.



One day he met a pair of Ducks and told them all his trouble.



"We can help you to see the world," said the Ducks. "Take hold of

this stick with your teeth and we will carry you far up in the

air where you can see the whole countryside. But keep quiet or

you will be sorry."



The Tortoise was very glad indeed. He seized the stick firmly

with his teeth, the two Ducks took hold of it one at each end,

and away they sailed up toward the clouds.



Just then a Crow flew by. He was very much astonished at the

strange sight and cried:



"This must surely be the King of Tortoises!"



"Why certainly----" began the Tortoise.



But as he opened his mouth to say these foolish words he lost his

hold on the stick, and down he fell to the ground, where he was

dashed to pieces on a rock.



_Foolish curiosity and vanity often lead to misfortune._









THE YOUNG CRAB AND HIS MOTHER





"Why in the world do you walk sideways like that?" said a Mother

Crab to her son. "You should always walk straight forward with

your toes turned out."



"Show me how to walk, mother dear," answered the little Crab

obediently, "I want to learn."



So the old Crab tried and _tried_ to walk straight forward. But

she could walk sideways only, like her son. And when she wanted

to turn her toes out she tripped and fell on her nose.



_Do not tell others how to act unless you can set a good

example._



[Illustration]



[Illustration]









THE FROGS AND THE OX





An Ox came down to a reedy pool to drink. As he splashed heavily

into the water, he crushed a young Frog into the mud. The old

Frog soon missed the little one and asked his brothers and

sisters what had become of him.



"A _great big_ monster," said one of them, "stepped on little

brother with one of his huge feet!"



"Big, was he!" said the old Frog, puffing herself up. "Was he as

big as this?"



"Oh, _much_ bigger!" they cried.



The Frog puffed up still more.



"He could not have been bigger than this," she said. But the

little Frogs all declared that the monster was _much, much_

bigger and the old Frog kept puffing herself out more and more

until, all at once, she burst.



_Do not attempt the impossible._



[Illustration:]









THE DOG, THE COCK, AND THE FOX





A Dog and a Cock, who were the best of friends, wished very much

to see something of the world. So they decided to leave the

farmyard and to set out into the world along the road that led to

the woods. The two comrades traveled along in the very best of

spirits and without meeting any adventure to speak of.



At nightfall the Cock, looking for a place to roost, as was his

custom, spied nearby a hollow tree that he thought would do very

nicely for a night's lodging. The Dog could creep inside and the

Cock would fly up on one of the branches. So said, so done, and

both slept very comfortably.



With the first glimmer of dawn the Cock awoke. For the moment he

forgot just where he was. He thought he was still in the farmyard

where it had been his duty to arouse the household at daybreak.

So standing on tip-toes he flapped his wings and crowed lustily.

But instead of awakening the farmer, he awakened a Fox not far

off in the wood. The Fox immediately had rosy visions of a very

delicious breakfast. Hurrying to the tree where the Cock was

roosting, he said very politely:



"A hearty welcome to our woods, honored sir. I cannot tell you

how glad I am to see you here. I am quite sure we shall become

the closest of friends."



"I feel highly flattered, kind sir," replied the Cock slyly. "If

you will please go around to the door of my house at the foot of

the tree, my porter will let you in."



The hungry but unsuspecting Fox, went around the tree as he was

told, and in a twinkling the Dog had seized him.



_Those who try to deceive may expect to be paid in their own

coin._



[Illustration]









BELLING THE CAT





The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free

themselves of their enemy, the Cat. At least they wished to find

some way of knowing when she was coming, so they might have time

to run away. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in

such constant fear of her claws that they hardly dared stir from

their dens by night or day.



Many plans were discussed, but none of them was thought good

enough. At last a very young Mouse got up and said:



"I have a plan that seems very simple, but I know it will be

successful. All we have to do is to hang a bell about the Cat's

neck. When we hear the bell ringing we will know immediately that

our enemy is coming."



All the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of

such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their

good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said:



"I will say that the plan of the young Mouse is very good. But

let me ask one question: Who will bell the Cat?"



_It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite

a different matter to do it._









THE EAGLE AND THE JACKDAW





An Eagle, swooping down on powerful wings, seized a lamb in her

talons and made off with it to her nest. A Jackdaw saw the deed,

and his silly head was filled with the idea that he was big and

strong enough to do as the Eagle had done. So with much rustling

of feathers and a fierce air, he came down swiftly on the back of

a large Ram. But when he tried to rise again he found that he

could not get away, for his claws were tangled in the wool. And

so far was he from carrying away the Ram, that the Ram hardly

noticed he was there.



[Illustration]



The Shepherd saw the fluttering Jackdaw and at once guessed what

had happened. Running up, he caught the bird and clipped its

wings. That evening he gave the Jackdaw to his children.



"What a funny bird this is!" they said laughing, "what do you

call it, father?"



"That is a Jackdaw, my children. But if you should ask him, _he_

would say he is an Eagle."



_Do not let your vanity make you overestimate your powers._









THE BOY AND THE FILBERTS





A Boy was given permission to put his hand into a pitcher to get

some filberts. But he took such a great fistful that he could not

draw his hand out again. There he stood, unwilling to give up a

single filbert and yet unable to get them all out at once. Vexed

and disappointed he began to cry.



"My boy," said his mother, "be satisfied with half the nuts you

have taken and you will easily get your hand out. Then perhaps

you may have some more filberts some other time."



_Do not attempt too much at once._









HERCULES AND THE WAGONER





A Farmer was driving his wagon along a miry country road after a

heavy rain. The horses could hardly drag the load through the

deep mud, and at last came to a standstill when one of the wheels

sank to the hub in a rut.



The farmer climbed down from his seat and stood beside the wagon

looking at it but without making the least effort to get it out

of the rut. All he did was to curse his bad luck and call loudly

on Hercules to come to his aid. Then, it is said, Hercules really

did appear, saying:



"Put your shoulder to the wheel, man, and urge on your horses. Do

you think you can move the wagon by simply looking at it and

whining about it? Hercules will not help unless you make some

effort to help yourself."



And when the farmer put his shoulder to the wheel and urged on

the horses, the wagon moved very readily, and soon the Farmer was

riding along in great content and with a good lesson learned.



_Self help is the best help._



_Heaven helps those who help themselves._



[Illustration]









THE KID AND THE WOLF





A frisky young Kid had been left by the herdsman on the thatched

roof of a sheep shelter to keep him out of harm's way. The Kid

was browsing near the edge of the roof, when he spied a Wolf and

began to jeer at him, making faces and abusing him to his heart's

content.



"I hear you," said the Wolf, "and I haven't the least grudge

against you for what you say or do. When you are up there it is

the roof that's talking, not you."



_Do not say anything at any time that you would not say at all

times._



[Illustration]









THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE





A Town Mouse once visited a relative who lived in the country.

For lunch the Country Mouse served wheat stalks, roots, and

acorns, with a dash of cold water for drink. The Town Mouse ate

very sparingly, nibbling a little of this and a little of that,

and by her manner making it very plain that she ate the simple

food only to be polite.



After the meal the friends had a long talk, or rather the Town

Mouse talked about her life in the city while the Country Mouse

listened. They then went to bed in a cozy nest in the hedgerow

and slept in quiet and comfort until morning. In her sleep the

Country Mouse dreamed she was a Town Mouse with all the luxuries

and delights of city life that her friend had described for her.

So the next day when the Town Mouse asked the Country Mouse to go

home with her to the city, she gladly said yes.



When they reached the mansion in which the Town Mouse lived, they

found on the table in the dining room the leavings of a very fine

banquet. There were sweetmeats and jellies, pastries, delicious

cheeses, indeed, the most tempting foods that a Mouse can

imagine. But just as the Country Mouse was about to nibble a

dainty bit of pastry, she heard a Cat mew loudly and scratch at

the door. In great fear the Mice scurried to a hiding place,

where they lay quite still for a long time, hardly daring to

breathe. When at last they ventured back to the feast, the door

opened suddenly and in came the servants to clear the table,

followed by the House Dog.



The Country Mouse stopped in the Town Mouse's den only long

enough to pick up her carpet bag and umbrella.



"You may have luxuries and dainties that I have not," she said as

she hurried away, "but I prefer my plain food and simple life in

the country with the peace and security that go with it."



_Poverty with security is better than plenty in the midst of fear

and uncertainty._



[Illustration: THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE]



[Illustration]









THE FOX AND THE GRAPES





A Fox one day spied a beautiful bunch of ripe grapes hanging from

a vine trained along the branches of a tree. The grapes seemed

ready to burst with juice, and the Fox's mouth watered as he

gazed longingly at them.



The bunch hung from a high branch, and the Fox had to jump for

it. The first time he jumped he missed it by a long way. So he

walked off a short distance and took a running leap at it, only

to fall short once more. Again and again he tried, but in vain.



Now he sat down and looked at the grapes in disgust.



"What a fool I am," he said. "Here I am wearing myself out to get

a bunch of sour grapes that are not worth gaping for."



And off he walked very, very scornfully.



_There are many who pretend to despise and belittle that which is

beyond their reach._









THE BUNDLE OF STICKS





A certain Father had a family of Sons, who were forever

quarreling among themselves. No words he could say did the least

good, so he cast about in his mind for some very striking example

that should make them see that discord would lead them to

misfortune.



One day when the quarreling had been much more violent than usual

and each of the Sons was moping in a surly manner, he asked one

of them to bring him a bundle of sticks. Then handing the bundle

to each of his Sons in turn he told them to try to break it. But

although each one tried his best, none was able to do so.



The Father then untied the bundle and gave the sticks to his Sons

to break one by one. This they did very easily.



"My Sons," said the Father, "do you not see how certain it is

that if you agree with each other and help each other, it will be

impossible for your enemies to injure you? But if you are divided

among yourselves, you will be no stronger than a single stick in

that bundle."



_In unity is strength._









THE WOLF AND THE CRANE





A Wolf had been feasting too greedily, and a bone had stuck

crosswise in his throat. He could get it neither up nor down, and

of course he could not eat a thing. Naturally that was an awful

state of affairs for a greedy Wolf.



So away he hurried to the Crane. He was sure that she, with her

long neck and bill, would easily be able to reach the bone and

pull it out.



"I will reward you very handsomely," said the Wolf, "if you pull

that bone out for me."



The Crane, as you can imagine, was very uneasy about putting her

head in a Wolf's throat. But she was grasping in nature, so she

did what the Wolf asked her to do.



[Illustration]



When the Wolf felt that the bone was gone, he started to walk

away.



"But what about my reward!" called the Crane anxiously.



"What!" snarled the Wolf, whirling around. "Haven't you got it?

Isn't it enough that I let you take your head out of my mouth

without snapping it off?"



_Expect no reward for serving the wicked._



[Illustration]









THE ASS AND HIS DRIVER





An Ass was being driven along a road leading down the mountain

side, when he suddenly took it into his silly head to choose his

own path. He could see his stall at the foot of the mountain, and

to him the quickest way down seemed to be over the edge of the

nearest cliff. Just as he was about to leap over, his master

caught him by the tail and tried to pull him back, but the

stubborn Ass would not yield and pulled with all his might.



"Very well," said his master, "go your way, you willful beast,

and see where it leads you."



With that he let go, and the foolish Ass tumbled head over heels

down the mountain side.



_They who will not listen to reason but stubbornly go their own

way against the friendly advice of those who are wiser than they,

are on the road to misfortune._









THE OXEN AND THE WHEELS





A pair of Oxen were drawing a heavily loaded wagon along a miry

country road. They had to use all their strength to pull the

wagon, but they did not complain.



The Wheels of the wagon were of a different sort. Though the task

they had to do was very light compared with that of the Oxen,

they creaked and groaned at every turn. The poor Oxen, pulling

with all their might to draw the wagon through the deep mud, had

their ears filled with the loud complaining of the Wheels. And

this, you may well know, made their work so much the harder to

endure.



"Silence!" the Oxen cried at last, out of patience. "What have

you Wheels to complain about so loudly? We are drawing all the

weight, not you, and we are keeping still about it besides."



_They complain most who suffer least._



[Illustration]









THE LION AND THE MOUSE





A Lion lay asleep in the forest, his great head resting on his

paws. A timid little Mouse came upon him unexpectedly, and in her

fright and haste to get away, ran across the Lion's nose. Roused

from his nap, the Lion laid his huge paw angrily on the tiny

creature to kill her.



"Spare me!" begged the poor Mouse. "Please let me go and some day

I will surely repay you."



The Lion was much amused to think that a Mouse could ever help

him. But he was generous and finally let the Mouse go.



Some days later, while stalking his prey in the forest, the Lion

was caught in the toils of a hunter's net. Unable to free

himself, he filled the forest with his angry roaring. The Mouse

knew the voice and quickly found the Lion struggling in the net.

Running to one of the great ropes that bound him, she gnawed it

until it parted, and soon the Lion was free.



"You laughed when I said I would repay you," said the Mouse. "Now

you see that even a Mouse can help a Lion."



_A kindness is never wasted._



[Illustration]









THE SHEPHERD BOY AND THE WOLF





A Shepherd Boy tended his master's Sheep near a dark forest not

far from the village. Soon he found life in the pasture very

dull. All he could do to amuse himself was to talk to his dog or

play on his shepherd's pipe.



One day as he sat watching the Sheep and the quiet forest, and

thinking what he would do should he see a Wolf, he thought of a

plan to amuse himself.



His Master had told him to call for help should a Wolf attack the

flock, and the Villagers would drive it away. So now, though he

had not seen anything that even looked like a Wolf, he ran toward

the village shouting at the top of his voice, "Wolf! Wolf!"



As he expected, the Villagers who heard the cry dropped their

work and ran in great excitement to the pasture. But when they

got there they found the Boy doubled up with laughter at the

trick he had played on them.



A few days later the Shepherd Boy again shouted, "Wolf! Wolf!"

Again the Villagers ran to help him, only to be laughed at again.



Then one evening as the sun was setting behind the forest and the

shadows were creeping out over the pasture, a Wolf really did

spring from the underbrush and fall upon the Sheep.



In terror the Boy ran toward the village shouting "Wolf! Wolf!"

But though the Villagers heard the cry, they did not run to help

him as they had before. "He cannot fool us again," they said.



The Wolf killed a great many of the Boy's sheep and then slipped

away into the forest.



_Liars are not believed even when they speak the truth._









THE GNAT AND THE BULL





A Gnat flew over the meadow with much buzzing for so small a

creature and settled on the tip of one of the horns of a Bull.

After he had rested a short time, he made ready to fly away. But

before he left he begged the Bull's pardon for having used his

horn for a resting place.



"You must be very glad to have me go now," he said.



"It's all the same to me," replied the Bull. "I did not even know

you were there."



_We are often of greater importance in our own eyes than in the

eyes of our neighbor._



_The smaller the mind the greater the conceit._



[Illustration]



[Illustration]









THE PLANE TREE





Two Travellers, walking in the noonday sun, sought the shade of a

widespreading tree to rest. As they lay looking up among the

pleasant leaves, they saw that it was a Plane Tree.



