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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:54:10 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:54:10 -0700 |
| commit | 6e039cfe1b8e60f1b0714c7ee0d6ed686c13f719 (patch) | |
| tree | 37370e65568df5279ff8b81ceb905925090dafdf /30635-h | |
Diffstat (limited to '30635-h')
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diff --git a/30635-h/30635-h.htm b/30635-h/30635-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e8ef8e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/30635-h/30635-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8152 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Talking Thrush, by W. Crooke. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + table.camel {width: 600px; text-align: center; background-image: + url("images/i_048.png"); background-repeat: no-repeat;} + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + .copyright {text-align: center; font-size: 70%;} + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + .blockquot2 {margin-left: 40%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold; font-size: 70%;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: + 0; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .right {text-align: right;} + .poem {margin-left: 30%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: left;} + .poem2 {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: left;} + .sig {margin-right: 10%; text-align: right;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; right: 14%;} /* poetry number */ + .notes {position: absolute; top: auto; right: 2%;} + + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align:baseline; + position: relative; + bottom: 0.33em; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none;} + .hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + .cap:first-letter {float: left; clear: left; margin: -0.2em 0.1em 0; margin-top: 0%; + padding: 0; line-height: .75em; font-size: 300%; text-align: justify;} + .cap {text-align: justify;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Talking Thrush, by William Crooke and W. H. D. Rouse + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Talking Thrush + and Other Tales from India + +Author: William Crooke + W. H. D. Rouse + +Illustrator: W. Heath Robinson + +Release Date: December 9, 2009 [EBook #30635] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALKING THRUSH *** + + + + +Produced by Chris Curnow, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Note:</h3> +<p>Varied accenting was retained. This hyphenation was so varied that images of the original "<a href="#Notes">Notes</a>" pages +were included in the this version. You may see these images by clicking on the pages numbers.</p></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 423px;"><br /> +<img src="images/i_cover.jpg" width="423" height="600" alt="Cover" title="" /> +</div> +<p><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[ii]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h1>The Talking Thrush</h1> + +<h2>And Other Tales from India</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[iv]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 354px;"> +<img src="images/i_005.png" width="354" height="500" alt=""A Crow is a Crow for ever."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"A Crow is a Crow for ever."</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 424px;"> +<img src="images/i_006.jpg" width="424" height="600" alt="Title Page" title="" /> +</div> + +<h1>The Talking Thrush</h1> + +<h2>And Other Tales from India<br /> +Collected by W·CROOKE<br /> +And Retold by<br /> +W·H·DROUSE<br /> +<br /> +Illustrated by W·H·Robinson.</h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +New York: E. P. Dutton & Co.<br /> +London: J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd.<br /> +<br /> +1922<br /></div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class='copyright'> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Printings"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">First Published </span></td><td align='left'><i>October 1899</i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Reprinted</span></td><td align='left'><i>July 1902; October 1922</i></td></tr> +</table></div><br /> +<i>All rights reserved</i><br /> +<br /> +PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN<br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i_008.png" width="500" height="277" alt="Two men leaning against each other, one reading" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>Preface</h2> + + +<div class='cap'>THE stories contained in this little book are only +a small part of a large collection of Indian +folk-tales, made by Mr. Crooke in the course +of the Ethnological Survey of the North-West Provinces +and Oudh. Some were recorded by the +collector from the lips of the jungle-folk of Mirzápur; +others by his native assistant, Pandit Rámgharíb +Chaubé. Besides these, a large number were received +from all parts of the Provinces in response to a circular +issued by Mr. J. C. Nesfield, the Director of Public +Instruction, to all teachers of village schools.</div> + +<p>The present selection is confined to the Beast Stories, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span>which are particularly interesting as being mostly indigenous +and little affected by so-called Aryan influence. +Most of them are new, or have been published only +in the <i>North Indian Notes and Queries</i> (referred to as +<i>N.I.N.Q.</i>).</p> + +<div class='center'> In the re-telling, for which Mr. Rouse is responsible, +a number of changes have been made. The text of +the book is meant for children, and consequently the +first aim has been to make an interesting story. Those +who study folk-tales for any scientific purpose will +find all such changes marked in the Notes. If the +change is considerable, the original document is +summarised. It should be added that these documents +are merely brief Notes in themselves, without +literary interest. The Notes also give<br /> +the source of each tale, and a few<br /> +obvious parallels, or references<br /> +to the literature<br /> +of the subject.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i_010.png" width="500" height="241" alt="man writing in book" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<h2>Contents</h2> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='right'><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Talking Thrush</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Rabbit and the Monkey</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_8">8</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Sparrow's Revenge</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_16">16</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Judgment of the Jackal</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_21">21</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">How the Mouse got into his Hole</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">King Solomon and the Owl</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_30">30</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Camel's Neck</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_33">33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Quail and the Fowler</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_36">36</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The King of the Kites</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_39">39</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Jackal and the Camel</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_43">43</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Wise Old Shepherd</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_47">47</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Beware of Bad Company</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_53">53</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Foolish Wolf</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_55">55</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[x]</a></span><span class="smcap">Reflected Glory</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_58">58</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Cat and the Sparrows</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Foolish Fish</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_65">65</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Clever Goat</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_72">72</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Crow is a Crow for Ever</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_76">76</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Grateful Goat</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Cunning Jackal; or, The Biter Bit</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Farmer's Ass</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_89">89</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Parrot Judge</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Frog and the Snake</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_97">97</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Little Miss Mouse and her Friends</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_101">101</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Jackal that Lost his Tail</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Wily Tortoise</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_110">110</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The King of the Mice</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_112">112</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Valiant Blackbird</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_117">117</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Goat and the Hog</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_123">123</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Parrot and the Parson</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_127">127</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Lion and the Hare</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_130">130</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Monkey's Bargains</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_132">132</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Monkey's Rebuke</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_139">139</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Bull and the Bullfinch</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_145">145</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Swan and the Crow</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_150">150</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Pride shall have a Fall</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Kid and the Tiger</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_160">160</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Stag, the Crow, and the Jackal</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_166">166</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[xi]</a></span><span class="smcap">The Monkey and the Crows</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_170">170</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Swan and the Paddy-bird</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_173">173</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">What is a Man?</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_176">176</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Wound and the Scar</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_182">182</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Cat and the Parrot</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_186">186</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>NOTES</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_195">195</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 148px;"> +<img src="images/i_012.png" width="148" height="210" alt="Man reading book" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii">[xiii]</a></span></p> + +<h2>List of Illustrations</h2> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="List of Illustrations"> +<tr><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">A Crow is a Crow for Ever</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_iv"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='right'><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Title-page</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_v">v</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Preface</span>: Headpiece</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_vii">vii</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Contents</span>: Headpiece</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_ix">ix</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">" Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_xi">xi</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Talking Thrush</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Rabbit and the Monkey</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_8">8</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Man with Bamboo Pole</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">"Sit in front of that Man"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_15">15</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Sparrow's Revenge</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">"Up jumped the Boy, and out he ran"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Judgment of the Jackal</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_21">21</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">"The Merchant was much dismayed"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_22">22</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">"And away they went"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_23">23</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">How the Mouse got into his Hole</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">King Solomon and the Owl</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_30">30</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_32">32</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Camel's Neck</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Headpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_33">33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Quail and the Fowler</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Headpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_36">36</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_38">38</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiv" id="Page_xiv">[xiv]</a></span><span class="smcap">The King of the Kites</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_39">39</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">"The Frog turned up his flat nose"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_41">41</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Jackal and the Camel</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_46">46</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Wise Old Shepherd</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_47">47</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">The Fifth Shepherd</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_51">51</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_52">52</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Beware of Bad Company</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_53">53</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Cat and the Sparrows</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">"Just at that moment up came a Cat"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_63">63</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_64">64</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Foolish Fish</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_65">65</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_71">71</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Clever Goat</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_75">75</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Crow is a Crow for Ever</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">"And took him home to the Palace"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_80">80</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Grateful Goat</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_84">84</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Cunning Jackal</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Farmer's Ass</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">"He shaved off every scrap of hair from his head"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_89">89</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">"It was not easy to get their hair back again"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_92">92</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_92">92</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xv" id="Page_xv">[xv]</a></span><span class="smcap">The Parrot Judge:</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">The Parrot in Court</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_95">95</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_96">96</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Frog and the Snake:</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_98">98</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">"He saw a Frog swimming on the top of the water"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Little Miss Mouse and her Friends:</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_104">104</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Jackal that Lost his Tail:</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">"Suddenly cut off the Jackal's tail"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_106">106</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_109">109</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Wily Tortoise:</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_110">110</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_111">111</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Valiant Blackbird:</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">"He sent a Fowler to catch him"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_117">117</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_122">122</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Goat and the Hog:</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">A Demon</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_123">123</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_126">126</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Parrot and the Parson:</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_127">127</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_129">129</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Lion and the Hare:</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_130">130</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_131">131</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Monkey's Bargains:</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_132">132</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Monkey's Rebuke:</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">"Oft had this Monkey seen the Milkman pour water into the Milk-cans"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_140">140</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">"Then after a while he came to a Pond"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_141">141</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_144">144</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xvi" id="Page_xvi">[xvi]</a></span><span class="smcap">The Bull and the Bullfinch</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_145">145</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_149">149</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Swan and the Crow</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_150">150</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">"Hm, hm," said the Judge, looking at the Crow</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_153">153</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_155">155</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Pride shall have a Fall</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_159">159</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Kid and the Tiger</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_160">160</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Stag, the Crow, and the Jackal</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_166">166</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_169">169</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Monkey and the Crows</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">"O Monkey, what a fool you must be!"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_172">172</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Swan and the Paddy-bird</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_173">173</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_175">175</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">What is a Man</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">"He espied an Elephant"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_178">178</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">"I am a Man," said the other</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_180">180</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Wound and the Scar</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Initial</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_182">182</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">Tailpiece</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_185">185</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Cat and the Parrot</span>:</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">"The Cat said to the Parrot, Come, friend"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 4em;">"An old woman happened to be near"</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_191">191</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Finis</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_218">218</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_Talking_Thrush" id="The_Talking_Thrush"></a>The Talking Thrush</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n1">[Notes]</a></span></div> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 132px;"> +<img src="images/i_016.png" width="132" height="175" alt="A" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'> CERTAIN man had a garden, and in his +garden he sowed cotton seeds. By-and-by +the cotton seeds grew up into a cotton +bush, with big brown pods upon it. +These pods burst open when they are +ripe; and you can see the fluffy white +cotton bulging all white out of the +pods. There was a Thrush in this garden, and the +Thrush thought within herself how nice and soft the +cotton looked. She plucked out some of it to line her +nest with; and never before was her sleep so soft as +it was on that bed of cotton.</div> + +<p>Now this Thrush had a clever head; so she thought +something more might be done with cotton besides lining +a nest. In her flights abroad she used often to pass by +the door of a Cotton-carder. The Cotton-carder had a +thing like a bow, made of a piece of wood, and a thong +of leather tying the ends together into a curve. He +used to take the cotton, and pile it in a heap; then +he took the carding-bow, and twang-twang-twanged it +among the heap of cotton, so that the fibres or threads +of it became disentangled. Then he rolled it up into +oblong balls, and sold it to other people, who made +it into thread.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Thrush often watched the Cotton-carder at work. +Every day after dinner, she went to the cotton tree, and +plucked out a fluff of cotton in her beak and hid it away. +She went on doing this till at last she had quite a little +heap of cotton all of her own. At least, it was not really +her own, because she stole it; but then you cannot get +policemen to take up a Thrush for stealing, and as men +catch Thrushes and put them in a cage all for nothing, it +is only fair the birds should have their turn.</p> + +<p>When the heap of cotton was big enough, our Thrush +flew to the house of the Cotton-carder, and sat down in +front of him.</p> + +<p>"Good day, Man," said the Thrush.</p> + +<p>"Good day, Birdie," said the Cotton-carder. The +Thrush was not a bit afraid, because she knew he was +a kind man, who never caught little birds to put them +in a cage. He liked better to hear them singing free +in the woods.</p> + +<p>"Man," said the Thrush, "I have a heap of beautiful +cotton, and I'll tell you what. You shall have half of +it, if you will card the rest and make it up into balls +for me."</p> + +<p>"That I will," said the man; "where is it?"</p> + +<p>"If you will come with me," said the Thrush, "I'll +show you."</p> + +<p>So the Thrush flew in front, and the man followed +after, and they came to the place where the hoard of +cotton was hidden away. The man took the cotton +home, and carded it, and made it into balls. Half of +the cotton he took for his trouble, and the rest he gave +back to the Thrush. He was so honest that he did not +cheat even a bird, although he could easily have done<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +so. For birds cannot count: and if you find a nest +full of eggs, and take one or two, the mother-bird will +never miss them; but if you take all, the bird is unhappy.</p> + +<p>Not far away from the Carder lived a Spinner. This +man used to put a ball of cotton on a stick, and then he +pulled out a bit of the cotton without breaking it, and +tied it to another little stick with a weight on it. Then +he twisted the weight, and set it a-spinning; and as it +span, he held the cotton ball in one hand, and pulled +out the cotton with the other, working it between finger +and thumb to keep it fine. Thus the spindle went on +spinning, and the cotton went on twisting, until it was +twisted into thread. That is why the man was called a +Spinner. It looks very easy to do, when you can do it; +but it is really very hard to do well.</p> + +<p>To this Spinner the Thrush came, and after bidding +him good day, said she—</p> + +<p>"Mr. Spinner, I have some balls of cotton all ready +to spin into thread. Will you spin one half of them into +thread for me, if I give you the other half?"</p> + +<p>"That I will," said Mr. Spinner; and away they +went to find the cotton balls, Thrush first and Spinner +following.</p> + +<p>In a very few days the Spinner had spun all the +cotton into the finest thread. Then he took a pair of +scales, and weighed it into two equal parts (he was +an honest man, too): half he kept for himself, and the +other half he gave to the Thrush.</p> + +<p>The next thing this clever Thrush did was to fly to the +house of a Weaver. The Weaver used to buy thread, and +fasten a number of threads to a wooden frame, called a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +loom, which was made of two upright posts, with another +bar fastened across the top. The threads were hung to +the cross-bar, and a little stone was tied to the bottom of +each, to keep it steady. Then the Weaver wound some +more thread around a long stick called a shuttle; and +the shuttle he pushed in front of one thread and behind +the next, until it had gone right across the whole of the +threads, in and out. Then he pushed it back in the same +way, and after a bit, the upright threads and the cross-threads +were woven together and made a piece of cloth.</p> + +<p>The Thrush flew down to the Weaver, and they made +the same bargain as before. The Weaver wove all the +thread into pieces of cloth, and half he kept for himself, +but the other half he returned to the Thrush.</p> + +<p>So now the Thrush had some beautiful cloth, and I +dare say you wonder what she wanted it for. As you +have not been inquisitive, I will tell you: she wanted +clothes to dress herself. The Thrush had noticed that +men and women walking about wore clothes, and being +an ambitious Thrush, and eager to rise in the world, she +felt it would not be proper to go about without any +clothes on. So she now went to a Tailor, and said to +him—</p> + +<p>"Good Mr. Tailor, I have some pieces of very fine +cloth, and I should be much obliged if you would make +a part of it into clothes for me. You shall have one half +of the cloth for your trouble."</p> + +<p>The Tailor was very glad of this job, as times were +slack. So he took the cloth, and at once set to work. +Half of it he made into a beautiful dress for the Thrush, +with a skirt and jacket, and sleeves in the latest fashion; +and as there was a little cloth left over, and he was an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +honest Tailor, he made her also a pretty little hat to +put on her head.</p> + +<p>Then the Thrush was indeed delighted, and felt there +was little more to desire in the world. She put on her +skirt, and her jacket with fashionable sleeves, and the +little hat, and looked at her image in a river, and was +mightily pleased with herself. Now she became so +vain that nothing would do, but she must show herself +to the King.</p> + +<p>So she flew and flew, and away she flew, until she +came to the King's palace. Into the King's palace she +flew, and into the great hall where the King sat and +the Queen and all the courtiers. There was a peg high +up on the wall, and the Thrush perched on this peg, +and began to sing.</p> + +<p>"Oh, look there!" cried the Queen, who was the first +to see this wonderful sight—"see, a Thrush in a jacket +and skirt and a pretty hat!"</p> + +<p>Everybody looked at the Thrush singing on her peg, +and clapped their hands.</p> + +<p>"Come here, Birdie," said the King, "and show the +Queen your pretty clothes."</p> + +<p>The Thrush felt highly flattered, and flew down upon +the table, and took off her jacket to show the Queen. +Then she flew back to her peg, and watched to see what +would happen.</p> + +<p>The Queen turned over the jacket in her hand, and +laughed. Then she folded it up, and put it in her +pocket.</p> + +<p>"Give me my jacket!" twittered the Thrush. "I +shall catch cold, and besides, it is not proper for a lady +to be seen without a jacket."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then they all laughed, and the King said, "Come +here, Mistress Thrush, and you shall have your jacket."</p> + +<p>Down flew the Thrush upon the table again; but +the King caught her, and held her fast.</p> + +<p>"Let me go!" squeaked the Thrush, struggling to +get free.</p> + +<p>But the King would not let her go. I am afraid that +although he was a King, he was not so honest as the +Carder or the Spinner, and cared less for his word than +the Weaver and the Tailor.</p> + +<p>"Greedy King," said the Thrush, "to covet my little +jacket!"</p> + +<p>"I covet more than your jacket," said the King; "I +covet you, and I am going to chop you up into little +bits."</p> + +<p>Then he began to chop her up into bits. As she +was being chopped up, the Thrush said, "The King +snips and cuts like a Tailor, but he is not so honest!"</p> + +<p>When the King had finished chopping her up, he +began to wash the pieces. And each piece, as he washed +it, called out, "The King scours and scrubs like a +washerwoman, but he is not so honest!"</p> + +<p>Then the King put the pieces of the Thrush into a +frying-pan with oil, and began to fry them. But the +pieces went on calling out, "The King is like a cook, +frying and sputtering, but he is not so honest!"</p> + +<p>When she was fried, the King ate her up. From +within the body of the King still the Thrush kept calling +out, "I am inside the King! It is just like the inside +of any other man, only not so honest!"</p> + +<p>The King became like a walking musical-box, and he +did not like it at all, but it was his own fault. Wherever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +he went, everybody heard the Thrush crying out from +inside the King, "Just like any other man, only not so +honest!" Everybody that heard this began to despise +the King.</p> + +<p>At last the King could stand it no longer. He sent +for his doctor, and said, "Doctor, you must cut this +talking bird out of me."</p> + +<p>"Your majesty will die, if I do," said the Doctor.</p> + +<p>"I shall die if you don't," answered the King, "for I +cannot endure being made a fool of."</p> + +<div class='center'> +So there was nothing for it: the Doctor took his<br /> +knives, and made a hole in the King, and pulled out the<br /> +Thrush. Strange to say, the pieces of the Thrush had all<br /> +joined together again, and away she flew; but her beautiful<br /> +clothes were all gone. However, it was a lesson she<br /> +never forgot; and after that, she slept soft in her nest<br /> +of cotton, and never again tried to ape her betters. As<br /> +for the King, he died; and a good riddance too.<br /> +His son became king in his stead; and all<br /> +life long he remembered his father's<br /> +miserable death, and kept all his<br /> +promises to men, and beasts,<br /> +and birds.<br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="The_Rabbit_and_the_Monkey" id="The_Rabbit_and_the_Monkey"></a>The Rabbit and the Monkey</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n2">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 145px;"> +<img src="images/i_023.png" width="145" height="200" alt="O" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'>NCE upon a time, there lived in the +mountains a Rabbit and a Monkey, +who were great friends. One day, +as they sat by the roadside hobnobbing +together, who should come +by but a man with a bamboo pole +over his shoulder, and at each end +of the pole was a bundle hung to a +string; and there were plantains in +one bundle, and sugar in the other.</div> + +<p>Said the Monkey to the Rabbit, "Friend of my +heart, do as I shall tell you. Go and sit upon the +road in front of that man, and as soon as he sees +you, run—he is sure to drop his load and follow. +Then I will pick up his load, and hide it safely; and +when you come back, we will share it together."</p> + +<p>No sooner said than done: the Rabbit ran, and +the man dropped his burden and ran after him; while +the Monkey, who had been hiding in the tall grass +by the wayside, pounced upon the sugar and the +plantains, and climbed up into a tree, and began to +gobble them up at his leisure.</p> + +<p>By-and-by the man came back, hot and empty-handed, +and finding that his goods were gone as well<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +as the Rabbit, cursed loudly, and went home to be +scolded by his wife.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i_024.png" width="500" height="344" alt="Man with pole carrying burdens" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Soon the Rabbit came back too, and began hunting +about for his friend the Monkey. High and low he +searched, and not a trace could he find; till he happened +to cast his eyes aloft, and lo and behold, there was +Mr. Monkey up in a tree, munching away with every +sign of enjoyment.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, friend," said he, "come down out of +that."</p> + +<p>"I'm very comfortable here, thank you," said the +Monkey.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But where's my share?" asked the Rabbit indignantly.</p> + +<p>"All gone, all gone," mumbled the Monkey, and +pelted him with the plantain-peel and balls of paper +made out of the packets where the sugar had been. +"Why did you stay so long? I got hungry, and could +not wait any longer."</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 367px;"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11"></a> +<img src="images/i_026.png" width="367" height="500" alt="Man talking to rabbit" title="" /> +</div> +<p>The Rabbit thought his friend was joking, and would +not believe it; but it was only too true—the greedy +creature had not left a scrap.</p> + +<p>"Do you really mean it?" said the poor Rabbit.</p> + +<p>"If you don't believe me, come and see," said the +Monkey, and seizing the Rabbit by his long ears, he +hauled him up into the tree; and after mocking him, +and making great game, he left him there, and went +away.</p> + +<p>Now the Rabbit was afraid to jump down from +such a height, for fear of breaking his neck, so up in +the tree he remained for a long time. Many animals +passed under the tree, but none took pity on the +rabbit, until at last came an old and foolish Rhinoceros, +who rubbed his withered hide against the trunk.</p> + +<p>"Kind Rhinoceros," said the Rabbit, "let me jump +down upon your back."</p> + +<p>The Rhinoceros, being a simple creature, agreed. +Down came the Rabbit, with such a thud, that the +Rhinoceros fell on his stupid old nose, and broke his +fat old neck, and died.</p> + + + +<p>The Rabbit ran away, and away he ran, until he +came to the King's palace; and he hid under the King's +golden throne. By-and-by in came the King, and in +came the court; all the grandees stood around in their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +golden robes, glittering with rubies and diamonds, and +their swords were girt about their waists. Suddenly +they all heard a terrific sneeze!</p> + +<p>Everybody said, "God bless you," while the King +thundered out: "Who has the bad manners to sneeze +in the King's presence?" Everybody looked at his +neighbour, and wondered who did it. "Off with his +head," shouted the King.</p> + +<p>Another sneeze came. This time, however, everybody +was on the watch, and they noticed that the +sound came from under the King's golden throne. So +they dived in, and lugged out the Rabbit, looking more +dead than alive.</p> + +<p>"All right," said the King, "off with his head." The +executioner ran to get his sword.</p> + +<p>But our friend the Rabbit, for all he was frightened, +had his wits about him; and sitting up on his hind-legs, +and putting his two fore-paws together, he said +respectfully, "O great King, strike, but hear. If thou +wilt send a score of men with me, I will give thee a +dead Rhinoceros."</p> + +<p>The King laughed, the courtiers laughed loud and +long. However, just to see what would come of it, +the King gave him a score of men.</p> + +<p>The Rabbit led them to the place where the Rhinoceros +fell on his stupid old nose, and there he lay +dead. With great difficulty the men dragged the +Rhinoceros home. They were very pleased to get a +Rhinoceros, because his horn is good for curing +many diseases, and the court physician ground his +horn into powder, and made out of it a most wonderful +medicine. And the King was so pleased, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +he gave the Rabbit a fine new coat, and a horse to +ride on.</p> + +<p>So the Rabbit put on his fine coat, and got on the +back of his horse, and rode off.</p> + +<p>On the way, who should meet him but his friend +the Monkey.</p> + +<p>"Hullo!" says the Monkey, "where did you get all +that finery?"</p> + +<p>"The King gave it to me," says the Rabbit.</p> + +<p>Says the Monkey, "And why should the King give +all this to a fool like you?"</p> + +<p>The Rabbit replied, "I, whom you call a fool, got +it by sneezing under the King's golden throne; such +a lucky sneeze, that the soothsayers prophesied to +the King long life and many sons!" Then he rode +away.</p> + +<p>The Monkey fell a-thinking how nice it would be +if he could get a fine coat and horse as the Rabbit had +done. "I can sneeze," thought he; "what if I try my +luck?"</p> + +<p>So he scampered away, and away he scampered, till +he came to the King's palace, and hid himself under the +King's golden throne. When the King came in, and all +his courtiers, in gorgeous array as before, our Monkey +underneath the throne sneezed in the most auspicious +manner he could contrive.</p> + +<p>"Who is that?" thundered the King, glaring about +him. "Who has the bad manners to sneeze in the +King's presence?"</p> + +<p>They searched about until they found the Monkey +hidden under the throne, and hauled him out.</p> + +<p>"What hast thou, wily tree-climber," asked the King,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +"that I should not bid the executioner cut off thy +head?"</p> + +<div class='center'> +The monkey had no answer ready. At last he<br /> +said, "O King, I have some plantain-peel<br /> +and pellets of paper." But<br /> +the King was angry at this,<br /> +and the greedy Monkey<br /> +was led away, and<br /> +his head was<br /> +cut off.<br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 106px;"> +<img src="images/i_030.png" width="106" height="230" alt="King" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_Sparrows_Revenge" id="The_Sparrows_Revenge"></a>The Sparrow's Revenge</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n3">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 174px;"> +<img src="images/i_031-o.png" width="174" height="175" alt="O" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'>NCE there was a pair of Sparrows +that were very fond of each other, +and lived in a nest together as +happy as the day was long. The +hen laid eggs and sat upon them, +and the cock went about picking +up food for them both, and when +he had got food enough, he sat +on a twig close by the nest, and twittered for joy.</div> + +<p>But it happened one day that a boy saw Cock Sparrow +pecking at some seeds, and he picked up a stone and +threw it at him, and killed him. So no food came home +that morning, and Hen Sparrow grew anxious, and at +last set out to find him.</p> + +<p>In a little while she found his dead body lying in a +ditch. She ruffled up her feathers and began to cry. +"Who can have killed him?" she said; "my poor kind +husband, who never did harm to any one." Then a +Raven flew down from a tree, where he had been sitting, +and told her how a cruel boy had thrown a stone at +him and killed him for sport. He saw it, said the Raven, +as he was sitting on the tree.</p> + +<p>Now Hen Sparrow determined to have her revenge.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +She was so much troubled that she left her eggs to +hatch themselves, or to addle if they would; and gathering +some straw, she plaited it into a beautiful straw +carriage, with two old cotton-reels for wheels, and sticks +for the shafts. Then she went to the hole of a Rat who +was a friend of hers, and called down the hole, "Mr. +Rat! Mr. Rat!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mrs. Sparrow," said the Rat, coming out of the +hole and making a polite bow.</p> + +<p>"Some one has thrown a stone at my husband and +killed him. Will you help me to get my revenge?"</p> + +<p>"Why," said the Rat, "how can I help you?"</p> + +<p>"By pulling me along in my carriage," said Mrs. +Sparrow.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes," said the Rat; "that I will." So he went +down into his hole again, and washed his face, and +combed his whiskers, and came up all spick and +span.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Sparrow tied the shafts of the straw carriage +to the Rat, and Mrs. Sparrow got in, and off they +went.</p> + +<p>On the road they met a Scorpion. Said the Scorpion—</p> + +<p>"Whither away, Mrs. Sparrow and Mr. Rat?"</p> + +<p>Said the Hen Sparrow, "My friend Mr. Rat is pulling +me along in my carriage of straw to punish a cruel boy +who threw a stone at my husband and killed him."</p> + +<p>"Quite right too," said the Scorpion. "May I +come and help you? I have a beautiful sting in my +tail."</p> + +<p>"Oh, please do! come and get in," said the +Sparrow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span></p> + +<p>In got the Scorpion, and away they went. By-and-by +they saw a Snake.</p> + +<p>"Good day, and God bless you," says the Snake. +"Where are you going, may a mere reptile ask?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Scorpion and I are going to punish a cruel +boy who threw a stone and killed my husband."</p> + +<p>"Shall I come and help you?" asked the Snake. "I +have fine teeth in my head to bite with."</p> + +<p>"The more the merrier," replied Mrs. Sparrow. So +in he got. They had not gone far before who should +meet them but a Wolf.</p> + +<p>"Hullo," says the Wolf gruffly; "where are you off +to, I should like to know?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Rat is kind enough to draw me in my carriage, +and we are all going to punish a cruel boy who threw +a stone and killed my poor husband."</p> + +<p>"May I come too?" growled the Wolf. "I can bite." +He opened his big jaws and snarled.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how kind you are!" said Mrs. Sparrow. "Do +come! jump in, jump in!"</p> + +<p>The poor Rat looked aghast at such a load to pull; +but he was a gentlemanly Rat, and so, having offered to +pull the carriage, he said nothing.</p> + +<p>So the big Wolf got in, and nearly sat on the Scorpion's +tail; if he had, he wouldn't have sat long, I think. +However, the Scorpion got out of the way, and on they +went all four, the poor Rat pulling with all his might, +but rather slow at that.</p> + +<p>In due time they arrived at the cruel boy's house. +His mother was cooking the dinner, and his father was +fast asleep in a chair. There was a river close by the +house, and the Wolf went down to the river, and hid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +himself there; the Snake crawled among the peats, and +the Scorpion began to climb up into the chair where +the man was sleeping.</p> + +<p>Then Mrs. Hen Sparrow flew in at the door and +twittered—</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 280px;"> +<img src="images/i_034.png" width="280" height="400" alt="The boy ran" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Little boy! Little boy! There's a fish biting at +your night-line!"</p> + +<p>Up jumped the boy, and out he ran, to look at the +night-line. But as he was stooping down and looking +at the line to see if any fish were hooked, the Wolf +pounced upon him, and bit him in the throat, and he +died.</p> + +<p>Then the cruel boy's mother went out to get some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +peats, and as she put her hand in amongst them, the +Snake bit her, and she gave a shriek and fell down and +died. The shriek awoke her husband sleeping in his +chair, and he began to get up, but by this time the +Scorpion had climbed up the leg of the chair, so he +stung the man, and the man died too.</p> + +<div class='center'> +Thus there was an end of the cruel boy who killed<br /> +a harmless Sparrow for sport; and though his father<br /> +and mother had done nothing, yet they ought not to<br /> +have had a son so cruel, or, at least, they might have<br /> +brought him up better. Anyhow, die they did, all three;<br /> +and Mrs. Hen Sparrow was so delighted that she<br /> +forgot all about her dead husband, and forgot<br /> +her eggs which were getting addled,<br /> +and went about chirruping until<br /> +she found another husband,<br /> +and made another nest,<br /> +and (I am sorry to<br /> +say) lived happily<br /> +ever after.<br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="The_Judgment_of_the_Jackal" id="The_Judgment_of_the_Jackal"></a>The Judgment of the Jackal</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n4">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 187px;"> +<img src="images/i_036-a.png" width="187" height="210" alt="A" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'><br /><br /> MERCHANT was returning +home from a long journey, +riding upon a mule. As he +drew near home, night overtook +him; and he was forced to look +out for shelter. Seeing a mill +by the roadside, he knocked at +the door.</div> + +<p>"Come in!" said the Miller.</p> + +<p>"May I stay here for the night?" asked the Merchant.</p> + +<p>"By all means," said the Miller, "if you pay me +well."</p> + +<p>The Merchant thought this rather mean; because in +those days a stranger was made welcome everywhere +without paying anything. However, he made the best +of it, and came in. The Miller led off his mule to the +stable.</p> + +<p>"Please take care of my mule," said the Merchant; +"I have still a long way to go."</p> +<div class="figright" style="width: 243px;"> +<img src="images/i_037.png" width="243" height="500" alt=""The Merchant was much dismayed."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"The Merchant was much dismayed."</span> +</div> +<p>"Oh," said the Miller, "your mule will be all right." +Then he rubbed him down and fed him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the morning the Merchant asked for his mule.</p> + + + +<p>"I am very sorry," +said the Miller; "he +must have got loose +last night, and I can't +find him anywhere."</p> + +<p>The Merchant was +much dismayed. He +went out to look for +himself, and there, to +be sure, was his mule, +tied by the halter to +the mill.</p> + +<p>"Why, look here, +Miller," says he, "here +is the mule!"</p> + +<p>"Oh no," says the +Miller, "that mule is +mine."</p> + +<p>"Yours?" said the +Merchant, getting angry. +"Last night your stable +was empty. And don't +you think I know my +own mule?"</p> + +<p>"That is mine," said +the Miller again; "my +mill had a young mule +in the night, and that +is he."</p> + +<p>The Merchant was +now very angry indeed; but he could not help himself,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +as he did not want to fight; he was a very peaceful +Merchant. So he said—</p> + +<p>"Well, I have no doubt it's all right; but just to +satisfy me, let us ask the Rev. Dr. Jackal to decide +between us; and whatever he says I will abide by."</p> + +<p>"Very good," answered the Miller; and away they +went to the den of his reverence the Jackal. Dr. Jackal +was sitting with his hind legs crossed, and smoking a +hubble-bubble.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 209px;"> +<img src="images/i_038.png" width="209" height="300" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Good morning, worthy gentlemen," said the Jackal; +"how can I serve you?"</p> + +<p>Said the Merchant, "Last night, my Lord Judge, I +lodged with this Miller here, and he took charge of my +mule; but now he says it has run away, though I saw it +with my own eyes tied by the halter to his mill. He says<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +that the mule I saw is his, and that his mill is the +mother of it, and that it was born last night while I +was asleep."</p> + +<p>"Go back to the mill," said the Jackal, "and wait +for me. I will just wash my face, and then I'll settle +your business."</p> + +<p>They went away, and waited a long time, but no +Jackal. Late in the afternoon, they got tired of waiting +for the Jackal, and determined to go and look for him. +There he was still, sitting in his den and smoking a +hubble-bubble.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you come?" asked the Miller. "We +have been waiting for you all day."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear sir, I was too busy," said the Jackal. +"When I went to wash my face, I found that all the +water had caught fire; I have only just put it out."</p> + +<p>"You must be mad, your reverence," said the Miller. +"Who ever heard of water catching fire?"</p> + +<p>"And who ever heard," replied the Jackal, "of a +mill having a young mule?"</p> + +<div class='center'> +The Miller saw that he was found out, and was so<br /> +much ashamed that he gave back the mule to<br /> +its owner, and the Merchant<br /> +went home.<br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="How_the_Mouse_got_into_his_Hole" id="How_the_Mouse_got_into_his_Hole"></a>How the Mouse got into his Hole</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n5">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 187px;"> +<img src="images/i_036-a.png" width="187" height="210" alt="A" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'> <br /><br /> MERCHANT was going along +the road one day with a sack +of peas on the back of an Ox. +The Ox was stung by a Fly, +and gave a kick, and down fell +the sack. A Mouse was passing +by, and the Merchant said, +"Mousie, if you will help me +up with this sack I will give you a pea." The Mouse +helped him up with the sack and got a pea for his +trouble. He stole another, and a third he found on +the road.</div> + +<p>When he got home with his three peas he planted +them in front of his hole. As he was planting them he +said to them, "If you are not all three sprouting by to-morrow +I'll cut you in pieces and give you to the black +Ox." The peas were terribly frightened, and the next +morning they had already begun to sprout, and each of +them had two shoots. Then he said, "If I don't find +you in blossom to-morrow I'll cut you in pieces and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +give you to the black Ox." When he went to look next +day they were all in blossom. So he said, "If I don't +find ripe peas on you to-morrow I'll cut you in pieces +and give you to the black Ox." Next day they had +pods full of ripe peas on them.</p> + +<p>So every day he used to eat lots of peas, and in +this manner he got very fat. One day a pretty young +lady Mouse came to see him.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Sleekie," said she; "how are you?"</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Squeakie," said he; "I'm quite well, +thank you."</p> + +<p>"Why, Sleekie," said she, "how fat you are."</p> + +<p>"Am I?" said he. "I suppose that's because I have +plenty to eat."</p> + +<p>"What do you eat, Sleekie?" asked the pretty young +lady Mouse.</p> + +<p>"Peas, Squeakie," said the other.</p> + +<p>"Where do you get them, Sleekie?"</p> + +<p>"They grow all of themselves in my garden, Squeakie."</p> + +<p>"Will you give me some, please?" asked the lady +Mouse.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, if you will stay in my garden, you may have +as many as you like."</p> + +<p>So Squeakie stayed in Sleekie's garden, and they +both ate so many peas that they got fatter and fatter +every day.</p> + +<p>One day Squeakie said to Sleekie, "Let's try which +can get into the hole quickest." Squeakie was slim, and +she had not been at the peas so long as Sleekie, so she +got into the hole easily enough; but Sleekie was so fat +that he could not get in at all.</p> + +<p>He was very much frightened, and went off in hot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +haste to the Carpenter, and said to him, "Carpenter, +please pare off a little flesh from my ribs, so that I can +get into my hole."</p> + +<p>"Do you think I have nothing better to do than +paring down your ribs?" said the Carpenter angrily, +and went on with his work.</p> + +<p>The Mouse went to the King, and said, "O King, I +can't get into my hole, and the Carpenter will not pare +down my ribs; will you make him do it?"</p> + +<p>"Get out," said the King; "do you think I have +nothing better to do than look after your ribs?"</p> + +<p>So the Mouse went to the Queen. Said he, "Queen, +I can't get into my hole, and the King won't tell the +Carpenter to pare down my ribs. Please divorce him."</p> + +<p>"Bother you and your ribs," said the Queen; "I am +not going to divorce my husband because you have +made yourself fat by eating too much."</p> + +<p>The Mouse went to the Snake. "Snake, bite the +Queen, and tell her to divorce the King, because he will +not tell the Carpenter to pare my ribs down and let me +get into my hole."</p> + +<p>"Get away," said the Snake; "or I'll swallow you +up, ribs and all; the fatter you are, the better I shall +be pleased."</p> + +<p>He went to the Stick, and said, "Stick, beat the +Snake, because she won't bite the Queen, who won't +divorce the King and make him tell the Carpenter to +pare down my ribs, and let me get into my hole."</p> + +<p>"Off with you," said the Stick; "I'm sleepy, because +I have just beaten a thief; I can't be worried about +your ribs."</p> + +<p>He went to the Furnace, and said, "Furnace, burn<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +the Stick, and make it beat the Snake, that he may bite +the Queen and make her divorce the King, who won't +tell the Carpenter to pare down my ribs, and let me get +into my hole."</p> + +<p>"Get along with you," said the Furnace; "I am +cooking the King's dinner, and I have no time now to +see about your ribs."</p> + +<p>He went to the Ocean, and said, "Ocean, put out +the Fire, and make it burn the Stick, so that it may beat +the Snake, and the Snake may bite the Queen, and she +may divorce the King, who won't tell the Carpenter to +pare down my ribs, and let me get into my hole."</p> + +<p>"Don't bother me," said the Ocean; "it's high tide, +and all the fishes are jumping about, and giving me +no rest."</p> + +<p>He went to the Elephant, and said, "O Elephant, +drink up the Ocean, that it may put out the Fire, and +the Fire may burn the Stick, and the Stick may beat the +Snake, and the Snake may bite the Queen, and the +Queen may divorce the King, and make him tell the +Carpenter to pare down my ribs, and let me get into +my hole."</p> + +<p>"Go away, little Mouse," said the Elephant; "I have +just drunk up a whole lake, and I really can't drink any +more."</p> + +<p>He went to the Creeper, and said, "Dear Creeper, +do please choke the Elephant, that he may drink up the +Ocean, and the Ocean may put out the Fire, and the Fire +may burn the Stick, and the Stick may beat the Snake, +and the Snake may bite the Queen, and the Queen may +divorce the King, and the King may tell the Carpenter +to pare down my ribs, and let me get into my hole."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Not I," says the Creeper; "I am stuck fast here +to this tree, and I couldn't get away to please a fat little +Mouse."</p> + +<p>Then he went to the Scythe, and said, "Scythe, +please cut loose the Creeper, that it may choke the +Elephant, and the Elephant may drink up the Ocean, +and the Ocean may put out the Fire, and the Fire may +burn the Stick, and the Stick may beat the Snake, and +the Snake may bite the Queen, and the Queen may +divorce the King, and the King may tell the Carpenter +to pare down my ribs, and let me get into my hole."</p> + +<p>"With pleasure," said the Scythe, who is always +sharp.</p> + +<div class='center'> +So the Scythe cut the Creeper loose, and the Creeper<br /> +began to choke the Elephant, and the Elephant ran off<br /> +and began to drink up the Ocean, and the Ocean began<br /> +to put out the Fire, and the Fire began to burn the<br /> +Stick, and the Stick began to beat the Snake, and<br /> +the Snake began to bite the Queen, and the<br /> +Queen told the King she was going to<br /> +divorce him, and the King was<br /> +frightened, and ordered the<br /> +Carpenter to pare Sleekie's<br /> +ribs, and at last Sleekie<br /> +got into his hole.<br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="King_Solomon_and_the_Owl" id="King_Solomon_and_the_Owl"></a>King Solomon and the Owl</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n6">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 98px;"> +<img src="images/i_045-o.png" width="98" height="130" alt="O" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'>NCE King Solomon was hunting all alone +in the forest. Night fell, and King +Solomon lay down under a tree to sleep. +Over his head, on the branch of a tree, +sat a huge Owl; and the Owl hooted so +loud and so long, Too-whit too-woo! +Too-whit too-woo! that Solomon could +not sleep. Solomon looked up at the Owl, and said—</div> + +<p>"Tell me, O Owl, why do you hoot all night long +upon the trees?"</p> + +<p>Said the Owl—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"I hoot to waken those that sleep,<br /> +As soon as day's first beams do peep;<br /> +That they may rise, and say their prayers,<br /> +And not be caught in this world's cares."<br /> +</div> + +<p>Then he went on again, Too-whit! too-woo! shaking +his solemn old head to and fro. He was a melancholy +Owl; I think he must have been crossed in love.</p> + +<p>Solomon thought this Owl very clever to roll out beautiful +poetry like that, off-hand as it were. He asked the +Owl again—</p> + +<p>"Tell me, O wise Owl, why do you shake your very +solemn old head?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> + +<p>Said the Owl—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"I shake my head, to let all know<br /> +This world is but a fleeting show.<br /> +Men's days are flying with quick wings;<br /> +So take no joy in earthly things.<br /> +<br /> +"Yet men will fix their hearts below<br /> +Upon the pleasures that must go.<br /> +Their joy is gone when they are dead;<br /> +And that is why I shake my head."<br /> +</div> + +<p>This touched King Solomon in a tender place, for he +was himself rather fond of earthly delights. He sighed, +and asked again—</p> + +<p>"O most ancient and wise Owl! tell me why you +never eat grain?"</p> + +<p>Answered the Owl—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"The bearded grain I do not eat,<br /> +Because, when Adam ate some wheat,<br /> +He was turned out of Paradise:<br /> +So Adam's sin has made me wise.<br /> +<br /> +"If I should eat a single grain,<br /> +The joys of heaven I should not gain.<br /> +And so, to keep my erring feet,<br /> +The bearded grain I never eat."<br /> +</div> + +<p>Thought Solomon to himself, "I don't remember +reading that story in Genesis, but perhaps he is right. +I must look it up when I get home." Then he spoke +to the Owl once more, and said—</p> + +<p>"And now, good Owl, tell me why you drink no +water at night?"</p> + +<p>Said the Owl—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"Since water all the world did drown<br /> +In Noah's day, I will drink none.<br /> +Were I to drink a single drop,<br /> +My life would then most likely stop."<br /></div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + +<p>Solomon was delighted to find the Owl so wise. "O +my Owl," said he, "all my life long I have been looking +for a counsellor who had reasons to give for what he +did; I have never found one until I found you. Now +I beg you to come home with me to-morrow, and you +shall be my chief counsellor, and whatever I purpose I +will first ask your advice."</p> + +<div class='center'> +The Owl was equally delighted, and said, "Thank<br /> +you." Thinking of the greatness that was<br /> +to be his, the Owl stopped crying<br /> +Too-whit! too-woo! and<br /> +Solomon went<br /> +to sleep.<br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 183px;"> +<img src="images/i_047.png" width="183" height="250" alt="Teaching a boy" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'> <table class="camel" summary="camel"> +<tr><td align='left'><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + +<div class='blockquot2'> +<h2><a name="The_Camels_Neck" id="The_Camels_Neck"></a>The Camel's<br />Neck</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n7">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class='cap'>ONCE upon a time there was a +very religious Camel; at least, he +was religious after the fashion of his +country, that is, he used to mortify his +flesh by fasting, and scratch himself +with thorns, and lie awake all night +meditating upon the emptiness of the +world. That is what men used to do +in that country, in order to please their +gods. One of these gods was very much +pleased with the piety of the Camel; so +one night, as the Camel was fasting, and +saying over and over to himself, "Vanity +of vanities, all is vanity," the god<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +appeared before him. He was a curious-looking god, +and he had four hands instead of two; but the Camel +did not mind that, nor did he laugh; on the contrary, +he went down on his knees and bowed before him.</div> + +<p>"O Camel," said this god, "I have seen your fasting +and heard your prayers; and I have come to reward +you. Choose what boon you like, and it shall be yours."</p> +<p>"O mighty god, I should like to have a neck eight +miles long."</p></div></td> +</tr></table></div> + + +<p>The god answered, "Be it so!" and immediately the +Camel felt his neck shooting out like a telescope, until it +was eight miles long. It shot out so fast, that the Camel +found it hard to escape running his head against the +trees. However, he steered it successfully, barring a +bump or two; and as by the time his neck stopped +growing he was far out of sight of the god, he could +not even say thank you.</p> + +<p>Now perhaps you will wonder why this Camel wanted +a neck so long as eight miles? I will tell you. The +reason was, that for all his fastings and penances, he was +a lazy Camel, and he wanted to graze without the trouble +of walking about. And now he could easily graze for +a distance of eight miles all round in a circle, without +moving from the spot where he lay. But it was rather +dangerous, though he thought nothing of that; for when +his head was grazing a few miles away, the hunters +might stick a spear into his body, or tie his legs together, +without his seeing them.</p> + +<p>All the summer the Camel had a fine time of it; he +lay still and comfortable and sent his head foraging +around, and strange to say, no harm happened to him. +But before long the rainy season began. In the rainy +season there are storms every day, and it rains cats and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +dogs. So when the rain began, the Camel wanted to +keep dry, but he could not at first find a shed or a shelter +eight miles long, or anything like it. At last he lit on a +long winding cave that held most of his long neck. So +he ran his neck into the cave, and lay still, with the rain +pouring upon his body.</p> + +<p>This was bad enough, but worse was to come. For +it happened that in this cave lived a He-jackal and a +She-jackal.</p> + +<p>When the Jackals saw this extraordinary neck winding +along their cave, they were frightened, and hid away.</p> + +<p>"What is this snake?" said the He-jackal to his +wife.</p> + +<p>"Oh dear, I don't know!" whimpered his wife, "I +never saw a snake like this."</p> + +<p>They kept quiet, the head passed out of view into the +inner part of the cave; then after a while, the creature +lay still.</p> + +<p>"Let us smell him!" said the He-jackal.</p> + +<p>They smelt him. "He smells nice," said the She-jackal; +"not a bit like a snake."</p> + +<p>"Let us taste him!" said the He-jackal.</p> + +<p>They took a bite; the Camel stirred restlessly. They +took another bite, and liked that better still. They went +on biting. The Camel curled round his head to see what +was going on; but before the Camel's head could get +back more than a mile or two, he grew so weak from +loss of blood, that he could move no more, and he died.</p> + +<p>So died the idle Camel, because the god granted him +his foolish wish. Perhaps our wishes are often just as +foolish, if we only knew it; and perhaps if they were +fulfilled they would be the bane of us, as happened to +the lazy and religious Camel.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/i_051a.png" width="500" height="302" alt="Man with bird in sky above him" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<h2><a name="The_Quail_and_the_Fowler" id="The_Quail_and_the_Fowler"></a>The Quail and the Fowler</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n8">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 152px;"> +<img src="images/i_051b-a.png" width="152" height="150" alt="A" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'> FOWLER once caught a Quail. +Said the Quail to the Fowler—</div> + +<p>"O Fowler, I know four things +that will be useful for you to know."</p> + +<p>"What are they?" asked the +Fowler.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the Quail, "I don't +mind telling you three of them now. +The first is: Fast caught, fast keep; never let a thing +go when once you have got it. The second is: He is +a fool that believes everything he hears. And the third +is this: It's of no use crying over spilt milk."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Fowler thought these very sensible maxims. +"And what is the fourth?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Ah," said the Quail, "you must set me free if you +want to hear the fourth."</p> + +<p>The Fowler, who was a simple fellow, set the Quail +free. The Quail fluttered up into a tree, and said—</p> + +<p>"I see you take no notice of what I tell you. Fast +caught, fast keep, I said; and yet you have let +me go."</p> + +<p>"Why, so I have," said the Fowler, and scratched +his head. He was a foolish Fowler, I think. "Well, +never mind; what is the fourth thing? You promised +to tell me, and I am sure an honourable Quail will never +break his word."</p> + +<p>"The fourth thing I have to tell you is this: In my +inside is a beautiful diamond, weighing ten pounds. +And if you had not let me go, you would have had that +diamond, and you need never have done any more work +in all your life."</p> + +<p>"Oh dear, oh dear, what a fool I am!" cried the +Fowler. He fell on his face, and clutched at the grass, +and began to cry.</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the Quail. "He is a fool +who believes everything he hears."</p> + +<p>"Eh? what?" said the Fowler, and stopped crying.</p> + +<p>"Do you think a little carcase like mine can hold +a diamond as big as your head?" asked the Quail, +roaring with laughter. "And even if it were true, +where's the use of crying over spilt milk?"</p> + +<p>The Quail spread his wings. "Good-bye," said +he; "better luck next time, Fowler." And he flew +away.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'> +The Fowler sat up. "Well," said he, "that's true,<br /> +sure enough." He got up and brushed the mud off<br /> +his clothes. "If I have lost a Quail," said he,<br /> +"I've learnt something." And he went<br /> +home, a sadder but a<br /> +wiser man.<br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 121px;"> +<img src="images/i_053.png" width="121" height="220" alt="with shadow behind" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_King_of_the_Kites" id="The_King_of_the_Kites"></a>The King of the Kites</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n9">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 72px;"> +<img src="images/i_054-a.png" width="72" height="150" alt="A" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'> MOUSE one day met a Frog, whom he knew +very well; but the Frog turned up his flat +nose, and would not speak to him.</div> + +<p>"Friend Frog," said the Mouse, "why are +you so proud to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Because I am King of the Kites," said +Froggie.</p> + +<p>You must not suppose that this means a paper kite +with a tail. There is a kind of bird called a Kite; it +is like a Hawk, only bigger. How absurd it was of +this Frog, who could not even fly, to call himself the +King of the Kites! And the Mouse was just as absurd, +for he answered—</p> + +<p>"Stuff and nonsense! I am King of the Kites!"</p> + +<p>I don't know whether they really believed this themselves, +or whether they were only trying to show off. +Anyhow, both stuck to it stoutly, and a pretty quarrel +was the result. The Mouse grew red in the face; and +as for Froggie, he was nearly bursting with rage.</p> + +<p>At last they agreed to refer the decision to a council. +The council was made up of a Bat, a Squirrel, and a +Parrot. The Parrot took the chair, because he was the +biggest, and also because he could talk most, and +was therefore thought to be wise.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I vote for the Mouse," said the Bat; not that he +knew anything about it, but you see a Bat is very like +a Mouse, and he wanted to stand up for the family.</p> + +<p>"And I," said the Squirrel, "vote for my friend +Froggie." He knew nothing about it either, but he +wanted to show that even a Squirrel has an opinion of +his own.</p> + +<p>So it fell to the Parrot to give the casting vote, and +decide the matter. He took a long time to decide, +about two hours; and while he was thinking, and the +others were all intent to hear what he should say, down +from the sky swooped a Kite; and the Kite stuck one +claw into the Mouse's back, and one claw into the Frog, +and carried them both away to his nest, and ate them +for dinner.</p> + +<div class='center'> +So that was the end of the two Kings of the Kites.<br /> +The other three creatures, in a great fright,<br /> +made themselves scarce, lest the<br /> +Kite should come back and<br /> +eat them too.