"How useless is the Plane!" said one of them. "It bears no fruit

whatever, and only serves to litter the ground with leaves."



"Ungrateful creatures!" said a voice from the Plane Tree. "You

lie here in my cooling shade, and yet you say I am useless! Thus

ungratefully, O Jupiter, do men receive their blessings!"



_Our best blessings are often the least appreciated._



[Illustration]









THE FARMER AND THE STORK





A Stork of a very simple and trusting nature had been asked by a

gay party of Cranes to visit a field that had been newly planted.

But the party ended dismally with all the birds entangled in the

meshes of the Farmer's net.



The Stork begged the Farmer to spare him.



"Please let me go," he pleaded. "I belong to the Stork family who

you know are honest and birds of good character. Besides, I did

not know the Cranes were going to steal."



"You may be a very good bird," answered the Farmer, "but I caught

you with the thieving Cranes and you will have to share the same

punishment with them."



_You are judged by the company you keep._









THE SHEEP AND THE PIG





One day a shepherd discovered a fat Pig in the meadow where his

Sheep were pastured. He very quickly captured the porker, which

squealed at the top of its voice the moment the Shepherd laid his

hands on it. You would have thought, to hear the loud squealing,

that the Pig was being cruelly hurt. But in spite of its squeals

and struggles to escape, the Shepherd tucked his prize under his

arm and started off to the butcher's in the market place.



The Sheep in the pasture were much astonished and amused at the

Pig's behavior, and followed the Shepherd and his charge to the

pasture gate.



"What makes you squeal like that?" asked one of the Sheep. "The

Shepherd often catches and carries off one of us. But we should

feel very much ashamed to make such a terrible fuss about it like

you do."



"That is all very well," replied the Pig, with a squeal and a

frantic kick. "When he catches you he is only after your wool.

But he wants my bacon! gree-ee-ee!"



_It is easy to be brave when there is no danger._



[Illustration: THE SHEEP AND THE PIG]



[Illustration]









THE TRAVELERS AND THE PURSE





Two men were traveling in company along the road when one of them

picked up a well-filled purse.



"How lucky I am!" he said. "I have found a purse. Judging by its

weight it must be full of gold."



"Do not say '_I_ have found a purse,'" said his companion. "Say

rather '_we_ have found a purse' and 'how lucky _we_ are.'

Travelers ought to share alike the fortunes or misfortunes of the

road."



"No, no," replied the other angrily. "_I_ found it and _I_ am

going to keep it."



Just then they heard a shout of "Stop, thief!" and looking

around, saw a mob of people armed with clubs coming down the

road.



The man who had found the purse fell into a panic.



"We are lost if they find the purse on us," he cried.



"No, no," replied the other, "You would not say 'we' before, so

now stick to your 'I'. Say '_I_ am lost.'"



_We cannot expect any one to share our misfortunes unless we are

willing to share our good fortune also._









THE LION AND THE ASS





One day as the Lion walked proudly down a forest aisle, and the

animals respectfully made way for him, an Ass brayed a scornful

remark as he passed.



The Lion felt a flash of anger. But when he turned his head and

saw who had spoken, he walked quietly on. He would not honor the

fool with even so much as a stroke of his claws.



_Do not resent the remarks of a fool. Ignore them._









THE FROGS WHO WISHED FOR A KING





The Frogs were tired of governing themselves. They had so much

freedom that it had spoiled them, and they did nothing but sit

around croaking in a bored manner and wishing for a government

that could entertain them with the pomp and display of royalty,

and rule them in a way to make them know they were being ruled.

No milk and water government for them, they declared. So they

sent a petition to Jupiter asking for a king.



Jupiter saw what simple and foolish creatures they were, but to

keep them quiet and make them think they had a king he threw down

a huge log, which fell into the water with a great splash. The

Frogs hid themselves among the reeds and grasses, thinking the

new king to be some fearful giant. But they soon discovered how

tame and peaceable King Log was. In a short time the younger

Frogs were using him for a diving platform, while the older Frogs

made him a meeting place, where they complained loudly to Jupiter

about the government.



[Illustration]



To teach the Frogs a lesson the ruler of the gods now sent a

Crane to be king of Frogland. The Crane proved to be a very

different sort of king from old King Log. He gobbled up the poor

Frogs right and left and they soon saw what fools they had been.

In mournful croaks they begged Jupiter to take away the cruel

tyrant before they should all be destroyed.



"How now!" cried Jupiter "Are you not yet content? You have what

you asked for and so you have only yourselves to blame for your

misfortunes."



_Be sure you can better your condition before you seek to

change._



[Illustration]









THE OWL AND THE GRASSHOPPER





The Owl always takes her sleep during the day. Then after

sundown, when the rosy light fades from the sky and the shadows

rise slowly through the wood, out she comes ruffling and blinking

from the old hollow tree. Now her weird "hoo-hoo-hoo-oo-oo"

echoes through the quiet wood, and she begins her hunt for the

bugs and beetles, frogs and mice she likes so well to eat.



Now there was a certain old Owl who had become very cross and

hard to please as she grew older, especially if anything

disturbed her daily slumbers. One warm summer afternoon as she

dozed away in her den in the old oak tree, a Grasshopper nearby

began a joyous but very raspy song. Out popped the old Owl's head

from the opening in the tree that served her both for door and

for window.



"Get away from here, sir," she said to the Grasshopper. "Have you

no manners? You should at least respect my age and leave me to

sleep in quiet!"



But the Grasshopper answered saucily that he had as much right to

his place in the sun as the Owl had to her place in the old oak.

Then he struck up a louder and still more rasping tune.



[Illustration]



The wise old Owl knew quite well that it would do no good to

argue with the Grasshopper, nor with anybody else for that

matter. Besides, her eyes were not sharp enough by day to permit

her to punish the Grasshopper as he deserved. So she laid aside

all hard words and spoke very kindly to him.



"Well sir," she said, "if I must stay awake, I am going to settle

right down to enjoy your singing. Now that I think of it, I have

a wonderful wine here, sent me from Olympus, of which I am told

Apollo drinks before he sings to the high gods. Please come up

and taste this delicious drink with me. I know it will make you

sing like Apollo himself."



The foolish Grasshopper was taken in by the Owl's flattering

words. Up he jumped to the Owl's den, but as soon as he was near

enough so the old Owl could see him clearly, she pounced upon him

and ate him up.



_Flattery is not a proof of true admiration._



_Do not let flattery throw you off your guard against an enemy._



[Illustration]









THE WOLF AND HIS SHADOW





A Wolf left his lair one evening in fine spirits and an excellent

appetite. As he ran, the setting sun cast his shadow far out on

the ground, and it looked as if the wolf were a hundred times

bigger than he really was.



"Why," exclaimed the Wolf proudly, "see how big I am! Fancy _me_

running away from a puny Lion! I'll show him who is fit to be

king, he or I."



Just then an immense shadow blotted him out entirely, and the

next instant a Lion struck him down with a single blow.



_Do not let your fancy make you forget realities._



[Illustration]









THE OAK AND THE REEDS





A Giant Oak stood near a brook in which grew some slender Reeds.

When the wind blew, the great Oak stood proudly upright with its

hundred arms uplifted to the sky. But the Reeds bowed low in the

wind and sang a sad and mournful song.



"You have reason to complain," said the Oak. "The slightest

breeze that ruffles the surface of the water makes you bow your

heads, while I, the mighty Oak, stand upright and firm before the

howling tempest."



"Do not worry about us," replied the Reeds. "The winds do not

harm us. We bow before them and so we do not break. You, in all

your pride and strength, have so far resisted their blows. But

the end is coming."



As the Reeds spoke a great hurricane rushed out of the north. The

Oak stood proudly and fought against the storm, while the

yielding Reeds bowed low. The wind redoubled in fury, and all at

once the great tree fell, torn up by the roots, and lay among the

pitying Reeds.



_Better to yield when it is folly to resist, than to resist

stubbornly and be destroyed._









THE RAT AND THE ELEPHANT





A Rat was traveling along the King's highway. He was a very proud

Rat, considering his small size and the bad reputation all Rats

have. As Mr. Rat walked along--he kept mostly to the ditch--he

noticed a great commotion up the road, and soon a grand

procession came in view. It was the King and his retinue.



The King rode on a huge Elephant adorned with the most gorgeous

trappings. With the King in his luxurious howdah were the royal

Dog and Cat. A great crowd of people followed the procession.

They were so taken up with admiration of the Elephant, that the

Rat was not noticed. His pride was hurt.



"What fools!" he cried. "Look at me, and you will soon forget

that clumsy Elephant! Is it his great size that makes your eyes

pop out? Or is it his wrinkled hide? Why, I have eyes and ears

and as many legs as he! I am of just as much importance, and"--



But just then the royal Cat spied him, and the next instant, the

Rat knew he was _not_ quite so important as an Elephant.



_A resemblance to the great in some things does not make us

great._









THE BOYS AND THE FROGS





Some Boys were playing one day at the edge of a pond in which

lived a family of Frogs. The Boys amused themselves by throwing

stones into the pond so as to make them skip on top of the water.



The stones were flying thick and fast and the Boys were enjoying

themselves very much; but the poor Frogs in the pond were

trembling with fear.



At last one of the Frogs, the oldest and bravest, put his head

out of the water, and said, "Oh, please, dear children, stop your

cruel play! Though it may be fun for you, it means death to us!"



_Always stop to think whether your fun may not be the cause of

another's unhappiness._



[Illustration]









THE CROW AND THE PITCHER





In a spell of dry weather, when the Birds could find very little

to drink, a thirsty Crow found a pitcher with a little water in

it. But the pitcher was high and had a narrow neck, and no matter

how he tried, the Crow could not reach the water. The poor thing

felt as if he must die of thirst.



Then an idea came to him. Picking up some small pebbles, he

dropped them into the pitcher one by one. With each pebble the

water rose a little higher until at last it was near enough so he

could drink.



_In a pinch a good use of our wits may help us out._



[Illustration]



[Illustration]









THE ANTS AND THE GRASSHOPPER





One bright day in late autumn a family of Ants were bustling

about in the warm sunshine, drying out the grain they had stored

up during the summer, when a starving Grasshopper, his fiddle

under his arm, came up and humbly begged for a bite to eat.



"What!" cried the Ants in surprise, "haven't you stored anything

away for the winter? What in the world were you doing all last

summer?"



"I didn't have time to store up any food," whined the

Grasshopper; "I was so busy making music that before I knew it

the summer was gone."



The Ants shrugged their shoulders in disgust.



"Making music, were you?" they cried. "Very well; now dance!" And

they turned their backs on the Grasshopper and went on with their

work.



_There's a time for work and a time for play._









THE ASS CARRYING THE IMAGE





A sacred Image was being carried to the temple. It was mounted on

an Ass adorned with garlands and gorgeous trappings, and a grand

procession of priests and pages followed it through the streets.

As the Ass walked along, the people bowed their heads reverently

or fell on their knees, and the Ass thought the honor was being

paid to himself.



With his head full of this foolish idea, he became so puffed up

with pride and vanity that he halted and started to bray loudly.

But in the midst of his song, his driver guessed what the Ass had

got into his head, and began to beat him unmercifully with a

stick.



"Go along with you, you stupid Ass," he cried. "The honor is not

meant for you but for the image you are carrying."



_Do not try to take the credit to yourself that is due to

others._









A RAVEN AND A SWAN





A Raven, which you know is black as coal, was envious of the

Swan, because her feathers were as white as the purest snow. The

foolish bird got the idea that if he lived like the Swan,

swimming and diving all day long and eating the weeds and plants

that grow in the water, his feathers would turn white like the

Swan's.



So he left his home in the woods and fields and flew down to live

on the lakes and in the marshes. But though he washed and washed

all day long, almost drowning himself at it, his feathers

remained as black as ever. And as the water weeds he ate did not

agree with him, he got thinner and thinner, and at last he died.



_A change of habits will not alter nature._



[Illustration]



[Illustration]









THE TWO GOATS





Two Goats, frisking gayly on the rocky steeps of a mountain

valley, chanced to meet, one on each side of a deep chasm through

which poured a mighty mountain torrent. The trunk of a fallen

tree formed the only means of crossing the chasm, and on this not

even two squirrels could have passed each other in safety. The

narrow path would have made the bravest tremble. Not so our

Goats. Their pride would not permit either to stand aside for the

other.



One set her foot on the log. The other did likewise. In the

middle they met horn to horn. Neither would give way, and so they

both fell, to be swept away by the roaring torrent below.



_It is better to yield than to come to misfortune through

stubbornness._









THE ASS AND THE LOAD OF SALT





A Merchant, driving his Ass homeward from the seashore with a

heavy load of salt, came to a river crossed by a shallow ford.

They had crossed this river many times before without accident,

but this time the Ass slipped and fell when halfway over. And

when the Merchant at last got him to his feet, much of the salt

had melted away. Delighted to find how much lighter his burden

had become, the Ass finished the journey very gayly.



Next day the Merchant went for another load of salt. On the way

home the Ass, remembering what had happened at the ford,

purposely let himself fall into the water, and again got rid of

most of his burden.



The angry Merchant immediately turned about and drove the Ass

back to the seashore, where he loaded him with two great baskets

of sponges. At the ford the Ass again tumbled over; but when he

had scrambled to his feet, it was a very disconsolate Ass that

dragged himself homeward under a load ten times heavier than

before.



_The same measures will not suit all circumstances._



[Illustration: THE ASS AND THE LOAD OF SALT]



[Illustration]









THE LION AND THE GNAT





"Away with you, vile insect!" said a Lion angrily to a Gnat that

was buzzing around his head. But the Gnat was not in the least

disturbed.



"Do you think," he said spitefully to the Lion, "that I am afraid

of you because they call you king?"



The next instant he flew at the Lion and stung him sharply on the

nose. Mad with rage, the Lion struck fiercely at the Gnat, but

only succeeded in tearing himself with his claws. Again and again

the Gnat stung the Lion, who now was roaring terribly. At last,

worn out with rage and covered with wounds that his own teeth and

claws had made, the Lion gave up the fight.



The Gnat buzzed away to tell the whole world about his victory,

but instead he flew straight into a spider's web. And there, he

who had defeated the King of beasts came to a miserable end, the

prey of a little spider.



_The least of our enemies is often the most to be feared._



_Pride over a success should not throw us off our guard._









THE LEAP AT RHODES



A certain man who visited foreign lands could talk of little when

he returned to his home except the wonderful adventures he had

met with and the great deeds he had done abroad.



One of the feats he told about was a leap he had made in a city

Called Rhodes. That leap was so great, he said, that no other man

could leap anywhere near the distance. A great many persons in

Rhodes had seen him do it and would prove that what he told was

true.



"No need of witnesses," said one of the hearers. "Suppose this

city is Rhodes. Now show us how far you can jump."