<br /></div> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 338px;"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a> +<img src="images/i_056.png" width="338" height="500" alt="Frog and mouse" title="" /> +</div> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="The_Jackal_and_the_Camel" id="The_Jackal_and_the_Camel"></a>The Jackal and the Camel</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n10">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 154px;"> +<img src="images/i_058-o.png" width="154" height="155" alt="O" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'>NCE a Camel was grazing in a +forest. He had a ring in his nose, +as the custom is, and to the ring +was tied a string, by which the +Camel's master used to lead him +about. As the Camel grazed, this +leading-string became entangled +in a bush, and the Camel could +not get it loose. This misfortune so much confused +the mind of the Camel that he did not know what +to do.</div> + +<p>Suddenly, as the Camel was struggling to get free +from the bush, a Jackal appeared.</p> + +<p>"Brother Jackal," said the Camel, "do please set +me free from this bush."</p> + +<p>"Brother Camel," said the Jackal, "I will set you +free, only you must pay me for it. Do not the wise +say, 'Even a brother will not serve thee for nothing'?"</p> + +<p>"What shall I pay you, brother Jackal? I am a +very poor Camel."</p> + +<p>"You shall pay me," quoth the Jackal, "a pound of +your flesh."</p> + +<p>This was a hard condition, but there was nothing +for it, "Better to lose a pound of my flesh," thought the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +Camel, "than lose my life." So he agreed to pay the +Jackal a pound of flesh.</p> + +<p>Then the Jackal set the Camel free, and the Camel +sat down on the ground and said—</p> + +<p>"I am ready; take your pound of flesh."</p> + +<p>"Open your mouth, then," said the Jackal.</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked the Camel.</p> + +<p>"Because I choose to take my pound of flesh from +your tongue."</p> + +<p>This was a terrible blow. The Camel could not +agree, because he knew that if his tongue were torn +out, he was bound to die.</p> + +<p>So he said, "I did not promise you my tongue."</p> + +<p>"You did," said the Jackal.</p> + +<p>"Don't tell lies," said the Camel; "where are your +witnesses?"</p> + +<p>Away trotted the Jackal to find a witness. First he +asked the Lion if he would bear witness that he heard +the Camel promise to give his tongue. He promised +to give him the half of all he should get, as a +reward.</p> + +<p>"Go away," said the King of Beasts; "I am a Lion, +not a liar."</p> + +<p>Then he asked the Tiger, but the Tiger said—</p> + +<p>"I don't care for Camel's meat, so it isn't worth my +while."</p> + +<p>And so the Jackal tried one beast after another, but +none of them would help him, until he came to the +Wolf.</p> + +<p>"Friend Wolf," said the Jackal, "if you will only +swear that you heard the Camel promise me his tongue, +you shall have half."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Half a tongue?" quoth the Wolf; "that's poor +provender."</p> + +<p>"No, no," said the Jackal, "half the Camel. Don't +you see that if we tear out his tongue, the Camel will +soon bleed to death."</p> + +<p>"True, so he will," said the Wolf. "Well, I agree."</p> + +<p>So the Wolf and the Jackal went back to the Camel, +and the Wolf said, raising his right forepaw to heaven—</p> + +<p>"I swear by heaven that I heard this Camel promise +to give his tongue to this Jackal."</p> + +<p>Of course this was a lie, and they all knew it; but +the Camel did not like to appear mean, and besides, +they were two to one.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said the Camel; "come and take it." +The Camel opened his mouth wide. The Jackal put +his head in the Camel's mouth, and as he did so, the +Camel curled his tongue backward, so that the Jackal +could not reach it.</p> + +<p>The Jackal pulled his head out again, and said to +the Wolf—</p> + +<p>"My mouth is too small, you try now—you have +a big gape."</p> + +<p>Then the Wolf put his head in the Camel's mouth. +The Camel curled his tongue back and back, and the +Wolf pushed in his head further and further; at last +all the Wolf's head was inside. Then the Camel snapped +his jaws together upon the Wolf's neck.</p> + +<p>"O Daddy Camel," said the Wolf, half throttled; +"what is this?"</p> + +<p>"This," said the Jackal, rolling up the whites of his +eyes to the sky in a most pious fashion; "this is the +result of telling a lie." The Camel said nothing at all,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +but simply throttled the Wolf to death, and the Jackal +ran away.</p> + +<div class='center'> +I think you will agree with me, that the Jackal, who<br /> +made the Wolf tell a lie, was wickeder than the Wolf<br /> +who told it; but yet he laughed at the Wolf, and<br /> +got off himself scot-free. That often happens<br /> +in this world; but we will hope that some<br /> +other time his sin was bound to<br /> +find him out.<br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 172px;"> +<img src="images/i_061.png" width="172" height="200" alt="Sitting under a tree" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_Wise_Old_Shepherd" id="The_Wise_Old_Shepherd"></a>The Wise Old Shepherd</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n11">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 128px;"> +<img src="images/i_062-a.png" width="128" height="250" alt="O" title="" /> +</div><div class='unident'><br />NCE upon a time, a snake went out +of his hole to take an airing. He +crawled about, greatly enjoying the +scenery and the fresh whiff of the +breeze, until, seeing an open door, +he went in. Now this door was the +door of the palace of the King, and +inside was the King himself, with all +his courtiers.</div> + +<p>Imagine their horror at seeing a +huge Snake crawling in at the door. +They all ran away except the King, who felt that his +rank forbade him to be a coward, and the King's son. +The King called out for somebody to come and kill the +Snake; but this horrified them still more, because in +that country the people believed it to be wicked to +kill any living thing, even snakes, and scorpions, and +wasps. So the courtiers did nothing, but the young +Prince obeyed his father, and killed the Snake with +his stick.</p> + +<p>After a while the Snake's wife became anxious, and +set out in search of her husband. She too saw the open +door of the palace, and in she went. O horror! there on +the floor lay the body of her husband, all covered with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +blood, and quite dead. No one saw the Snake's wife +crawl in; she inquired from a white ant what had +happened, and when she found that the young Prince +had killed her husband, she made a vow, that as he +had made her a widow, so she would make his wife a +widow.</p> + +<p>That night, while all the world was asleep, the Snake +crept into the Prince's bedroom, and coiled around his +neck. The Prince slept on, and when he awoke in the +morning, he was surprised to find his neck encircled with +the coils of a Snake. He was afraid to stir, so there he +remained, until the Prince's mother became anxious, and +went to see what was the matter. When she entered his +room, and saw him in this plight, she gave a loud shriek, +and ran off to tell the King.</p> + +<p>"Call the archers," said the King. The archers came, +and the King told them to go into the Prince's room, and +shoot the Snake that was coiled about his neck. They +were so clever, that they could easily do this without +hurting the Prince at all.</p> + +<p>In came the archers in a row, fitted the arrows to the +bows, the bows were raised ready to shoot, when, on +a sudden, from the Snake there issued a voice, which +spoke as follows:—</p> + +<p>"O archers! wait, and hear me before you shoot. +It is not fair to carry out the sentence before you have +heard the case. Is not this good law, an eye for an eye, +and a tooth for a tooth? Is it not so, O King?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the King, "that is our law."</p> + +<p>"Then," said the Snake, "I plead the law. Your son +has made me a widow, so it is fair and right that I should +make his wife a widow."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That sounds right enough," said the King, "but right +and law are not always the same thing. We had better +ask somebody who knows."</p> + +<p>They asked all the judges, but none of them could +tell the law of the matter. They shook their heads, and +said they would look up all their law-books, and see +whether anything of the sort had ever happened before, +and if so, how it had been decided. That is the way +judges used to decide cases in that country, though I +daresay it sounds to you a very funny way. It looked as +if they had not much sense in their own heads, and perhaps +that was true. The upshot of all was, that not a +judge would give any opinion; so the King sent messengers +all over the country-side, to see if they could find +somebody somewhere who knew something.</p> + +<p>One of these messengers found a party of five +Shepherds, who were sitting upon a hill and trying to +decide a quarrel of their own. They gave their opinions +so freely, and in language so very strong, that the King's +messenger said to himself, "Here are the men for us. +Here are five men, each with an opinion of his own, and +all different." Post-haste he scurried back to the King, +and told him he had found at last some one ready to +judge the knotty point.</p> + +<p>So the King and the Queen, and the Prince and +the Princess, and all the courtiers, got on horseback, +and away they galloped to the hill whereupon the five +Shepherds were sitting, and the Snake too went with +them, coiled round the neck of the Prince.</p> + +<p>When they got to the Shepherds' hill, the Shepherds +were dreadfully frightened. At first they thought that +the strangers were a gang of robbers; and when they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +saw that it was the King, their next thought was that one +of their misdeeds had been found out, and each of them +began thinking what was the last thing he had done, +and wondering, was it that? But the King and his +Court got off their horses, and said good-day in the most +civil way. So the Shepherds felt their minds set at ease +again. Then the King said—</p> + +<p>"Worthy Shepherds, we have a question to put to +you, which not all the judges in all the courts of my +city have been able to solve. Here is my son, and here, +as you see, is a Snake coiled round his neck. Now, +the husband of this Snake came creeping into my palace +hall, and my son the Prince killed him; so this Snake, +who is the wife of the other, says that as my son has +made her a widow, so she has a right to widow my son's +wife. What do you think about it?"</p> + +<p>The first Shepherd said, "I think she is quite right, +my lord King. If any one made my wife a widow, I +would pretty soon do the same to him."</p> + +<p>This was brave language, and the other Shepherds +shook their heads and looked fierce. But the King +was puzzled, and could not quite understand it. You +see, in the first place, if the man's wife were a widow, +the man would be dead; and then it is hard to see how +he could do anything. So to make sure, the King asked +the second Shepherd whether that was his opinion too?</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the second Shepherd; "now the Prince +has killed the Snake, the Snake has a right to kill the +Prince, if he can."</p> + +<p>But that was not of much use either, as the Snake +was as dead as a door-nail. So the King passed on to +the third.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I agree with my mates," said the third Shepherd, +"because, you see, a Prince is a Prince, but then a +Snake is a Snake."</p> + +<p>That was quite true, they all admitted; but it did not +seem to help the matter much. Then the King asked +the fourth Shepherd to say what he thought.</p> + +<p>The fourth Shepherd said, "An eye for an eye, and +a tooth for a tooth; so I think a widow should be a +widow, if so be she don't marry again."</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 159px;"> +<img src="images/i_066.png" width="159" height="150" alt="Person with stick" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>By this time the poor King was so puzzled that he +hardly knew whether he stood +on his head or his heels. But +there was still the fifth Shepherd +left, the oldest and wisest of them +all; and the fifth Shepherd said—</p> + +<p>"O King, I should like to ask +two questions."</p> + +<p>"Ask twenty, if you like," said +the King. He did not promise +to answer them, so he could afford to be generous.</p> + +<p>"First, I ask the Princess how many sons she has?"</p> + +<p>"Four," said the Princess.</p> + +<p>"And how many sons has Mistress Snake here?"</p> + +<p>"Seven," said the Snake.</p> + +<p>"Then," said the old Shepherd, "it will be quite fair +for Mistress Snake to kill his Highness the Prince, +when her Highness the Princess has had three sons +more."</p> + +<p>"I never thought of that," said the Snake. "Good-bye, +King, and all you good people. Send a message +when the Princess has had three more sons, and you +may count upon me—I will not fail you." So saying,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +she uncoiled from the Prince's neck and slid away +among the grass.</p> + +<div class='center'> +The King and the Prince and everybody shook hands<br /> +with the wise old Shepherd, and went home<br /> +again. And as the Princess never had any<br /> +more sons at all, she and the Prince<br /> +lived happily for many years;<br /> +and if they are not dead<br /> +they are living<br /> +still.<br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 200px;"> +<img src="images/i_067.png" width="200" height="86" alt="Lying down" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="Beware_of_Bad_Company" id="Beware_of_Bad_Company"></a>Beware of Bad Company</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n12">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 187px;"> +<img src="images/i_036-a.png" width="187" height="210" alt="A" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'> <br /><br /> BEAUTIFUL young Swan lived by +a beautiful lake. All day long he +used to sail gracefully over the +water, curving his neck to look at +his own image, or pluming his +white wings; and when he was +tired, he would go to his nest in +the rushes, and sleep, or play with +his brothers and sisters.</div> + +<p>In a tree above that lake was a Crow. You know +that Crows are dirty birds, and they feed on offal and +refuse, and people dislike them; but the Swan was white +and clean. Still, strange as it may seem, this Swan +struck up a fast friendship with the Crow. His mother +and father begged him to keep out of bad company, but +he would not listen to them. He had done better to +keep to his own kind, but wilful will have his way, and +the Swan was sorry for it too late.</p> + +<p>One day the Crow said to his friend the Swan, "Come, +old boy, let us go and have some fun."</p> + +<p>"I'm your Swan," says the other, and away they +flew.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> + +<p>They came to a tree, and under the tree was a very +pious man, saying his prayers.</p> + +<p>"Here's a joke," said the Crow. "Now we shall see +sport."</p> + +<p>He picked up a lump of mud from the ground, and +flew up into the tree, and then he dropped the mud, +splash, on the pious man's head.</p> + +<p>This interrupted his prayers, and he could not help +feeling angry, although he was so pious. So up got he, +and looked about to see who had done the mischief.</p> + +<p>By this time the mischievous Crow had flown off, and +he was caw-caw-cawing on another tree, out of reach. +But the Swan sat still: he was not learned in mischief, +and he did not know what to do. Then the pious man +looked up into the tree, and saw the Swan sitting there, so +of course he thought it was the Swan who had dropped a +piece of mud on his head. He had a big catapult with +him, so he put a stone in his catapult, and slick! he shot +the Swan.</p> + +<p>Down fell the Swan with a great thud. He felt that +his end was near, and how sorry he was now that he had +had anything to do with the bad Crow. However, it was +too late now to be sorry, so he began to sing. They say +that Swans never sing in all their life, but when they are +about to die they sing beautifully; and this is what the +Swan sang to the pious man:—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"I am no Crow, as you must know,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">But a Swan that lived by a lovely lake;</span><br /> +With bad companions I would go,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And now I die for a bad friend's sake."</span><br /> +</div> + +<div class='center'><br /><br /> +Then the Swan died, and the pious man finished<br /> +his prayers.<br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="The_Foolish_Wolf" id="The_Foolish_Wolf"></a>The Foolish Wolf</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n13">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 152px;"> +<img src="images/i_051b-a.png" width="152" height="150" alt="A" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'> WOLF and an Ass were great +friends, and they spent most of +their time playing at an original +game of their own. The game +was easy enough to learn; you +could play it yourselves; and it +was this. First the Ass used to +run away from the Wolf as hard +as he could, and the Wolf used to follow; and then +the Wolf would run as hard as he could from the +Ass, and the Ass would follow.</div> + +<p>One day, as the Wolf was running away full tilt from +the Ass, a Boy saw them.</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha, ha," said the Boy, "what a coward that +Wolf is, to run away from an Ass." He thought, +you see, that the Wolf was afraid of being eaten by +the Ass.</p> + +<p>The Wolf heard him, and was very angry. He stopped +short, and said to the Boy—</p> + +<p>"So you think I am a coward, little Boy? You shall +rue the word. I'm brave enough to eat you, as you shall +find out this very night; for I will come and carry you +off from your home."</p> + +<p>If the Wolf was no coward, at least he was a foolish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +Wolf to tell the Boy if he meant to carry him off, as I +think you will agree with me.</p> + +<p>The Boy went home to tell his mother. "Mother," +said he, "a Wolf is coming to-night to carry me off."</p> + +<p>"Oh, never mind if he does," said the Boy's mother, +"he won't hurt you."</p> + +<p>The Boy did not feel quite so sure about that, for he +had seen sharp teeth in the mouth of the Wolf. So he +chose out a big and sharp stone, and put it in his pocket. +Why he did not hide, I can't tell you, for he never told +me; but my private opinion is, he was almost as foolish +as the Wolf.</p> + +<p>Well, when night came, the Boy's mother went to +bed, and she was soon snoring, but the Boy stayed up to +wait for the Wolf. About ten o'clock came a knock at +the door.</p> + +<p>"Come in," said the Boy.</p> + +<p>The Wolf opened the door, and came in, and says he, +"Now, Boy, you must come along with me."</p> + +<p>"All right," says the Boy, "mother doesn't mind."</p> + +<p>I have never been able to understand why his mother +did not mind, but perhaps he was a very naughty Boy, +and she was glad to get rid of him. If he did nothing +but pull his sisters' hair, and put spiders down their +necks, he was just as well out of the house, I think.</p> + +<p>So the Boy got on the Wolf's back, and the Wolf +trotted off briskly to his den. Then the Wolf thought +to himself, "I have had my dinner, and I don't want any +Boy to-night. Suppose I leave him for to-morrow, and +go for a spin with my friend the Jackass."</p> + +<p>So he left the Boy in his den, and off he went after +the Jackass.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> + +<p>What makes me think more than ever that he was a +foolish Wolf, is that he never even tied the Boy's legs +together. So when the Wolf was gone, the Boy went +out of the den, and climbed up a tree.</p> + +<p>In an hour or two back came the Wolf, ready for +bed. He looked in at the mouth of the den, but +no Boy.</p> + +<p>"Where on earth has that Boy got to?" said he; +"I left him here safe and sound." It never occurred +to this Wolf that legs can walk, and Boys can climb +trees. He felt very anxious, and as many people do +when their wits are puzzled, he opened his mouth +wide.</p> + +<p>The Boy saw him standing at the opening of the +den, with his mouth wide open, so he pulled the sharp +stone out of his pocket, and threw it in. This Boy +was a very good shot with a stone, and the stone +went straight into the Wolf's inside, and cut his inside +so much that he died.</p> + +<div class='center'> +Then the Boy climbed down from the tree, and<br /> +he was at home in time for breakfast. I don't<br /> +know whether his mother was pleased<br /> +to see him or not; but there he was,<br /> +and there he stayed, and if he<br /> +has not gone away, he is<br /> +there still.<br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="Reflected_Glory" id="Reflected_Glory"></a>Reflected Glory</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n14">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 151px;"> +<img src="images/i_073-t.png" width="151" height="150" alt="T" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'>HERE was a Shepherd who +owned a multitude of goats. +Among these was one Goat, +weak and lame. You might suppose +that the shepherd took +especial care of this lame Goat, +but not he; on the contrary, he +beat him and bullied him, and +made his whole life a misery.</div> + +<p>A time came when the lame Goat could stand it no +longer. So watching his chance, he gave his master +the slip, and into the forest and far away. As he +hobbled along, he trembled to think of the ferocious +beasts that the forest was full of; but even to be devoured +by an evil beast was better far than to be for +ever beaten.</p> + +<p>The lame Goat made up his mind that the only way +by which he could save his life was to gain the protection +of some powerful beast. So he kept his eyes open +as he hobbled along; and, by-and-by, what should he +see but a dark cave, and at the mouth of the cave, a +Lion's footprints. Now a Lion was just the beast the +Goat wanted, for to begin with, he is the King of +Beasts, and all the other beasts fear him; and then, +too, he is a noble beast, and if he passes his word he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +will never break it. Of course, it might be that the +Lion would eat our Goat first, and ask questions afterwards; +but the Goat had to take his chance of that.</p> + +<p>The upshot of it was, that the lame Goat sat down +by the Lion's den, and waited.</p> + +<p>By-and-by, trippity trip, trippity trip, and up came +a Jackal. Said the Jackal to the Goat, "God bless you, +Gaffer Goat, you'll be the first food that has passed my +lips this many a day."</p> + +<p>"Dear grandson," said the Goat, "God bless you +too. I'm here to be eaten, that is true enough; but I'm +meat for your betters. He whose footprints you see +here has bidden me wait until he wants me."</p> + +<p>The Jackal looked at the footprints, and saw they +were a Lion's. "Aha," thought he, "let sleeping dogs +lie. If I eat the Lion's meat, the Lion will devour my +cubs." Then he went away sorrowful.</p> + +<p>A little while, and trappity trap, trappity trap, up +came a Wolf. Quoth the Wolf—</p> + +<p>"Well met, Nuncle Goat; you make my mouth +water. A five days' fast is sauce for the dinner."</p> + +<p>"Well met, my dear nephew," says the lame Goat. +"But you had better leave me alone. I'm food for +your betters. Look upon these footprints, and let me +tell you that he who made them has bidden me wait +here until he is hungry."</p> + +<p>"Oho," said the Wolf, "a Lion. Who tackles the +strong will not live long. If I eat King Lion's meat, +King Lion will make a meal of my cubs." Away went +the Wolf, trappity trap, trappity trap.</p> + +<p>A little while more, and swish, swish, swish, the Lion +himself came stalking slowly along, whisking away the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +flies with his tail. When he saw the Goat sitting beside +his den, says he—</p> + +<p>"Friend Goat, what want you here? Are you anxious +to make a meal for me?"</p> + +<p>"O King Lion," said the Goat, bowing before him +very humbly, "here I have been sitting these two hours, +and wolves and jackals came to eat me; but the sight +of your footprints was safety for me: I told them I +was yours, and they took to their heels for fear. Now +eat me if you will; for yours I am."</p> + +<p>Then the Lion said, "O Goat, if you have called +yourself mine, never will I devour you. I will see to it +that you are well treated."</p> + +<p>Then the Lion went out and found an Elephant, +who greeted him with the greatest respect. "Elephant," +said the Lion, "I want you to do something for me."</p> + +<p>"Speak on," said the Elephant, "do it I will."</p> + +<p>The Lion said, "There is a poor lame Goat has +thrown himself on my mercy, and I have thought of +a plan by which he can be fed. If you will suffer him +to mount on your back, then while you go grazing +about, he can browse upon the young shoots of the +trees as you pass under."</p> + +<p>"That is a good idea," said the Elephant, "and I'll +do it for you willingly, and indeed anything else in my +power."</p> + +<div class='center'> +If the Lion was pleased at the kindness of the<br /> +Elephant, more pleased was the lame Goat; and a<br /> +happy life was his from that day. Never again was he<br /> +beaten by a cruel goatherd: but he fed on the fat<br /> +of the land, and lived to a green old age; and<br /> +I hope we may be half as happy as he was.<br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="The_Cat_and_the_Sparrows" id="The_Cat_and_the_Sparrows"></a>The Cat and the Sparrows</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n15">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 114px;"> +<img src="images/i_076-t.png" width="114" height="150" alt="T" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'><br /><br />HERE was once a pair of Sparrows that +lived in a tree. They used to hop about +all over the place, picking up seeds or anything +they could find to eat. One day, when +they came back with their pickings, the Cock +had found some rice, and the Hen a few lentils. +They put it all in an earthen pot, and then proceeded +to cook their dinner. Then they divided the mess +into two equal parts.</div> + +<p>The Cock was rather greedy, so he would not wait +while his wife put out the fire and got ready to join +in the meal. No! he gobbled up his share at once, +before she could begin.</p> + +<p>When at last the poor Hen came up, her greedy +mate would not let her rest even then. "Go and get +me a drink of water," said he quite rudely.</p> + +<p>She was a very kind wife, so without taking any +notice of his rudeness, off she went for the water.</p> + +<p>While she was gone the Cock-sparrow's eyes fell on +his wife's share of the dinner. "Ah," thought he, +"how I should like another bit! Well, why shouldn't +I have it? A man does all the work, and women +don't want much to eat at any time." So without any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +more ado, he just set to, and gobbled up his wife's +share.</p> + +<p>Back came the Hen-sparrow with a drink of water +for her husband. When he had drunk it up (and I am +afraid he forgot to say thank you), she turned round to +look for her dinner. Lo and behold! there was none. +What could have become of it? As she was wondering, +she happened to look at her husband; he looked so +guilty that there could be no manner of doubt where +her dinner was.</p> + +<p>"You greedy bird," said she, "why have you eaten +my dinner?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't touched your dinner," said the Cock +angrily.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure you have," said she, "or you would not +look so guilty. Why, you are actually blushing." And +so indeed he was; the tip of his beak was quite +red.</p> + +<p>However, he still denied it, and grew angrier and +angrier, as people do when they know they are in the +wrong. They had a terrible quarrel. At last the Hen-sparrow +said, "Well, I know a way to find out whether +you are telling lies or not. You come along with me." +And she made him go with her to the well.</p> + +<p>Across the top of the well she stretched a piece of +string, and she sat on the middle of the string, and +began to chirp, "If I am telling lies, I pray I may fall +in." But though she sat there a long time, chirping +away, she did not fall in.</p> +<div class="figright" style="width: 172px;"> +<img src="images/i_078.png" width="172" height="600" alt="In the woods" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Then came the Cock-sparrow's turn. He perched +on the string and began to chirrup, "If I am telling lies, +may I fall into the well;" but hardly had he got the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +words out of his mouth, when—splash! +down he went.</p> + + +<p>Then the Hen was very +sorry that she had proposed +this plan; she began to weep +and cheep, and said—"Alas, +alas, why didn't I leave it +alone? What does it matter +if he eats my dinner, so long +as I have my dear husband? +Now I have killed him by my +folly."</p> + +<p>Just at that moment up +came a Cat.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" said +the Cat.</p> + +<p>"Cheep, cheep, cheep," +went the Hen-sparrow. "My +husband has fallen into the +well, and I don't know how +to get him out."</p> + +<p>"If I get him out," said +the Cat, "will you let me eat +him?"</p> + +<p>"Of course you may," said +the Hen-sparrow.</p> + +<p>So the Cat climbed down, +and pulled out the Cock-sparrow. +When she had brought +him to the edge of the well, +said she, "Now I'm going to +eat him as you promised."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, all right," said the Hen. "But stop a minute, +your mouth is dirty. I am sure you have been eating +mice. Now haven't you?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," said the Cat, "so I have."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the Hen-sparrow, "you must get yourself +clean. We birds are clean creatures, and you must +positively wash your mouth before you begin."</p> + +<p>Away went the Cat, and washed her mouth clean, +and came back again.</p> + +<p>The Hen-sparrow looked at her carefully. "You +have not washed your whiskers," said she; "they are +still dirty."</p> + +<p>The Cat went obediently and washed her whiskers.</p> + +<div class='center'> +Meanwhile the Cock-sparrow had been sitting on the<br /> +edge of the well in the sun, and by this time his feathers<br /> +were quite dry. So his Hen chirped to him, "Now,<br /> +dear, you can fly, let's be off." And off<br /> +they flew together, and the Cat was<br /> +left licking her chops and<br /> +wishing she had not<br /> +been such<br /> +a fool.<br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 131px;"> +<img src="images/i_079.png" width="131" height="220" alt="Person in hat" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_Foolish_Fish" id="The_Foolish_Fish"></a>The Foolish Fish</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n16">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 183px;"> +<img src="images/i_080-a.png" width="183" height="300" alt="A" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'> <br /><br /> FISH was once flapping and +flopping on the sand by the +banks of a river. She was a +lady Fish—how she got there I +don't know; but she had been +better to stay at home, as you +shall hear. Well, she flapped +away on the sand, and couldn't +get off; she began to feel very dry. A man came +by, riding upon a horse. "O Man," shouted the +Fish, "do carry me back to the water again, or +I shall be dried up and die."</div> + +<p>"No, no," said the Man, "not I, indeed! You +are a she, and I have had so much bother with shes +in my life that I shall keep clear of you."</p> + +<p>"O dear good Man!" cried the Fish, "do please help +me, and I will promise not to behave badly; I'll be as +nice as any man could be. Just think! if you leave me +here, I shall dry into a stick, or somebody will come +along and eat me."</p> + +<p>The Man scratched his head, and wondered what he +ought to do; but at last he took pity on the Fish, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +got down off his horse. Then he picked up the Fish +and put her on his shoulder, and walked down to the +water. "Now then," said he, "in with you."</p> + +<p>"Take me into deep water," said the Fish; "this +won't do for me." So the good-natured fellow took her +and waded into the water till he was neck-deep. Then +the Fish opened her mouth wide, and said—</p> + +<p>"Now I'm going to eat you! I'll teach you to say +nasty things about women."</p> + +<p>That was a nice way of showing gratitude to the Man, +wasn't it? I wonder the Man did not eat the Fish, +instead of the Fish eating him. But I am afraid the Man +was rather stupid. It never occurred to him that he +might eat the Fish, and all he did was to scratch his +head again. "That's not fair," said he; "I saved your +life, and now you want to eat me. We must find some +one to decide between us, and say which is right."</p> + +<p>"All right," said the Fish; "take me up on your +shoulder again, and let us find somebody."</p> + +<p>So the Man took her up on his shoulder again, and +out of the water came he. On the bank of the river +grew a Crab-apple Tree, and the Man appealed to this +Tree to decide their dispute. "O Tree," said he, "this +Fish was lying on the sand, and I saved her life, and +now she wants to eat me. Do you think that is +right?"</p> + +<p>"Of course!" said the Tree—whose temper was as +crabbed as his apples—"of course! Why not? You +men are always doing mischief. Here am I, an innocent +Crab-apple Tree, and people come along and cut off my +branches to shade themselves from the sun. I call that +cool!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well," said the Man, "they want to be cool, and +that's why they cut your branches off."</p> + +<p>"Don't be a fool," squeaked the Crab-apple Tree; +"you know what I mean. So as you do all this damage +to us, we are right to do all we can to hurt you, and +therefore this Fish has a right to eat you if she +chooses."</p> + +<p>"Come along," said the Fish, as she opened her +mouth; "jump in!"</p> + +<p>"Wait a bit," said the Man, "we must try somebody +else. I feel sure there is something wrong with this judgment." +The Fish did not wish to ask anybody else, but +she had to agree, because they were on dry land.</p> + +<p>So they went along until they saw an Elephant.</p> + +<p>"O Elephant!" cried the Man, "do you see this Fish? +I saved her life, and now she wants to eat me. Do you +think this is right?"</p> + +<p>"Right?" said the Elephant, "I should rather think +so! Why, you men are horrid brutes, always making us +carry half-a-dozen of you about on our backs, or prodding +us with a spike, or something nasty. Eat you up? +I only wish <i>I</i> could eat you up, and I would do it too, +but nature makes me eat leaves, and you are too tough +for me to digest."</p> + +<p>So there was no comfort to be had from the Elephant.</p> + +<p>The Fish opened her mouth wider than ever, for she +was getting hungry, and said, "Now then, look sharp—in +with you!"</p> + +<p>The Man was in despair. What was he to do? +"Give me one more chance," said he, "and if they all +say the same, then you shall eat me."</p> + +<p>He looked round, and not far off he saw a Jackal.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +"Friend Jackal," he called out; "I say, Jackal! Stop a +minute, I want to ask you something."</p> + +<p>"All right," said the Jackal, "ask away."</p> + +<p>"This Fish," said the Man, "was flip-flap-flopping on +the sand and gasping for breath, and I saved her life; +and then as soon as she got safe back into the water +again, she wanted to eat me. Do you think that's +right?"</p> + +<p>"Hm," said the Jackal, "I don't quite understand. +Where was the Fish?"</p> + +<p>"Lying on the sand, you booby," said the Fish, +getting angry.</p> + +<p>"How?" asked the Jackal.</p> + +<p>"Why," said the Fish, "what does that matter, I +should like to know?"</p> + +<p>"Can't understand," said the Jackal, looking stupidly +all round and then up at the sky.