_Deeds count, not boasting words._









THE COCK AND THE JEWEL



A Cock was busily scratching and scraping about to find something

to eat for himself and his family, when he happened to turn up a

precious jewel that had been lost by its owner.



"Aha!" said the Cock. "No doubt you are very costly and he who

lost you would give a great deal to find you. But as for me, I

would choose a single grain of barleycorn before all the jewels

in the world."



_Precious things are without value to those who cannot prize

them._









THE MONKEY AND THE CAMEL





At a great celebration in honor of King Lion, the Monkey was

asked to dance for the company. His dancing was very clever

indeed, and the animals were all highly pleased with his grace

and lightness.



The praise that was showered on the Monkey made the Camel

envious. He was very sure that he could dance quite as well as

the Monkey, if not better, so he pushed his way into the crowd

that was gathered around the Monkey, and rising on his hind legs,

began to dance. But the big hulking Camel made himself very

ridiculous as he kicked out his knotty legs and twisted his long

clumsy neck. Besides, the animals found it hard to keep their

toes from under his heavy hoofs.



At last, when one of his huge feet came within an inch of King

Lion's nose, the animals were so disgusted that they set upon the

Camel in a rage and drove him out into the desert.



Shortly afterward, refreshments, consisting mostly of Camel's

hump and ribs, were served to the company.



_Do not try to ape your betters._



[Illustration]









THE WILD BOAR AND THE FOX





A Wild Boar was sharpening his tusks busily against the stump of

a tree, when a Fox happened by. Now the Fox was always looking

for a chance to make fun of his neighbors. So he made a great

show of looking anxiously about, as if in fear of some hidden

enemy. But the Boar kept right on with his work.



"Why are you doing that?" asked the Fox at last with a grin.

"There isn't any danger that I can see."



"True enough," replied the Boar, "but when danger does come there

will not be time for such work as this. My weapons will have to

be ready for use then, or I shall suffer for it."



_Preparedness for war is the best guarantee of peace._



[Illustration]









THE ASS, THE FOX, AND THE LION





An Ass and a Fox had become close comrades, and were constantly

in each other's company. While the Ass cropped a fresh bit of

greens, the Fox would devour a chicken from the neighboring

farmyard or a bit of cheese filched from the dairy. One day the

pair unexpectedly met a Lion. The Ass was very much frightened,

but the Fox calmed his fears.



"I will talk to him," he said.



So the Fox walked boldly up to the Lion.



"Your highness," he said in an undertone, so the Ass could not

hear him, "I've got a fine scheme in my head. If you promise not

to hurt me, I will lead that foolish creature yonder into a pit

where he can't get out, and you can feast at your pleasure."



The Lion agreed and the Fox returned to the Ass.



"I made him promise not to hurt us," said the Fox. "But come, I

know a good place to hide till he is gone."



So the Fox led the Ass into a deep pit. But when the Lion saw

that the Ass was his for the taking, he first of all struck down

the traitor Fox.



_Traitors may expect treachery._









THE BIRDS, THE BEASTS, AND THE BAT



The Birds and the Beasts declared war against each other. No

compromise was possible, and so they went at it tooth and claw.

It is said the quarrel grew out of the persecution the race of

Geese suffered at the teeth of the Fox family. The Beasts, too,

had cause for fight. The Eagle was constantly pouncing on the

Hare, and the Owl dined daily on Mice.



It was a terrible battle. Many a Hare and many a Mouse died.

Chickens and Geese fell by the score--and the victor always

stopped for a feast.



Now the Bat family had not openly joined either side. They were a

very politic race. So when they saw the Birds getting the better

of it, they were Birds for all there was in it. But when the tide

of battle turned, they immediately sided with the Beasts.



When the battle was over, the conduct of the Bats was discussed

at the peace conference. Such deceit was unpardonable, and Birds

and Beasts made common cause to drive out the Bats. And since

then the Bat family hides in dark towers and deserted ruins,

flying out only in the night.



_The deceitful have no friends._



[Illustration]









THE LION, THE BEAR, AND THE FOX





Just as a great Bear rushed to seize a stray kid, a Lion leaped

from another direction upon the same prey. The two fought

furiously for the prize until they had received so many wounds

that both sank down unable to continue the battle.



Just then a Fox dashed up, and seizing the kid, made off with it

as fast as he could go, while the Lion and the Bear looked on in

helpless rage.



"How much better it would have been," they said, "to have shared

in a friendly spirit."



_Those who have all the toil do not always get the profit._



[Illustration]









THE WOLF AND THE LAMB





A stray Lamb stood drinking early one morning on the bank of a

woodland stream. That very same morning a hungry Wolf came by

farther up the stream, hunting for something to eat. He soon got

his eyes on the Lamb. As a rule Mr. Wolf snapped up such

delicious morsels without making any bones about it, but this

Lamb looked so very helpless and innocent that the Wolf felt he

ought to have some kind of an excuse for taking its life.



"How dare you paddle around in my stream and stir up all the

mud!" he shouted fiercely. "You deserve to be punished severely

for your rashness!"



"But, your highness," replied the trembling Lamb, "do not be

angry! I cannot possibly muddy the water you are drinking up

there. Remember, you are upstream and I am downstream."



"You _do_ muddy it!" retorted the Wolf savagely. "And besides, I

have heard that you told lies about me last year!"



"How could I have done so?" pleaded the Lamb. "I wasn't born

until this year."



"If it wasn't you, it was your brother!"



"I have no brothers."



"Well, then," snarled the Wolf, "It was someone in your family

anyway. But no matter who it was, I do not intend to be talked

out of my breakfast."



And without more words the Wolf seized the poor Lamb and carried

her off to the forest.



_The tyrant can always find an excuse for his tyranny._



_The unjust will not listen to the reasoning of the innocent._









THE WOLF AND THE SHEEP





A Wolf had been hurt in a fight with a Bear. He was unable to

move and could not satisfy his hunger and thirst. A Sheep passed

by near his hiding place, and the Wolf called to him.



"Please fetch me a drink of water," he begged, "that might give

me strength enough so I can get me some solid food."



"Solid food!" said the Sheep. "That means me, I suppose. If I

should bring you a drink, it would only serve to wash me down

your throat. Don't talk to me about a drink!"



_A knave's hypocrisy is easily seen through._









THE HARES AND THE FROGS





Hares, as you know, are very timid. The least shadow, sends them

scurrying in fright to a hiding place. Once they decided to die

rather than live in such misery. But while they were debating how

best to meet death, they thought they heard a noise and in a

flash were scampering off to the warren. On the way they passed a

pond where a family of Frogs was sitting among the reeds on the

bank. In an instant the startled Frogs were seeking safety in the

mud.



"Look," cried a Hare, "things are not so bad after all, for here

are creatures who are even afraid of us!"



_However unfortunate we may think we are there is always someone

worse off than ourselves._



[Illustration]



[Illustration]









THE FOX AND THE STORK





The Fox one day thought of a plan to amuse himself at the expense

of the Stork, at whose odd appearance he was always laughing.



"You must come and dine with me today," he said to the Stork,

smiling to himself at the trick he was going to play. The Stork

gladly accepted the invitation and arrived in good time and with

a very good appetite.



For dinner the Fox served soup. But it was set out in a very

shallow dish, and all the Stork could do was to wet the very tip

of his bill. Not a drop of soup could he get. But the Fox lapped

it up easily, and, to increase the disappointment of the Stork,

made a great show of enjoyment.



[Illustration]



The hungry Stork was much displeased at the trick, but he was a

calm, even-tempered fellow and saw no good in flying into a rage.

Instead, not long afterward, he invited the Fox to dine with him

in turn. The Fox arrived promptly at the time that had been set,

and the Stork served a fish dinner that had a very appetizing

smell. But it was served in a tall jar with a very narrow neck.

The Stork could easily get at the food with his long bill, but

all the Fox could do was to lick the outside of the jar, and

sniff at the delicious odor. And when the Fox lost his temper,

the Stork said calmly:



_Do not play tricks on your neighbors unless you can stand the

same treatment yourself._









THE TRAVELERS AND THE SEA





Two Travelers were walking along the seashore. Far out they saw

something riding on the waves.



"Look," said one, "a great ship rides in from distant lands,

bearing rich treasures!"



The object they saw came ever nearer the shore.



"No," said the other, "that is not a treasure ship. That is some

fisherman's skiff, with the day's catch of savoury fish."



Still nearer came the object. The waves washed it up on shore.



"It is a chest of gold lost from some wreck," they cried. Both

Travelers rushed to the beach, but there they found nothing but a

water-soaked log.



_Do not let your hopes carry you away from reality._



[Illustration]









THE WOLF AND THE LION





A Wolf had stolen a Lamb and was carrying it off to his lair to

eat it. But his plans were very much changed when he met a Lion,

who, without making any excuses, took the Lamb away from him.



The Wolf made off to a safe distance, and then said in a much

injured tone:



"You have no right to take my property like that!"



The Lion looked back, but as the Wolf was too far away to be

taught a lesson without too much inconvenience, he said:



"Your property? Did you buy it, or did the Shepherd make you a

gift of it? Pray tell me, how did you get it?"



_What is evil won is evil lost._



[Illustration]









THE STAG AND HIS REFLECTION





A Stag, drinking from a crystal spring, saw himself mirrored in

the clear water. He greatly admired the graceful arch of his

antlers, but he was very much ashamed of his spindling legs.



"How can it be," he sighed, "that I should be cursed with such

legs when I have so magnificent a crown."



At that moment he scented a panther and in an instant was bounding

away through the forest. But as he ran his wide-spreading antlers

caught in the branches of the trees, and soon the Panther overtook

him. Then the Stag perceived that the legs of which he was so

ashamed would have saved him had it not been for the useless

ornaments on his head.



_We often make much of the ornamental and despise the useful._









THE PEACOCK





The Peacock, they say, did not at first have the beautiful

feathers in which he now takes so much pride. These, Juno, whose

favorite he was, granted to him one day when he begged her for a

train of feathers to distinguish him from the other birds. Then,

decked in his finery, gleaming with emerald, gold, purple, and

azure, he strutted proudly among the birds. All regarded him with

envy. Even the most beautiful pheasant could see that his beauty

was surpassed.



Presently the Peacock saw an Eagle soaring high up in the blue

sky and felt a desire to fly, as he had been accustomed to do.

Lifting his wings he tried to rise from the ground. But the

weight of his magnificent train held him down. Instead of flying

up to greet the first rays of the morning sun or to bathe in the

rosy light among the floating clouds at sunset, he would have to

walk the ground more encumbered and oppressed than any common

barnyard fowl.



_Do not sacrifice your freedom for the sake of pomp and show._



[Illustration: THE PEACOCK]



[Illustration]









THE MICE AND THE WEASELS





The Weasels and the Mice were always up in arms against each

other. In every battle the Weasels carried off the victory, as

well as a large number of the Mice, which they ate for dinner

next day. In despair the Mice called a council, and there it was

decided that the Mouse army was always beaten because it had no

leaders. So a large number of generals and commanders were

appointed from among the most eminent Mice.



To distinguish themselves from the soldiers in the ranks, the new

leaders proudly bound on their heads lofty crests and ornaments

of feathers or straw. Then after long preparation of the Mouse

army in all the arts of war, they sent a challenge to the

Weasels.



The Weasels accepted the challenge with eagerness, for they were

always ready for a fight when a meal was in sight. They

immediately attacked the Mouse army in large numbers. Soon the

Mouse line gave way before the attack and the whole army fled for

cover. The privates easily slipped into their holes, but the

Mouse leaders could not squeeze through the narrow openings

because of their head-dresses. Not one escaped the teeth of the

hungry Weasels.



_Greatness has its penalties._









THE WOLF AND THE LEAN DOG





A Wolf prowling near a village one evening met a Dog. It happened

to be a very lean and bony Dog, and Master Wolf would have turned

up his nose at such meager fare had he not been more hungry than

usual. So he began to edge toward the Dog, while the Dog backed

away.



"Let me remind your lordship," said the Dog, his words

interrupted now and then as he dodged a snap of the Wolf's teeth,

"how unpleasant it would be to eat me now. Look at my ribs. I am

nothing but skin and bone. But let me tell you something in

private. In a few days my master will give a wedding feast for

his only daughter. You can guess how fine and fat I will grow on

the scraps from the table. _Then_ is the time to eat me."



The Wolf could not help thinking how nice it would be to have a

fine fat Dog to eat instead of the scrawny object before him. So

he went away pulling in his belt and promising to return.



Some days later the Wolf came back for the promised feast. He

found the Dog in his master's yard, and asked him to come out and

be eaten.



"Sir," said the Dog, with a grin, "I shall be delighted to have

you eat me. I'll be out as soon as the porter opens the door."



But the "porter" was a huge Dog whom the Wolf knew by painful

experience to be very unkind toward wolves. So he decided not to

wait and made off as fast as his legs could carry him.



_Do not depend on the promises of those whose interest it is to

deceive you._



_Take what you can get when you can get it._



[Illustration]









THE FOX AND THE LION





A very young Fox, who had never before seen a Lion, happened to

meet one in the forest. A single look was enough to send the Fox

off at top speed for the nearest hiding place.



The second time the Fox saw the Lion he stopped behind a tree to

look at him a moment before slinking away. But the third time,

the Fox went boldly up to the Lion and, without turning a hair,

said, "Hello, there, old top."



_Familiarity breeds contempt._



_Acquaintance with evil blinds us to its dangers._









THE LION AND THE ASS





A Lion and an Ass agreed to go hunting together. In their search

for game the hunters saw a number of Wild Goats run into a cave,

and laid plans to catch them. The Ass was to go into the cave and

drive the Goats out, while the Lion would stand at the entrance

to strike them down.



The plan worked beautifully. The Ass made such a frightful din in

the cave, kicking and braying with all his might, that the Goats

came running out in a panic of fear, only to fall victim to the

Lion.



The Ass came proudly out of the cave.



"Did you see how I made them run?" he said.



[Illustration]



"Yes, indeed," answered the Lion, "and if I had not known you and

your kind I should certainly have run, too."



_The loud-mouthed boaster does not impress nor frighten those who

know him._









THE DOG AND HIS MASTER'S DINNER





A Dog had learned to carry his master's dinner to him every day.

He was very faithful to his duty, though the smell of the good

things in the basket tempted him.



The Dogs in the neighborhood noticed him carrying the basket and

soon discovered what was in it. They made several attempts to

steal it from him. But he always guarded it faithfully.



Then one day all the Dogs in the neighborhood got together and

met him on his way with the basket. The Dog tried to run away

from them. But at last he stopped to argue.



That was his mistake. They soon made him feel so ridiculous that

he dropped the basket and seized a large piece of roast meat

intended for his master's dinner.



"Very well," he said, "you divide the rest."



_Do not stop to argue with temptation._



[Illustration]









THE VAIN JACKDAW AND HIS BORROWED FEATHERS





A Jackdaw chanced to fly over the garden of the King's palace.

There he saw with much wonder and envy a flock of royal Peacocks

in all the glory of their splendid plumage.



Now the black Jackdaw was not a very handsome bird, nor very

refined in manner. Yet he imagined that all he needed to make

himself fit for the society of the Peacocks was a dress like

theirs. So he picked up some castoff feathers of the Peacocks and

stuck them among his own black plumes.



Dressed in his borrowed finery he strutted loftily among the

birds of his own kind. Then he flew down into the garden among

the Peacocks. But they soon saw who he was. Angry at the cheat,

they flew at him, plucking away the borrowed feathers and also

some of his own.



The poor Jackdaw returned sadly to his former companions. There

another unpleasant surprise awaited him. They had not forgotten

his superior airs toward them, and, to punish him, they drove him

away with a rain of pecks and jeers.



_Borrowed feathers do not make fine birds._



[Illustration]



[Illustration]









THE MONKEY AND THE DOLPHIN





It happened once upon a time that a certain Greek ship bound for

Athens was wrecked off the coast close to Piraeus, the port of

Athens. Had it not been for the Dolphins, who at that time were

very friendly toward mankind and especially toward Athenians, all

would have perished. But the Dolphins took the shipwrecked people

on their backs and swam with them to shore.



Now it was the custom among the Greeks to take their pet monkeys

and dogs with them whenever they went on a voyage. So when one of

the Dolphins saw a Monkey struggling in the water, he thought it

was a man, and made the Monkey climb up on his back. Then off he

swam with him toward the shore.



The Monkey sat up, grave and dignified, on the Dolphin's back.



"You are a citizen of illustrious Athens, are you not?" asked the

Dolphin politely.



"Yes," answered the Monkey, proudly. "My family is one of the

noblest in the city."



"Indeed," said the Dolphin. "Then of course you often visit

Piraeus."



"Yes, yes," replied the Monkey. "Indeed, I do. I am with him

constantly. Piraeus is my very best friend."



This answer took the Dolphin by surprise, and, turning his head,

he now saw what it was he was carrying. Without more ado, he

dived and left the foolish Monkey to take care of himself, while

he swam off in search of some human being to save.



_One falsehood leads to another._



[Illustration]









THE WOLF AND THE ASS





An Ass was feeding in a pasture near a wood when he saw a Wolf

lurking in the shadows along the hedge. He easily guessed what

the Wolf had in mind, and thought of a plan to save himself. So

he pretended he was lame, and began to hobble painfully.



When the Wolf came up, he asked the Ass what had made him lame,

and the Ass replied that he had stepped on a sharp thorn.



"Please pull it out," he pleaded, groaning as if in pain. "If you

do not, it might stick in your throat when you eat me."



The Wolf saw the wisdom of the advice, for he wanted to enjoy his

meal without any danger of choking. So the Ass lifted up his foot

and the Wolf began to search very closely and carefully for the

thorn.



Just then the Ass kicked out with all his might, tumbling the

Wolf a dozen paces away. And while the Wolf was getting very

slowly and painfully to his feet, the Ass galloped away in

safety.



"Serves me right," growled the Wolf as he crept into the bushes.

"I'm a butcher by trade, not a doctor."



_Stick to your trade._



[Illustration]









THE MONKEY AND THE CAT





Once upon a time a Cat and a Monkey lived as pets in the same

house. They were great friends and were constantly in all sorts

of mischief together. What they seemed to think of more than

anything else was to get something to eat, and it did not matter

much to them how they got it.



One day they were sitting by the fire, watching some chestnuts

roasting on the hearth. How to get them was the question.



"I would gladly get them," said the cunning Monkey, "but you are

much more skillful at such things than I am. Pull them out and

I'll divide them between us."



Pussy stretched out her paw very carefully, pushed aside some of

the cinders, and drew back her paw very quickly. Then she tried

it again, this time pulling a chestnut half out of the fire. A

third time and she drew out the chestnut. This performance she

went through several times, each time singeing her paw severely.

As fast as she pulled the chestnuts out of the fire, the Monkey

ate them up.



Now the master came in, and away scampered the rascals, Mistress

Cat with a burnt paw and no chestnuts. From that time on, they

say, she contented herself with mice and rats and had little to

do with Sir Monkey.



_The flatterer seeks some benefit at your expense._









THE DOGS AND THE FOX





Some Dogs found the skin of a Lion and furiously began to tear it

with their teeth. A Fox chanced to see them and laughed

scornfully.



"If that Lion had been alive," he said, "it would have been a

very different story. He would have made you feel how much

sharper his claws are than your teeth."



_It is easy and also contemptible to kick a man that is down._









THE DOGS AND THE HIDES





Some hungry Dogs saw a number of hides at the bottom of a stream

where the Tanner had put them to soak. A fine hide makes an

excellent meal for a hungry Dog, but the water was deep and the

Dogs could not reach the hides from the bank. So they held a

council and decided that the very best thing to do was to drink

up the river.



All fell to lapping up the water as fast as they could. But

though they drank and drank until, one after another, all of them

had burst with drinking, still, for all their effort, the water

in the river remained as high as ever.



_Do not try to do impossible things._









THE RABBIT, THE WEASEL, AND THE CAT





A Rabbit left his home one day for a dinner of clover. But he

forgot to latch the door of his house and while he was gone a

Weasel walked in and calmly made himself at home. When the Rabbit

returned, there was the Weasel's nose sticking out of the

Rabbit's own doorway, sniffing the fine air.



The Rabbit was quite angry--for a Rabbit--, and requested the

Weasel to move out. But the Weasel was perfectly content. He was

settled down for good.



[Illustration]



A wise old Cat heard the dispute and offered to settle it.



"Come close to me," said the Cat, "I am very deaf. Put your

mouths close to my ears while you tell me the facts."



The unsuspecting pair did as they were told and in an instant the

Cat had them both under her claws. No one could deny that the

dispute had been definitely settled.



_The strong are apt to settle questions to their own advantage._



[Illustration]









THE BEAR AND THE BEES





A Bear roaming the woods in search of berries happened on a

fallen tree in which a swarm of Bees had stored their honey. The

Bear began to nose around the log very carefully to find out if

the Bees were at home. Just then one of the swarm came home from

the clover field with a load of sweets. Guessing what the Bear

was after, the Bee flew at him, stung him sharply and then

disappeared into the hollow log.



The Bear lost his temper in an instant, and sprang upon the log

tooth and claw, to destroy the nest. But this only brought out

the whole swarm. The poor Bear had to take to his heels, and he

was able to save himself only by diving into a pool of water.



_It is wiser to bear a single injury in silence than to provoke a

thousand by flying into a rage._









THE FOX AND THE LEOPARD





A Fox and a Leopard, resting lazily after a generous dinner,

amused themselves by disputing about their good looks. The

Leopard was very proud of his glossy, spotted coat and made

disdainful remarks about the Fox, whose appearance he declared

was quite ordinary.



The Fox prided himself on his fine bushy tail with its tip of

white, but he was wise enough to see that he could not rival the

Leopard in looks. Still he kept up a flow of sarcastic talk, just

to exercise his wits and to have the fun of disputing. The

Leopard was about to lose his temper when the Fox got up, yawning

lazily.



"You may have a very smart coat," he said, "but you would be a

great deal better off if you had a little more smartness inside

your head and less on your ribs, the way I am. That's what I call

real beauty."



_A fine coat is not always an indication of an attractive mind._



[Illustration: THE FOX AND THE LEOPARD]



[Illustration]









THE HERON





A Heron was walking sedately along the bank of a stream, his eyes

on the clear water, and his long neck and pointed bill ready to

snap up a likely morsel for his breakfast. The clear water

swarmed with fish, but Master Heron was hard to please that

morning.



"No small fry for me," he said. "Such scanty fare is not fit for

a Heron."



Now a fine young Perch swam near.



"No indeed," said the Heron. "I wouldn't even trouble to open my

beak for anything like that!"



As the sun rose, the fish left the shallow water near the shore

and swam below into the cool depths toward the middle. The Heron

saw no more fish, and very glad was he at last to breakfast on a

tiny Snail.



_Do not be too hard to suit or you may have to be content with

the worst or with nothing at all._









THE COCK AND THE FOX





One bright evening as the sun was sinking on a glorious world a

wise old Cock flew into a tree to roost. Before he composed

himself to rest, he flapped his wings three times and crowed

loudly. But just as he was about to put his head under his wing,

his beady eyes caught a flash of red and a glimpse of a long

pointed nose, and there just below him stood Master Fox.



"Have you heard the wonderful news?" cried the Fox in a very

joyful and excited manner.



"What news?" asked the Cock very calmly. But he had a queer,

fluttery feeling inside him, for, you know, he was very much

afraid of the Fox.



"Your family and mine and all other animals have agreed to

forget their differences and live in peace and friendship from

now on forever. Just think of it! I simply cannot wait to embrace

you! Do come down, dear friend, and let us celebrate the joyful

event."



"How grand!" said the Cock. "I certainly am delighted at the

news." But he spoke in an absent way, and stretching up on

tiptoes, seemed to be looking at something afar off.



"What is it you see?" asked the Fox a little anxiously.



"Why, it looks to me like a couple of Dogs coming this way. They

must have heard the good news and--"



But the Fox did not wait to hear more. Off he started on a run.



"Wait," cried the Cock. "Why do you run? The Dogs are friends of

yours now!"



"Yes," answered the Fox. "But they might not have heard the news.

Besides, I have a very important errand that I had almost

forgotten about."



The Cock smiled as he buried his head in his feathers and went to

sleep, for he had succeeded in outwitting a very crafty enemy.



_The trickster is easily tricked._



[Illustration]









THE DOG IN THE MANGER





A Dog asleep in a manger filled with hay, was awakened by the

Cattle, which came in tired and hungry from working in the field.

But the Dog would not let them get near the manger, and snarled

and snapped as if it were filled with the best of meat and bones,

all for himself.



The Cattle looked at the Dog in disgust. "How selfish he is!"

said one. "He cannot eat the hay and yet he will not let us eat

it who are so hungry for it!"



Now the farmer came in. When he saw how the Dog was acting, he

seized a stick and drove him out of the stable with many a blow

for his selfish behavior.



_Do not grudge others what you cannot enjoy yourself._



[Illustration]









THE WOLF AND THE GOAT





A hungry Wolf spied a Goat browsing at the top of a steep cliff

where he could not possibly get at her.



"That is a very dangerous place for you," he called out,

pretending to be very anxious about the Goat's safety. "What if

you should fall! Please listen to me and come down! Here you can

get all you want of the finest, tenderest grass in the country."



The Goat looked over the edge of the cliff.



"How very, very anxious you are about me," she said, "and how

generous you are with your grass! But I know you! It's your _own_

appetite you are thinking of, not mine!"



_An invitation prompted by selfishness is not to be accepted._









THE ASS AND THE GRASSHOPPERS





One day as an Ass was walking in the pasture, he found some

Grasshoppers chirping merrily in a grassy corner of the field.



He listened with a great deal of admiration to the song of the

Grasshoppers. It was such a joyful song that his pleasure-loving

heart was filled with a wish to sing as they did.



"What is it?" he asked very respectfully, "that has given you

such beautiful voices? Is there any special food you eat, or is

it some divine nectar that makes you sing so wonderfully?"



"Yes," said the Grasshoppers, who were very fond of a joke; "it

is the dew we drink! Try some and see."



So thereafter the Ass would eat nothing and drink nothing but

dew.



Naturally, the poor foolish Ass soon died.



_The laws of nature are unchangeable._









THE MULE





A Mule had had a long rest and much good feeding. He was feeling

very vigorous indeed, and pranced around loftily, holding his

head high.



"My father certainly was a full-blooded racer," he said. "I can

feel that distinctly."



Next day he was put into harness again and that evening he was

very downhearted indeed.



"I was mistaken," he said. "My father was an Ass after all."



_Be sure of your pedigree before you boast of it._









THE FOX AND THE GOAT





A Fox fell into a well, and though it was not very deep, he found

that he could not get out again. After he had been in the well a

long time, a thirsty Goat came by. The Goat thought the Fox had

gone down to drink, and so he asked if the water was good.



"The finest in the whole country," said the crafty Fox, "jump in

and try it. There is more than enough for both of us."



The thirsty Goat immediately jumped in and began to drink. The

Fox just as quickly jumped on the Goat's back and leaped from the

tip of the Goat's horns out of the well.



The foolish Goat now saw what a plight he had got into, and

begged the Fox to help him out. But the Fox was already on his

way to the woods.



"If you had as much sense as you have beard, old fellow," he said

as he ran, "you would have been more cautious about finding a way

to get out again before you jumped in."



_Look before you leap._



[Illustration]



[Illustration]









THE CAT, THE COCK, AND THE YOUNG MOUSE





A very young Mouse, who had never seen anything of the world,

almost came to grief the very first time he ventured out. And

this is the story he told his mother about his adventures.



"I was strolling along very peaceably when, just as I turned the

corner into the next yard, I saw two strange creatures. One of

them had a very kind and gracious look, but the other was the

most fearful monster you can imagine. You should have seen him.



"On top of his head and in front of his neck hung pieces of raw

red meat. He walked about restlessly, tearing up the ground with

his toes, and beating his arms savagely against his sides. The

moment he caught sight of me he opened his pointed mouth as if to

swallow me, and then he let out a piercing roar that frightened

me almost to death."



Can you guess who it was that our young Mouse was trying to

describe to his mother? It was nobody but the Barnyard Cock and

the first one the little Mouse had ever seen.



"If it had not been for that terrible monster," the Mouse went

on, "I should have made the acquaintance of the pretty creature,

who looked so good and gentle. He had thick, velvety fur, a meek

face, and a look that was very modest, though his eyes were

bright and shining. As he looked at me he waved his fine long

tail and smiled.



"I am sure he was just about to speak to me when the monster I

have told you about let out a screaming yell, and I ran for my

life."



"My son," said the Mother Mouse, "that gentle creature you saw

was none other than the Cat. Under his kindly appearance, he

bears a grudge against every one of us. The other was nothing but

a bird who wouldn't harm you in the least. As for the Cat, he

eats us. So be thankful, my child, that you escaped with your

life, and, as long as you live, never judge people by their

looks."



_Do not trust alone to outward appearances._



[Illustration]









THE WOLF AND THE SHEPHERD





A Wolf had been prowling around a flock of Sheep for a long time,

and the Shepherd watched very anxiously to prevent him from

carrying off a Lamb. But the Wolf did not try to do any harm.

Instead he seemed to be helping the Shepherd take care of the

Sheep. At last the Shepherd got so used to seeing the Wolf about

that he forgot how wicked he could be.



One day he even went so far as to leave his flock in the Wolf's

care while he went on an errand. But when he came back and saw

how many of the flock had been killed and carried off, he knew

how foolish to trust a Wolf.



_Once a wolf, always a wolf._



[Illustration]









THE PEACOCK AND THE CRANE





A Peacock, puffed up with vanity, met a Crane one day, and to

impress him spread his gorgeous tail in the Sun.



"Look," he said. "What have you to compare with this? I am

dressed in all the glory of the rainbow, while your feathers are

gray as dust!"