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the Fish, angrier than ever, "all you +are asked to do, is to say whether or no I am to eat this +Man. Can't you do that without all this bother?"</p> + +<p>"No," said the Jackal.</p> + +<p>"Oh dear," said the Fish, "what a stupid you must be! +All right then, come along, and we'll show you." So she +made the Man take her on his shoulder again, and carry +her to the place where she had been lying on the sand.</p> + +<p>"That's the place," said she.</p> + +<p>The Jackal was not satisfied yet, but he must needs +see how she lay. So the Man put her down on the sand, +and the Fish began flip-flap-flopping again.</p> + +<p>"Now then," said the Jackal to the Man, "up on the +horse with you, and be off! What does the Fish matter +to you? Let her die, she deserves no better."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Man thought this a good idea, so he got up on +his horse, and off, and was more resolved than ever to +keep clear of women.</p> + +<p>But the Fish was very angry at being tricked so +neatly. "You shall pay for this!" she gasped to the +Jackal; "I'll come and eat you in your den."</p> + +<p>"All right, you may try," said the Jackal, "but I fancy +you will get eaten yourself." And so saying, away he +scampered.</p> + +<p>The Fish flapped and flopped, until somehow or other +she managed to flap herself into the river.</p> + +<p>After this the Fish used to sit by the roots of a fig-tree +which went down into the river, with her mouth +gaping, in the hope that something might fall in. The +Jackal used to come down to this place to drink, and +one day, as he was drinking, the Fish caught him tight +by the leg.</p> + +<p>"Oh you silly Fish," said the Jackal, "why didn't you +catch my leg? You have got hold of the wrong thing," +said he; "there's my leg, if you want it," pointing to the +root of the fig-tree. The foolish Fish believed she had +made a mistake, and let go the Jackal's leg, and took a +good bite of the root. The Jackal laughed, and scampered +away, crying, "Oh what a fool you are! You don't +know wood from meat!"</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said the Fish, "next time it will be +my turn, and then we shall see. I'll come and eat you +in your den."</p> + +<p>Next day, when the Jackal had gone into the forest +to find food, our friend the Fish jumped out of the +water, and went roll, roll, rolling into the forest, until +she came to the den of the Jackal; and inside the door<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +of the Jackal's den she stood on her tail, waiting for him +to come back. By-and-by back came the Jackal, sure +enough; but Jackals are very cunning creatures, and he +came up slinking quietly, and saw the Fish before the +Fish saw him. So he called out in a loud voice, "Den, +Den!"</p> + +<p>No answer. Again he called out, "Den, Den!" This +time the Fish thought that the Den was no doubt accustomed +to reply when the Jackal called to it. Perhaps it +was shy because she was present. Anyhow she thought +she had better answer, so she called out in return, "Well, +well!"</p> + +<p>"You there?" asked the Jackal.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm here all right," answered the Fish.</p> + +<p>"Just stop a minute," said the Jackal, "and I'll be +back directly."</p> + +<p>Away he ran, and the Fish crept inside the hole, and +hid. The Jackal ran about gathering dry leaves, and +with the leaves he made a little pile at the mouth of his +hole. Then he went to a fire which some traveller had +left smouldering, and seizing a brand, he brought it and +set light to the leaves at the mouth of the cave. The fire +soon burned up.</p> + +<p>"Is that nice, dear Den?" asked the Jackal.</p> + +<p>"Very nice, thank you," said the Fish, who thought +she must go on pretending.</p> + +<p>"I'll soon make you warm," said the Jackal, and he +piled on more fuel. It began to get very hot.</p> + +<p>"That's enough now," said the Fish.</p> + +<div class='center'> +"No, no, Den dear," said the cunning Jackal, laughing<br /> +to himself. More and more leaves he piled on the top<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>of the fire. One side of the Fish got so hot that she<br /> +turned the other. Then it got hotter and hotter, and<br /> +soon the Fish expired. When the fire went out, the<br /> +Jackal looked into the cave, and there was the Fish,<br /> +done on both sides crisp and brown. He sat<br /> +down on his haunches, and gobbled her<br /> +up in a trice, and he never had a<br /> +nicer dinner. That was the<br /> +end of the foolish and<br /> +ungrateful Fish.<br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 146px;"> +<img src="images/i_086.png" width="146" height="150" alt="Looking at the fish" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_Clever_Goat" id="The_Clever_Goat"></a>The Clever Goat</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n17">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 152px;"> +<img src="images/i_051b-a.png" width="152" height="150" alt="A" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'> SHEPHERD was feeding his flock +on the hills; and as they were +going home again in the evening, +one of the goats lagged behind. +Now, this Goat was very old, and +goats are not like men, for the +older they grow the wiser they +become. So this Goat, being very +old indeed, was also very wise. There was a very nice +clump of grass by the wayside, and the wise old Goat +said to herself, "Here is the nicest grass I have seen +for a long time. I'm not hungry, because I have been +eating all day; but I daresay I shall soon be hungry +again, so I had better eat it while I can get it." And +accordingly she set to work, and very soon she had +eaten it all up. Then she trotted off homeward.</div> + +<p>As the old Goat went merrily trotting along, with +her eyes on the ground, suddenly she looked up—and +lo and behold! a huge Wolf sitting on a stump, and +staring at her hungrily! What was she to do? To +escape was impossible. She pulled her wits together, +and began—</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear Mr. Wolf!" cried she, "how delighted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +I am to see you. I have been looking for you all day, +and now I've found you at last."</p> + +<p>The Wolf was so utterly astonished that he had not +a word to say at first. But after a while, he found his +tongue, and thus said he—</p> + +<p>"My good Goat, you must be out of your senses. +Why, I'm accustomed to feed on goats, and here you +say you are glad to see me. Who ever heard of a +creature so foolish as to throw itself into the jaws of +death of its own free will?"</p> + +<p>"Ah," replied the Goat, "you don't know my Shepherd, +that's quite clear. He is the kindest man in the +world, and he has a special weakness for you. He was +talking of you only this morning, and saying that he +owes you a good turn for not gobbling up any of his +sheep, though it is ever so long since he began to feed +them in your forest. So he has sent me to you as a +token of his esteem. I'm an old Goat, you see, and +not much use to him now. 'No <i>ifs</i> and <i>buts</i>,' says he +to me—'off with you, and let kind Mr. Wolf eat you for +his dinner.' And so here I am. And indeed, you must +not suppose I am here against my will; not at all. I +could not think of disobeying our good Shepherd. And, +if I did, he could sell me to the butcher, to have my +throat cut, and be eaten by horrid beasts of men, who +have only two legs to bless themselves with. I assure +you, I much prefer being eaten by a noble four-legged +gentleman like yourself."</p> + +<p>Our Wolf was still so surprised that he could find +nothing to say; and the Goat went on—</p> + +<p>"Do not think, dear sir, that I am flattering you. +Look at me and judge if a respectable old Goat of my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +age, and at the point of death—for I see you licking +your chops—whether, I say, such a one would dare to +tell lies. But, Mr. Wolf, there is one reason why I +shall be sorry to die. You may not have heard of it, +but it is true nevertheless that I am a famous songster, +and it will be indeed a pity that a gift so rare should +be lost. Will you do me one last favour, and let me +sing you a song before I die? I am sure it will delight +you, and you will enjoy eating me all the more afterwards."</p> + +<p>The Wolf was very much pleased at the Goat's +politeness. "Well," said he, "since you are so kind +as to offer, I should like to hear what you can do in +the way of music."</p> + +<p>"All right," said our Goat, "just sit down on that +hillock yonder, and I'll stay here; it won't sound so nice +if I am too near you."</p> + +<p>The Wolf trotted off to the hillock, and sat down, +and waited for the Goat to begin her song.</p> + +<p>The Goat opened her mouth, and uttered a loud +"Baa-baa-baa!"</p> + +<p>"Is that all?" asked the Wolf. He was rather +disappointed, but he did not say so, for fear of being +thought an ignorant lout.</p> + +<p>"Oh no," said the Goat, "that was only tuning up, +to get the pitch." Then she cried again, "Baa-baa-baa," +louder than before.</p> + +<div class='center'> +Meanwhile the Shepherd was not far off, and he<br /> +heard this loud Baa-baa of one of his goats. "Hullo,"<br /> +thought he, "what's up, I wonder?" and set off<br /> +running in the direction of the sound. Just as the<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span>Wolf was getting impatient, and the Goat was opening<br /> +her mouth for another Baa-baa, up came the Shepherd,<br /> +behind the Wolf. Thwack, thwack, thwack! came his<br /> +stick on the stupid Wolf, and with a groan the Wolf<br /> +turned over and died on the spot. The Shepherd<br /> +and his wise old Goat trudged happily home<br /> +to the sheepfold, and after that the Goat<br /> +took good care to keep<br /> +with the flock.<br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 139px;"> +<img src="images/i_090.png" width="139" height="300" alt="Holding a book" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="A_Crow_is_a_Crow_for_Ever" id="A_Crow_is_a_Crow_for_Ever"></a>A Crow is a Crow for Ever</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n18">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 151px;"> +<img src="images/i_073-t.png" width="151" height="150" alt="T" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'>HERE once was a very learned +Bishop, who was very fond of +bird's-nesting. One day he saw a +fine large nest up in an elm-tree, +and when he had climbed up he +saw that it was full of young +Crow-chicks. One of these chicks +had such a winsome appearance, +that the Bishop put him inside his hat, and took him +home to the Palace.</div> + +<p>In due time the Crow grew up, and as he heard +around him continually the Bishop and his friends +talking divinity, by degrees he became quite clever in +divinity himself. He knew all the kings of Israel and +Judah, and the cities of refuge, so that at last there was +no question in a divinity paper he could not answer. +Indeed, once when the examining Chaplain was ill, the +Crow did his work for him.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 345px;"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"></a> +<img src="images/i_092.png" width="345" height="600" alt="Sitting with a crow" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>The fame of this learned Crow spread far and wide, +until at last it reached the King's ears. Now the Bishop +had been expecting this all along, and ever since he +found the young Crow he had been training him for a +purpose. I am sorry to say he was rather a greedy man; +and as he hoped to get something out of the King by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +the means of this Crow, he trained him to fly towards +anything that shone bright, such as gold and silver.</p> + +<p>"When the King asks me to show off my Crow," +he thought, "I will ask as a price anything the Crow +may choose; and then doubtless he will fly to the King's +crown, and I shall be King!"</p> + +<p>At the first all fell out as he looked for. The King +sent word to say he wanted to see the Crow. He was +sitting in the garden, with his gold crown on, and all +his courtiers around him; and then asked to hear him +say all the kings of Israel and Judah.</p> + +<p>"With pleasure, sire," said the Bishop; "if your +Majesty will deign to grant him what he chooses for +a reward. He has been well taught, and will not work +for nothing."</p> + +<p>"By all means," said the King; "let him choose his +reward, and I will give it."</p> + +<p>Then the Bishop took his Crow out of his hat, and +the Crow said all the kings of Israel and Judah quite +right, forwards and backwards, without a single mistake. +The King was delighted: he could not have done as much.</p> + +<p>"And now, sire," said the Bishop, "I will let him +go, and tell him to choose his own prize."</p> + +<p>So the Bishop let the Crow loose. The Crow was +flying straight for the King's crown, when all on a sudden +what should he spy but a dead cat! He turned off on +the instant, and down he swooped on the dead cat. +You know Crows eat dead things and offal; and this +Crow liked a dead cat for dinner better than a gold +crown.</p> + +<p>The King laughed, the courtiers roared with merriment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Bishop," said the King, when he had done laughing, +"your Crow is easily pleased, it seems! Well, he +has chosen his reward, and by my royal beard, he shall +have it. Ha, ha, ha!"</p> + +<p>But the Bishop felt very rueful indeed. All his pains +and trouble lost, and nothing to show for it! He shook +his head and went away, singing to himself a little chant +he made up on the spot, all out of his own head—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"I kept my Crow in a lovely cage,<br /> +And taught him wisdom's holy page;<br /> +But still 'tis true, whate'er he may know,<br /> +A dirty Crow is a dirty Crow."<br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 241px;"> +<img src="images/i_095.png" width="241" height="275" alt="Asleep in the book" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_Grateful_Goat" id="The_Grateful_Goat"></a>The Grateful Goat</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n19">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 93px;"> +<img src="images/i_096-o.png" width="93" height="225" alt="O" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'>NCE upon a time a Butcher bought a Goat; +but as he was going to kill the Goat, and +make him into meat for the table, the Goat +opened his mouth, and said—</div> + +<p>"If you kill me, Butcher, you will be +a few shillings the richer; but if you spare +my life, I will repay you for your kindness."</p> + +<p>This Butcher had killed many goats in +his day, but he never before heard one of +them talk. Goats can talk to each other, +as you must have heard; but most of them do not +learn English. So the Butcher thought there must be +something special about this Goat, and did not kill him.</p> + +<p>The Goat felt very grateful that his life had been +spared for a few more happy summers; and when he +found himself free, the first thing he did was to go into +the forest to see if he could find some means of repaying +the Butcher's kind deed.</p> + +<p>As he trotted along under the trees, stopping now +and then to crop some tender shoot that came within +reach, he met a Jackal.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to see you, Goatee," said the Jackal; +"and now I'm going to eat you."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Don't be such a fool," said the Goat. "Can't you +see I am nothing but skin and bones? Wait till I get +fat. That's why I am here, just to get fat; and when +I'm nice and fat, you may eat me and welcome."</p> + +<p>The Goat was very skinny, in truth, and he pulled +in his breath to make himself look more skinny. So the +Jackal said—</p> + +<p>"All right, look sharp, and be sure you look out for +me on your way back."</p> + +<p>"I shan't forget, Jackal," said the Goat. "Ta ta!"</p> + +<p>By-and-by he fell in with a Wolf.</p> + +<p>"Ha!" said the Wolf, smacking his lips; "here's +what I want. Get ready, my Goat, for I am going to +eat you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, surely not," said the Goat; "a skinny old +thing like me!" He drew in his breath again, and +looked very skinny indeed. "I have come here to +fatten myself, and when I'm fat, you shall eat me if +you like."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the Wolf, "you don't look like a prize +Goat, I grant you. Go along then, but look out for me +when you come back."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I shall look out for you!" said the Goat, and +away he trotted.</p> + +<p>By-and-by he came to a church. He went into the +church, and there he saw last Sunday's collection plate, +full of gold coins. In that country, any one would have +been ashamed to put coppers into the plate, not because +they were rich, for they were not, but because they were +generous. Now, Goats are not taught that they must +not steal, but they think they have a right to whatever +they can get hold of; so this Goat opened his mouth,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +and licked up all the sovereigns, and hid them under +his tongue.</p> + +<p>The Goat next went to a flower-shop, and asked the +man who sold the flowers to make some wreaths, and +cover him up with them, horns and all. So the man +covered him up with flowers, till he looked like a large +rose-bush. Then the Goat popped out a sovereign from +his mouth, to pay the man, and very glad the man was +to get so much for his roses.</p> + +<p>Then the Goat set out on his homeward way. He +looked out for the Wolf, as he had promised to do; +and when the Wolf saw him coming along, he thought +he was a rose-bush. The Wolf was not at all surprised +to see a rose-bush walking along the road, for many +were the strange things he had seen in his life; and if +you come to think of it, this was no stranger than a +Goat that could talk English.</p> + +<p>"Good afternoon, Rose-bush," said the Wolf; "have +you seen a Goat passing this way?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes," said the Goat, "I saw him a few minutes +ago back there along the road."</p> + +<p>"Many thanks, Rose-bush," said the Wolf; "I am +much obliged to you," and away he ran in the direction +in which the Goat had come.</p> + +<p>By-and-by he came to the Jackal.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, Rose-bush!" said the Jackal. "Have you +seen a Goat anywhere as you came along?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes," replied the Goat, out of the roses; "I +saw him just now, and he was talking to a big Wolf."</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!" said the Jackal, "I must look +sharp, if I want some Goat to-day," and off he galloped, +in a great hurry.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the evening he got to the Butcher's house.</p> + +<p>"Hullo!" said the Butcher, "what have we here?" +He knew that rose-bushes could not walk, but he could +not make out what it was at all.</p> + +<p>"Baa! baa!" said the Goat; "it's your grateful old +Goat, come back to pay you for your kindness." And +with these words, he spouted out all the sovereigns he +found in the church, except the one he paid to the +flower-man.</p> + +<div class='center'> +The Butcher was delighted to see so many sovereigns:<br /> +he asked no questions, because he thought it wiser. He<br /> +took the sovereigns, and found they were enough<br /> +to keep him all his life, without killing any<br /> +more goats. So he lived in peace, and<br /> +the Goat spent his remaining years<br /> +browsing comfortably in the<br /> +Butcher's paddock.<br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 139px;"> +<img src="images/i_099.png" width="139" height="150" alt="Person" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_Cunning_Jackal" id="The_Cunning_Jackal"></a>The Cunning Jackal</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n20">[Notes]</a></span></div> +<h3>Or, The Biter Bit</h3> + + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 101px;"> +<img src="images/i_100-a.png" width="101" height="200" alt="A" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'> <br /><br /><br /> JACKAL lived on one side of a deep river, +and on the other side were fields upon fields +of ripe melons. The Jackal was always +hungry, and he had eaten everything within +reach; so he used to sit on the river bank +and bemoan his luck. "All those ripe +melons," said he, "and nobody to eat them +but men. It is really a shame. I don't know +what Providence is doing, to treat me so scurvily."</div> + +<p>Perhaps Providence knew what it was about, and +the Jackal, as you shall hear, deserved no better than +he got.</p> + +<p>As he sat one day by the river, moaning and groaning, +a big Tortoise popped up his funny head out of +the water. There was a big tear in each of the Tortoise's +round eyes.</p> + +<p>The Jackal stopped moaning and groaning when he +saw the Tortoise. "What's the matter, Shelly?" said +he. "Aren't you well?"</p> + +<p>"Quite well, thank you," said the Tortoise, and the +tears slowly rolled down his nose. He was going to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +call the Jackal Snarly, which was the nickname the +Jackal went by; but he thought better of it, because it +would have been rather rude. All the same, he did not +like being called Shelly in that offhand way.</p> + +<p>"Wife and brats all right?" asked the Jackal. "No +measles or mumps?"</p> + +<p>This was also very rude of the Jackal, because a +Tortoise is sensitive about mumps. If he gets mumps +when his head is inside his shell, he can't put it out; +and if his head is outside, that is still worse, for it swells +up so that he can't get it in again.</p> + +<p>"No, thank you, my wife is all right," said the +Tortoise, who was rather confused; "at least, she would +be all right if I had one, but that's just it—I can't get +a wife! Nobody will look at me! and that is my trouble," +and two more big tears trickled down his nose.</p> + +<p>At this moment an idea came into the Jackal's crafty +head. "What a pity you didn't tell me before," said +he; "I could easily have found you a wife last week, +but now she has gone to live on the other side of the +river."</p> + +<p>"Do you really mean it?" said the Tortoise.</p> + +<p>"Honour bright," answered the Jackal; "do I look +like a person who would tell a lie?" He certainly did, +only the Tortoise was too simple to see it.</p> + +<p>The Tortoise rubbed away his tears on a stump, for +he had no handkerchief, and brightened up considerably.</p> + +<p>"I can carry you across, friend," said he, "if you +will jump on my back."</p> + +<p>The Jackal wanted nothing better, so down he jumped +on the back of the Tortoise, and the Tortoise swam +across. When they got across, the Tortoise was quite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +tired, because the Jackal was very heavy for a Tortoise +to carry.</p> + +<p>A fine time the Jackal had on the further side of the +river. He ran about among the fields, and ate melons +till he was nearly bursting. Every day the Tortoise +came to the bank, asking whether the match was yet +arranged, and every day the Jackal told him that all +was going well. "You have no notion how pleased +they are," said the Jackal. "Just see how fat I am +getting. They feed me like a fighting-cock, all because +of you." It was indeed because of the Tortoise that the +Jackal was so well fed, but not as he meant it.</p> + +<p>By-and-by the season of melons came to an end, +and all that the Jackal had left were cut and sold in the +market. Melons were dear that season, because the +Jackal had eaten so many of them before they could +be cut. Then the Jackal stole a white dress and a veil, +and hung them on the stump of a tree which stood near +the river side; and next day, when the Tortoise popped +his funny head out of the water, said the Jackal—</p> + +<p>"There's your wife at last, old Shelly! There she +stands, dumb as a stone. Not a word will she have to +say to you till I am out of the way, because she is +too modest. Come, hurry up, Shell-fish, and take me +across."</p> + +<p>The Tortoise was angry at being called a shell-fish, +because tortoises are not fish at all, and they feel insulted +if you call them so. However, he was so glad to get +a wife at last, that he said nothing, only presented his +back for the Jackal to jump on. Flop! came the Jackal, +so heavy by this time that it was all the Tortoise could +do to get him across safely. If he was tired before,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +he was nearly dead now. But he swam across at last; +and the Jackal ran off into the forest, chuckling at the +simplicity of the poor Tortoise.</p> + +<p>Back went our Tortoise across the river, and climbed +up on the bank.</p> + +<p>"Wife!" he called out, in a tender voice.</p> + +<p>No answer.</p> + +<p>Again he called "Wife!" but still no answer.</p> + +<p>He could not make it out a bit. He crawled up to +the stump which the Jackal had decked out in wedding +finery, and put out his flapper to touch his wife's hand: +lo and behold, it was only an old tree-stump.</p> + +<p>The rage of the Tortoise knew no bounds, and he +determined to have his revenge.</p> + +<p>Next day the Jackal came down to drink at the river. +The Tortoise was watching for him under water; and +while the Jackal was drinking, the Tortoise nipped his +teeth into the Jackal's leg.</p> + +<p>How the Jackal did howl, to be sure! He was a +great coward, and even used to cry when his teeth were +pulled out by the dentist. So now he howled at the +top of his voice, "Let me go! Let me go!"</p> + +<div class='center'> +But the Tortoise held on like grim death. He was<br /> +too weak to pull the Jackal under, but he was too heavy<br /> +for the Jackal to pull out; so there he bides his time.<br /> +By-and-by the tide began to rise. The tide rose to the<br /> +Jackal's middle, it rose to his head; and his last howls<br /> +came up from underneath the water in big<br /> +bubbles, which showed that the crafty<br /> +Jackal would play his mean<br /> +tricks never more.<br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="The_Farmers_Ass" id="The_Farmers_Ass"></a>The Farmer's Ass</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n21">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 151px;"> +<img src="images/i_073-t.png" width="151" height="150" alt="T" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'>HERE was once a Farmer, who +had an Ass. It was the habit of +this Ass to lift up his voice and +bray, whenever he heard the +church bells a-ringing. Now in +the country where this Farmer +lived, they used to believe that a +man's soul passes when he dies +into an animal, or something else. So this Farmer +thought that any Ass that was fond of church bells, +must have been a great saint in some former life. +Accordingly, he named his Ass St. Anthony.</div> + +<p>All his life long, this Ass served the Farmer faithfully, +and earned him a great deal of money. +At last the Ass died of old age.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 97px;"> +<img src="images/i_104b.png" width="97" height="125" alt="Farmer" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>The Farmer was very sad and sorry +when his Ass died. "My Ass served +me faithfully," said he, "and it's only +fair he should have a good funeral." +So he sent for the undertaker, and told +him to make a big coffin, and put it on +a hearse, and buried the Ass with great +splendour. Then he shaved off every scrap of hair +from his head, as the custom was in those parts when +anybody died, and gave a funeral feast to all his relations, +and dressed himself in black.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + +<p>Next time he went to the Grocer's to buy sugar, the +Grocer noticed his head shaved bare, and the black +clothes, so he knew some one must be dead, a relation +or a great friend.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to see you have lost some one," said +he; "who is it?"</p> + +<p>"St. Anthony is dead," said the Farmer.</p> + +<p>"Dear me," said the Grocer, "and I never heard +of it. How very sad!" Thought he to himself, "I +had best have my head shaved too, or else people will +call me hard-hearted."</p> + +<p>So when the Farmer had bought his sugar, and was +gone, the Grocer went to the Barber and had his head +shaved. Then he put on a black coat and necktie.</p> + +<p>By-and-by a Soldier came to have a chat with his +friend the Grocer.</p> + +<p>"Ods bobs!" said he, "what's the matter, man?"</p> + +<p>"St. Anthony is dead," said the Grocer solemnly, +and wiped away a tear.</p> + +<p>"You don't say so," said the Soldier. Off he went +straight to the Barber, and made him shave his head; +then he bought a piece of crape to tie round his left arm.</p> + +<p>He told the news to all the men of his regiment, +and they all felt so much sympathy with this soldier +that they shaved their heads too.</p> + +<p>Next day on parade, there was the whole regiment +shaved to a man.</p> + +<p>"What's the meaning of this?" asked the General.</p> + +<p>The Sergeant saluted, and told him that St. Anthony +was dead.</p> + +<p>"Is he? By Jove," said the General, "then I dismiss +this parade," and off he galloped on his war-horse to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +the nearest Barber, who shaved his head like the men's. +On the way back, he saw the Prime Minister going to +Court. "May I ask," said the Prime Minister suavely, +"to what untoward circumstance is due the erasure of +your capillary covering?"</p> + +<p>"St. Anthony is dead," answered the General.</p> + +<p>"Dear, dear," said the Prime Minister, "you don't +say so. He was doubtless an ornament to the party, +and it is meet that I should testify my respect." Then +the Prime Minister too went off to get his head shaved, +and appeared before the King without a single hair.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked the King; "anybody +dead, hey, hey, hey?"</p> + +<p>"If it please your Majesty," said the Prime Minister, +"St. Anthony is dead."</p> + +<p>"What a loss for our kingdom," said the King; +"what a loss! what a loss! Excuse me a moment," +and away he went to get his head shaved.</p> + +<p>When the Queen saw him, she wanted to know why +his head was shaved.</p> + +<p>"St. Anthony is dead," answered the King.</p> + +<p>"And who is St. Anthony?" asked the Queen.</p> + +<p>"I don't know who he is," said the King, "a friend +of the Prime Minister's."</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 110px;"> +<img src="images/i_107a.png" width="110" height="125" alt="Back of his head" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>So the Prime Minister was asked who St. Anthony +was; and replied that he did not himself know him, +but the General spoke of him in the highest terms. +The General said that St. Anthony was not a personal +friend, but he was well known in the regiment. After +inquiry amongst the men, it was found that only one +of them could tell anything about St. Anthony, and +all he knew was that his friend the Grocer shaved his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +head in memory of him. The Grocer referred them +to the Farmer, and the Farmer was out in the fields.</p> + + +<p>Then the King sent a messenger on horseback to +find the Farmer and bring him to court. +The Farmer was brought into court, and +when he saw the King and the Prime +Minister and General all in mourning, he +was very much surprised. The King said +to him, "Farmer, who is St. Anthony?"</p> + +<p>"If it please your Majesty, he was +my Ass."</p> + +<div class='center'> +The King, and the Prime Minister, and the General<br /> +felt very foolish to have gone into mourning for an<br /> +Ass. They put off their black clothes, but it was not<br /> +so easy to get their hair back again; and so for a<br /> +month or two the King, and the Prime Minister,<br /> +and the General, and all the regiment of<br /> +Body Guards, went about in wigs.<br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 61px;"> +<img src="images/i_107b.png" width="61" height="275" alt="The donkey" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_Parrot_Judge" id="The_Parrot_Judge"></a>The Parrot Judge</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n22">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 151px;"> +<img src="images/i_073-t.png" width="151" height="150" alt="T" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'>HERE was once a Fowler who +caught a young Parrot. He kept +the Parrot in his house, hoping +that it would pick up something to +say, but the Parrot learnt nothing +at all. Then he set to work at +teaching it; but after six months +the Parrot had only learnt to say +two things: one was "Of course," and the other was +"Certainly."</div> + +<p>Seeing that his trouble was wasted, the Fowler took +him to market in a gilt cage, in order to catch the +eye of customers. He cried in a loud voice, "Who'll +buy! who'll buy! here's a Parrot which can say anything +in the world! Here's a clever Parrot who knows +what he is talking about! If you want a question +answered here's the Parrot to answer you, no matter +what it may be! Who'll buy, who'll buy?" Everybody +crowded round to see the wonderful Parrot.</p> + +<p>The King happened to be passing by, and heard all +this to-do about a Parrot. Said he to the Fowler—</p> + +<p>"Is it really true about your Parrot?"</p> + +<p>"Ask him, sire," said the Fowler.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Parrot," said the King, "do you know English?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," said the Parrot, in a tone of scorn, +turning up his beak; as who should say, "What a +question to ask <i>me</i>."</p> + +<p>"Can you decide knotty points of law?" the King +went on.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," said the Parrot, with great confidence.</p> + +<p>"This is the bird for me," said the King, and asked +his price. The price was a thousand pounds. The +King paid a thousand pounds to the Fowler, and +departed.</p> + +<p>A big price, you will say, for a Parrot. So it was; +but the King had a reason for paying it. The Judge +of the City had just died, and the King could not find +another. Hundreds of men offered to do the work. +Some wanted too much money, more than the King +could pay; some were reasonable, but knew no law; +and the cheaper ones who professed to know everything +were all Germans, whom the King would not +have at any price. When he heard of this wise Parrot, +thought he, "Here's my Judge; he will want no wages +but sugar and chickweed, and he will take no bribes."</p> + +<p>So the Parrot was made Judge, and sat on a big +throne, with a white wig and a red robe lined with +ermine.</p> +<div class="figright" style="width: 126px;"> +<img src="images/i_110.png" width="126" height="500" alt="Parrot on perch" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Next day, the Parrot was in Court, and a case came +up for judgment. It was a murder case, and when +the evidence had been heard, the pleader on the +murderer's side finished up his speech by saying, "And +now, my Lord, you must admit that my client is +innocent."</p> + +<p>Said the Parrot, "Of course."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> + + +<p>Everybody thought this rather odd, because the +other side had not yet been heard; and, +besides, the man was caught in the act. +However, they held their tongues and +waited.</p> + +<p>Then the prosecutor got up, and made +a long speech, at the end of which he +said, "It is no longer possible to doubt +that the prisoner at the bar is guilty. +Two witnesses saw him do the deed, and +half-a-dozen caught him just as he was +pulling the knife out of the body. I +therefore call upon you, my Lord, to +pass sentence of death."</p> + +<p>Said the Parrot, "Certainly."</p> + +<p>At this the King pricked up his ears. +The man could not be innocent of course, +and yet certainly guilty, at the same time. +So he turned to the Judge and said—</p> + +<p>"If you go against evidence so clear, +Judge, I shall begin to suspect that you +killed the man yourself."</p> + +<p>Said the Parrot, "Certainly."