The Crane spread his broad wings and flew up toward the sun.



"Follow me if you can," he said. But the Peacock stood where he

was among the birds of the barnyard, while the Crane soared in

freedom far up into the blue sky.



_The useful is of much more importance and value, than the

ornamental._









THE FARMER AND THE CRANES





Some Cranes saw a farmer plowing a large field. When the work of

plowing was done, they patiently watched him sow the seed. It was

their feast, they thought.



So, as soon as the Farmer had finished planting and had gone

home, down they flew to the field, and began to eat as fast as

they could.



The Farmer, of course, knew the Cranes and their ways. He had had

experience with such birds before. He soon returned to the field

with a sling. But he did not bring any stones with him. He

expected to scare the Cranes just by swinging the sling in the

air, and shouting loudly at them.



At first the Cranes flew away in great terror. But they soon

began to see that none of them ever got hurt. They did not even

hear the noise of stones whizzing through the air, and as for

words, they would kill nobody. At last they paid no attention

whatever to the Farmer.



The Farmer saw that he would have to take other measures. He

wanted to save at least some of his grain. So he loaded his sling

with stones and killed several of the Cranes. This had the effect

the Farmer wanted, for from that day the Cranes visited his field

no more.



_Bluff and threatening words are of little value with rascals._



_Bluff is no proof that hard fists are lacking._









THE FARMER AND HIS SONS





A rich old farmer, who felt that he had not many more days to

live, called his sons to his bedside.



"My sons," he said, "heed what I have to say to you. Do not on

any account part with the estate that has belonged to our family

for so many generations. Somewhere on it is hidden a rich

treasure. I do not know the exact spot, but it is there, and you

will surely find it. Spare no energy and leave no spot unturned

in your search."



The father died, and no sooner was he in his grave than the sons

set to work digging with all their might, turning up every foot

of ground with their spades, and going over the whole farm two or

three times.



[Illustration]



No hidden gold did they find; but at harvest time when they had

settled their accounts and had pocketed a rich profit far greater

than that of any of their neighbors, they understood that the

treasure their father had told them about was the wealth of a

bountiful crop, and that in their industry had they found the

treasure.



_Industry is itself a treasure._



[Illustration]









THE TWO POTS





Two Pots, one of brass and the other of clay, stood together on

the hearthstone. One day the Brass Pot proposed to the Earthen

Pot that they go out into the world together. But the Earthen Pot

excused himself, saying that it would be wiser for him to stay in

the corner by the fire.



"It would take so little to break me," he said. "You know how

fragile I am. The least shock is sure to shatter me!"



"Don't let that keep you at home," urged the Brass Pot. "I shall

take very good care of you. If we should happen to meet anything

hard I will step between and save you."



So the Earthen Pot at last consented, and the two set out side by

side, jolting along on three stubby legs first to this side, then

to that, and bumping into each other at every step.



The Earthen Pot could not survive that sort of companionship very

long. They had not gone ten paces before the Earthen Pot cracked,

and at the next jolt he flew into a thousand pieces.



_Equals make the best friends._









THE GOOSE AND THE GOLDEN EGG





There was once a Countryman who possessed the most wonderful

Goose you can imagine, for every day when he visited the nest,

the Goose had laid a beautiful, glittering, golden egg.



The Countryman took the eggs to market and soon began to get

rich. But it was not long before he grew impatient with the Goose

because she gave him only a single golden egg a day. He was not

getting rich fast enough.



Then one day, after he had finished counting his money, the idea

came to him that he could get all the golden eggs at once by

killing the Goose and cutting it open. But when the deed was

done, not a single golden egg did he find, and his precious Goose

was dead.



_Those who have plenty want more and so lose all they have._



[Illustration: THE GOOSE AND THE GOLDEN EGG]



[Illustration]









THE FIGHTING BULLS AND THE FROG





Two Bulls were fighting furiously in a field, at one side of

which was a marsh. An old Frog living in the marsh, trembled as

he watched the fierce battle.



"What are _you_ afraid of?" asked a young Frog.



"Do you not see," replied the old Frog, "that the Bull who is

beaten, will be driven away from the good forage up there to the

reeds of this marsh, and we shall all be trampled into the mud?"



It turned out as the Frog had said. The beaten Bull was driven to

the marsh, where his great hoofs crushed the Frogs to death.



_When the great fall out, the weak must suffer for it._









THE MOUSE AND THE WEASEL





A little hungry Mouse found his way one day into a basket of

corn. He had to squeeze himself a good deal to get through the

narrow opening between the strips of the basket. But the corn was

tempting and the Mouse was determined to get in. When at last he

had succeeded, he gorged himself to bursting. Indeed he became

about three times as big around the middle as he was when he went

in.



At last he felt satisfied and dragged himself to the opening to

get out again. But the best he could do was to get his head out.

So there he sat groaning and moaning, both from the discomfort

inside him and his anxiety to escape from the basket.



Just then a Weasel came by. He understood the situation quickly.



"My friend," he said, "I know what you've been doing. You've been

stuffing. That's what you get. You will have to stay there till

you feel just like you did when you went in. Good night, and good

enough for you."



And that was all the sympathy the poor Mouse got.



_Greediness leads to misfortune._









THE FARMER AND THE SNAKE





A Farmer walked through his field one cold winter morning. On the

ground lay a Snake, stiff and frozen with the cold. The Farmer

knew how deadly the Snake could be, and yet he picked it up and

put it in his bosom to warm it back to life.



The Snake soon revived, and when it had enough strength, bit the

man who had been so kind to it. The bite was deadly and the

Farmer felt that he must die. As he drew his last breath, he said

to those standing around:



_Learn from my fate not to take pity on a scoundrel._









THE SICK STAG





A Stag had fallen sick. He had just strength enough to gather

some food and find a quiet clearing in the woods, where he lay

down to wait until his strength should return. The Animals heard

about the Stag's illness and came to ask after his health. Of

course, they were all hungry, and helped themselves freely to the

Stag's food; and as you would expect, the Stag soon starved to

death.



_Good will is worth nothing unless it is accompanied by good

acts._



[Illustration]









THE GOATHERD AND THE WILD GOATS





One cold stormy day a Goatherd drove his Goats for shelter into a

cave, where a number of Wild Goats had also found their way. The

Shepherd wanted to make the Wild Goats part of his flock; so he

fed them well. But to his own flock, he gave only just enough

food to keep them alive. When the weather cleared, and the

Shepherd led the Goats out to feed, the Wild Goats scampered off

to the hills.



"Is that the thanks I get for feeding you and treating you so

well?" complained the Shepherd.



"Do not expect us to join your flock," replied one of the Wild

Goats. "We know how you would treat us later on, if some

strangers should come as we did."



_It is unwise to treat old friends badly for the sake of new

ones._



[Illustration]









THE SPENDTHRIFT AND THE SWALLOW





A young fellow, who was very popular among his boon companions as

a good spender, quickly wasted his fortune trying to live up to

his reputation. Then one fine day in early spring he found

himself with not a penny left, and no property save the clothes

he wore.



He was to meet some jolly young men that morning, and he was at

his wits' end how to get enough money to keep up appearances.

Just then a Swallow flew by, twittering merrily, and the young

man, thinking summer had come, hastened off to a clothes dealer,

to whom he sold all the clothes he wore down to his very tunic.



A few days later a change in weather brought a severe frost; and

the poor swallow and that foolish young man in his light tunic,

and with his arms and knees bare, could scarcely keep life in

their shivering bodies.



_One swallow does not make a summer._









THE CAT AND THE BIRDS





A Cat was growing very thin. As you have guessed, he did not get

enough to eat. One day he heard that some Birds in the neighborhood

were ailing and needed a doctor. So he put on a pair of spectacles,

and with a leather box in his hand, knocked at the door of the

Bird's home.



The Birds peeped out, and Dr. Cat, with much solicitude, asked

how they were. He would be very happy to give them some medicine.



"Tweet, tweet," laughed the Birds. "Very smart, aren't you? We

are very well, thank you, and more so, if _you_ only keep away

from here."



_Be wise and shun the quack._









THE DOG AND THE OYSTER





There was once a Dog who was very fond of eggs. He visited the

hen house very often and at last got so greedy that he would

swallow the eggs whole.



One day the Dog wandered down to the seashore. There he spied an

Oyster. In a twinkling the Oyster was resting in the Dog's

stomach, shell and all.



It pained the Dog a good deal, as you can guess.



"I've learned that all round things are not eggs," he said

groaning.



_Act in haste and repent at leisure--and often in pain._









THE ASTROLOGER





A man who lived a long time ago believed that he could read the

future in the stars. He called himself an Astrologer, and spent

his time at night gazing at the sky.



One evening he was walking along the open road outside the

village. His eyes were fixed on the stars. He thought he saw

there that the end of the world was at hand, when all at once,

down he went into a hole full of mud and water.



[Illustration]



There he stood up to his ears, in the muddy water, and madly

clawing at the slippery sides of the hole in his effort to climb

out.



His cries for help soon brought the villagers running. As they

pulled him out of the mud, one of them said:



"You pretend to read the future in the stars, and yet you fail to

see what is at your feet! This may teach you to pay more

attention to what is right in front of you, and let the future

take care of itself."



"What use is it," said another, "to read the stars, when you

can't see what's right here on the earth?"



_Take care of the little things and the big things will take care

of themselves._



[Illustration]









THREE BULLOCKS AND A LION





A Lion had been watching three Bullocks feeding in an open field.

He had tried to attack them several times, but they had kept

together, and helped each other to drive him off. The Lion had

little hope of eating them, for he was no match for three strong

Bullocks with their sharp horns and hoofs. But he could not keep

away from that field, for it is hard to resist watching a good

meal, even when there is little chance of getting it.



Then one day the Bullocks had a quarrel, and when the hungry Lion

came to look at them and lick his chops as he was accustomed to

do, he found them in separate corners of the field, as far away

from one another as they could get.



It was now an easy matter for the Lion to attack them one at a

time, and this he proceeded to do with the greatest satisfaction

and relish.



_In unity is strength._









MERCURY AND THE WOODMAN





A poor Woodman was cutting down a tree near the edge of a deep

pool in the forest. It was late in the day and the Woodman was

tired. He had been working since sunrise and his strokes were not

so sure as they had been early that morning. Thus it happened

that the axe slipped and flew out of his hands into the pool.



The Woodman was in despair. The axe was all he possessed with

which to make a living, and he had not money enough to buy a new

one. As he stood wringing his hands and weeping, the god Mercury

suddenly appeared and asked what the trouble was. The Woodman

told what had happened, and straightway the kind Mercury dived

into the pool. When he came up again he held a wonderful golden

axe.



"Is this your axe?" Mercury asked the Woodman.



"No," answered the honest Woodman, "that is not my axe."



Mercury laid the golden axe on the bank and sprang back into the

pool. This time he brought up an axe of silver, but the Woodman

declared again that his axe was just an ordinary one with a

wooden handle.



Mercury dived down for the third time, and when he came up again

he had the very axe that had been lost.



The poor Woodman was very glad that his axe had been found and

could not thank the kind god enough. Mercury was greatly pleased

with the Woodman's honesty.



"I admire your honesty," he said, "and as a reward you may have

all three axes, the gold and the silver as well as your own."



The happy Woodman returned to his home with his treasures, and

soon the story of his good fortune was known to everybody in the

village. Now there were several Woodmen in the village who

believed that they could easily win the same good fortune. They

hurried out into the woods, one here, one there, and hiding their

axes in the bushes, pretended they had lost them. Then they wept

and wailed and called on Mercury to help them.



[Illustration]



And indeed, Mercury did appear, first to this one, then to that.

To each one he showed an axe of gold, and each one eagerly

claimed it to be the one he had lost. But Mercury did not give

them the golden axe. Oh no! Instead he gave them each a hard

whack over the head with it and sent them home. And when they

returned next day to look for their own axes, they were nowhere

to be found.



_Honesty is the best policy._



[Illustration]









THE FROG AND THE MOUSE





A young Mouse in search of adventure was running along the bank

of a pond where lived a Frog. When the Frog saw the Mouse, he

swam to the bank and croaked:



"Won't you pay me a visit? I can promise you a good time if you

do."



The Mouse did not need much coaxing, for he was very anxious to

see the world and everything in it. But though he could swim a

little, he did not dare risk going into the pond without some

help.



The Frog had a plan. He tied the Mouse's leg to his own with a

tough reed. Then into the pond he jumped, dragging his foolish

companion with him.



The Mouse soon had enough of it and wanted to return to shore;

but the treacherous Frog had other plans. He pulled the Mouse

down under the water and drowned him. But before he could untie

the reed that bound him to the dead Mouse, a Hawk came sailing

over the pond. Seeing the body of the Mouse floating on the

water, the Hawk swooped down, seized the Mouse and carried it

off, with the Frog dangling from its leg. Thus at one swoop he

had caught both meat and fish for his dinner.



_Those who seek to harm others often come to harm themselves

through their own deceit._









THE FOX AND THE CRAB





A Crab one day grew disgusted with the sands in which he lived.

He decided to take a stroll to the meadow not far inland. There

he would find better fare than briny water and sand mites. So off

he crawled to the meadow. But there a hungry Fox spied him, and

in a twinkling, ate him up, both shell and claw.



_Be content with your lot._









THE SERPENT AND THE EAGLE





A Serpent had succeeded in surprising an Eagle and had wrapped

himself around the Eagle's neck. The Eagle could not reach the

Serpent, neither with beak nor claws. Far into the sky he soared

trying to shake off his enemy. But the Serpent's hold only

tightened, and slowly the Eagle sank back to earth, gasping for

breath.



A Countryman chanced to see the unequal combat. In pity for the

noble Eagle he rushed up and soon had loosened the coiling

Serpent and freed the Eagle.



The Serpent was furious. He had no chance to bite the watchful

Countryman. Instead he struck at the drinking horn, hanging at

the Countryman's belt, and into it let fly the poison of his

fangs.



The Countryman now went on toward home. Becoming thirsty on the

way, he filled his horn at a spring, and was about to drink.

There was a sudden rush of great wings. Sweeping down, the Eagle

seized the poisoned horn from out his savior's hands, and flew

away with it to hide it where it could never be found.



_An act of kindness is well repaid._



[Illustration]









THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING





A certain Wolf could not get enough to eat because of the

watchfulness of the Shepherds. But one night he found a sheep

skin that had been cast aside and forgotten. The next day,

dressed in the skin, the Wolf strolled into the pasture with the

Sheep. Soon a little Lamb was following him about and was quickly

led away to slaughter.



That evening the Wolf entered the fold with the flock. But it

happened that the Shepherd took a fancy for mutton broth that

very evening, and, picking up a knife, went to the fold. There

the first he laid hands on and killed was the Wolf.



_The evil doer often comes to harm through his own deceit._



[Illustration]









THE BULL AND THE GOAT





A Bull once escaped from a Lion by entering a cave which the

Goatherds used to house their flocks in stormy weather and at

night. It happened that one of the Goats had been left behind,

and the Bull had no sooner got inside than this Goat lowered his

head and made a rush at him, butting him with his horns. As the

Lion was still prowling outside the entrance to the cave, the

Bull had to submit to the insult.



"Do not think," he said, "that I submit to your cowardly

treatment because I am afraid of you. When that Lion leaves, I'll

teach you a lesson you won't forget."



_It is wicked to take advantage of another's distress._









THE EAGLE AND THE BEETLE





A Beetle once begged the Eagle to spare a Hare which had run to

her for protection. But the Eagle pounced upon her prey, the

sweep of her great wings tumbling the Beetle a dozen feet away.

Furious at the disrespect shown her, the Beetle flew to the

Eagle's nest and rolled out the eggs. Not one did she spare. The

Eagle's grief and anger knew no bounds, but who had done the

cruel deed she did not know.



Next year the Eagle built her nest far up on a mountain crag; but

the Beetle found it and again destroyed the eggs. In despair the

Eagle now implored great Jupiter to let her place her eggs in his

lap. There none would dare harm them. But the Beetle buzzed about

Jupiter's head, and made him rise to drive her away; and the eggs

rolled from his lap.



Now the Beetle told the reason for her action, and Jupiter had to

acknowledge the justice of her cause. And they say that ever

after, while the Eagle's eggs lie in the nest in spring, the

Beetle still sleeps in the ground. For so Jupiter commanded.



_Even the weakest may find means to avenge a wrong._



[Illustration: THE EAGLE AND THE BEETLE]



[Illustration]









THE OLD LION AND THE FOX





An old Lion, whose teeth and claws were so worn that it was not

so easy for him to get food as in his younger days, pretended

that he was sick. He took care to let all his neighbors know

about it, and then lay down in his cave to wait for visitors. And

when they came to offer him their sympathy, he ate them up one by

one.



The Fox came too, but he was very cautious about it. Standing at

a safe distance from the cave, he inquired politely after the

Lion's health. The Lion replied that he was very ill indeed, and

asked the Fox to step in for a moment. But Master Fox very wisely

stayed outside, thanking the Lion very kindly for the invitation.



"I should be glad to do as you ask," he added, "but I have

noticed that there are many footprints leading into your cave and

none coming out. Pray tell me, how do your visitors find their

way out again?"



_Take warning from the misfortunes of others._









THE MAN AND THE LION





A Lion and a Man chanced to travel in company through the forest.

They soon began to quarrel, for each of them boasted that he and

his kind were far superior to the other both in strength and

mind.



Now they reached a clearing in the forest and there stood a

statue. It was a representation of Heracles in the act of tearing

the jaws of the Nemean Lion.



"See," said the man, "that's how strong _we_ are! The King of

Beasts is like wax in our hands!"



"Ho!" laughed the Lion, "a Man made that statue. It would have

been quite a different scene had a Lion made it!"



_It all depends on the point of view, and who tells the story._









THE ASS AND THE LAP DOG





There was once an Ass whose Master also owned a Lap Dog. This Dog

was a favorite and received many a pat and kind word from his

Master, as well as choice bits from his plate. Every day the Dog

would run to meet the Master, frisking playfully about and

leaping up to lick his hands and face.



All this the Ass saw with much discontent. Though he was well

fed, he had much work to do; besides, the Master hardly ever took

any notice of him.



Now the jealous Ass got it into his silly head that all he had to

do to win his Master's favor was to act like the Dog. So one day

he left his stable and clattered eagerly into the house.



Finding his Master seated at the dinner table, he kicked up his

heels and, with a loud bray, pranced giddily around the table,

upsetting it as he did so. Then he planted his forefeet on his

Master's knees and rolled out his tongue to lick the Master's

face, as he had seen the Dog do. But his weight upset the chair,

and Ass and man rolled over together in the pile of broken dishes

from the table.



[Illustration]



The Master was much alarmed at the strange behavior of the Ass,

and calling for help, soon attracted the attention of the

servants. When they saw the danger the Master was in from the

clumsy beast, they set upon the Ass and drove him with kicks and

blows back to the stable. There they left him to mourn the

foolishness that had brought him nothing but a sound beating.



_Behavior that is regarded as agreeable in one is very rude and

impertinent in another._



_Do not try to gain favor by acting in a way that is contrary to

your own nature and character._









THE MILKMAID AND HER PAIL





A Milkmaid had been out to milk the cows and was returning from

the field with the shining milk pail balanced nicely on her head.

As she walked along, her pretty head was busy with plans for the

days to come.



"This good, rich milk," she mused, "will give me plenty of cream

to churn. The butter I make I will take to market, and with the

money I get for it I will buy a lot of eggs for hatching. How

nice it will be when they are all hatched and the yard is full of

fine young chicks. Then when May day comes I will sell them, and

with the money I'll buy a lovely new dress to wear to the fair.

All the young men will look at me. They will come and try to make

love to me,--but I shall very quickly send them about their

business!"



[Illustration]



As she thought of how she would settle that matter, she tossed

her head scornfully, and down fell the pail of milk to the

ground. And all the milk flowed out, and with it vanished butter

and eggs and chicks and new dress and all the milkmaid's pride.



_Do not count your chickens before they are hatched._









THE WOLF AND THE SHEPHERD





A Wolf, lurking near the Shepherd's hut, saw the Shepherd and his

family feasting on a roasted lamb.



"Aha!" he muttered. "What a great shouting and running about

there would have been, had they caught me at just the very thing

they are doing with so much enjoyment!"



_Men often condemn others for what they see no wrong in doing

themselves._









THE GOATHERD AND THE GOAT





A Goat strayed away from the flock, tempted by a patch of clover.

The Goatherd tried to call it back, but in vain. It would not

obey him. Then he picked up a stone and threw it, breaking the

Goat's horn.



The Goatherd was frightened.



"Do not tell the master," he begged the Goat.



"No," said the Goat, "that broken horn can speak for itself!"



_Wicked deeds will not stay hid._









THE MISER





A Miser had buried his gold in a secret place in his garden.

Every day he went to the spot, dug up the treasure and counted it

piece by piece to make sure it was all there. He made so many

trips that a Thief, who had been observing him, guessed what it

was the Miser had hidden, and one night quietly dug up the

treasure and made off with it.



When the Miser discovered his loss, he was overcome with grief

and despair. He groaned and cried and tore his hair.



A passerby heard his cries and asked what had happened.



"My gold! O my gold!" cried the Miser, wildly, "someone has

robbed me!"



[Illustration]



"Your gold! There in that hole? Why did you put it there? Why did

you not keep it in the house where you could easily get it when

you had to buy things?"



"Buy!" screamed the Miser angrily. "Why, I never touched the

gold. I couldn't think of spending any of it."



The stranger picked up a large stone and threw it into the hole.



"If that is the case," he said, "cover up that stone. It is worth

just as much to you as the treasure you lost!"



_A possession is worth no more than the use we make of it._



[Illustration]









THE WOLF AND THE HOUSE DOG





There was once a Wolf who got very little to eat because the Dogs

of the village were so wide awake and watchful. He was really

nothing but skin and bones, and it made him very downhearted to

think of it.



One night this Wolf happened to fall in with a fine fat House Dog

who had wandered a little too far from home. The Wolf would

gladly have eaten him then and there, but the House Dog looked

strong enough to leave his marks should he try it. So the Wolf

spoke very humbly to the Dog, complimenting him on his fine

appearance.



"You can be as well-fed as I am if you want to," replied the Dog.

"Leave the woods; there you live miserably. Why, you have to

fight hard for every bite you get. Follow my example and you will

get along beautifully."



"What must I do?" asked the Wolf.



"Hardly anything," answered the House Dog. "Chase people who

carry canes, bark at beggars, and fawn on the people of the

house. In return you will get tidbits of every kind, chicken

bones, choice bits of meat, sugar, cake, and much more beside,

not to speak of kind words and caresses."



The Wolf had such a beautiful vision of his coming happiness that

he almost wept. But just then he noticed that the hair on the

Dog's neck was worn and the skin was chafed.



"What is that on your neck?"



"Nothing at all," replied the Dog.



"What! nothing!"



"Oh, just a trifle!"



"But please tell me."



"Perhaps you see the mark of the collar to which my chain is

fastened."



"What! A chain!" cried the Wolf. "Don't you go wherever you

please?"



"Not always! But what's the difference?" replied the Dog.



"All the difference in the world! I don't care a rap for your

feasts and I wouldn't take all the tender young lambs in the

world at that price." And away ran the Wolf to the woods.



_There is nothing worth so much as liberty._



[Illustration]









THE FOX AND THE HEDGEHOG





A Fox, swimming across a river, was barely able to reach the

bank, where he lay bruised and exhausted from his struggle with

the swift current. Soon a swarm of blood-sucking flies settled on

him; but he lay quietly, still too weak to run away from them.



A Hedgehog happened by. "Let me drive the flies away," he said

kindly.



"No, no!" exclaimed the Fox, "do not disturb them! They have

taken all they can hold. If you drive them away, another greedy

swarm will come and take the little blood I have left."



_Better to bear a lesser evil than to risk a greater in removing

it._



[Illustration]









THE BAT AND THE WEASELS





A Bat blundered into the nest of a Weasel, who ran up to catch

and eat him. The Bat begged for his life, but the Weasel would

not listen.



"You are a Mouse," he said, "and I am a sworn enemy of Mice.

Every Mouse I catch, I am going to eat!"



"But I am not a Mouse!" cried the Bat. "Look at my wings. Can

Mice fly? Why, I am only a Bird! Please let me go!"



The Weasel had to admit that the Bat was not a Mouse, so he let

him go. But a few days later, the foolish Bat went blindly into

the nest of another Weasel. This Weasel happened to be a bitter

enemy of Birds, and he soon had the Bat under his claws, ready to

eat him.



"You are a Bird," he said, "and I am going to eat you!"



"What," cried the Bat, "I, a Bird! Why, all Birds have feathers!

I am nothing but a Mouse. 'Down with all Cats,' is _my_ motto!"



And so the Bat escaped with his life a second time.



_Set your sails with the wind._









THE QUACK TOAD





An old Toad once informed all his neighbors that he was a learned

doctor. In fact he could cure anything. The Fox heard the news

and hurried to see the Toad. He looked the Toad over very

carefully.



"Mr. Toad," he said, "I've been told that you cure anything! But

just take a look at yourself, and then try some of your own

medicine. If you can cure yourself of that blotchy skin and that

rheumatic gait, someone might believe you. Otherwise, I should

advise you to try some other profession."



_Those who would mend others, should first mend themselves._









THE FOX WITHOUT A TAIL





A Fox that had been caught in a trap, succeeded at last, after

much painful tugging, in getting away. But he had to leave his

beautiful bushy tail behind him.



For a long time he kept away from the other Foxes, for he knew

well enough that they would all make fun of him and crack jokes

and laugh behind his back. But it was hard for him to live alone,

and at last he thought of a plan that would perhaps help him out

of his trouble.



He called a meeting of all the Foxes, saying that he had

something of great importance to tell the tribe.



When they were all gathered together, the Fox Without a Tail got

up and made a long speech about those Foxes who had come to harm

because of their tails.



This one had been caught by hounds when his tail had become

entangled in the hedge. That one had not been able to run fast

enough because of the weight of his brush. Besides, it was well

known, he said, that men hunt Foxes simply for their tails, which

they cut off as prizes of the hunt. With such proof of the danger

and uselessness of having a tail, said Master Fox, he would

advise every Fox to cut it off, if he valued life and safety.



[Illustration]



When he had finished talking, an old Fox arose, and said,

smiling:



"Master Fox, kindly turn around for a moment, and you shall have

your answer."



When the poor Fox Without a Tail turned around, there arose such

a storm of jeers and hooting, that he saw how useless it was to

try any longer to persuade the Foxes to part with their tails.



_Do not listen to the advice of him who seeks to lower you to his

own level._



[Illustration]









THE MISCHIEVOUS DOG





There was once a Dog who was so ill-natured and mischievous that

his Master had to fasten a heavy wooden clog about his neck to

keep him from annoying visitors and neighbors. But the Dog seemed

to be very proud of the clog and dragged it about noisily as if

he wished to attract everybody's attention. He was not able to

impress anyone.



"You would be wiser," said an old acquaintance, "to keep quietly

out of sight with that clog. Do you want everybody to know what a

disgraceful and ill-natured Dog you are?"



_Notoriety is not fame._









THE ROSE AND THE BUTTERFLY





A Butterfly once fell in love with a beautiful Rose. The Rose was

not indifferent, for the Butterfly's wings were powdered in a

charming pattern of gold and silver. And so, when he fluttered

near and told how he loved her, she blushed rosily and said yes.

After much pretty love-making and many whispered vows of

constancy, the Butterfly took a tender leave of his sweetheart.



But alas! It was a long time before he came back to her.



"Is this your constancy?" she exclaimed tearfully. "It is ages

since you went away, and all the time, you have been carrying on

with all sorts of flowers. I saw you kiss Miss Geranium, and you

fluttered around Miss Mignonette until Honey Bee chased you away.

I wish he had stung you!"



"Constancy!" laughed the Butterfly. "I had no sooner left you

than I saw Zephyr kissing you. You carried on scandalously with

Mr. Bumble Bee and you made eyes at every single Bug you could

see. You can't expect any constancy from me!"



_Do not expect constancy in others if you have none yourself._



[Illustration: THE ROSE AND THE BUTTERFLY]



[Illustration]









THE CAT AND THE FOX





Once a Cat and a Fox were traveling together. As they went along,

picking up provisions on the way--a stray mouse here, a fat

chicken there--they began an argument to while away the time

between bites. And, as usually happens when comrades argue, the

talk began to get personal.



"You think you are extremely clever, don't you?" said the Fox.

"Do you pretend to know more than I? Why, I know a whole sackful

of tricks!"



"Well," retorted the Cat, "I admit I know one trick only, but

that one, let me tell you, is worth a thousand of yours!"



Just then, close by, they heard a hunter's horn and the yelping

of a pack of hounds. In an instant the Cat was up a tree, hiding

among the leaves.



"This is my trick," he called to the Fox. "Now let me see what

yours are worth."



But the Fox had so many plans for escape he could not decide

which one to try first. He dodged here and there with the hounds

at his heels. He doubled on his tracks, he ran at top speed, he

entered a dozen burrows,--but all in vain. The hounds caught him,

and soon put an end to the boaster and all his tricks.



_Common sense is always worth more than cunning._









THE BOY AND THE NETTLE





A Boy, stung by a Nettle, ran home crying, to get his mother to

blow on the hurt and kiss it.



"Son," said the Boy's mother, when she had comforted him, "the

next time you come near a Nettle, grasp it firmly, and it will be

as soft as silk."



_Whatever you do, do with all your might._









THE OLD LION





A Lion had grown very old. His teeth were worn away. His limbs

could no longer bear him, and the King of Beasts was very pitiful

indeed as he lay gasping on the ground, about to die.