</p> + +<p>You may imagine the hubbub that +arose in Court when the Judge said +this! Everybody saw that the King +had made a mistake in his Judge, and +even the King himself began to suspect +that something was wrong. So he said, +rather angrily, to the Parrot—</p> + +<p>"Then it is your head ought to be chopped off."</p> + +<p>Said the Parrot, "Of course."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> + +<div class='center'> +"Chop off his head, then," cried the King; and they<br /> +took away the Parrot and chopped off his head<br /> +without delay; and all the while he was<br /> +being dragged along, he called out,<br /> +"Certainly," "Certainly,"<br /> +"Certainly."<br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 173px;"> +<img src="images/i_111.png" width="173" height="200" alt="King and the parrot" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="The_Frog_and_the_Snake" id="The_Frog_and_the_Snake"></a>The Frog and the Snake</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n23">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 152px;"> +<img src="images/i_051b-a.png" width="152" height="150" alt="A" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'> FROG and a Snake had a quarrel +as to which could give the more +deadly bite. They agreed to try it +on the next opportunity.</div> + +<p>A Man came to bathe in the +pond where these two creatures +lived. The Snake bit him under +the water, while the Frog floated +on the top. "Something has bitten me!" the Man called +out to his friends.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" they asked.</p> + +<p>Then he saw the Frog swimming on the top of the +water. "Oh, it's only a Frog," said he. Then he went +away, and no harm came of it.</p> + +<p>The next time that Man came to bathe in the pond, +the Frog bit him under the water, while the Snake swam +on the top.</p> + +<p>"Oh dear!" said the Man, "a Snake has bitten me!" +The Man died.</p> + +<p>"Now," said the Frog, "you will admit that my bite +is more poisonous than yours."</p> + +<p>"I deny it altogether," said the Snake.</p> + +<p>So they agreed to refer their dispute to the King of +the Snakes. The Snake King listened to their arguments,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +and decided in favour of the Snake, and said the Man +had died of fright.</p> + +<p>"Of course," grumbled the Frog, "the Snake King +sides with the Snake."</p> + +<div class='center'> +So both of them bit the Frog, and he died, and<br /> +that was the end of him.<br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 159px;"> +<img src="images/i_113.png" width="159" height="100" alt="Frog" title="" /> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 432px;"> +<img src="images/i_114.png" width="432" height="600" alt="Man and Frog and Snake" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="Little_Miss_Mouse_and_her_Friends" id="Little_Miss_Mouse_and_her_Friends"></a>Little Miss Mouse and<br />her Friends</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n24">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 151px;"> +<img src="images/i_073-t.png" width="151" height="150" alt="T" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'>HERE was once a little Lady-Mouse +that lived in a field. She +was all alone in the world, a little +old maid, and she very much +wanted a friend. But every creature +turned up his nose at the +poor little Mouse, and not a friend +could she get; until at last a Clod +of earth took pity upon her. Then the Mouse and the +Clod became firm friends, and went about everywhere +together. The Mouse walked upon her four legs, and +the Clod rolled along like a cricket ball.</div> + +<p>One day the Mouse wanted a bathe; and nothing +would serve, but the Clod must go bathe along with her. +In vain the Clod protested that she did not like water; +that she had never washed in her life; that she could +not swim: Miss Mousie would take no denial, and said +severely, that if the Clod had never washed before, it +was high time to begin. So at length the Clod was +persuaded, and into the river they went. Mousie went +in first, and the Clod rolled in afterwards; but no sooner +had the poor Clod rolled into the river, than what was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +Miss Mousie's horror to see her melt away in the water, +and disappear.</p> + +<p>Mousie was now friendless again, and loudly complained +to the River that he had stolen away her favourite +Clod.</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry," the River said; "I really couldn't +help melting a thing so soft. I can't give you back your +Clod, but I will give you a Fish instead."</p> + +<p>This comforted Mousie, and she took her Fish and +went home. Then she put the Fish on the top of a post, +to dry. Down swooped a big Kite, and flew away with +the Fish.</p> + +<p>"O my poor Fish," wailed Miss Mousie, "to be taken +away before we had a word together." Then she went +to the Post, and demanded her Fish back again. "I +gave him to you," said Mousie, "and you are responsible +for him."</p> + +<p>Said the Post, "I am very sorry that I cannot give +you back your Fish, but I will give you some Wood."</p> + +<p>Mousie was grateful for this kindness on the part of +the Post. So she took a piece of Wood in exchange for +the Fish.</p> + +<p>Mousie and the Wood went off to buy some sweets +at the Confectioner's. While Mousie was eating the +sweets, the Confectioner's wife burnt the Wood in the +fire.</p> + +<p>Mousie finished the sweets, and when she turned +round to look for her Wood, lo and behold it was gone. +With tears in her eyes she begged the Confectioner's wife +to give her back the Wood, but the Confectioner's wife +said—</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry I cannot give you back the Wood,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +because it is burnt; but I will give you some Cakes +instead."</p> + +<p>This made Miss Mousie happy again, and she took +the Cakes. Then she paid a visit to the Shepherd's pen; +and while she was talking to the Shepherd, a Goat ate +up her cakes.</p> + +<p>"Give me back my Cakes, Mr. Shepherd," said Mousie, +not seeing the Cakes anywhere.</p> + +<p>"I'm very sorry I can't do that," answered the Shepherd, +"because I am afraid one of my goats has eaten +them; but if you like, you may have a Kid instead."</p> + +<p>This was better and better. Mousie was charmed +with her Kid and led it off to the music-shop, where +she had to pay a bill. While the man was writing a +receipt to the bill, his wife killed the Kid, and began to +roast it for dinner. Mousie looked round, and wanted +to know where her Kid was?</p> + +<p>"I rather think," said the Music-man, "that the nice +odour of roast meat which tickles your nostrils, comes +from that Kid. I'm sorry I can't give you the Kid back, +but you may have the best drum in my shop."</p> + +<p>Mousie did not like the Drum so well as her Kid; but +needs must, and she picked out a drum, and went away +with it on her shoulder. By-and-by she came to a place +where women were beating rice, to get the grains +away from the husk. She hung up her Drum on a peg, +while she watched the women husking the rice. Bang! +flap! a woman drove her pestle right through the Drum.</p> + +<p>Poor Mousie. It seemed as if her misfortunes would +never end. When she asked the woman for her Drum +again, there it was, burst. The tears ran down her +cheeks.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We are very sorry," the women all said, "that we +cannot give you back your Drum; but you can have a +Girl instead, if you like."</p> + +<div class='center'> +This brought smiles to Miss Mousie's sad face, and<br /> +she dried her tears. The women gave her a nice Girl,<br /> +and Mousie took the Girl home. They set up house<br /> +together, and planted a crop of corn. The corn ripened,<br /> +and they went out to cut it. Miss Mouse was a<br /> +wee mousie, and was quite hidden among the<br /> +stalks of the corn. While the Girl was<br /> +cutting the corn with a sickle, she did<br /> +not see poor little Mousie, so she<br /> +cut her in two, and that<br /> +was the end<br /> +of her.<br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 121px;"> +<img src="images/i_053.png" width="121" height="220" alt="with shadow" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_Jackal_that_Lost_his_Tail" id="The_Jackal_that_Lost_his_Tail"></a>The Jackal that Lost his Tail</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n25">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 151px;"> +<img src="images/i_073-t.png" width="151" height="150" alt="T" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'>HERE was once a Farmer, who +used to go out every morning to +work in his field, and his wife +used to bring him dinner at noon. +One day, as the Farmer's wife was +carrying out the dinner to the field, +she met a Jackal, who said—</div> + +<p>"Where are you going?"</p> + +<p>Said she, "To my husband, and this is his dinner."</p> + +<p>Said the Jackal, "Give me some, or I will bite you."</p> + +<p>So the woman had to give the Jackal some of this +food. And when her husband saw it, he said—</p> + +<p>"What a small dinner you have brought me to-day!"</p> + +<p>"A Jackal met me," replied his wife, "and threatened +to bite me if I gave him none."</p> + +<p>"All right," said the Farmer, "to-morrow I'll settle +with that Jackal."</p> + +<p>On the morrow, the Farmer's wife went after the +plough, and the Farmer dressed up in her clothes and +carried out the dinner. Again the Jackal appeared.</p> + +<p>"Give me some of that," said he, "or I'll bite you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, good Mr. Jackal," said the man, "you +shall have some, only don't bite me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then he set down the plate and the Jackal began +to eat.</p> + +<p>"Just scratch my back, you, woman," said the Jackal, +"while I am eating my dinner."</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 264px;"> +<img src="images/i_121.png" width="264" height="400" alt="Cut off jackal's tail" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Yes, sir; yes, sir," said the man. He began gently +to tickle and scratch the back of the Jackal, and in +the middle, suddenly out +with his knife, and slish! +cut off the Jackal's tail.</p> + +<p>The Jackal jumped up +and capered about. "Yow-ow-ow!" +he went, "what +has come to my tail? Oh +dear! how shall I swish +away the flies? Oh dear, +how it hurts! Yow-ow-ow!" +Away he scuttled, as fast +as his legs could carry him.</p> + +<p>When he got home, all the +Jackals came round him, and +asked what had become of his +tail. The Jackal was ashamed +to have lost his tail, which was +a particularly long and fine tail; +but he pretended to like it.</p> + +<p>"Poor fellow!" said the +Jackals, "where is your tail?"</p> + +<p>"I had it cut off," said the Jackal, "and good +riddance. It was always in my way. Why, I never +could sit down in comfort, and now look here!" He +sat down on the place where his tail used to be, and +looked proudly round. "Now, you try!" said he.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> + +<p>They all tried, and found that their tails got underneath +them when they sat, and it hurt their tails rather.</p> + +<p>"We never thought of that before," said they; "we +must get rid of these things. Who cut off yours?"</p> + +<p>"A kind Farmer's wife," said the first Jackal. Then +he told them where the Farmer's wife lived.</p> + +<p>That evening, a knock came at the Farmer's door, +as the Farmer and his wife were sitting at tea.</p> + +<p>"Come in!" said the Farmer.</p> + +<p>The door opened, and in trooped a number of +Jackals. "Please, Mr. Farmer," said they, "we want you +kindly to cut off our tails."</p> + +<p>"Willingly," said the Farmer; whipt out his knife, +and in a jiffy slish! slish! slish! off came the Jackals' +tails.</p> + +<p>"Yow-ow-ow!" went the Jackals, capering about, +"we didn't think it would hurt!" Away they went, +and all the woods echoed that night with yowling and +howling.</p> + +<p>When they all got home, they found the first Jackal +waiting for them. He laughed in their faces. "Now +we're all alike," said he, "all in the same boat."</p> + +<p>"Are we?" said the other Jackals, and set on him +and tore him to pieces.</p> + +<p>"Now we must have our revenge on the Farmer," +said the Jackals when they had eaten up their friend. +So next morning they scampered off to the Farmer's +house.</p> + +<p>The Farmer was out, and his wife was gathering +fuel.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, Mrs. Farmer," said the Jackals; "we +have come to eat the Farmer for cutting our tails off."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ah, poor fellow," said the Farmer's wife, "he is +dead. When he saw how it hurt you to have your tails +cut off, he just lay down on the bed, and died of grief."</p> + +<p>"That's unlucky," said the Jackals.</p> + +<p>"But we are preparing the funeral feast," she went +on, "you see I am now getting fuel for it. Will you +give us the pleasure of your company to dinner?"</p> + +<p>"Gladly," said the Jackals; "we should like to see the +last of the poor fellow;" then they ran away.</p> + +<p>At dinner-time, they all came back, and found chairs +put for them, and plates round the table, with the woman +at one end.</p> + +<p>"You can sit like Christians now," said the Farmer's +wife, "so I have set you a chair apiece."</p> + +<p>"Thanks," said the Jackals; "that is thoughtful."</p> + +<p>"But I know," the Farmer's wife went on, "what +quarrelsome creatures you are over your meat. Don't +you think I had better tie you to your chairs, and then +each will have to keep to his own plateful?"</p> + +<p>"A good plan," the Jackals said, wagging their heads. +They had now no tails to wag, and they had to wag +something. So the Farmer's wife tied them tight to +their chairs.</p> + +<p>"But how shall we eat?" said the Jackals, who +could not stir a paw.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no fear for that, I'll feed you."</p> + +<p>Then she brought out a steaming mess, and put it +in the middle of the table. All the Jackals sniffed at the +steam, and all their eyes were fixed greedily upon the +meat. They began to struggle.</p> + +<p>"Softly, softly, good Jackals!" said the Farmer's +wife.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> + +<p>But what a surprise awaited the Jackals! They were +so intent upon watching the Farmer's wife and the meat, +that none of them heard the door open, and none of +them saw the Farmer himself creep softly in, with a +great club in his hand. The first news they had of it +was crack! crack! crack!</p> + +<p>All but three of the Jackals looked round, and they +saw these three of their comrades with their heads +smashed in, lolling back in the chairs. The Farmer +held the club poised in the air; down it came crack! +on the head of the fourth Jackal. Then all the others +began yowling and struggling to get free; but in vain, +the cords held them fast, they could not stir; and in +five minutes all the Jackals lay dead on the floor.</p> + +<div class='center'> +After that the Farmer ploughed in peace,<br /> +and no one molested the Farmer's<br /> +wife when she brought<br /> +his dinner.<br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 105px;"> +<img src="images/i_124.png" width="105" height="125" alt="Farmer" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_Wily_Tortoise" id="The_Wily_Tortoise"></a>The Wily Tortoise</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n26">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 141px;"> +<img src="images/i_125-a.png" width="141" height="250" alt="A" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'><br /> FOWLER was bird-catching in the jungle, +and snared a wild goose. As he was +carrying home his goose, he sat down by +a pond. In this pond lived a Tortoise, +and the Tortoise put up his nose out of +the pond to sniff the air. He saw the +Fowler and the Goose, and being a very +innocent Tortoise, he feared no harm, but +began to waddle towards them.</div> + +<p>"Take care, friend!" said the Goose. +"This Fowler has caught me, and he will catch you!"</p> + +<p>The Tortoise waddled into the water again. "Many +thanks, friend," said he. "One good turn deserves +another." So saying, he dived down into the pond, +and brought up a ruby.</p> + +<p>"Here, Mr. Fowler," said he, "take this ruby, and +let my friend the Goose go."</p> + +<p>The Fowler took the ruby, but he was very greedy, +so he said—</p> + +<p>"If you will bring me a pair to this, I will let the +Goose go."</p> + +<p>The Tortoise dived down, and brought up another +ruby. Then the Fowler let go the Goose, and said +to the Tortoise, "Now hand over that ruby."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Tortoise said, "Forgive me, I have made a +mistake, and brought up the wrong ruby. Let me +see the first, and if it does not match, I will try +again."</p> + +<p>The Fowler gave back the first ruby. "As I +thought," said the Tortoise. Down he dived into the +pond.</p> + +<div class='center'> +The Fowler waited a good long time, but nothing<br /> +was seen of the Tortoise. As you have guessed, when<br /> +the Tortoise found himself safe at the bottom<br /> +of the pond, he stayed there. The Fowler<br /> +tore his hair, and went home,<br /> +wishing he had not been<br /> +so greedy.<br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 134px;"> +<img src="images/i_126.png" width="134" height="225" alt="Person with hat" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_King_of_the_Mice" id="The_King_of_the_Mice"></a>The King of the Mice</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n27">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 154px;"> +<img src="images/i_127-f.png" width="154" height="155" alt="F" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'>AR away in the forest was the Kingdom +of Mouseland. There was a +great city, where every Mouse had +his little house, with doors and +windows, tables and chairs, books +for the grown-up Mice, and toys +for the children; there were little +shops, where the Mice bought +clothes and food, and everything they wanted; there +was a little church where they went on Sunday, and a +reverend little Mouse in a little lawn surplice to preach +to them; there was a little palace, and in this palace +lived the little Mouse King.</div> + +<p>Now it happened that a caravan passed through the +Kingdom of the Mice. Not that the men of the caravan +knew what a wonderful kingdom they were in. They +thought it was just like any other part of the forest, and +if they did happen to pass a Mouse fortress, or farmyard, +they thought them nothing but heaps of earth. Just so +if you were to fly up in a balloon, and look down on +your own house from the air, it would seem like a little +doll's-house, not fit for a child to live in. This caravan, +as I have said, was passing through Mouseland, and +encamped in part of it once to spend the night. One<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +of the Camels was very sick, and as the owner of the +Camel thought it was sure to die, he left it behind when +the caravan went away.</p> + +<p>But the Camel did not die; he very soon got as well +as ever he was. And when he got well he also got +hungry; so he strode all over Mouseland, eating up the +crops of the Mice, and treading their houses down, until +at last he came to the Mouse King's park. He ate a +great many trees in the Mouse King's park, and the +Keeper went in a hurry and flurry to tell the King.</p> + +<p>"O King," said he, "a mountain several miles high +has walked into your park, and is eating everything up."</p> + +<p>"We must make an example of this mountain," said +the King, "or the whole earth may be moving next. +Sandy," said he to his Prime Minister, who was a Fox, +"go and fetch that mountain to me."</p> + +<p>So Sandy the Prime Minister went to seek the mountain +that was eating the King's park. Next morning, +back he came, leading the Camel by his nose-string.</p> + +<p>When the Camel saw how little the King of the Mice +seemed to be, he began to grunt and gurgle, and sniffed +with his funny mouth. You know a Camel has a mouth +which looks as though it had two slits in it, of the shape +of a cross; and when he wants to show his contempt +for anything he pokes out his mouth like a four-leaved +clover, and makes you feel very small. "Hullo," said +the Camel, "is this your King? I thought it was the +Lion who sent for me. I would never have come for a +speck like this." Then he turned round, and walked out +of court, and began to eat everything he came across.</p> + +<p>The King was very angry, but what could he do? +He had to swallow the insult, and make the best of it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +However, he determined to watch his chance of revenge; +and soon he got it. For after a few days, the Camel's +nose-string became entangled in a creeper, and he could +not get away, do what he would. Then Sandy the Fox +came by, and saw him in this plight. Imagine his joy +to see his enemy at his mercy! Off he ran, and soon +brought the King to that place. Then the King said—</p> + +<p>"O Camel, you despised my words, and see the result. +Your sin has found you out."</p> + +<p>"O mighty King," said the Camel, quite humble now, +"indeed I confess my fault, and I pray you to forgive +me. If you will only save me, I will be your faithful +servant."</p> + +<p>The Mouse King was not of a spiteful nature, and as +soon as he heard the Camel ask forgiveness his heart +grew soft. He climbed up the creeper, and gnawed +through the Camel's nose-string, and set the Camel free.</p> + +<p>The Camel, I am glad to say, kept his word; and he +became a servant of the Mouse King. He was so big +and strong that he could carry loads which would have +needed thousands of Mice to carry; and by his help the +King made very strong walls and forts around his city, +so that he had no fear of enemies. When there was +nothing else to do, the Camel even blacked the Mouse +King's boots, rather than be idle.</p> + +<p>So things went on for a long time. But one day +some Woodcutters came into the forest. These men +lived all together in a village of their own, and they used +to build houses of wood. When anybody wanted a +house, he told the Woodcutters, and they used to leave +their village and go into the woods. Then they cut +down the trees, and sawed them into planks, and shaped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +them into the parts of a house. When the house was +finished, they put numbers on all the parts, and took +it to pieces again, and put it on a raft; and the raft +floated down the great river to the place where the +house had been ordered. Then they put up the house +in a very short time, because you see it was all ready +made, and only had to be put together.</p> + +<p>These Woodcutters, then, came and settled for a +while near the borders of Mouseland; and in the course +of their wanderings they found the stray Camel. They +promptly seized him, and carried him off.</p> + +<p>When Sandy told the King what had happened, the +Mouse King was very angry indeed. He sent a detachment +of his bodyguard, armed cap-à-pie, to fetch the +Woodcutters into his presence. The bodyguard captured +two of them, and led them back bound. Then the King +demanded his Camel.</p> + +<p>"Pooh, silly little Mouse," said the Woodcutters. "If +you want it, you must fetch it."</p> + +<p>"I will," said the King of the Mice. "Tell your chief, +whoever he is, that I hereby declare war upon him."</p> + +<p>The Woodcutters laughed, and went away.</p> + +<p>Then the Mouse King gathered together all his subjects, +millions and millions of sturdy Mice; and they set +out for the village of the Woodcutters. The Woodcutters +had by this time finished their job, and they had been +paid a good round sum of money for it; and the money +was carefully put away, with all the other money they +had, in a treasury.</p> + +<p>Now the Mice were not able to meet big Woodcutters +in the field, but they had their own tactics. Night and +day they burrowed under the earth. First they made<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +for the treasury; and though the treasury had stone +walls, they got up easily through the floor, where no +danger was expected, and one by one they carried off +every coin from the treasury, until it was as bare as the +palm of your hand. Then they got underneath all the +houses of the village; and thousands and millions of +Mice were busy all day and all night in carrying out +little baskets of earth from beneath the foundations. +Thus it happened, that very soon the Woodcutters' +village was standing on a thin shell of earth, and underneath +it was a great hole.</p> + +<p>Now was the time to strike the blow. The layer of +earth was so thin, that the least shock would destroy it. +So the Mouse King wrote a letter to the Woodcutter +Chief, asking once more for his Camel, and in the letter +he hid a little packet of snuff. He put the letter in the +post, and waited.</p> + +<p>Next day, as the Woodcutter Chief was sitting in his +house, the postman came to the door—Rat-tat. The +footman brought in a letter, and the Woodcutter Chief +opened it. He read it through, and laughed. Then he +waved it in the air, and said, "Let them come." As he +waved the letter in the air, all the snuff fell out of it +upon his nose. The Woodcutter gave a terrific sneeze, +Tishoo! Tishoo! The thin shell of earth could not +stand the shock; it trembled, and crumbled, and fell +in, and all the Woodcutters fell in too, and all their +village, and nothing was left of them but a big hole.</p> + +<p>Then the Mouse King and his army went back to +Mouseland; and though they never got the old Camel +back (for he was swallowed up along with the Woodcutters), +yet no one ever molested Mouseland again.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_Valiant_Blackbird" id="The_Valiant_Blackbird"></a>The Valiant Blackbird</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n28">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 152px;"> +<img src="images/i_051b-a.png" width="152" height="150" alt="A" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'> BLACKBIRD and his mate lived +together on a tree. The Blackbird +used to sing very sweetly, and one +day the King heard him in passing +by, and sent a Fowler to +catch him. But the Fowler made +a mistake; he did not catch Mr. +Blackbird, who sang so sweetly, +but Mrs. Blackbird, who could hardly sing at all. However, +he did not know the difference, to look at her, +nor did the King when he got the bird; but a cage +was made for Mrs. Blackbird, and there she was kept +imprisoned.</div> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 165px;"> +<img src="images/i_132b.png" width="165" height="100" alt="Bent over looking at blackbird" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>When Mr. Blackbird heard that his dear spouse +was stolen, he was very angry indeed. +He determined to get her +back, by hook or by crook. So +he got a long sharp thorn, and +tied it at his waist by a thread; +and on his head he put the half of +a walnut-shell for a helmet, and the skin of a dead frog +served for body-armour. Then he made a little kettle-drum +out of the other half of the walnut-shell; and he +beat his drum, and proclaimed war upon the King.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> + +<p>As he walked along the road, beating his drum, +he met a Cat.</p> + +<p>"Whither away, Mr. Blackbird?" said the Cat.</p> + +<p>"To fight against the King," said Mr. Blackbird.</p> + +<p>"All right," said the Cat, "I'll come with you: he +drowned my kitten."</p> + +<p>"Jump into my ear, then," says Mr. Blackbird. +The Cat jumped into the Blackbird's ear, and curled +up, and went to sleep: and the Blackbird marched +along, beating his drum.</p> + +<p>Some way further on, he met some Ants.</p> + +<p>"Whither away, Mr. Blackbird?" said the Ants.</p> + +<p>"To fight against the King," said Mr. Blackbird.</p> + +<p>"All right," said the Ants, "we'll come too; he +poured hot water down our hole."</p> + +<p>"Jump into my ear," said Mr. Blackbird. In they +jumped, and away went Blackbird, beating upon his +drum.</p> + +<p>Next he met a Rope and a Club. They asked him, +whither away? and when they heard that he was going +to fight against the King, they jumped into his ear +also, and away he went.</p> + +<p>Not far from the King's palace, Blackbird had to +cross over a River.</p> + +<p>"Whither away, friend Blackbird?" asked the +River.</p> + +<p>Quoth the Blackbird, "To fight against the King."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll come with you," said the River.</p> + +<p>"Jump into my ear," says the Blackbird.</p> + +<p>Blackbird's ears were pretty full by this time, but +he found room somewhere for the River, and away +he went.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> + +<p>Blackbird marched along until he came to the +palace of the King. He knocked at the door, thump, +thump.</p> + +<p>"Who's there?" said the Porter.</p> + +<p>"General Blackbird, come to make war upon the +King, and get back his wife."</p> + +<p>The Porter laughed so at the sight of General +Blackbird, with his thorn, and his frogskin, and his +drum, that he nearly fell off his chair. Then he +escorted Blackbird into the King's presence.</p> + +<p>"What do you want?" said the King.</p> + +<p>"I want my wife," said the Blackbird, beating +upon his drum, rub-a-dub-dub, rub-a-dub-dub.</p> + +<p>"You shan't have her," said the King.</p> + +<p>"Then," said the Blackbird, "you must take the +consequences." Rub-a-dub-dub went the drum.</p> + +<p>"Seize this insolent bird," said the King, "and shut +him up in the henhouse. I don't think there will be +much left of him in the morning."</p> + +<p>The servants shut up Blackbird in the henhouse. +When all the world was asleep, Blackbird said—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"Come out, Pussy, from my ear,<br /> +There are fowls in plenty here;<br /> +Scratch them, make their feathers fly,<br /> +Wring their necks until they die."<br /> +</div> + +<p>Out came Pussy-cat in an instant. What a confusion +there was in the henhouse. Cluck-cluck-cluck +went the hens, flying all over the place; but no use: +Pussy got them all, and scratched out their feathers, +and wrung their necks. Then she went back into +Blackbird's ear, and Blackbird went to sleep.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> + +<p>When morning came, the King said to his men, +"Go, fetch the carcass of that insolent bird, and give +the Chickens an extra bushel of corn." But when +they entered the henhouse, Blackbird was singing away +merrily on the roost, and all the fowls lay around in +heaps with their necks wrung.</p> + +<p>They told the King, and an angry King was he. +"To-night," said he, "you must shut up Blackbird in +the stable." So Blackbird was shut up in the stable, +among the wild Horses.</p> + +<p>At midnight, when all the world was asleep, Blackbird +said—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"Come out, Rope, and come out, Stick,<br /> +Tie the Horses lest they kick;<br /> +Beat the Horses on the head,<br /> +Beat them till they fall down dead."<br /> +</div> + +<p>Out came Club and Rope from Blackbird's ear; +the Rope tied the horses, and the Club beat them, till +they died. Then the Rope and the Club went back +into the Blackbird's ear, and Blackbird went to sleep.</p> + +<p>Next morning the King said—</p> + +<p>"No doubt my wild Horses have settled the business +of that Blackbird once for all. Just go and fetch +out his corpse."</p> + +<p>The servants went to the wild Horses' stable. There +was Blackbird, sitting on the manger, and drumming +away on his walnut-shell; and all round lay the dead +bodies of the Horses, beaten to death.</p> + +<p>If the King was angry before, he was furious now. +His horses had cost a great deal of money; and to +be tricked by a Blackbird is a poor joke.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All right," said the King, "I'll make sure work of +it to-night. He shall be put with the Elephants."</p> + +<p>When night came the Blackbird was shut up in +the Elephants' shed. No sooner was all the world +quiet, than Blackbird began to sing—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"Come from out my ear, you Ants,<br /> +Come and sting the Elephants;<br /> +Sting their trunk, and sting their head,<br /> +Sting them till they fall down dead."<br /> +</div> + +<p>Out came a swarm of Ants from the Blackbird's +ear. They crawled up inside the Elephants' trunks, +they burrowed into the Elephants' brains, and stung +them so sharply that the Elephants all went mad, +and died.</p> + +<p>Next morning, as before, the King sent for the +Blackbird's carcass; and, instead of finding his carcass, +the servants found the Blackbird rub-a-dub-dubbing +on his drum, and the dead Elephants piled +all round him.</p> + +<p>This time the King was fairly desperate. "I can't +think how he does it," said he, "but I must find out. +Tie him to-night to my bed, and we'll see."</p> + +<p>So that night Blackbird was tied to the King's bed. +In the middle of the night, the King (who had purposely +kept awake) heard him sing—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"Come out, River, from my ear,<br /> +Flow about the bedroom here;<br /> +Pour yourself upon the bed,<br /> +Drown the King till he is dead."<br /> +</div> + +<p>Out came the River, pour-pour-pouring out of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +Blackbird's ear. It flooded the room, it floated the +King's bed, the King began to get wet.</p> + +<p>"In Heaven's name, General Blackbird," said the +King, "take your wife, and begone."</p> + +<div class='center'> +So Blackbird received his wife again, and they<br /> +lived happily ever after.<br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 252px;"> +<img src="images/i_137.png" width="252" height="300" alt="Sitting in book" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_Goat_and_the_Hog" id="The_Goat_and_the_Hog"></a>The Goat and the Hog</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n29">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 152px;"> +<img src="images/i_051b-a.png" width="152" height="150" alt="A" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'> GOAT and a Hog were great +friends, and for a long time they +lived together. But they were +poor, and one day the Goat said +to the Hog—</div> + +<p>"Good-bye, friend Hog! I am +going to seek my fortune."</p> + +<p>"Ugh! ugh! ugh!" said the +Hog. It was kindly meant, for that was all the ignorant +Hog could say. He intended to bid good-bye to his +friend, and to wish him good luck.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 142px;"> +<img src="images/i_138b.png" width="142" height="200" alt="Goat" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>The Goat trotted along till he came to the nearest +town. He found a grain-shop with +nobody in it; so in went our Goat, and +ate his fill of the Grain, and whatever +he could find. Then he went into the +inner room, and sat down.</p> + +<p>By-and-by the shopman came in; +his little girl was with him, and the little +girl began to cry for sugar.</p> + +<p>"Go and get some out of the cupboard," +said the shopman.</p> + +<p>The little girl ran into the inner room to get the +sugar, but the Goat was there. And when the Goat saw +the little girl, he cried out, in a solemn and loud voice<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"Little girl, go run, go run,<br /> +Or your life is nearly done!<br /> +And my crumpled horns I'll stick<br /> +Through your little body quick!"<br /> +</div> + +<p>The little girl ran out shrieking. "What is it, my +dear?" said her father.</p> + +<p>"A demon, father!" she said; "save me from his +crumpled horn."</p> + +<p>What a terrible thing to happen in a quiet household! +The poor man did not know what to do. So he sent +for all his relations, and they advised him to try what +the parson could do.</p> + +<p>So the Parson was sent for, and the Clerk, and the +Sexton, with bell, book, and candle. They lit the candle, +and opened the book (I think it was a Latin Grammar, +which they judged would be enough to scare any +demon), and rang the bell; and then the Parson, with +his heart in his boots, advanced into the room.</p> + +<p>Instantly a horrid groan burst upon his ears (or so +he thought), and a deep voice said—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"Parson, fly! or I will poke<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">This my crumpled horn into you!</span><br /> +You'll admit it is no joke<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">When you feel its point go through you!</span><br /> +Sexton, dig his grave, and then<br /> +Let the Clerk reply, Amen!"<br /> +</div> + +<p>The Parson dropt his Latin Grammar, and ran away, +nor did he stop until he was safe in his own church.</p> + +<p>At this the Shopman went down on his knees, and +put his hands together, and said—</p> + +<p>"O most respectable Demon! whoever you are, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +pray you do me no harm; and I will worship you, and +offer you anything you may desire."</p> + +<p>Then the Goat came majestically out, walking upon +his hind legs, with his grey beard flowing from his chin, +and he said—</p> + +<p>"Put wreaths and jewels about my neck, and on +each of my horns, and round my paws and my tail, and +give me sweetmeats to eat, and I will do you no harm."</p> + +<p>The Shopman made haste to do all this; he wreathed +the Goat with flowers, and put all his wife's jewels +upon the horns and paws, and all the jewels he could +borrow from his neighbours.</p> + +<p>The Goat went home, and showed all this magnificence +to his friend the Hog. The Hog winked his +greedy little eyes, and somehow made his friend understand +that he would like some too. Then the Goat told +him how he got the things, and showed him the way +to the place.</p> + +<p>So the Hog went to the same shop, and found it +empty. The Shopman and his little girl had gone out +to tell all the town what adventures they had passed +through. The Hog grubbed up all he could find to eat, +and then went and sat in the inner room.</p> + +<p>Soon the Shopman and his little girl came back. +The little girl ran inside to take off her little hat, and +what does she see but a big black Hog sitting there! +The Hog remembered his lesson, and wanted to say +some terrible thing as the Goat had done; but all he +could get out was—</p> + +<p>"Ugh! ugh! ugh!"</p> + +<p>This did not frighten the little girl at all. She ran +out to her father, saying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"O papa! there is a big black Hog inside!"</p> + +<p>The Shopman got out his knife, and whetted it on +the grindstone, and then he went into the room.</p> + +<p>"Ugh! ugh! ugh!" said the Hog.</p> + +<div class='center'> +The Shopman said nothing, but stuck his knife into<br /> +the Hog. Then there was a squealing and squalling,<br /> +if you like! But in two minutes the Hog was dead,<br /> +and in two hours he was skinned and cut up, and by<br /> +nightfall, the Shopman and his little girl, and all<br /> +their friends, were sitting round a delicious<br /> +leg of roast pork, and the Sexton rang<br /> +the bell for dinner, and the Parson<br /> +said grace, and the Clerk<br /> +said Amen.<br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 124px;"> +<img src="images/i_141.png" width="124" height="150" alt="Parson" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_Parrot_and_the_Parson" id="The_Parrot_and_the_Parson"></a>The Parrot and the Parson</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n30">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 137px;"> +<img src="images/i_142-t.png" width="137" height="200" alt="T" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'>HERE was once a Banker who taught +his Parrot the speech of men. The +Parrot made such progress that he was +soon able to take part in any conversation, +and he astonished every one by his intelligence.</div> + +<p>One day a Parson came by the Parrot.</p> + +<p>"My respects to your Reverence," said +the Parrot.</p> + +<p>The Parson looked all round him, he looked down +at his feet, he looked up into the sky; but no one +could he see who might have spoken to him. He +could not make it out; he thought it must have been +a ghost. Then the Parrot spoke again. "It was I +who saluted you," said he. The Parrot was close to +the Parson's ear, and now at length the Parson saw +him. The Parrot went on—</p> + +<p>"O reverend Sir, you teach men how to get free +from the chains of their sins. May it please you to +tell me how to escape from this cage?"</p> + +<p>This was a practical question, but the Parson's +advice was not usually asked on such points. He did +not know what to say.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I fear I can be of no use to you," said he, "but +I will consult my Solicitor."</p> + +<p>The Parson went to see his Solicitor, and paid him +six and eightpence. He might have bought the Parrot, +cage and all, for half that; but, as I said, he was +not a practical man. When he told the Solicitor what +business he came about, the Solicitor said nothing at +all, but fell down in a faint.</p> + +<p>"What can I have said to make him faint?" the +Parson thought. "Perhaps it is the hot weather." +He poured water over the Solicitor's face, and by-and-by +the Solicitor came to.</p> + +<p>The Parson was much distressed at having thrown +away six and eightpence; but he knew it would be of +no use asking the Solicitor to give any of it back, so +he did not try. He went back to the Parrot and +said—</p> + +<p>"Dearly beloved bird, I much regret having no +information to give you which may be of use. The +fact is, no sooner did I put your question to my worthy +Solicitor, than he fell down in a dead faint."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said the Parrot, "many thanks, Parson."</p> + +<p>The Parson went away to the parish meeting. +When he had gone, the Parrot stretched himself out +on the bottom of his cage, and shut his eyes, and +cocked up his feet in the air.</p> + +<p>By-and-by the Banker came in, and saw his Parrot +lying on his back, with his feet pointing to the +sky.</p> + +<p>"Poor Poll," said he, "you're dead, my pretty +Poll."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> + +<div class='center'> +He opened the door of the cage, and took<br /> +out the bird, and laid him on the<br /> +ground. Immediately the Parrot<br /> +opened his wings and<br /> +flew away.<br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 139px;"> +<img src="images/i_099.png" width="139" height="150" alt="Person" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_Lion_and_the_Hare" id="The_Lion_and_the_Hare"></a>The Lion and the Hare</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n31">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 94px;"> +<img src="images/i_145-o.png" width="94" height="250" alt="O" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'><br />NCE upon a time there was a Lion, who used +daily to devour one of the beasts of the +forest. They had to come up one after +another, when called for. At last it came to +the Hare's turn to be eaten, and he did not +want to be eaten at all. He lingered and +he dallied, and when at last he plucked up +courage to come, he was very late. The Lion, +when he saw the Hare coming, bounded +towards him. The Hare said—</div> + +<p>"Uncle Lion, I know I am late, and you have +cause to be angry. But really it is not my fault. +There is another Lion in our part of the jungle, and +he says that he is master, and you are nobody. In +fact, when I showed him that I positively would come +to you he was very angry."</p> + +<p>"Ha!" said the Lion, roaring; "who says he is my +master? Show him to me. I'll teach him who rules +the forest."</p> + +<p>"Come along then," said the Hare.</p> + +<p>They went a long way, until they came to a well. +The Hare looked down into the well. "He was here +just now," said he.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Lion looked in, and at the bottom he saw +what looked like a Lion in the water. He shook his +mane—the other Lion shook his mane. He roared—the +echo of a roar came up from the bottom of the +well. "Let me get at him!" roared the Lion. In +he jumped—splash! Nothing more was ever heard of +that Lion, and the beasts of the forest were glad to +be left in peace. They put their heads together, and +composed a verse of poetry, which is always sung in +that forest on Sundays:—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"The Hare is small, but by his wit<br /> +He now has got the best of it;<br /> +By folly down the Lion fell,<br /> +And lost his life within the well."<br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 172px;"> +<img src="images/i_061.png" width="172" height="200" alt="Sitting under a tree" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_Monkeys_Bargains" id="The_Monkeys_Bargains"></a>The Monkey's Bargains</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n32">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 143px;"> +<img src="images/i_147-o.png" width="143" height="210" alt="O" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'><br />NCE upon a time an old Woman was +cooking, and she ran short of fuel. +She was so anxious to keep up her +fire, that she tore out the hairs of her +head, and threw them upon the flame +instead of fuel.</div> + +<p>A Monkey came capering by, and +saw the old Woman at her fire.</p> + +<p>"Old Woman," said the Monkey, +"why are you burning your hair? Do you want to +be bald?"</p> + +<p>"O Monkey!" quoth the old Woman, "I have no +fuel, and my fire will go out."</p> + +<p>"Shall I get you some fuel, mother?" said the +Monkey.</p> + +<p>"That's like your kind heart," said the old Woman. +"Do get me some fuel, and receive an old Woman's +blessing."</p> + +<p>The Monkey scampered away to the woods, and +brought back a large bundle of sticks. The old Woman +piled the dry sticks on the fire, and made a fine blaze. +She put on her cooking-plank, and made four cakes.</p> + +<p>All this while, the Monkey sat on his tail, and +watched her. But when the cakes were done, and gave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +forth a delightful odour, the Monkey got up on his hind +legs, and began dancing and cutting all manner of +capers round about the cakes.</p> + +<p>"O Monkey," said the old Woman, "why do you +caper and dance around my cakes?"</p> + +<p>"I gave you fuel," said the Monkey, "and won't you +give me a cake?"</p> + +<p>It seems to me that she might have thought of that +without being asked; but she did not, so the Monkey +had to ask for it.</p> + +<p>Well, the old Woman gave the Monkey one cake, and +the Monkey took his cake in high glee, and capered away.</p> + +<p>On the way, he passed by the house of a Potter; and +at the door of the Potter's house sat the Potter's son, +crying his eyes out.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, little boy?" asked the Monkey.</p> + +<p>"I am very hungry," whimpered the Potter's son, +"and I have nothing to eat."</p> + +<p>"Will a cake be of any use?" asked the kind +Monkey.</p> + +<p>The Potter's little Boy stretched out his hand, and +into his hand the Monkey put his cake. Then the +little Boy stopped crying, and ate the cake, but he forgot +to say thank you. Perhaps he had never been taught +manners, but the Monkey felt sad, because that was not +the kind of thing he was used to.</p> + +<p>The Potter's little Boy then went into the shop, and +brought out four little earthenware pots, and began to +play with them. He took no more notice of the Monkey, +now that he had eaten his cake; but when the Monkey +saw these earthenware pots, he began to dance and cut +capers round them, like mad.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why are you dancing round my pots?" asked +the little Boy. "Are you going to break them, +Monkey?"</p> + +<p>The Monkey replied, capering about all the while—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"One old Woman, in a fix,<br /> +Made me go and gather sticks;<br /> +Then she gave me, for the sake<br /> +Of the fuel, one sweet cake.<br /> +That sweet cake to you I gave:<br /> +In return, one pot I crave."<br /> +</div> + +<p>The Potter's little Boy was very much afraid of this +dancing and singing Monkey, and perhaps he was a +little bit ashamed of his ingratitude; so he gave the +Monkey one of his four pots.</p> + +<p>Away capered the Monkey, in high glee, carrying +his pot. By-and-by he came to a place, where was a +Cowherd's wife making curds in a mortar.</p> + +<p>"What an odd thing to do, Mrs. Cowherd," said the +Monkey. "Have you a fancy for making curds in a +mortar?"</p> + +<p>"No," said the Cowherd's wife, "but I have nothing +better to make my curds in."</p> + +<p>"Here's a pot which will do better than a mortar to +make curds in," said the Monkey, offering the pot which +he had received from the little Boy.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, kind Mr. Monkey," said the Cowherd's +wife. She took the pot and made curds in it. She took +out the curds from the pot, and put them ready for +eating, and some butter beside them. The Monkey +watched her, sitting upon his tail.</p> + +<p>Then the Monkey got up off his tail, and began to +dance and cut capers round the curds and the butter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why are you dancing about my butter?" said the +Cowherd's wife. "Do you want to spoil it?"</p> + +<p>Then the Monkey began to sing, as he capered +about—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"One old Woman, in a fix,<br /> +Made me go and gather sticks;<br /> +Then she gave me, for the sake<br /> +Of the fuel, one sweet cake.<br /> +Potter's son ate that, and he<br /> +Gave a pot instead to me.<br /> +Since to you I gave that pot,<br /> +Give me butter, will you not?"<br /> +</div> + +<p>The wife of the Cowherd was much pleased with this +song, as she was fond of music. "If your kindness," +said she, "had not already earned the butter, your pretty +song would be worth it." Then she gave him a good +lump of butter.</p> + +<p>Off went the Monkey in high glee, capering along +with the lump of butter wrapped up in a leaf. As he +went, he came to another place, where a Cowherd was +grazing his kine. The Cowherd was sitting down at that +moment, and enjoying his dinner, which consisted of a +hunk of dry bread.</p> + +<p>"Why do you eat dry bread, Mr. Cowherd?" asked +the Monkey. "Are you fasting?"</p> + +<p>"I am eating dry bread," quoth the Cowherd, +"because I have nothing to eat with it."</p> + +<p>"What do you say to this?" said the Monkey, +cutting a caper, and offering to the Cowherd his lump +of butter, wrapped up in a leaf.</p> + +<p>"Ah," said the Cowherd, "prime." Not another word +said he, but spread the butter upon his dry bread, and +set to, with much relish.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Monkey sat on his tail, and watched the Cowherd +eating his meal. When the meal was eaten, up jumped +the Monkey, and began capering and dancing, hopping +and skipping, round and round the herd of kine.</p> + +<p>"Ah," said the Bumpkin, "what are you a-doing +that for?" The Bumpkin was so ignorant that he +thought the Monkey wanted to bewitch his cattle, and +dry up all their milk.</p> + +<p>The Monkey went on with his skips and capers, +and as he capered, he sang this ditty:—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"One old Woman, in a fix,<br /> +Made me go and get her sticks;<br /> +Then she gave me, for the sake<br /> +Of the fuel, one sweet cake.<br /> +Potter's son the sweet cake got,<br /> +Gave me, in return, one pot.<br /> +Cow-wife had the pot, and she<br /> +Butter gave instead to me.<br /> +This I gave to you just now:<br /> +Will you give me, please, one cow?"<br /> +</div> + +<p>"Ah," said the Bumpkin, "'spose I must." He was +afraid of the Monkey's spells, and so he gave him +a cow.</p> + +<p>Away capered the Monkey, in high glee, leading +his cow by a string. "I am indeed getting on in the +world," said he.</p> + +<p>By-and-by, what should he see coming along the +road, but the King himself. The King was fastened +to the shafts of a cart, which he was slowly dragging +along; and jogging by the side of this cart was an +ox; and upon the ox sat the Queen. This King had +very simple tastes, and so had the Queen.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> + +<p>"O King," said the Monkey, "why are you dragging +your cart with your own royal hands?"</p> + +<p>"This is the reason, O Monkey!" said the King. +"My ox died in the forest, and I drag the cart because +this cart will not drag itself."</p> + +<p>"Come, sire," said the Monkey, "I don't like to +see a King doing draught-work. Take this cow of +mine, and welcome."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, good and faithful Monkey," said the +King. He mopped his brow, and yoked in the cow.</p> + +<p>The Monkey began to dance and caper, jump and +skip, round the Queen.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, worthy Monkey?" asked +the King.</p> + +<p>The Monkey began his ditty:—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"One old Woman, in a fix,<br /> +Made me go and gather sticks;<br /> +Then she gave me, for the sake<br /> +Of the fuel, one sweet cake.<br /> +Potter's son the sweet cake got,<br /> +Gave me in its place, one pot.<br /> +Cow-wife had the pot, and she<br /> +Butter gave instead to me.<br /> +Bumpkin ate the butter, then<br /> +Paid me with this cow again.<br /> +Keep the cow, but don't be mean:<br /> +All I ask for, is the Queen."<br /> +</div> + +<p>This seemed reasonable enough, so the King gave +his Queen to the Monkey.</p> + +<p>Away went the Monkey, capering along, and the +Queen walked after (you see the King could not part +with his ox as well as the Queen).<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></p> + +<p>By-and-by they came to a Man sewing a button +on to his shirt.</p> + +<p>"Why, Man," said the Monkey, "why do you sew +on your own buttons?"</p> + +<p>"Because my wife is dead," said the Man.</p> + +<p>"Here is a nice wife for you," said the Monkey. +He gave the Queen to the Man. The Monkey then +began his capers again, but all he could find to caper +about, was a drum.</p> + +<p>"You may have that drum, if you like," said the +Man. "I only kept it because its voice reminded me +of my wife, and now I have another."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, thank you!" said the Monkey. "Now +I am rich indeed!" Then he began to beat upon the +drum, and sang:—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"One old Woman, in a fix,<br /> +Made me go and gather sticks;<br /> +Then she gave me, for the sake<br /> +Of the fuel, one sweet cake.<br /> +Potter's son the sweet cake got,<br /> +Gave me in its place, one pot.<br /> +Cow-wife had the pot, and she<br /> +Butter gave instead to me.<br /> +Bumpkin ate the butter, then<br /> +Gave a cow to me again.<br /> +King took cow, but was not mean,<br /> +For he paid me with a Queen.<br /> +Now I have a drum, that's worth<br /> +More than any drum on earth.<br /> +You are worth a queen, my drum!<br /> +Rub-a-dub-dub, dhum dhum dhum!"<br /> +</div> + +<div class='center'><br /><br /> +So the Monkey capered away into the forest in<br /> +high glee, beating upon his drum, and he<br /> +has never been heard of since.<br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="The_Monkeys_Rebuke" id="The_Monkeys_Rebuke"></a>The Monkey's Rebuke</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n33">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 154px;"> +<img src="images/i_154-i.png" width="154" height="155" alt="I" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'>N a certain village, whose name I +know (but I think I will keep it +to myself), in this village, I say, +there was once a Milkman. I +daresay you know that a Milkman +is a man who sells milk; but +I have seen milkmen who also sell +water. That is to say, they put +water in the milk which they sell, and so they get more +money than they deserve. This was the sort of Milkman +that my story tells of; and he was worse than the more +part of such tricksters, since he actually filled his pans +only half full of milk, and the other half all water. The +people of that village were so simple and honest, that +they never dreamt their Milkman was cheating them; +and if the milk did seem thin, all they did was to shake +their heads, and say, "What a lot of water the cows do +drink this hot weather!"</div> + +<p>By watering his milk, this Milkman got together a +great deal of money: ten pounds it was, all in sixpences, +because the villagers always bought sixpennyworth of +milk a day.</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 234px;"> +<img src="images/i_155.png" width="234" height="400" alt="Milkman" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>When the Milkman had got ten pounds, that is to say, +no less than four hundred silver sixpences, he thought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +he would go and try his tricks in another place, where +there were more people to be cheated. So he put his +four hundred silver sixpences in a bag, and set out.</p> + + +<p>After travelling a while, he came to a pond. He sat +down by the pond to eat his breakfast, laying his bag +of sixpences by his side; +and after breakfast, he proceeded +to wash his hands +in the pond.</p> + +<p>Now it so happened +that this was the very pond +where the Milkman came +to water his milk. He +came all this way out of +the village, because he did +not want to be seen by +the people of the village. +But there was one who +saw him; and that was a +Monkey, who lived in a +tree which overhung the +pond. Many a time and +oft had this Monkey seen +the Milkman pour water +into the milk-cans, chuckling +over the profit he was +to make. This was a very worthy and well-educated +Monkey, and he knew just as well as you or I know, +that if you sell milk, you should put no water in it. +When the Man stooped down to wash his hands in the +pond, quietly, quietly down came the Monkey, swinging +himself from branch to branch with his tail. Down he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +came to the ground, and picked up the bag of sixpences, +and then up again to his perch in the tree.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 433px;"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141"></a> +<img src="images/i_156.png" width="433" height="600" alt="Monkey in tree" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>The Monkey untied the mouth of the bag, and took +out one sixpence, and, click! dropped it into the pond. +The Milkman heard a tiny splash, but it did not trouble +him, because he thought it was a nut or something that +had fallen from the tree. Click! another sixpence. +Click! went a third.</p> + +<p>By this time the Milkman's hands were dry, and he +looked round to pick up his bag, and get him gone. But +no bag! Click! click! went the sixpences all this while; +and now the Milkman began to look around him. Before +long he espied the Monkey sitting on a branch with his +beloved bag, and—O horror! dropping sixpences, click! +click! click! one after another into the pond.</p> + +<p>"I say, you Monkey!" shouted he, "that's my bag! +What are you doing? bring me back my bag!"</p> + +<p>"Not yet," said the Monkey, and went on dropping +the sixpences, click! click! click!</p> + +<p>The Milkman wept, the Milkman tore handfuls of hair +out of his head; but the Monkey might have been made +of stone for all the notice he took of the Milkman.</p> + +<p>At last the Monkey had dropt two hundred sixpences +into the pond. Then he tied up the mouth of the +money-bag, and threw it down to the Milkman. "There, +take your money," said the Monkey.</p> + +<p>"And where's the rest of my money?" asked the +Milkman, fuming with rage.</p> + +<p>"You have all the money that is yours," said the +Monkey. "Half of the money was the price of water +from this pond, so to the pond I gave it."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> +<div class='center'> +The Milkman felt very much ashamed of himself, and<br /> +went away, a sadder but a wiser man; and never again<br /> +did he put water in his milk. And that is why<br /> +I have not told you the name of the village<br /> +where he lived; for now that he has<br /> +turned over a new leaf, it would<br /> +hardly be fair to rake up<br /> +his old misdeeds<br /> +against him.<br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 105px;"> +<img src="images/i_124.png" width="105" height="125" alt="man" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_Bull_and_the_Bullfinch" id="The_Bull_and_the_Bullfinch"></a>The Bull and the Bullfinch</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n34">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 74px;"> +<img src="images/i_160-u.png" width="74" height="125" alt="U" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'>NDER a certain tree lived a wild Bull, and a +Bullfinch had his nest in the branches. A Bull +in a field is vicious enough, as I daresay you +know; but a wild Bull is worse than anything. +Wild Bulls are tremendously strong, and they +can fight with almost any beast of the forest, +even Lions and Tigers.</div> + +<p>This wild Bull used to attack every creature that +came near; and that, not for the sake of food, as Lions +and Tigers do, but out of pure mischief. When the +creature (were he man or beast) was killed, this wild +Bull would leave the corpse lying, and begin to eat +grass. But the little Bullfinch harmed nobody, unless +it were a worm he would eat now and again for a +treat. All day long he hopped about, picking up seeds, +and singing away with all his throat. Many a time +he saw the wild Bull gore some creature to death; +and when he saw such things, tears would roll out of +his eyes, because he could do nothing to help.</p> + +<p>At last he thought to himself that he could at least +warn the wild Bull of his wickedness, and clear his +own conscience. So one morning, when the wild Bull +was sitting under his tree, and looking around him, +Bullfinch piped up, and said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"Good brother Bull, I suppose we are akin somehow +or other, because of our names."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I daresay it may be so, Cousin Bullfinch," said +the Bull.</p> + +<p>"Well," says the Bullfinch, "allow me the right of +a near kinsman to say something to you."</p> + +<p>"All right, go ahead," said the Bull gruffly.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the Bullfinch, clearing his throat (for +he was a little frightened), "don't you know that murder +is a very evil deed, and yet you do it every day of +your life?"</p> + +<p>"Impertinent speck!" said the Bull, getting up and +walking away. He thought it cheeky that a bird so +little should presume to rebuke a great big Bull. He +did not remember, you see, that big bodies are often +big fools, and precious goods are done up in small +parcels. The warning of the little Finch was as the +blowing of the wind; at least, so it seemed at the +time, though afterwards (as you shall hear) the Bull +did remember it.</p> + +<p>So the Bull went on tossing and goring all that +came within reach; and now he would have nothing +to say to the poor little Bullfinch.</p> + +<p>This went on, until one night a certain Lion had +a dream. This Lion was King of the Forest, and he +could conquer any creature who fought with him. In +his dream the Lion thought that an angel stood before +him, and said: "O Lion! in such a place, under a tree, +lives a wild Bull, who does cruel murders every day +upon innocent folk. By that tree is good pasture, and +the wild Bull has grown very fat. I think he would +make a nice meal for you; and at the same time you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +would be doing a good action in ridding the world of +such a monster."</p> + +<p>When day dawned, the Lion made no delay, but +set out at once towards the place of the wild Bull. +By-and-by he caught scent of the Bull, and then he +uttered a terrible roar. The Bull heard the roar and +was afraid; and still more feared he, when he saw +this Lion approach, whom he knew to be the King of +the Forest, and invincible.</p> + +<p>"O Bull!" roared the Lion, "your hour has come. +I am come to eat you, as a just punishment for your +sins, and also because I am hungry."</p> + +<p>At this the Bull trembled greatly, for he knew now +that his sins had found him out. His knees gave way +beneath him, and he was just about to sink to the +ground, when the words of the Bullfinch came into +his mind. Then he said—</p> + +<p>"O mighty Lion! I have indeed deserved to be +eaten, but I beg of you one last favour. Give me +leave to bid farewell to a little kinsman of mine, Cousin +Bullfinch, who lives in this tree, and at this moment is +picking up seeds not far off."</p> + +<p>The Lion was a good fellow, and had no wish to +be hard on the Bull, so he said: "I give leave, O Bull, +if you will promise on your honour to come back and +be eaten."</p> + +<p>The Bull gave his word that he would come back, +and then went slowly away in search of the Bullfinch.</p> + +<p>Master Bullfinch was at the moment eating his frugal +breakfast of seeds. Suddenly he was aware that the wild +Bull was approaching. He looked up, and seeing the +dejected air of the Bull, he greeted him as cheerfully as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +he could, and then asked what the matter was? This +Bullfinch bore no manner of grudge for the Bull's rudeness, +because in his little body was a great heart, and he +never thought of mean things.</p> + +<p>"O Finchy, Finchy!" moaned the Bull, "look +upon me for the last time! A hungry Lion has come +to devour me, and it is of no use to resist; for he +says that an angel has sent him to punish me for +my sins."</p> + +<p>"Poor old chap!" said the Bullfinch, "tell me all +about it."</p> + +<p>Then the wild Bull told him the dream which the +Lion had seen.</p> + +<p>"Ah," said the Bullfinch, "that is curious."</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked the Bull.</p> + +<p>"Because," said the Bullfinch, "I too had a dream +last night, which I think the Lion ought to hear."</p> + +<p>The wild Bull was not interested in the Bullfinch's +dream; would you be interested in dreams, I wonder, +if you expected to be eaten the next minute? However, +he said nothing; and when Bullfinch fluttered his wings, +and flew away towards the Lion, our friend the wild Bull +followed slowly behind.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, King Lion," said the little bird. "So +you have had a dream?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the Lion, and then he told the Bullfinch +his dream.</p> + +<p>"I had a dream too," said the Bullfinch, "and this it +was. I dreamt that the same angel who came to you, +came afterwards to me, and said, 'O Bullfinch! when +the Lion comes to eat your friend the Bull, tell him +that he was sent not to destroy, but to cure; and that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +now the Bull repents of his evil ways, the Lion may go +back again to his forest.'"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am so glad!" said the Lion. "I am hungry, +it is true, but I daresay I can find some other creature, +who has committed no sins, and wants no curing. So +good-bye, friend Bull, and don't do it again." So saying, +the Lion shook hands with both of them, and went to +look for a fawn.</p> + +<div class='center'> +Then the Bull, wild no longer, thanked his friend the<br /> +Bullfinch for saving his life, and they became faster<br /> +friends than ever. The Bull gored no more creatures,<br /> +indeed he welcomed them as his guests; and in the fat<br /> +pastures around that tree you might have seen, if you<br /> +had been there, whole herds of deer and antelopes<br /> +grazing without any fear; and the Bull lived<br /> +in their midst to a green old age, till<br /> +he died respected and went<br /> +to a happier world.<br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 149px;"> +<img src="images/i_164.png" width="149" height="225" alt="Bull walking away" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_Swan_and_the_Crow" id="The_Swan_and_the_Crow"></a>The Swan and the Crow</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n35">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 79px;"> +<img src="images/i_165-o.png" width="79" height="200" alt="O" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'>NCE upon a time, two Swans had to leave +home on account of a famine; and they +settled by a lake in a distant land. By the +side of this lake lived a Carrion Crow. The +Swans built a nest, and Mrs. Swan laid two +beautiful round eggs in the nest, and sat upon +them. She had to sit on the eggs for weeks, +in order to keep them warm, so that the little +ones might grow up inside and be hatched. +While she sat there, the Crow used to help Mr. Swan +to find food for his wife; and when the cygnets came +out of their shells, the Crow helped to feed them also.</div> + +<p>So all went happily for a time, and Mr. and Mrs. +Swan were deeply grateful to the kind Crow. But +Crows are not kind without some reason, and what this +Crow's reason was, you shall now hear.</p> + +<p>Time went on, and one day Mr. Swan said to Mrs. +Swan—</p> + +<p>"My dear, the famine must be over by this time. +What do you say? shall we go home again?"</p> + +<p>"I am ready," Mrs. Swan said, "and we can start +to-morrow if you like."</p> + +<p>"Stop a bit," says Mr. Crow, "I have a word or two +to say first."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, what do you mean?" the Swans said, both +together.</p> + +<p>"I mean," said the Crow, "that you may go, if you +like, but these cygnets are as much mine as yours, and +may I be plucked if I let them go with you!"</p> + +<p>"Yours!" said Mrs. Swan. "Who laid the eggs? +who hatched them?"</p> + +<p>"And who fed them, I should like to ask?" said the +Crow, with a disagreeable laugh: "Caw, caw, caw!"</p> + +<p>Here was a bolt from the blue! The Crow stuck to +it, and the end of all was, that Mrs. Swan stayed behind +to look after her little ones, while Mr. Swan flew off to +lay a complaint in court against the greedy Crow.</p> + +<p>But you must not suppose that this Crow meant to +sit still, and let the Swan have things all his own way. +Not he; off he flew secretly to the Judge, and to the +Judge said he—</p> + +<p>"O Judge, a Swan is going to lodge a false charge +against me, and I want your help!"</p> + +<p>"If it is false," said the Judge, "you want help from +no one."</p> + +<p>"Caw, caw, caw!" said the Crow, "you understand +me." Then this vulgar Crow winked one eye at the Judge.</p> + +<p>"Hm, hm," said the Judge, looking at the Crow. It +is a pity to say it, but it is quite true, that this Judge was +an unjust Judge; and he was ready to give any decision, +right or wrong, so long as he was bribed well for his +trouble. In that country, you see, there was no jury to +decide matters, but all power lay in the hands of the +Judge.</p> + +<p>The Judge winked one eye at the Crow. Then he +said, very softly, "<small>What will you give me?</small>"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Silver and gold have I none," said the Crow, "but +I'll tell you what I will do. I'll carry your father's bones +to the Holy Land, and bury them in Jerusalem, and +then your father will be sure to go to heaven."</p> + +<p>The Judge was so foolish that he really believed his +father would go to heaven at once, if only his bones +were buried in Jerusalem, although his father had been +as wicked as himself while he was alive. So he agreed +to the Crow's proposal.</p> + +<p>When the case came into court, of course the Judge +gave decision in favour of the Crow, though there was +no evidence on his side except his own word: and who +but a fool would trust the word of a Carrion Crow? +When the court rose, the Crow flew to the house of the +Judge, and asked for the bones of the Judge's father. +So the Judge tied up his father's bones in a bag, and +hung the bag round the Crow's neck. Away flew the +Crow, but he didn't fly far; for as the Judge watched +him, the Crow hovered over a filthy drain; and untying +the bag, began dropping the bones one by one into +the mud.</p> + +<p>"Hi, you brute!" shouted the Judge, "what are you +doing!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you pumpkin!" said the Crow, "did you verily +think that I should take the trouble to carry your father's +rotten old bones to Jerusalem? No, no; I only wanted +to see what rogues the race of Judges can be. Caw!" +Flop! went the last bone into the mud, and away flew +the Crow, and never came back there any more.