Where now his strength and his former graceful beauty?



Now a Boar spied him, and rushing at him, gored him with his

yellow tusk. A Bull trampled him with his heavy hoofs. Even a

contemptible Ass let fly his heels and brayed his insults in the

face of the Lion.



_It is cowardly to attack the defenseless, though he be an

enemy._









THE FOX AND THE PHEASANTS





One moonlight evening as Master Fox was taking his usual stroll

in the woods, he saw a number of Pheasants perched quite out of

his reach on a limb of a tall old tree. The sly Fox soon found a

bright patch of moonlight, where the Pheasants could see him

clearly; there he raised himself up on his hind legs, and began a

wild dance. First he whirled 'round and 'round like a top, then

he hopped up and down, cutting all sorts of strange capers. The

Pheasants stared giddily. They hardly dared blink for fear of

losing him out of their sight a single instant.



[Illustration]



Now the Fox made as if to climb a tree, now he fell over and lay

still, playing dead, and the next instant he was hopping on all

fours, his back in the air, and his bushy tail shaking so that it

seemed to throw out silver sparks in the moonlight.



By this time the poor birds' heads were in a whirl. And when the

Fox began his performance all over again, so dazed did they

become, that they lost their hold on the limb, and fell down one

by one to the Fox.



_Too much attention to danger may cause us to fall victims to

it._



[Illustration]









TWO TRAVELERS AND A BEAR





Two Men were traveling in company through a forest, when, all at

once, a huge Bear crashed out of the brush near them.



One of the Men, thinking of his own safety, climbed a tree.



The other, unable to fight the savage beast alone, threw himself

on the ground and lay still, as if he were dead. He had heard

that a Bear will not touch a dead body.



It must have been true, for the Bear snuffed at the Man's head

awhile, and then, seeming to be satisfied that he was dead,

walked away.



The Man in the tree climbed down.



"It looked just as if that Bear whispered in your ear," he said.

"What did he tell you?"



"He said," answered the other, "that it was not at all wise to

keep company with a fellow who would desert his friend in a

moment of danger."



_Misfortune is the test of true friendship._









THE PORCUPINE AND THE SNAKES





A Porcupine was looking for a good home. At last he found a

little sheltered cave, where lived a family of Snakes. He asked

them to let him share the cave with them, and the Snakes kindly

consented.



The Snakes soon wished they had not given him permission to stay.

His sharp quills pricked them at every turn, and at last they

politely asked him to leave.



"I am very well satisfied, thank you," said the Porcupine. "I

intend to stay right here." And with that, he politely escorted

the Snakes out of doors. And to save their skins, the Snakes had

to look for another home.



_Give a finger and lose a hand._









THE FOX AND THE MONKEY





At a great meeting of the Animals, who had gathered to elect a

new ruler, the Monkey was asked to dance. This he did so well,

with a thousand funny capers and grimaces, that the Animals were

carried entirely off their feet with enthusiasm, and then and

there, elected him their king.



[Illustration]



The Fox did not vote for the Monkey and was much disgusted with

the Animals for electing so unworthy a ruler.



One day he found a trap with a bit of meat in it. Hurrying to

King Monkey, he told him he had found a rich treasure, which he

had not touched because it belonged by right to his majesty the

Monkey.



The greedy Monkey followed the Fox to the trap. As soon as he saw

the meat he grasped eagerly for it, only to find himself held

fast in the trap. The Fox stood off and laughed.



"You pretend to be our king," he said, "and cannot even take care

of yourself!"



Shortly after that, another election among the Animals was held.



_The true leader proves himself by his qualities._



[Illustration]









THE MOTHER AND THE WOLF





Early one morning a hungry Wolf was prowling around a cottage at

the edge of a village, when he heard a child crying in the house.

Then he heard the Mother's voice say:



"Hush, child, hush! Stop your crying, or I will give you to the

Wolf!"



Surprised but delighted at the prospect of so delicious a meal,

the Wolf settled down under an open window, expecting every

moment to have the child handed out to him. But though the little

one continued to fret, the Wolf waited all day in vain. Then,

toward nightfall, he heard the Mother's voice again as she sat

down near the window to sing and rock her baby to sleep.



"There, child, there! The Wolf shall not get you. No, no! Daddy

is watching and Daddy will kill him if he should come near!"



Just then the Father came within sight of the home, and the Wolf

was barely able to save himself from the Dogs by a clever bit of

running.



_Do not believe everything you hear._









THE FLIES AND THE HONEY





A jar of honey was upset and the sticky sweetness flowed out on

the table. The sweet smell of the honey soon brought a large

number of Flies buzzing around. They did not wait for an

invitation. No, indeed; they settled right down, feet and all, to

gorge themselves. The Flies were quickly smeared from head to

foot with honey. Their wings stuck together. They could not pull

their feet out of the sticky mass. And so they died, giving their

lives for the sake of a taste of sweetness.



_Be not greedy for a little passing pleasure. It may destroy

you._









THE EAGLE AND THE KITE





An Eagle sat high in the branches of a great Oak. She seemed very

sad and drooping for an Eagle. A Kite saw her.



"Why do you look so woebegone?" asked the Kite.



"I want to get married," replied the Eagle, "and I can't find a

mate who can provide for me as I should like."



"Take me," said the Kite; "I am very strong, stronger even than

you!"



"Do you really think you can provide for me?" asked the Eagle

eagerly.



"Why, of course," replied the Kite. "That would be a very simple

matter. I am so strong I can carry away an Ostrich in my talons

as if it were a feather!"



The Eagle accepted the Kite immediately. But after the wedding,

when the Kite flew away to find something to eat for his bride,

all he had when he returned, was a tiny Mouse.



"Is that the Ostrich you talked about?" said the Eagle in

disgust.



"To win you I would have said and promised anything," replied the

Kite.



_Everything is fair in love._



[Illustration]









THE STAG, THE SHEEP, AND THE WOLF





One day a Stag came to a Sheep and asked her to lend him a

measure of wheat. The Sheep knew him for a very swift runner, who

could easily take himself out of reach, were he so inclined. So

she asked him if he knew someone who would answer for him.



"Yes, yes," answered the Stag confidently, "the Wolf has promised

to be my surety."



"The Wolf!" exclaimed the Sheep indignantly. "Do you think I

would trust you on such security? I know the Wolf! He takes what

he wants and runs off with it without paying. As for you, you can

use your legs so well that I should have little chance of

collecting the debt if I had to catch you for it!"



_Two blacks do not make a white._



[Illustration]









THE ANIMALS AND THE PLAGUE





Once upon a time a severe plague raged among the animals. Many

died, and those who lived were so ill, that they cared for

neither food nor drink, and dragged themselves about listlessly.

No longer could a fat young hen tempt Master Fox to dinner, nor a

tender lamb rouse greedy Sir Wolf's appetite.



At last the Lion decided to call a council. When all the animals

were gathered together he arose and said:



"Dear friends, I believe the gods have sent this plague upon us

as a punishment for our sins. Therefore, the most guilty one of

us must be offered in sacrifice. Perhaps we may thus obtain

forgiveness and cure for all.



"I will confess all _my_ sins first. I admit that I have been

very greedy and have devoured many sheep. They had done me no

harm. I have eaten goats and bulls and stags. To tell the truth,

I even ate up a shepherd now and then.



"Now, if I am the most guilty, I am ready to be sacrificed. But I

think it best that each one confess his sins as I have done. Then

we can decide in all justice who is the most guilty."



"Your majesty," said the Fox, "you are too good. Can it be a

crime to eat sheep, such stupid mutton heads? No, no, your

majesty. You have done them great honor by eating them up.



"And so far as shepherds are concerned, we all know they belong

to that puny race that pretends to be our masters."



All the animals applauded the Fox loudly. Then, though the Tiger,

the Bear, the Wolf, and all the savage beasts recited the most

wicked deeds, all were excused and made to appear very saint-like

and innocent.



It was now the Ass's turn to confess.



"I remember," he said guiltily, "that one day as I was passing a

field belonging to some priests, I was so tempted by the tender

grass and my hunger, that I could not resist nibbling a bit of

it. I had no right to do it, I admit--"



A great uproar among the beasts interrupted him. Here was the

culprit who had brought misfortune on all of them! What a

horrible crime it was to eat grass that belonged to someone else!

It was enough to hang anyone for, much more an Ass.



Immediately they all fell upon him, the Wolf in the lead, and

soon had made an end to him, sacrificing him to the gods then and

there, and without the formality of an altar.



_The weak are made to suffer for the misdeeds of the powerful._









THE SHEPHERD AND THE LION





A Shepherd, counting his Sheep one day, discovered that a number

of them were missing.



Much irritated, he very loudly and boastfully declared that he

would catch the thief and punish him as he deserved. The Shepherd

suspected a Wolf of the deed and so set out toward a rocky region

among the hills, where there were caves infested by Wolves. But

before starting out he made a vow to Jupiter that if he would

help him find the thief he would offer a fat Calf as a sacrifice.



[Illustration]



The Shepherd searched a long time without finding any Wolves, but

just as he was passing near a large cave on the mountain side, a

huge Lion stalked out, carrying a Sheep. In great terror the

Shepherd fell on his knees.



"Alas, O Jupiter, man does not know what he asks! To find the

thief I offered to sacrifice a fat Calf. Now I promise you a

full-grown Bull, if you but make the thief go away!"



_We are often not so eager for what we seek, after we have found

it._



_Do not foolishly ask for things that would bring ruin if they

were granted._



[Illustration]









THE DOG AND HIS REFLECTION





A Dog, to whom the butcher had thrown a bone, was hurrying home

with his prize as fast as he could go. As he crossed a narrow

footbridge, he happened to look down and saw himself reflected in

the quiet water as if in a mirror. But the greedy Dog thought he

saw a real Dog carrying a bone much bigger than his own.



If he had stopped to think he would have known better. But

instead of thinking, he dropped his bone and sprang at the Dog in

the river, only to find himself swimming for dear life to reach

the shore. At last he managed to scramble out, and as he stood

sadly thinking about the good bone he had lost, he realized what

a stupid Dog he had been.



_It is very foolish to be greedy._









THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE





A Hare was making fun of the Tortoise one day for being so slow.



"Do you ever get anywhere?" he asked with a mocking laugh.



"Yes," replied the Tortoise, "and I get there sooner than you

think. I'll run you a race and prove it."



The Hare was much amused at the idea of running a race with the

Tortoise, but for the fun of the thing he agreed. So the Fox, who

had consented to act as judge, marked the distance and started

the runners off.



The Hare was soon far out of sight, and to make the Tortoise feel

very deeply how ridiculous it was for him to try a race with a

Hare, he lay down beside the course to take a nap until the

Tortoise should catch up.



The Tortoise meanwhile kept going slowly but steadily, and, after

a time, passed the place where the Hare was sleeping. But the

Hare slept on very peacefully; and when at last he did wake up,

the Tortoise was near the goal. The Hare now ran his swiftest,

but he could not overtake the Tortoise in time.



_The race is not always to the swift._



[Illustration: THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE]









THE BEES AND WASPS, AND THE HORNET





A store of honey had been found in a hollow tree, and the Wasps

declared positively that it belonged to them. The Bees were just

as sure that the treasure was theirs. The argument grew very

pointed, and it looked as if the affair could not be settled

without a battle, when at last, with much good sense, they

_agreed_ to let a judge decide the matter. So they brought the

case before the Hornet, justice of the peace in that part of the

woods.



When the Judge called the case, witnesses declared that they had

seen certain winged creatures in the neighborhood of the hollow

tree, who hummed loudly, and whose bodies were striped, yellow

and black, like Bees.



[Illustration]



Counsel for the Wasps immediately insisted that this description

fitted his clients exactly.



Such evidence did not help Judge Hornet to any decision, so he

adjourned court for six weeks to give him time to think it over.

When the case came up again, both sides had a large number of

witnesses. An Ant was first to take the stand, and was about to

be cross-examined, when a wise old Bee addressed the Court.



"Your honor," he said, "the case has now been pending for six

weeks. If it is not decided soon, the honey will not be fit for

anything. I move that the Bees and the Wasps be both instructed

to build a honey comb. Then we shall soon see to whom the honey

really belongs."



The Wasps protested loudly. Wise Judge Hornet quickly understood

why they did so: They knew they could not build a honey comb and

fill it with honey.



"It is clear," said the Judge, "who made the comb and who could

not have made it. The honey belongs to the Bees."



_Ability proves itself by deeds._









THE LARK AND HER YOUNG ONES





A Lark made her nest in a field of young wheat. As the days

passed, the wheat stalks grew tall and the young birds, too, grew

in strength. Then one day, when the ripe golden grain waved in

the breeze, the Farmer and his son came into the field.



"This wheat is now ready for reaping," said the Farmer. "We must

call in our neighbors and friends to help us harvest it."



The young Larks in their nest close by were much frightened, for

they knew they would be in great danger if they did not leave the

nest before the reapers came. When the Mother Lark returned with

food for them, they told her what they had heard.



"Do not be frightened, children," said the Mother Lark. "If the

Farmer said he would call in his neighbors and friends to help

him do his work, this wheat will not be reaped for a while yet."



A few days later, the wheat was so ripe, that when the wind shook

the stalks, a hail of wheat grains came rustling down on the

young Larks' heads.



"If this wheat is not harvested at once," said the Farmer, "we

shall lose half the crop. We cannot wait any longer for help from

our friends. Tomorrow we must set to work, ourselves."



[Illustration]



When the young Larks told their mother what they had heard that

day, she said:



"Then we must be off at once. When a man decides to do his own

work and not depend on any one else, then you may be sure there

will be no more delay."



There was much fluttering and trying out of wings that afternoon,

and at sunrise next day, when the Farmer and his son cut down the

grain, they found an empty nest.



_Self-help is the best help._



[Illustration]









THE CAT AND THE OLD RAT





There was once a Cat who was so watchful, that a Mouse hardly

dared show the tip of his whiskers for fear of being eaten alive.

That Cat seemed to be everywhere at once with his claws all ready

for a pounce. At last the Mice kept so closely to their dens,

that the Cat saw he would have to use his wits well to catch one.

So one day he climbed up on a shelf and hung from it, head

downward, as if he were dead, holding himself up by clinging to

some ropes with one paw.



When the Mice peeped out and saw him in that position, they

thought he had been hung up there in punishment for some misdeed.

Very timidly at first they stuck out their heads and sniffed

about carefully. But as nothing stirred, all trooped joyfully out

to celebrate the death of the Cat.



Just then the Cat let go his hold, and before the Mice recovered

from their surprise, he had made an end of three or four.



Now the Mice kept more strictly at home than ever. But the Cat,

who was still hungry for Mice, knew more tricks than one. Rolling

himself in flour until he was covered completely, he lay down in

the flour bin, with one eye open for the Mice.



Sure enough, the Mice soon began to come out. To the Cat it was

almost as if he already had a plump young Mouse under his claws,

when an old Rat, who had had much experience with Cats and traps,

and had even lost a part of his tail to pay for it, sat up at a

safe distance from a hole in the wall where he lived.