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 439px;"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153"></a> +<img src="images/i_168.png" width="439" height="600" alt="Talking to the crow" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'><br /> +So the Judge had to pick his father's bones out of<br /> +the gutter. And the next thing he had to do was to<br /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span>reverse his own decision, and give the Swan his<br /> +young ones again; because, you see, a great many<br /> +people had heard what the Crow said to the Judge,<br /> +and knew (if they didn't know it before) that the<br /> +Judge was a rogue. So the Swan got his young ones<br /> +back, and as for the Judge, he became the<br /> +laughing-stock of the whole city, and he<br /> +was obliged to go and try his<br /> +tricks elsewhere.<br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 385px;"> +<img src="images/i_170.png" width="385" height="350" alt="Picking up bones" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="Pride_shall_have_a_Fall" id="Pride_shall_have_a_Fall"></a>Pride shall have a Fall</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n36">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 113px;"> +<img src="images/i_171-t.png" width="113" height="175" alt="T" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'>HERE was once a great drought in the +land. For weeks and months not a drop +of rain fell; and the sun beat down, and +dried up the whole country, so that there +was no water to be found. Now there +was a certain pond in that country; and +as day after day the sun blazed, the water +sank lower and lower, until it was hardly +an inch deep. Numbers of Frogs used to live in this +pond; but as the water dried the Frogs died, so that +the dry mud on the banks of the pond was covered all +over with dead bodies of Frogs.</div> + +<p>There came a Jackal out of the forest. He was +glad to see this pool, because the pool where he used +to drink had been quite dried up. So he made a little +platform of mud, and stuck up four posts at the +four corners; and then he gathered bundles of dry +grass, and put them upon the top of the four posts for +a thatch. Then his eye fell on the corpses of Frogs +lying about; and being a foolish animal, he thought +these corpses were uncommonly pretty. And what +do you think he did? He gathered a lot of the dead +Frogs and hung a fringe of them all round the thatch;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +and in each of his ears he hung a dead Frog, like an +earring.</p> + +<p>From far and near swarms of Rats used to come +to this pond for drinking, since it was the only water +to be found for a long distance, and all the rest was +dried up. Then the Jackal kept guard over the pool; +and not a drop might any Rat so much as taste, unless +he would first bow down and worship the Jackal, and +sing the following psalm, which the Jackal made up +himself:—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"A temple all of gold I found,<br /> +With golden lamps hung all around;<br /> +And see! the God himself is here,<br /> +With two big pearls in either ear."<br /> +</div> + +<p>Even a Rat can tell a dead Frog from a pearl, but +willy nilly he needs must sing it, or else no water. So +when the Rat had sung this psalm, and bowed himself +down three times before the Jackal, worshipping him +as if he were a God, he was allowed to go down and +take a sip of the water.</p> + +<p>One day, what should come down to the water to +drink but an Ox with one eye.</p> + +<p>"Ho! ho! one-eyed Ox!" screamed the Jackal, +"not a drop till you sing your psalm."</p> + +<p>The Ox blinked his one eye stupidly, and looked +round. "What psalm?" asked the one-eyed Ox.</p> + +<p>"Mine," said the Jackal, who was very proud of +his psalm, "my own composition." Then he sang it +over to the Ox, that he might hear it.</p> + +<div class='center'> +"'A temple all of gold I found—'<br /> +</div> + +<p>"That's this, you know," he explained, pointing to +the scraggy thatch<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span>—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"A temple all of gold I found,<br /> +With golden lamps hung all around;<br /> +And see! the God himself is here,<br /> +With two big pearls in either ear."<br /> +</div> + +<p>"Ah," said the one-eyed Ox, "I'm rather stupid, +I fear, and it will take me a minute or two to learn +that psalm. It's a mighty fine psalm, that; I never +heard the like in church. Suppose I say it over to +myself while I'm a-drinking? that will save time, and +it would be a thousand pities to spoil a thing like that."</p> + +<p>This flattered the Jackal so much that he agreed.</p> + +<p>One-eye went down to the pool, and took a long, +long pull at the water. Then he came out of the +water, and went slowly up to the Jackal, as he was +sitting under his thatch, with its string of dead Frogs, +and the two Frogs in the Jackal's ears.</p> + +<p>"Now then, booby!" the Jackal said, "look sharp, +the God is waiting."</p> + +<p>The Ox opened a big mouth, and in a very hoarse +voice he sang—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"A nasty dirty thatch I found,<br /> +With dried-up Frogs hung all around;<br /> +And see! the mangy Jackal here,<br /> +With two dead Frogs in either ear."<br /> +</div> + +<p>You may imagine the rage of the Jackal to hear +this! He fairly foamed at the mouth. "You blasphemous +beast!" screamed he, "I'll teach you to +abuse a God!" And with that he jumped down off +his seat, and gave chase.</p> + +<p>Away scuttled the Ox; and as he ran, the water +he had been drinking went gurgling inside him, flippity-flop, +flippity-flop.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span></p> + +<p>This sound rather frightened the Jackal. "What's +that?" he cried.</p> + +<p>"A dog at your heels," said the Ox.</p> + +<div class='center'> +The Jackal was so scared at the very name of dog,<br /> +that he turned about in no time, blind with terror,<br /> +and away he scampered as hard as he could pelt.<br /> +He was so frightened, that he did not see where<br /> +he was going; so he ran straight into<br /> +the midst of a pack of hounds, who<br /> +made short work of the<br /> +conceited Jackal.<br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 106px;"> +<img src="images/i_030.png" width="106" height="230" alt="King" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_Kid_and_the_Tiger" id="The_Kid_and_the_Tiger"></a>The Kid and the Tiger</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n37">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 109px;"> +<img src="images/i_175-a.png" width="109" height="125" alt="A" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'> NANNY-GOAT and a Tigress were near +neighbours in a certain wood, and fast +friends to boot. The Tigress had two tiger-cubs; +and the family of the Nanny-goat were +four frolicksome kids, named Roley, Poley, +Skipster, and Jumpster.</div> + +<p>But the Tigress was jealous of her friend +the Nanny-goat, because Nanny had four +young ones, while she had only two. One day, as she +was musing on the injustice of her fate, she thought +to herself, "What if I eat up two of Nanny's kids, and +then things will be equal? They do say, friends have +all things in common." So to Nanny-goat she hied, and +said she—</p> + +<p>"Sister Nanny, my little ones have gone out, and +I am very lonely at home. Do let one of your dear +kiddies come and sleep with me, for company. Will +you, please?"</p> + +<p>"Gladly will I, sister," said honest Nanny-goat, +thinking no evil of her friend. Then she ran out to +the fields, where Roley and Poley were rolling over +each other, and Jumpster was jumping over the back +of Skipster.</p> + +<p>"Children, children!" said Nanny-goat, "a treat for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +you! A kind friend has asked one of you out to spend +the night."</p> + +<p>"Baa baa baa!" cried the Kids, running up; and +then three of them called out all together, dancing +about old Nanny, "Let me go! Let me go! Let me +go!" But the fourth, who was a wise little imp (and +Roley it was, to be sure), asked in a quiet tone, "Who +is it, Mammy Nanny-goat?"</p> + +<p>"Why, who should it be but your Aunt Yellowstripe?" +said Nanny.</p> + +<p>At this they all looked rather crestfallen; for although +Nanny-goat loved her friend dearly, all the youngsters +were afraid of her, for what reason they could not say. +Children have a way of finding out their friends; and +these Kids had noticed at times a gleam in the eyes of +Auntie Yellowstripe, which boded ill to little Kids.</p> + +<p>"No-o, thank you, Mammy Nanny-goat," said Skipster, +skipping away.</p> + +<p>"No-o-o, thank you, Mammy," said Jumpster, and +jumped after her.</p> + +<p>"No-o-o-o, thank you," said Poley, and rolled away +by himself.</p> + +<p>Why did Poley roll away by himself? Because +Roley stayed behind. Roley did not say No, thank +you; on the contrary, he said Yes. Why Roley said +yes instead of no, was his own concern; and I think +Roley knew what he was about.</p> + +<p>This was how Roley went with the Tigress; and that +night the Tigress put him to sleep by her side. She +cuddled him up, and made a great fuss of him, thinking +to herself, "Soft words cost nothing; and when he is +fast asleep, we shall see what we shall see."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Roley was no such fool as the Tigress thought +him. So he did not go to sleep, but only pretended; +and no sooner did Dame Yellowstripe begin to snore, +than up jumps Roley, as soft as you please, and fetches +out one of Yellowstripe's own cubs, who were sleeping +away at the back of the cave. He laid the cub in his +own place, and went into the corner to sleep with the +other cub.</p> + +<p>About midnight the Tigress awoke, and as she felt +the warm little thing nestling beside her, she chuckled +to herself. Then she gave him one tap with her mighty +paw; crack! went his neck, and his dancing days were +over; the Tigress gobbled him up, skin, bones, and +teeth. It was pitch dark, you know, and she could not +see that she was eating her own cub. "One less of the +brood now," thought the Tigress; turned over, and went +to sleep again.</p> + +<p>Next morning, they all woke up; and Yellowstripe, +to her dismay, saw that Roley was rolling about, right +as a trivet. She looked round for her own cubs, and lo +and behold! one was missing. At first she could not +make it out in the least; but when it dawned upon her +what had happened, she nearly turned yellow all over +with rage and disappointment.</p> + +<p>"Did you have a good night, Roley dear?" said she +in a wheedling tone to the Kid.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, Auntie," said the little Kid, "only a gnat +bit me."</p> + +<p>This astonished the Tigress, who thought that the +Kid must be stronger than he appeared to be. "Never +mind," said she to herself; "come to-night, we shall see +what we shall see."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>That night all went as before; only this time Roley +put a huge stone in his place, and then he ran off as fast +as his legs could carry him. When the Tigress awoke, +she gave a pat to the stone: it hurt her paw sadly.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens," said she, "what a mighty Kid it is, +to be sure! I must make short work of him now I have +the chance, or there is no knowing what may happen. +When he grows up, he may kill me." So she gave a +fierce bite at the stone, and broke all her front teeth.</p> + +<p>Now the Tigress' fury knew no bounds. She went +raging about the cave, hunting in every corner for Roley; +but Roley was not to be found, because, as I have told +you, he was not there. So the Tigress was forced to +wait until morning for her revenge.</p> + +<p>All night long the Tigress lay awake with the pain +of her teeth; and when morning came, she sought out +a familiar friend to take counsel with. This friend was +an old one-eyed Tiger. The Tigress and the one-eyed +Tiger talked for a long time together, and as they talked +they walked. When they came to the end of their talk, +their walk was also at an end, and they found themselves +at the mouth of Yellowstripe's den. There in the den, +as calm as you please, playing with the one remaining +Tiger cub, was Roley.</p> + +<p>"Ha ha," laughed One-eye, "so there you are. Let +us sit down, and I will tell you a story."</p> + +<p>"Do, do, Nuncle One-eye," cried Roley.</p> + +<p>So they all sat down, and One-eye began. "When +I eat little Kids," said One-eye, "four of them make me +a mouthful; and I'm coming one of these days to make +one mouthful of you and your brother and sisters."</p> + +<p>"Capital, capital, Nuncle One-eye!" said Roley,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +clapping his paws; "what good stories you do tell, +Nuncle One-eye! Now I'll tell you a story. When +you come to eat us up, Skipster will hold you by the +forelegs, and Jumpster will hold you by the hind legs, +and Poley will hold your head, and Roley will chop +it off, if only mother will give us a light."</p> + +<p>This terrified One-eye extremely, for he was a great +coward. He thought it all as true as gospel, so he took +to his heels, and left Yellowstripe in the lurch.</p> + +<p>On the way, he met six other Tigers, friends of his. +"Oh my friends!" said he, "I have such a treat for you! +A fine fat Kid, crying out to be killed! Come along, +come along, I'll show you the way, and all I ask is the +pleasure of serving you." Cunning old One-eye!</p> + +<p>The six Tigers believed all that One-eye said, and +away they all trotted together towards the place where +Roley lived. They knew he would go home sooner or +later; and indeed he was there already, and saw them +coming, so he climbed up a tree. Goats are wonderfully +good at climbing rocks, but I think most of them cannot +climb trees; still, whatever may be true of other goats, +Roley could. If it were not so, this story would never +have been written. So Roley climbed up a tree, and sat +on a branch, with his legs all dangling in the air.</p> + +<p>The first Tiger gave a jump, and missed him. Number +two gave a jump, and missed him. They all jumped, one +after another, and not one of them could touch Roley; +who sat and laughed at them so heartily, that he nearly +fell off his perch.</p> + +<p>At last, when they were tired of jumping, and jumping, +up gets old One-eye, and says, "I know how to get at +him. I'll stand here, and you get on my back, and then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +the rest of you one a-top of another, and then we shall +catch him nicely." They all thought this an excellent +idea; so One-eye propped his old carcass against the +tree, and the other Tigers mounted one on another's +shoulders, until there they were, all seven in a pyramid. +Then the topmost Tiger stretched out his paw, and all +but got hold of Roley.</p> + +<p>Thereupon One-eye cocked up his solitary eye, to see +how things were going on up aloft; and seeing this, +Roley called out—</p> + +<p>"Mother, give me a lump of mud, and I'll hit the +brute in his sound eye, and then we will finish him off."</p> + +<div class='center'> +When One-eye heard this, he gave a great start, and<br /> +down toppled the whole seven in a heap, one a-top of<br /> +the next, spitting and roaring and scratching. They<br /> +were so much taken aback, that they imagined all sorts<br /> +of powerful beasts to be fighting with them, when it was<br /> +only their own selves, biting each other; and the<br /> +end of all was, that as soon as the seven Tigers<br /> +had each got his four legs to himself, off<br /> +they went helter-skelter into the forest,<br /> +and never more troubled Mammy<br /> +Nanny-goat and her four<br /> +frolicsome<br /> +Kids.<br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="The_Stag_the_Crow_and_the_Jackal" id="The_Stag_the_Crow_and_the_Jackal"></a>The Stag, the Crow, and <br />the Jackal</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n38">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 175px;"> +<img src="images/i_181-o.png" width="175" height="250" alt="O" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'>NCE upon a time there was a Stag living in +a certain jungle, and in the same jungle lived +a Crow. These two were bosom friends. +Why a Stag should take a fancy to a +Crow, I cannot say; but so it was; +and if you do not believe it, you had +better not read any further.</div> + +<p>It so befell that a Jackal came by +one day, and his eye fell on this Stag, +and a fine plump Stag he was. The Jackal's +mouth began to water. How he would like +to make a meal of so dainty a piece of flesh. But he +knew it was of no use trying to attack the Stag, who +seemed very strong. Still, by hook or by crook, that +Stag he would have. So in the depths of his cunning +heart he concocted a trick, of which you shall shortly +hear.</p> + +<p>The Jackal watched his chance, and as soon as he +had found the Stag alone, he began to say, sidling up +to the Stag, and whispering in his ear—</p> + +<p>"Beware of that Crow; he's fooling thee. Beware, +beware all birds of the air. There's no trusting any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +bird, let alone a Crow, who is worst of the whole +feathered tribe. Now you and I, who never try in +the air to fly, good honest gentlemen with four legs +apiece, we are marked out for friends by Nature +herself."</p> + +<p>Will you be surprised to hear that the Stag listened +to the crafty and slanderous words, and deserted his +friend the Crow? When your hair is grey you will +know that such is the way of the world, and that a +true friend who sticks to the end, is harder to find +than a diamond mine.</p> + +<p>But although this Stag was shallow-hearted and +weak, not so the Crow. He was a true friend, and +he was cut to the heart by the unkindness of his friend +the Stag; but he wasted no time in fruitless tears. He +went about his work as usual, and waited for a chance +of winning back his recreant friend.</p> + +<p>Well, Stag and Jackal scoured about the woods +together, and the Jackal did his best to make himself +agreeable. In this he had poor success; for though +the Stag tried hard to like his new comrade, yet he +could not help seeing that he was dirty; moreover, +the Jackal ate all sorts of dead animals, but the Stag +was a vegetarian, and did not approve of this kind of +food. But though the Stag had qualms now and again, +he was not strong enough to break loose from the +friendship of the Jackal.</p> + +<p>But the time was ripening for the Jackal's blow. +He knew a place where huntsmen used to set gins +and snares, to catch the wild animals. So one day, +as he and the Stag were out a-walking together, the +Jackal so managed that they passed by this place. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +Jackal took good care to keep clear of the snare; but +the innocent Stag knew nothing of snares or gins, so +into a snare he stept, and snap! he was fast.</p> + +<p>Now was the time for a true friend to show his +friendship. But the Jackal, as we already know, was +a humbug; accordingly, all he did was to sit by the +side of the Stag, and try not to look pleased.</p> + +<p>"Oh dear, what shall I do?" said the Stag, when +he found himself caught. "Oh my friend, do help +me out."</p> + +<p>"You shock me, friend," said the Jackal, pulling a +long face; "surely you have not forgotten that it is +Sunday? We are told in the Ten Commandments to +do no work on the Sabbath day. If it were not so, +how gladly would I help you!" So saying, he wiped +away a crocodile tear. He sat down and waited in +the hope that the Stag would die, and then he would +eat him.</p> + +<p>But the faithful Crow was not far. Though his friend +the Stag would not so much as cast him a look, the +Crow followed him ever, biding his time; and now the +time had come.</p> + +<p>The Crow perched on a neighbouring tree, and +said—</p> + +<p>"Dear friend, I am only a weak little bird, and I +cannot help you; but I can teach you to help yourself. +My advice is, pretend to be dead, and when +the Hunter comes, he will open the snare without +any care, and you can escape."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, long-suffering friend!" said the +Stag; and so he did. When the Huntsman came, +he thought the Stag was dead; he opened the snare,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +and before he was aware, the Stag was up and off +and away.</p> + +<div class='center'> +The Stag asked his friend the Crow to forgive<br /> +him, and they lived happily together as<br /> +before. As for the treacherous<br /> +Jackal, he never came<br /> +near them more.<br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 183px;"> +<img src="images/i_047.png" width="183" height="250" alt="Teaching a boy" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_Monkey_and_the_Crows" id="The_Monkey_and_the_Crows"></a>The Monkey and the Crows</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n39">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 154px;"> +<img src="images/i_154-i.png" width="154" height="155" alt="I" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'>N a certain land, a flock of Crows +built their nests in the branches of +a huge cotton-tree.</div> + +<p>In that country, the climate is +not the least like ours. It is hot +all the year round, and for eight +months the sun blazes like a fiery +furnace, so that the people who +live there are burnt as black as your boot; then after +eight months comes the rain, and the rain comes down +in bucketsful, with lightning fit to blind you, and thunder +enough to crack your head. These Crows were quite +happy in their nests, whatever happened; for when it +was hot, the leaves of the trees sheltered them from +the sun, and in the rainy season the leaves kept them +pretty dry.</p> +<div class="figright" style="width: 185px;"> +<img src="images/i_186.png" width="185" height="600" alt="Monkey and crows" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>One evening there came a terrible storm, with +torrents of rain like Noah's flood. In the midst of it, +the Crows noticed a Monkey sliding along, drenched +and draggle-tailed, looking like a drowned Rat. The +Crows set up a chorus of caws, and called out—</p> +<p>"O Monkey, what a fool you must be! Look at +us, dry and comfortable, in our nests of rags and twigs. +If we, with only our little beaks to help us, can make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +comfortable nests, why can't +you, with two hands and two +feet and a tail?"</p> + + + +<p>You might have thought the +Monkey would take this advice +to heart. But not a bit of it. +Monkeys are naturally a lazy +tribe, and they are full of envy, +hatred, and malice. What they +like best is destroying whatever +they can lay their hands on; +and when I look upon some +of the nations of this globe, I +cannot help thinking that they +really must be descended from +Monkeys. So this Monkey snapt +and snarled, and said to the +Crows—</p> + +<p>"Just wait till morning, and +then we'll see what a Monkey +can do."</p> + +<p>The simple birds were delighted +to hear this, and looked +forward to seeing the Monkey +do something wonderfully clever, +with his tail and his two hands +and two feet.</p> + +<p>Morning came, and the rain +was over. The Monkey climbed +up into the tree, and in his rage +and envy he tore all the Crows' +nests to pieces.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> + +<div class='center'> +Then the Crows were sorry they spoke, and determined<br /> +for the future to mind their own business,<br /> +and let fools alone. For, as the wise man<br /> +said, "To give good advice to a fool<br /> +is like pouring oil upon<br /> +the fire."<br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 252px;"> +<img src="images/i_137.png" width="252" height="300" alt="Sitting in book" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_Swan_and_the_Paddy-Bird" id="The_Swan_and_the_Paddy-Bird"></a>The Swan and the Paddy-Bird</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n40">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 118px;"> +<img src="images/i_188-a.png" width="118" height="175" alt="A" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'> WILD Swan was flying once to his home, when +he paused to rest on a tree. This was a kind +of tree you have most likely never seen. +It was very tall, and had no branches upon +it until you came to the top, but at the +top was a large clump of green leaves, and +bunches of cocoa-nuts hanging down.</div> + +<p>It so happened that on this tree was +the nest of a Paddy-bird. A Paddy-bird is a bird something +like a heron, which feeds on fish and frogs. At +the moment when the Swan perched upon the tree, this +Paddy-bird was sitting demurely on the edge of a pond +that was below the tree, watching the water for a rise. +She had no fishing-rod, but when she saw a little fish or +a frog swim past, out went her beak like a flash, and the +fish was pierced. Then she ate the fish, or carried it off +to her little ones in the nest.</p> + +<p>When the Paddy-bird chanced to look round, she +saw the Swan sitting upon her tree. She was frightened +at this, thinking that perhaps it was some bird of prey, +come to devour her chicks. So she left her fishing, and +at once flew up to the top of the cocoa-nut tree. The +Swan looked harmless enough when she came closer, so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +plucking up courage, the Paddy-bird thus addressed +him—</p> + +<p>"Good-day, sir. May I ask who you are?"</p> + +<p>"I am a Swan," said the other, "and I am on my +way home; but as it is a hot day, I thought I would rest +awhile on your tree. I hope you have no objection?"</p> + +<p>"Welcome, my lord Swan, welcome!" said the Paddy-bird. +"I only wish I could offer you entertainment. +But I am ashamed to say that I have no food worth +your taking. I am a poor bird, and you know we +Paddy-birds eat only small fish and frogs, which your +highness would hardly touch."</p> + +<p>"Oh, never mind for that," answered the Swan; +"thank you all the same, but I can find my own food +on this tree of yours."</p> + +<p>This set our Paddy-bird's heart all a-flutter, for +what could he mean but her brood? However, all +was well in a minute; when she saw the Swan go to one +of the green cocoa-nuts hanging to the tree. You have +seen, I suppose, three little soft places at the top of a +cocoa-nut, which are holes in the shell filled up with +pulp. The Swan pierced his bill through one of these +holes, and drank the milk inside the cocoa-nut. Then +he gave some of the milk to the Paddy-bird, and flew +away.</p> + +<p>This milk tasted very nice, and the Paddy-bird began +to say to herself, "What a fool I have been all these +years! Here am I, watching and waiting all day long +for a frog, and nasty things they are too, and all this +while there was plenty of delicious milk within a yard +of my nest! Well, good-bye fish, and good-bye frogs; +I have done with you now for ever."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> + +<p>The next time the Paddy-bird felt hungry, she flew +to a cocoa-nut and began to peck at it. But she did not +know the secret of the three little holes at the top of +the cocoa-nut; so she pecked, and pecked, and got no +further. At last she gathered all her strength, and gave +a tremendous peck at the cocoa-nut. Snap! her bill +broke off, and the blood ran out, and very soon the poor +Paddy-bird had bled to death.</p> + +<div class='center'> +Next day, the Swan happened to fly by that way<br /> +again; and coming to the tree, he found his friend the<br /> +Paddy-bird lying dead on the ground, with her bill<br /> +snapt off clean. He understood at once what had<br /> +happened, and said to himself, "This is what<br /> +comes of trying to do what one is not<br /> +fit for. Let the cobbler stick to<br /> +his last, or misfortune<br /> +follows fast."<br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 200px;"> +<img src="images/i_067.png" width="200" height="86" alt="Lying down" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="What_is_a_Man" id="What_is_a_Man"></a>What is a Man?</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n41">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 154px;"> +<img src="images/i_154-i.png" width="154" height="155" alt="I" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'>N a certain forest, a Lioness dwelt +who had one cub. This cub did +not go to school, as you one day +will go; but he learned his lessons +at home. And what do you think +his lessons were? Not multiplication +which is vexation; not the +Rule of Three which puzzles me; +not spelling and copy-books. No; the Lioness had +only one lesson to teach her cub, and that was, to +avoid mankind as if they were poison. Every day, +morning and evening, she taught him for an hour; +telling him again and again, that of all the beasts of +the forest he need fear none, for a lion is stronger than +any, but man he must fear and keep clear of.</div> + +<p>Well, the little Lion grew big; and as often happens +to children as well as lions' cubs, he grew conceited too. +He could not believe that his mother was old enough to +know better than he; no, he would see for himself. So +one fine day, this Lion set out on a voyage of discovery.</p> + +<p>The first thing he saw was an Ox. This Ox was a +fine sturdy animal, and the Lion felt rather nervous to +see such hoofs and horns. You must remember he was +young and ignorant, and had hardly seen any animal but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +his mother and father. So he went up to the Ox, and +said timidly—</p> + +<p>"Good morning, sir. Will you be good enough to +tell me if you are a Man?"</p> + +<p>If an Ox could laugh, that Ox would have laughed +in the face of the Lion's cub. But an Ox is always +solemn, like a Turk, though he does not love bloodshed +as a Turk does. This Ox was chewing the cud, +munching and mouthing with great calmness, so as +to get the full flavour of the rich grass. He turned +his meek eyes, and stared at the Lion. Then he +said—</p> + +<p>"A Man! God forbid. A Man is a terrible creature. +He makes slaves of us Oxen, and puts a yoke on our +necks and fastens us to a thing called a plough; and +makes us pull the plough to and fro, up and down, till +we are tired to death. If we won't go, he sticks a prod +into us, which hurts us very much. I can't think what is +the use of all this pother; we get no good of it. And +when we are old, and can work no more, he kills us, and +eats our flesh, and the skin he makes into shoes for his +own feet. Keep clear of Men, if you value your life." +Then the Ox turned his head away, and went on with +his chewing.</p> + +<p>This gave our Lion something to think about. He +thought the Ox a very fine animal indeed, and yet, said +the Ox, Man was stronger.</p> + +<p>The Lion went his ways, and by-and-by, what should +he see but a Camel. If the Ox was a fine creature, here +was a finer; ever so tall, with a hump on his back, and a +long neck, and great long legs. Surely this must be the +terrible Man he had heard so much of. But to make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +certain, he approached the Camel with great respect, +and said—</p> + +<p>"Good morning, sir. Pray, will you tell me if you +are a Man?"</p> + +<p>The Camel turned his long neck, and sniffed and +sneered as Camels have a way of doing, and a most +unpleasant way it is.</p> + +<p>"Pooh!" said he. "Stuff! poof! you oaf! you think +me a Man? I wish I were a Man, wouldn't I make short +work of you! A man, quotha! Why, I am a slave to +that same Man. They catch us, these Men, and make +a hole in our noses, and put a ring in it—do you see my +ring? How do you think I like a hole made in my +nose, as if two holes were not enough! Then they tie +a rope to the ring, and lead us about all day long just +where they please, without a with your leave, or by your +leave! And they make us squat down in the mud, +and put a great load on our backs, enough to crush a +whipper-snapper like you. Groan as we may, it's all +of no use, they do what they choose. Man! the very +name makes me shiver. Get out, and leave me alone!"</p> + +<p>This frightened our Lion, because who knew whether +the great animal might not kill him, if +it came into his head, so the Lion went +away as fast as he could.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 129px;"> +<img src="images/i_193.png" width="129" height="125" alt="Elephant" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>In a little while, he espied an Elephant. +Here was a monster, to be sure! A great +black mountain, with a long nose curling +about, and huge white teeth sticking +out, and big ears flapping. The Lion was quite terrified +this time, and would not go near the Elephant, until he +suddenly saw that the Elephant had a rope round his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +tusks, by which he was tied fast to a stake. Then he +plucked up courage to approach, and said—</p> + +<p>"Good morning, my lord. Please will you tell me, +are you a Man?"</p> + +<p>The Elephant trumpeted loudly. That was his way +of laughing at the idea that he could be mistaken for +a Man.</p> + +<p>"Hooroo! hooroo!" he shrieked. "A Man! Hooroo! +No, but a Man is my master, and that's the truth. +A Man tied me to this post. Cruel and selfish brutes, +are men; and with all my strength, I am no match +for a Man. They get on our backs, a dozen of them +at a time, and make us fetch, and carry, and drive us +about by sticking a sharp spike into our skulls. Don't +you go near a Man, if you love your life; why, bless +me, they will make mincemeat of you! Hooroo!" +The Elephant swished his trunk all round him in his +excitement.</p> + +<p>Our Lion had now seen three astonishing creatures, +and they all said that a Man was stronger than they +were. What could this terrible creature be like? He +must be a mountain indeed, if he was to master such +a beast as the black Elephant. Yet the black creature +said that Men got on his back, a dozen of them at +a time. The Lion could not understand it at all. He +shook his head, and stalked away thoughtful.</p> + +<p>As the Lion was going along, he saw a puny and +weak-looking thing, walking upright on two legs. He +seemed to be a kind of monkey, thought the Lion. It +never entered his head that this little thing could be +a Man, but he trotted up to him gaily, and said—</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 252px;"> +<img src="images/i_195.png" width="252" height="500" alt="Man with ax and sheep" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>"Good morning, my friend. Can you tell me where<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +I can find a Man? I have been hunting for one all +the morning."</p> + +<p>"I am a Man," said the other.</p> + +<p>At this the Lion laughed in his face. "You a +Man!" said he. "Come, +come; I may be young, +but I am no fool, my good +fellow. Why, you are not +so big as one leg of that +mountain over there, who +was tied to a stake, as he said, +by a Man."</p> + +<p>"All the same," the Man said, +"I am one of them."</p> + +<p>"But look here," the Lion +went on, "my father and mother +both say that Man is a terrible +and cruel creature, and the only +creature a Lion need fear. Now, +either you are no Man, or else +my father and mother are quite +wrong."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the Man, "I am +not nearly so strong as you are, +or the Elephant and Camel, or +even the Ox. As you say, I am +not much to look at, but I have +one power which you all lack."</p> + + +<p>"Indeed," said the Lion, "and what may that be?"</p> + +<p>The Man answered, "Reason."</p> + +<p>"I never heard of reason," said the Lion. "Please +explain it to me, will you?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is not easy to explain what reason is," replied +the Man; "but if you like, I will show you how it +works."</p> + +<p>The Lion was pleased. "Oh please do," he said.</p> + +<p>I must tell you that this Man was a woodcutter, +and he had an axe upon his shoulder. He now lifted +this axe and drove a blow into a stout sapling which +grew hard by. When he had split the sapling, he +took a wedge of wood, and hammered it in with the +back of his axe, until there was a large cleft in the +trunk of the sapling. "Now then," said the Man, "just +put your paw in that hole."