"Take care!" he cried. "That may be a heap of meal, but it looks

to me very much like the Cat. Whatever it is, it is wisest to

keep at a safe distance."



_The wise do not let themselves be tricked a second time._









THE FOX AND THE CROW





One bright morning as the Fox was following his sharp nose

through the wood in search of a bite to eat, he saw a Crow on the

limb of a tree overhead. This was by no means the first Crow the

Fox had ever seen. What caught his attention this time and made

him stop for a second look, was that the lucky Crow held a bit of

cheese in her beak.



"No need to search any farther," thought sly Master Fox. "Here is

a dainty bite for my breakfast."



Up he trotted to the foot of the tree in which the Crow was

sitting, and looking up admiringly, he cried, "Good-morning,

beautiful creature!"



The Crow, her head cocked on one side, watched the Fox

suspiciously. But she kept her beak tightly closed on the cheese

and did not return his greeting.



"What a charming creature she is!" said the Fox. "How her

feathers shine! What a beautiful form and what splendid wings!

Such a wonderful Bird should have a very lovely voice, since

everything else about her is so perfect. Could she sing just one

song, I know I should hail her Queen of Birds."



[Illustration]



Listening to these flattering words, the Crow forgot all her

suspicion, and also her breakfast. She wanted very much to be

called Queen of Birds.



So she opened her beak wide to utter her loudest caw, and down

fell the cheese straight into the Fox's open mouth.



"Thank you," said Master Fox sweetly, as he walked off. "Though

it is cracked, you have a voice sure enough. But where are your

wits?"



_The flatterer lives at the expense of those who will listen to

him._



[Illustration]









THE ASS AND ITS SHADOW





A Traveler had hired an Ass to carry him to a distant part of the

country. The owner of the Ass went with the Traveler, walking

beside him to drive the Ass and point out the way.



The road led across a treeless plain where the Sun beat down

fiercely. So intense did the heat become, that the Traveler at

last decided to stop for a rest, and as there was no other shade

to be found, the Traveler sat down in the shadow of the Ass.



Now the heat had affected the Driver as much as it had the

Traveler, and even more, for he had been walking. Wishing also to

rest in the shade cast by the Ass, he began to quarrel with the

Traveler, saying he had hired the Ass and not the shadow it cast.



The two soon came to blows, and while they were fighting, the Ass

took to its heels.



_In quarreling about the shadow we often lose the substance._









THE MILLER, HIS SON, AND THE ASS





One day, a long time ago, an old Miller and his Son were on their

way to market with an Ass which they hoped to sell. They drove

him very slowly, for they thought they would have a better chance

to sell him if they kept him in good condition. As they walked

along the highway some travelers laughed loudly at them.



"What foolishness," cried one, "to walk when they might as well

ride. The most stupid of the three is not the one you would

expect it to be."



The Miller did not like to be laughed at, so he told his son to

climb up and ride.



They had gone a little farther along the road, when three

merchants passed by.



"Oho, what have we here?" they cried. "Respect old age, young

man! Get down, and let the old man ride."



Though the Miller was not tired, he made the boy get down and

climbed up himself to ride, just to please the Merchants.



At the next turnstile they overtook some women carrying market

baskets loaded with vegetables and other things to sell.



"Look at the old fool," exclaimed one of them. "Perched on the

Ass, while that poor boy has to walk."



The Miller felt a bit vexed, but to be agreeable he told the Boy

to climb up behind him.



They had no sooner started out again than a loud shout went up

from another company of people on the road.



"What a crime," cried one, "to load up a poor dumb beast like

that! They look more able to carry the poor creature, than he to

carry them."



[Illustration]



[Illustration]



"They must be on their way to sell the poor thing's hide," said

another.



The Miller and his Son quickly scrambled down, and a short time

later, the market place was thrown into an uproar as the two came

along carrying the Donkey slung from a pole. A great crowd of

people ran out to get a closer look at the strange sight.



The Ass did not dislike being carried, but so many people came up

to point at him and laugh and shout, that he began to kick and

bray, and then, just as they were crossing a bridge, the ropes

that held him gave way, and down he tumbled into the river.



The poor Miller now set out sadly for home. By trying to please

everybody, he had pleased nobody, and lost his Ass besides.



_If you try to please all, you please none._



[Illustration]









THE ANT AND THE DOVE





A Dove saw an Ant fall into a brook. The Ant struggled in vain to

reach the bank, and in pity, the Dove dropped a blade of straw

close beside it. Clinging to the straw like a shipwrecked sailor

to a broken spar, the Ant floated safely to shore.



Soon after, the Ant saw a man getting ready to kill the Dove with

a stone. But just as he cast the stone, the Ant stung him in the

heel, so that the pain made him miss his aim, and the startled

Dove flew to safety in a distant wood.



_A kindness is never wasted._









THE MAN AND THE SATYR





A long time ago a Man met a Satyr in the forest and succeeded in

making friends with him. The two soon became the best of

comrades, living together in the Man's hut. But one cold winter

evening, as they were walking homeward, the Satyr saw the Man

blow on his fingers.



"Why do you do that?" asked the Satyr.



"To warm my hands," the Man replied.



When they reached home the Man prepared two bowls of porridge.

These he placed steaming hot on the table, and the comrades sat

down very cheerfully to enjoy the meal. But much to the Satyr's

surprise, the Man began to blow into his bowl of porridge.



"Why do you do that?" he asked.



"To cool my porridge," replied the Man.



The Satyr sprang hurriedly to his feet and made for the door.



"Goodby," he said, "I've seen enough. A fellow that blows hot and

cold in the same breath cannot be friends with me!"



_The man who talks for both sides is not to be trusted by

either._



[Illustration: THE MAN AND THE SATYR]



[Illustration]









THE WOLF, THE KID, AND THE GOAT





Mother Goat was going to market one morning to get provisions for

her household, which consisted of but one little Kid and herself.



"Take good care of the house, my son," she said to the Kid, as

she carefully latched the door. "Do not let anyone in, unless he

gives you this password: 'Down with the Wolf and all his race!'"



Strangely enough, a Wolf was lurking near and heard what the Goat

had said. So, as soon as Mother Goat was out of sight, up he

trotted to the door and knocked.



"Down with the Wolf and all his race," said the Wolf softly.



It was the right password, but when the Kid peeped through a

crack in the door and saw the shadowy figure outside, he did not

feel at all easy.



"Show me a white paw," he said, "or I won't let you in."



A white paw, of course, is a feature few Wolves can show, and so

Master Wolf had to go away as hungry as he had come.



"You can never be too sure," said the Kid, when he saw the Wolf

making off to the woods.



_Two sureties are better than one._









THE SWALLOW AND THE CROW





The Swallow and the Crow had an argument one day about their

plumage.



Said the Swallow: "Just look at my bright and downy feathers.

Your black stiff quills are not worth having. Why don't you dress

better? Show a little pride!"



"Your feathers may do very well in spring," replied the Crow,

"but--I don't remember ever having seen you around in winter, and

that's when I enjoy myself most."



_Friends in fine weather only, are not worth much._



[Illustration]









JUPITER AND THE MONKEY





There was once a baby show among the Animals in the forest.

Jupiter provided the prize. Of course all the proud mammas from

far and near brought their babies. But none got there earlier

than Mother Monkey. Proudly she presented her baby among the

other contestants.



As you can imagine, there was quite a laugh when the Animals saw

the ugly flat-nosed, hairless, pop-eyed little creature.



"Laugh if you will," said the Mother Monkey. "Though Jupiter may

not give him the prize, I know that he is the prettiest, the

sweetest, the dearest darling in the world."



_Mother love is blind._









THE LION, THE ASS, AND THE FOX





A Lion, an Ass, and a Fox were hunting in company, and caught a

large quantity of game. The Ass was asked to divide the spoil.

This he did very fairly, giving each an equal share.



The Fox was well satisfied, but the Lion flew into a great rage

over it, and with one stroke of his huge paw, he added the Ass to

the pile of slain.



Then he turned to the Fox.



"You divide it," he roared angrily.



The Fox wasted no time in talking. He quickly piled all the game

into one great heap. From this he took a very small portion for

himself, such undesirable bits as the horns and hoofs of a

mountain goat, and the end of an ox tail.



The Lion now recovered his good humor entirely.



"Who taught you to divide so fairly?" he asked pleasantly.



"I learned a lesson from the Ass," replied the Fox, carefully

edging away.



_Learn from the misfortunes of others._



[Illustration]









THE LION'S SHARE





A long time ago, the Lion, the Fox, the Jackal, and the Wolf

agreed to go hunting together, sharing with each other whatever

they found.



One day the Wolf ran down a Stag and immediately called his

comrades to divide the spoil.



Without being asked, the Lion placed himself at the head of the

feast to do the carving, and, with a great show of fairness,

began to count the guests.



"One," he said, counting on his claws, "that is myself the Lion.

Two, that's the Wolf, three, is the Jackal, and the Fox makes

four."



[Illustration]



He then very carefully divided the Stag into four equal parts.



"I am King Lion," he said, when he had finished, "so of course I

get the first part. This next part falls to me because I am the

strongest; and _this_ is mine because I am the bravest."



He now began to glare at the others very savagely. "If any of you

have any claim to the part that is left," he growled, stretching

his claws meaningly, "now is the time to speak up."



_Might makes right._









THE MOLE AND HIS MOTHER





A little Mole once said to his Mother:



"Why, Mother, you said I was blind! But I am sure I can see!"



Mother Mole saw she would have to get such conceit out of his

head. So she put a bit of frankincense before him and asked him

to tell what it was.



The little Mole peered at it.



"Why, that's a pebble!"



"Well, my son, that proves you've lost your sense of smell as

well as being blind."



_Boast of one thing and you will be found lacking in that and a

few other things as well._



[Illustration]









THE NORTH WIND AND THE SUN





The North Wind and the Sun had a quarrel about which of them was

the stronger. While they were disputing with much heat and

bluster, a Traveler passed along the road wrapped in a cloak.



"Let us agree," said the Sun, "that he is the stronger who can

strip that Traveler of his cloak."



"Very well," growled the North Wind, and at once sent a cold,

howling blast against the Traveler.



With the first gust of wind the ends of the cloak whipped about

the Traveler's body. But he immediately wrapped it closely around

him, and the harder the Wind blew, the tighter he held it to him.

The North Wind tore angrily at the cloak, but all his efforts

were in vain.



Then the Sun began to shine. At first his beams were gentle, and

in the pleasant warmth after the bitter cold of the North Wind,

the Traveler unfastened his cloak and let it hang loosely from

his shoulders. The Sun's rays grew warmer and warmer. The man

took off his cap and mopped his brow. At last he became so heated

that he pulled off his cloak, and, to escape the blazing

sunshine, threw himself down in the welcome shade of a tree by

the roadside.



_Gentleness and kind persuasion win where force and bluster

fail._



[Illustration]



[Illustration]









THE HARE AND HIS EARS





The Lion had been badly hurt by the horns of a Goat, which he was

eating. He was very angry to think that any animal that he chose

for a meal, should be so brazen as to wear such dangerous things

as horns to scratch him while he ate. So he commanded that all

animals with horns should leave his domains within twenty-four

hours.



The command struck terror among the beasts. All those who were so

unfortunate as to have horns, began to pack up and move out. Even

the Hare, who, as you know, has no horns and so had nothing to

fear, passed a very restless night, dreaming awful dreams about

the fearful Lion.



And when he came out of the warren in the early morning sunshine,

and there saw the shadow cast by his long and pointed ears, a

terrible fright seized him.



"Goodby, neighbor Cricket," he called. "I'm off. He will

certainly make out that my ears are horns, no matter what I say."



_Do not give your enemies the slightest reason to attack your

reputation._



_Your enemies will seize any excuse to attack you._









THE WOLVES AND THE SHEEP





A pack of Wolves lurked near the Sheep pasture. But the Dogs kept

them all at a respectful distance, and the Sheep grazed in

perfect safety. But now the Wolves thought of a plan to trick the

Sheep.



"Why is there always this hostility between us?" they said. "If

it were not for those Dogs who are always stirring up trouble, I

am sure we should get along beautifully. Send them away and you

will see what good friends we shall become."



The Sheep were easily fooled. They persuaded the Dogs to go away,

and that very evening the Wolves had the grandest feast of their

lives.



_Do not give up friends for foes._









THE COCK AND THE FOX





A Fox was caught in a trap one fine morning, because he had got

too near the Farmer's hen house. No doubt he was hungry, but that

was not an excuse for stealing. A Cock, rising early, discovered

what had happened. He knew the Fox could not get at him, so he

went a little closer to get a good look at his enemy.



The Fox saw a slender chance of escape.



"Dear friend," he said, "I was just on my way to visit a sick

relative, when I stumbled into this string and got all tangled

up. But please do not tell anybody about it. I dislike causing

sorrow to anybody, and I am sure I can soon gnaw this string to

pieces."



But the Cock was not to be so easily fooled. He soon roused the

whole hen yard, and when the Farmer came running out, that was

the end of Mr. Fox.



_The wicked deserve no aid._









THE ASS IN THE LION'S SKIN





An Ass found a Lion's skin left in the forest by a hunter. He

dressed himself in it, and amused himself by hiding in a thicket

and rushing out suddenly at the animals who passed that way. All

took to their heels the moment they saw him.



[Illustration]



The Ass was so pleased to see the animals running away from him,

just as if he were King Lion himself, that he could not keep from

expressing his delight by a loud, harsh bray. A Fox, who ran with

the rest, stopped short as soon as he heard the voice. Approaching

the Ass, he said with a laugh:



"If you had kept your mouth shut you might have frightened me,

too. But you gave yourself away with that silly bray."



_A fool may deceive by his dress and appearance, but his words

will soon show what he really is._



[Illustration]









THE FISHERMAN AND THE LITTLE FISH





A poor Fisherman, who lived on the fish he caught, had bad luck

one day and caught nothing but a very small fry. The Fisherman

was about to put it in his basket when the little Fish said:



"Please spare me, Mr. Fisherman! I am so small it is not worth

while to carry me home. When I am bigger, I shall make you a much

better meal."



But the Fisherman quickly put the fish into his basket.



"How foolish I should be," he said, "to throw you back. However

small you may be, you are better than nothing at all."



_A small gain is worth more than a large promise._









THE FIGHTING COCKS AND THE EAGLE





Once there were two Cocks living in the same farmyard who could

not bear the sight of each other. At last one day they flew up to

fight it out, beak and claw. They fought until one of them was

beaten and crawled off to a corner to hide.



The Cock that had won the battle flew to the top of the

hen-house, and, proudly flapping his wings, crowed with all his

might to tell the world about his victory. But an Eagle, circling

overhead, heard the boasting chanticleer and, swooping down,

carried him off to his nest.



His rival saw the deed, and coming out of his corner, took his

place as master of the farmyard.



_Pride goes before a fall._



[Illustration]