</p> + +<p>The Lion obediently put his paw into the cleft, and +then the Man pulled out the wedge from the cleft. +The sapling closed tight on the paw of the Lion, and +squeezed it. "Now," said the Man, "you know what +reason is."</p> + +<p>But the Lion no longer cared to hear about reason; +all he wanted was to get his paw out of the cleft. He +pulled and he tugged, he roared and he struggled; +but all of no use; he could not by any means get his +paw free. The end of all was, in madness and fury +he dashed his head against the ground, and died.</p> + +<div class='center'> +This was how the Lion learnt how terrible a being<br /> +is Man; but unluckily, you see, his knowledge was<br /> +of no use to him or any one else, because it cost him<br /> +his life. If he had listened to his mother's<br /> +teaching, he might be living still, and<br /> +you would not be reading<br /> +this story.<br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="The_Wound_and_the_Scar" id="The_Wound_and_the_Scar"></a>The Wound and the Scar</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n42">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 205px;"> +<img src="images/i_197-t.png" width="205" height="275" alt="T" title="" /> + +</div><div class='unindent'><br /><br />HERE was once a forest where a Lion +dwelt. Over all the beasts of the +forest the Lion lorded it, and of men +not one durst come near the place for +fear of King Lion; none, that is, except +one only, a Woodman who lived +in a little hut just upon the borders +of the woodland; and between +the forest and the hut a river flowed. This +Woodman came often into the forest, to cut +wood; and he had no fear to do so, because the Lion +and he were bosom friends. Such fast friends they were +that if ever the Woodman failed to pay his daily visit, +the Lion was grieved and missed him sorely.</div> + +<p>It happened once that the Woodman fell ill of a +fever. In his woodland hut he lay all alone, for no wife +was there, or sister to care for him. So he tossed and +moaned, and waited for the hours to pass.</p> + +<p>Of course during all this time the Woodman could +not visit the forest, and his friend the Lion missed him. +"What can be the matter," thought King Lion. "Has +some enemy killed him, or has he fallen sick?" At last<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +he could no longer bear the suspense, and set out +in search of the Woodman.</p> + +<p>I do not think that the Lion had ever yet been to +his friend's house; and for all he knew he might be +walking straight into a trap. But he was so fond of the +Woodman that he never thought of danger. All he +wanted was to see his friend. Accordingly, he followed +the path by which the Woodman came into the woods; +and in due time this path led him to the bank of a wide +and swift river, and over on the opposite bank was +a hut.</p> + +<p>In plunged the Lion, not waiting to think; and +though there were crocodiles in that river ready to eat +him, and though the current bade fair to sweep him +away, so strong was his love for his friend that he swam +across.</p> + +<p>The Woodman's house stood within an enclosure, +and all the doors and gates were shut; but the Lion +jumped over the wall, and searched about, until he +managed somehow to force his way into the house. +Then he saw his friend lying upon a bed, and very ill, +all alone, with no one to tend him.</p> + +<p>How grieved the Lion was to see his friend, you can +imagine better than I can tell. The Lion knelt down +by his friend's side, and began to lick him all over. +This woke the man from his dazed condition; and when +he found the Lion licking his body, he did not like the +smell of the Lion, so he turned his head away, with a +grunt of disgust.</p> + +<p>Now I think this was very unkind, because the Lion +had no other way of showing how much he cared for +his friend. Think what a long way he had come to see<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +his friend, and think what danger he had faced; and +now to be met with a grunt of disgust! The Lion +stopped licking the Woodman, and got up slowly, and +went away. Back he swam over the deep and swift +river, but all the heart was taken out of him; he cared +not for the crocodiles, indeed now he would not have +been very sorry if a crocodile had devoured him. One +crocodile did actually get a nip at his leg, and left a +wound there. Back to his den he crept, solitary and +sad. And when he got to his den, he lay down, sick +of his friend's fever, which he had taken by licking +him.</p> + +<p>In a week or so, the Woodman was well again; and +thinking nothing of what had passed, he shouldered his +axe, and trudged away to cut wood. When the time +came for his midday meal, he went as his custom was +to the Lion's den; and there he found his friend the +Lion, thin and sick.</p> + +<p>"Why, friend, what is the matter?" the Woodman +asked.</p> + +<p>"I am ill," said the Lion.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked the Woodman again.</p> + +<p>But the Lion would answer nothing; and do what +he would, the man could not get him to say another +word. So he left him for that day, and went home.</p> + +<p>For several days after, the man did the same thing; +and gradually the Lion got better. At last one day, +when the Lion was quite well again, the man said +to him—</p> + +<p>"Tell me, good friend Lion, what it is that has made +you so silent and gloomy of late?"</p> + +<p>Then answered the Lion, "O Woodman, I will tell<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +you. When you were ill, I swam a swift river and +faced death, all for your sake; I came into your house +when you lay deserted, and licked your body, and took +the fever which you had into my veins; and this wound +which you see, I received from a crocodile as I was +swimming across on my way back. But you received +me with scorn, and turned away your face in disgust. +The fever is gone, and this wound (as you see) is healed; +but the wound in my heart can never heal. You are no +true friend; and from henceforth our ways lie apart."</p> + +<p>The man was ashamed of his unkindness, but it was +too late, for, as the poet says—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"Who snaps the thread of friendship, never more<br /> +Can join it as it once was joined before."<br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 247px;"> +<img src="images/i_200.png" width="247" height="110" alt="man sitting on ax handle" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="The_Cat_and_the_Parrot" id="The_Cat_and_the_Parrot"></a>The Cat and the Parrot</h2> +<div><span class='notes'><a href="#n43">[Notes]</a></span></div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 154px;"> +<img src="images/i_058-o.png" width="154" height="155" alt="O" title="" /> +</div><div class='unindent'>NCE upon a time, a Cat and a +Parrot had joint lease of a certain +piece of land, which they tilled +together.</div> + +<p>One day the Cat said to the +Parrot, "Come, friend, let us go +to the field."</p> + +<p>Said the Parrot, "I can't come +now, because I am whetting my bill on the branch of +a mango-tree."</p> + +<p>So the Cat went alone, and ploughed the field. +When the field was ploughed, the Cat came to the +Parrot again, and said—</p> + +<p>"Come, friend, let us sow the corn."</p> + +<p>Said the Parrot, "I can't come now, because I am +whetting my beak on the branch of a mango-tree."</p> + +<p>So the Cat went alone, and sowed the corn. The +corn took root, the corn sprouted, it put forth the blade, +and the ear, and the ripe corn in the ear. Then again +the Cat came to the Parrot, and said—</p> + +<p>"Come, friend, let us go and gather the harvest."</p> + +<p>Said the Parrot, "I can't come now, because I am +whetting my beak on the branch of a mango-tree."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 409px;"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187"></a> +<img src="images/i_202.png" width="409" height="600" alt="Cat and parrot" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>So the Cat went alone, and gathered the harvest. +She put it away in barns, and made ready for threshing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +When all was ready for the threshing, again the Cat +came to the Parrot, and said—</p> + +<p>"Come, friend, let us thresh the corn."</p> + +<p>Said the Parrot, "I can't come now, because I am +whetting my beak on the branch of a mango-tree."</p> + +<p>So the Cat went, and threshed all the corn alone. +Then the Cat came back to the Parrot, and said—</p> + +<p>"Come, friend, let us go and winnow the grain from +the chaff."</p> + +<p>Said the Parrot, "I can't come now, because I am +whetting my beak on the branch of a mango-tree."</p> + +<p>So the Cat winnowed the grain from the chaff alone. +Then she came back once again to the Parrot, and +said—</p> + +<p>"Come, friend, the grain is all winnowed and sifted; +come and divide it between us."</p> + +<p>"Certainly," said the Parrot, and came at once. You +see the Cat had done all the work, but the Parrot was +quite ready to share the profit. They divided the corn +into two halves, and the Cat put her half away somewhere, +and the Parrot carried his half to his nest.</p> + +<p>Then the Cat and the Parrot agreed to invite each +other to dinner every day; that is to say, the Cat asks +the Parrot to-day, and the Parrot asks the Cat to-morrow. +The Cat's turn came first. Then the Cat went to market +and bought a ha'porth of milk, a ha'porth of sugar, +and a ha'porth of rice. When the Parrot came there +was nothing but this stingy fare. Moreover, the Cat +was so inhospitable, that she actually made the Parrot +cook the food himself! Perhaps that was her way of +rebuking her friend for his laziness.</p> + +<p>Next day the turn came to the Parrot. He procured<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +about thirty pounds of flour, and plenty of butter, and +everything else that was needed, and cooked the food +before his guest came. He made enough cakes to fill +a washerwoman's basket—about five hundred.</p> + +<p>When the Cat came, the Parrot put before her four +hundred and ninety-eight cakes, in a heap, and kept +back for himself only two. The Cat ate up the four +hundred and ninety-eight cakes in about three minutes, +and then asked for more.</p> + +<p>The Parrot set before her the two cakes he had kept +for himself. The Cat devoured them, and then asked +for more.</p> + +<p>The Parrot said, "I have no more cakes, but if you +are still hungry, you may eat me."</p> + +<p>The Cat was still hungry, and ate the Parrot, bones +and beak and feathers. Thus the tables were turned; +for if the Parrot had the best of it before, the Cat had +the best of it now.</p> + +<p>An old woman happened to be near, and saw this. +So she picked up a stone, and said—</p> + +<p>"Shoo! shoo! get away, or I'll kill you with this +stone."</p> + +<p>Now the Cat thought to herself, "I ate a basketful +of cakes, I ate my friend the Parrot, and shall I blush +to eat this old hag?"</p> + +<p>No, surely not. The Cat devoured the old Woman.</p> + +<p>The Cat went along the road and perceived a Washerman +with a donkey. He said, "O Cat, get away, or my +donkey shall kick you to death!"</p> + +<p>Thought the Cat, "I ate a basketful of cakes, I ate +my friend the Parrot, I ate the abusive old Woman, and +shall I blush to eat a Washerman?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p> + +<p>No, surely not. The Cat devoured the Washerman.</p> + +<p>The Cat next met the wedding procession of a King: +a column of soldiers, and a row of fine elephants two +and two. The King said, "O Cat, get away, or my +elephants will trample you to death."</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 307px;"> +<img src="images/i_206.png" width="307" height="400" alt="woman and cat" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Thought the Cat, "I ate a basketful of cakes, I ate +my friend the Parrot, I ate the abusive old Woman, I ate +the Washerman and his donkey, and shall I blush to eat +a beggarly King?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p> + +<p>No, surely not. The Cat devoured the King, and his +procession, and his elephants too.</p> + +<p>Then the Cat went on until she met a pair of +Landcrabs. "Run away, run away, Pussycat!" said +the Landcrabs, "or we will nip you!"</p> + +<p>"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed the Cat, shaking her sides +(fat enough they were by this time), "I ate a basketful +of cakes, I ate my friend the Parrot, I ate an abusive +old Woman, I ate the Washerman and his donkey, I ate +the King and all his elephants, and shall I run away +from a Landcrab? Not so, but I will eat the Landcrab +too!" So saying, she pounced upon the Landcrabs. +Gobble, gobble, slip, slop: in two swallows the Landcrabs +went down the Cat's gullet.</p> + +<p>But although the Landcrabs slid down the Cat's +gullet easily enough, you must know that they are hard +creatures, too hard for a Cat to bite; so they took +no harm at all. They found themselves amongst a +crowd of creatures. There was the King, sitting with +his head on his hands, very unhappy; there was the +King's newly-wed bride in a dead faint; there was a +company of soldiers, trying to form fours, but rather +muddled in mind; there was a herd of elephants, +trumpeting loudly; there was a donkey braying and the +Washerman beating the donkey with a stick; there was +the Parrot, whetting his beak on his own claws; then +there was the old Woman abusing them all roundly; and +last of all, five hundred cakes neatly piled in a corner. +The Landcrabs ran round to see what they could find; +and they found that the inside of the Cat was quite +soft. They could not see anything at all, except by +flashes, when the Cat opened her mouth, but they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +could feel. So they opened their claws, and nip! +nip! nip!</p> + +<p>"Miaw!" squealed the Cat.</p> + +<div class='center'> +Then came another nip, and another great Miaw!<br /> +The Landcrabs went on nipping, until they had nipped<br /> +a big round hole in the side of the Cat. By this time the<br /> +Cat was lying down, in great pain; and as the hole was<br /> +very big, out walked the Landcrabs, and scuttled away.<br /> +Then out walked the King, carrying his bride; and out<br /> +walked the elephants, two and two; out walked the<br /> +soldiers, who had succeeded in forming fours-right, by<br /> +your left, quick march! out walked the donkey, with<br /> +the Washerman driving him along; out walked the old<br /> +Woman, giving the Cat a piece of her mind; and last<br /> +of all, out walked the Parrot, with a cake in each<br /> +claw. Then they all went about their business,<br /> +as if nothing had happened; and the<br /> +Parrot flew back to whet his<br /> +beak on the branch of the<br /> +mango-tree.<br /><br /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 105px;"> +<img src="images/i_124.png" width="105" height="125" alt="man" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span><br /><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197"></a>[<a href="images/t-197.png">197</a>]</span></p> +<h2><a name="Notes" id="Notes"></a>Notes</h2> + + +<h3><a name="n1" id="n1"></a>1.—<a href="#The_Talking_Thrush">The Talking Thrush</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Káshi Prasád</span>, village school, Bhingá, district<br /> +Bahráich, Oudh.<br /> +</div> + +<p>Man sows cotton-seeds in garden—Phudki bird sees him—Makes +her nest of the cotton—Goes to a Behana, and says, +"If I bring you cotton, will you card it, and give me half, +keeping half yourself?"—He does so—"Now make it into balls" +(Piuni)—Does so on the same terms—A Kori spins thread on +the same terms—And weaves it into cloth—Similarly a tailor +makes it into clothes—She flies to court and sits on a peg—Says +the King, "Give me your suit"—She does so, and says, "The +King covets my suit"—"Come here, and I will return it"—She +comes, and he catches her—"I will cut you in pieces"—"The +King will cut me in pieces to-day"—He cuts her up and tells +his servant to wash them—"To-day the King is washing and +cleaning"—Puts her in a pan of oil—"To-day the King is frying +me in oil"—Eats her—"I shall go into the King's stomach"—The +Bird puts out its head—Two soldiers attempt to cut it off +and mutilate the King so that he dies.</p> + +<p>The <i>motif</i> is much the same as in <a href="#The_Rabbit_and_the_Monkey">No. 2</a> of the collection. +The pieces of the Thrush speak like the fish in the tale of the +"Fisherman and the Jinni" (Burton, "Arabian Nights," Library +Edition, I. 59).<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198"></a>[<a href="images/t-198.png">198</a>]</span></p> + + +<h3><a name="n2" id="n2"></a>2.—<a href="#The_Rabbit_and_the_Monkey">The Rabbit and the Monkey</a></h3> + +<div class="hang1">Told by <span class="smcap">Dankhah Rabha</span>, in the Bhutan Hills. Taken without +essential change from <i>North Indian Notes and Queries</i>, +iv. § 465.</div> + + +<h3><a name="n3" id="n3"></a>3.—<a href="#The_Sparrows_Revenge">The Sparrow's Revenge</a></h3> + +<div class="hang1">Told by <span class="smcap">Shin Sahái</span>, teacher of the village school of Dayarhi +Chakeri, Etah District. Another version of the <i>Podnâ</i> and +the <i>Podnî</i>, <i>N.I.N.Q.</i> iii. 83. Compare the <i>Valiant Blackbird</i>, +<a href="#n28">No. 28</a> below.</div> + +<p>Hen Sparrow tells her husband to go into the jungle and +fetch firewood to cook <i>khîr</i> (rice milk)—A <i>Chamâr</i> kills him—Hen +makes carriage of straw, yokes two rats to it, and drives off +to take vengeance—Meets a Wolf—"Where are you going?"—"To +take vengeance on the Chamâr who killed my husband"—"May +I help?"—"It will be kind"—Meets a Snake, who salutes +her with, "Râm! Râm! Whither away?"—Replies as before, and +same thing happens—So with a Scorpion—They arrive at the +house of the Chamâr—Wolf hides near the river—Snake under +pile of cow-dung fuel—Scorpion under the lamp—The Sparrow +flies up to the eaves and twitters—Out comes Chamâr—Says +she, "A friend awaits you near the river." To the river he goes—Wolf +seizes him—His wife goes to the heap for fuel—Snake +bites her—She calls to her son, "Bring the lamp"—Scorpion +stings him—They all die—Hen Sparrow gets another mate, and +lives happily ever after.</p> + +<p>It is part of the Faithful Animal cycle (Temple, "Wide-awake +Stories," 412; Clouston, "Popular Tales and Fictions," i. 223 +<i>seqq.</i>). This form of tale, in which the weaker animal gets the +better of its more powerful oppressor, is common in Indian folk-lore. +Compare <a href="#n1">No. 1</a> of this collection.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199"></a>[<a href="images/t-199.png">199</a>]</span></p> + + +<h3><a name="n4" id="n4"></a>4.—<a href="#The_Judgment_of_the_Jackal">The Judgment of the Jackal</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Shiudan Chamar</span>, of Chaukiya, Mirzápur.<br /> +<i>N.I.N.Q.</i> iii. 101.<br /> +</div> + +<p>Merchant puts up at house of Oilman—Oilman ties the +horse to his mill—Next morning Merchant asks for it—He +replies, "It has run away!"—"But what is that horse?"—"My +mill gave birth to it in the night"—Appeal to Siyar Panre, the +Jackal—"Go back and I will come"—He bathes in a tank—Delay—They +seek him, and find him sitting by the tank—"Why +did you delay?"—"Too busy; the tank caught fire, +and I have just put it out"—"You are mad; who ever heard +of a tank on fire?"—"Who ever heard of a mill bearing a +foal?"—Oilman returns horse.</p> + +<p>A parallel may be found in the Buddhist <i>Jātaka</i>, No. 219 +(Cambridge translation, ii. 129), another Version from the +Frontier in Swynnerton's "Indian Nights' Entertainment," +p. 142. Compare Stumme, <i>Tunisische Märchen</i>, vol. ii., Story +of an Oilman.</p> + + +<h3><a name="n5" id="n5"></a>5.—<a href="#How_the_Mouse_got_into_his_Hole">How the Mouse got into his Hole</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Bisram Banya</span> and recorded by <span class="smcap">Maharaj Sinh</span>,<br /> +teacher of the school at Akbarpur, Faizabad district.<br /> +</div> + + +<h3><a name="n6" id="n6"></a>6.—<a href="#King_Solomon_and_the_Owl">King Solomon and the Owl</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Munshí Chhoté Khán</span>, teacher of the village school<br /> +at Ant, District Sitápur, Oudh.<br /> +<br /> +[A new legend of the Fall.]<br /> +</div> + +<p>Solomon hunts alone—An Owl asks him to receive him—Solomon +asks, "Why do you hoot all night?"—"To wake men<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200"></a>[<a href="images/t-200.png">200</a>]</span> +and women early for prayer: travelling is difficult, for treasure is +dearer than life"—"Why do you shake your head?"—"To remind +mankind that the world is but a fleeting show, and to show +my disapproval of their delight in worldly things"—"Why do +you eat no grain?"—"<i>Adam ate wheat in heaven, and was turned +out of it on that account.</i> Adam prayed, and God sent him into +the world, and blessed him to be the father of mankind. If I +eat one grain I expect to be cast into hell"—"Why do you drink +no water in the world at night?"—"Because Noah's race was +drowned in this world in water. If I drink, it would be hard for +me to live"—Solomon is pleased, and asks the Owl to remain +with him, and advise him on all points.</p> + +<p>There is no verse in the original.</p> + +<p>All through the eastern world the owl, from its association +with graveyards and old ruins, is regarded as a mystic bird, invested +with powers of prophecy and wisdom (Crooke, "Popular +Religion and Folk-lore of Northern India," i. 279).</p> + + +<h3><a name="n7" id="n7"></a>7.—<a href="#The_Camels_Neck">The Camel's Neck</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Bacháú</span>, a Kasera, or brassfounder, of Mirzápur,<br /> +North-West Provinces.<br /> +</div> + +<p>Camel practises austerities—Bhagwán is pleased, and appears +to him—"Who are you?"—"Lord of the Three Regions"—"Show +me your proper form"—Bhagwán appears in his four-handed +form (Chaturbhuji)—Camel does reverence—"Ask a +boon"—"Let my neck be a <i>yojan</i> long"—"Be it so"—The +neck becomes eight miles long—He can now graze within +a radius of four miles (sic)—It rains—He puts his neck in a +cave—A pair of Jackals eat his flesh—The Camel dies—A wise +man says—</p> + +<div class='center'> +"Álas dókh mahán dekhyo phal kaisá bhayá;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Yátén únt aján, maran lagyo nij karm se."</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>"Idleness is a great fault: see what was the result of idleness. +By this the foolish Camel died, simply owing to his own deeds."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201"></a>[<a href="images/t-201.png">201</a>]</span></p> + +<p>This is one of the very common cycle of tales where the fool +comes to ruin in consequence of a stupid wish. In the "Book +of Sindibad," it appears as the "Peri and the Religious Man" +(Clouston, "Book of Sindibad," 71); La Fontaine has adopted +it as the "Three Wishes," and Prior as "The Ladle." The +Italian version will be found in Crane, "Italian Popular Tales," +221. The four-hand god is Vishnu in his form as Chaturbhuja.</p> + + +<h3><a name="n8" id="n8"></a>8.—<a href="#The_Quail_and_the_Fowler">The Quail and the Fowler</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Rameswar-Puri</span>, a wandering religious beggar<br /> +of Kharwá, District Mirzápur.<br /> +</div> + +<p>Fowler catches a Quail—"I'll teach you three things, and +if you free me I'll teach you a fourth: (1) Never set free what +you have caught; (2) What seems to you untrue you need +not believe; (3) What is past you should not trouble about"—He +sets the Quail free—Says the Quail, "I have in my stomach +a gem weighing 1¼ seers, and worth lakhs of rupees; had you +not let me go you would have that gem"—Fowler falls on the +ground in misery—Says the Quail, "You forget my teaching: +(1) You set me free; (2) You did not ask how a body so +light could contain such a gem; (3) You are troubled about +what is past"—Flies away—Fowler returns home a wiser man.</p> + +<p>Compare the "Laughable Stories of Bar-Hebraeus," E. A. +W. Budge (Luzac, 1897), No. 382, where a Sparrow acts as this +Quail does. See also the "Three Counsels worth Money" in +No. 485.</p> + + +<h3><a name="n9" id="n9"></a>9.—<a href="#The_King_of_the_Kites">The King of the Kites</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Rám Déo</span>, Brahman, of Mirzápur.<br /> +</div> + +<p>Frog and Mouse dispute, each saying he is King of the Kites—The +dispute lasts for several years—They refer it to a <i>Panch</i> +(Committee of Five)—The other three are Bat, Squirrel, Parrot—They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202"></a>[<a href="images/t-202.png">202</a>]</span> +cannot decide—A small Kite appears—Carries off both +Frog and Mouse, and eats them—The rest depart—The dispute +does not arise again.</p> + +<p>The belief that each species of bird and beast has a king of +its own is common. Thus, we have a king of the serpents, +of mice, of flies, locusts, ants, foxes, cats, and so on (Frazer, +"Pausanias," iii. 559). Also see <a href="#n27">No. 27</a> of this collection.</p> + + +<h3><a name="n10" id="n10"></a>10.—<a href="#The_Jackal_and_the_Camel">The Jackal and the Camel</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Har Prasád</span>, Brahman, of Saráya Aghat,<br /> +District Etah, N.W.P.<br /> +</div> + +<p>Camel grazing, entangles nose-string in a tree—Confused in +mind, appeals to Jackal—"Brother, I will free you for one <i>seer</i> of +flesh"—He agrees—Jackal asks the tongue—"Have you a witness?"—Jackal +tries all the beasts, offering half of all he gets—Wolf +refuses—Jackal explains that the Camel will die, and they +will get all his body—He then agrees, and swears it—Camel opens +his mouth, curls back tongue—Jackal cannot catch the tongue—Wolf +tries—When the head is well in, Camel closes his jaws—"O +<i>Dâdâ</i> (father), what is this?"—Says Jackal, "The result +of lying," and runs away—Wolf dies.</p> + +<p>In Oriental folk-lore the jackal takes the place which the fox +occupies in the Western world, and numerous tales are told of his +cunning. This fact has formed the base of an argument to prove +that the European Beast tales originated from the East (Tawney, +"Katha Sarit Ságara," ii. 28).</p> + + +<h3><a name="n11" id="n11"></a>11.—<a href="#The_Wise_Old_Shepherd">The Wise Old Shepherd</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Munshi Fazl Karím</span> of Mirzápur.<br /> +</div> + +<p>A Nága (Snake) goes out of his hole to take an airing—Enters +the Raja's court—All flee in terror—Raja orders the Snake to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203"></a>[<a href="images/t-203.png">203</a>]</span> +killed—The Prince kills it—Snake's wife goes in search—Enters +the court and learns his fate—Vows to make his wife also a widow—Coils +round the Prince's neck in the night—He dares not stir—Queen-mother +goes to see what is the matter—Sees the Snake—Raja +sends archers—They prepare to shoot—Snake pleads fair +reprisals, and asks that the matter be decided by Panch—They +find five Shepherds holding a Panchayat—They all go thither—The +men all agree that the Snake is right except one—He asks how +many sons has the Snake—"Seven"—"Then you must wait till +the Princess has three more, and then you may kill him."</p> + +<p>There is a universal taboo in India against killing a snake. +When a cobra is slain it is supposed that its mate always avenges +its death (Crooke, "Popular Religion and Folk-lore of Northern +India," i. 226).</p> + + +<h3><a name="n12" id="n12"></a>12.—<a href="#Beware_of_Bad_Company">Beware of Bad Company</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Jagat Kishor</span>, master at the Government School,<br /> +Gondá, Oudh.<br /> +</div> + +<p>A Swan made friends with a Crow—They fly away from +Mánsarowar to find some sport—Perch on a pipal tree under +which a pious Raja is worshipping his Thákurji (idol of Rám +or Krishna)—Crow drops filth on his head and flies away—He +sees the Swan and shoots it—Swan says:—</p> + +<div class='center'> +"Kák náhin, ham hans hain,<br /> +Mán karat ham bás;<br /> +Dhrisht kág ké mél són,<br /> +Bhayo hamaró nás."<br /> +</div> + +<p>("I am no Crow but a Swan, dwelling in Mán Sarówar; being +friend of an ignoble Crow I am destroyed.")</p> + +<p>The Crow, as in several tales in this collection, is in Oriental +folk-lore the representative of all that is thievish and mischievous.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204"></a>[<a href="images/t-204.png">204</a>]</span></p> + + +<h3><a name="n13" id="n13"></a>13.—<a href="#The_Foolish_Wolf">The Foolish Wolf</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Mahádeva Prasád</span>, pupil of branch school, Nau<br /> +Shaharah, District Gonda, Oudh.<br /> +</div> + +<p>Wolf and Ass were friends—Played as described in text—Boy +sees Wolf running away from Ass, and says, "What a timid +Wolf"—Says the Wolf, "You shall rue it, I'll carry you off +to-day"—Boy tells his mother—"Never mind, he won't hurt +you"—Hides stone in loin-cloth—Wolf comes for him—Leaves +him in his den for the morrow—Goes to play with the Ass—Boy +climbs a tree—Wolf finds no Boy—Stands gaping with +perplexity—Boy throws stone into his mouth and kills him.</p> + + +<h3><a name="n14" id="n14"></a>14.—<a href="#Reflected_Glory">Reflected Glory</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Mátá Dín</span>, assistant teacher, Pili-Bhít district, N.W.P.<br /> +</div> + +<p>A Shepherd had a lame Goat which he beat—It ran away—Fearing +the wild beasts, it sat down beside a cave where were +footsteps of a Lion—A Jackal comes up—"Rám, Rám, grandfather! +I have found food after many days." "Rám, Rám, +grandson, I was told to sit here by the owner of these footprints."—"A +Lion! if I eat you, he will eat my cubs"—He +goes—A Wolf comes, and the same thing happens—The Lion +comes—Says the Goat, "By the influence of your footprints +I have been safe; beasts came to devour me, and I became +your man: they fled." "If you have called yourself my man I +will not eat you"—Lion finds an Elephant: "I have a lame +Goat; let him go on your back and eat the young leaves as +you graze"—He agrees, and the Goat says, "Khoj pakar liyo +baran ko hasti mili hai ái gaj mastak achchhi charhi ajayá kopal +khâya" ("By betaking myself to the footprints of the great, I +have got an Elephant")—Mounting on the Elephant's head, the +Goat feeds well on new leaves.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205"></a>[<a href="images/t-205.png">205</a>]</span></p> + + +<h3><a name="n15" id="n15"></a>15.—<a href="#The_Cat_and_the_Sparrows">The Cat and the Sparrows</a></h3> + +<div class="hang1">Told by <span class="smcap">Tulsi Rám</span>, Brahman, of Sadabad, Mathura district. +For the <i>motif</i>, compare <i>Jātaka</i>, No. 333 (translation, vol. iii. +p. 71).</div> + +<h3><a name="n16" id="n16"></a>16.—<a href="#The_Foolish_Fish">The Foolish Fish</a></h3> + +<div class="hang1">Told by <span class="smcap">Hari Chand</span> or <span class="smcap">Hem Chandi</span>, teacher of a village +school, Mirzápur district. A variant of the same, told by +<span class="smcap">Sheo-Dán</span>, Chamár, Chankiyá, Mirzápur district.</div> + +<p>Banya sees Tiger sunk in the mud—Tiger tries him to release +him—Swears he will not hurt him or his family—Banya saves +him—Says Tiger, "Shall I eat you or your ox?"—Banya protests—Tiger: +"It is the way of my family"—Banya says, "Let the +Jackal arbitrate"—Jackal asks to see the place the Tiger was in—Then +to be shown exactly how he was—The Tiger goes in again, +and the Jackal advises the man to go home and leave him.</p> + + +<h3><a name="n17" id="n17"></a>17.—<a href="#The_Clever_Goat">The Clever Goat</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Recorded by <span class="smcap">Mátá Dín</span>, assistant teacher, Pili-Bhít district.<br /> +</div> + + +<h3><a name="n18" id="n18"></a>18.—<a href="#A_Crow_is_a_Crow_for_Ever">A Crow is a Crow for Ever</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told and recorded by <span class="smcap">Sáhib Rám</span>, Brahman, of Nardauli,<br /> +Etah district.<br /> +</div> + +<p>The verse is:—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Kág parháe pinjra: parhi gaye cháron Ved:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Jab sudhi ai kutum ki rahe dhed ke dhed.</span><br /> +<br /> +"I kept my crow in a cage, and taught him all four Vedas;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">When he thought of his family, he became filthy as ever."</span><br /> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206"></a>[<a href="images/t-206.png">206</a>]</span></p> + + +<h3><a name="n19" id="n19"></a>19.—<a href="#The_Grateful_Goat">The Grateful Goat</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Bikkú Misra</span>, Brahman, Achhnérá village, Agra district.<br /> +</div> + +<p>Butcher buys a Goat—"Spare my life, and I will repay you"—He +spares him—The Goat goes into the forest and meets a +Jackal—"I am going to eat you." "Wait till I get fat in the +forest." "Good: look out for me when you come back"—Meets a +Wolf—Same thing happens—Finds a temple of Mahádeva—In it +are gold coins—Swallows them—Goes to a flower-seller—"Cover +me with flowers"—He does so, and the Goat voids two mohurs—Sets +out to return—Meets the Wolf—"Have you seen a Goat?" +"No"—Meets the Jackal—"Have you seen a Goat?" "Yes, +some distance back"—Proceeds to the Butcher, and voids the +rest of the coins—The Butcher is grateful, and never kills him as +long as he lives.</p> + +<p>Agra district. Tales of animals spitting gold are common, +as in Grimm's "Three Little Men in the Wood" ("Household Tales," +i. 56) and in Oriental Folk-lore (Tawney, "Katha Sarit Ságara," +ii. 8, 453, 637; Knowles, "Folk-tales of Kashmir," p. 443).</p> + + +<h3><a name="n20" id="n20"></a>20.—<a href="#The_Cunning_Jackal">The Cunning Jackal</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Bal Bír Prasád</span>, teacher of the school at<br /> +Sultánpur, Oudh.<br /> +</div> + +<p>A Jackal sees melons on the other side of a river—Sees a +Tortoise—"How are you and your family?" "I am well, but I +have no wife." "Why did you not tell me? some people on the +other side have asked me to find a match for their daughter." +"If you mean it I will take you across"—Takes him across on +his back—When the melons are over the Jackal dresses up a +jhau-tree as a bride—"There is your bride, but she is too +modest to speak till I am gone"—Tortoise carries him back—Calls +to the stump—No answer—Goes up and touches it—Finds it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207"></a>[<a href="images/t-207.png">207</a>]</span> +is a tree—Vows revenge—As Jackal drinks, catches his leg—"You +fool, you have got hold of a stump by mistake; see, here is my +leg," pointing to a stump—Tortoise leaves hold—Jackal escapes—Tortoise +goes to Jackal's den—Jackal returns and sees the +footprints leading into the den—Piles dry leaves at the mouth, +and fires them—Tortoise expires.</p> + +<p>This is an unpublished variant of the "Jackal and the Crocodile" +(Temple, "Wide-awake Stories," 243).</p> + + +<h3><a name="n21" id="n21"></a>21.—<a href="#The_Farmers_Ass">The Farmer's Ass</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Rám Sinh</span>, Haidar-Garh, district Barau Banki.<br /> +</div> + +<p>A Washerman has an Ass that brays on hearing a conch-shell, +thinks he must have been a saint in a former life, but +something went wrong (kahin chuk gaya) and he became an +Ass—Names him Tulsi Das—Ass dies—"He was valuable to +me," shaves head, performs obsequies, gives feast to clansmen—Goes +to shop of a Banya—"Why are you in mourning?" +"Tulsi Das, who was a great saint, is dead"—Banya shaves, too—Raja's +sepoy asks him why—"Tulsi Das is dead"—Shaves, +too—Comrades ask why—Same thing—Same with the chief of the +sepoys—The minister, the raja, all shave—Queen asks why—Raja +tells her—"But who is Tulsi Das?" "A friend of the minister's"—So +the report is traced back to the Washerman, who +says, "He was my Ass."</p> + +<p><i>N.I.N.Q.</i>, iii. § 104, gives the same tale about an ass named +Sobhan (beautiful): told by Shyam Sundar, village accountant +of Dudhi, Mirzápur district, recorded by Ahmad Ullah. Compare +Temple's "Wide-awake Stories," 'The Death and Burial of poor +Hen Sparrow;' Lady Burton's "Arabian Nights," iii. 228, 'The +Unwise Schoolmaster who fell in Love by Report;' Jacob's +"English Fairy Tales," 'Tetty Mouse and Tatty Mouse,' and +<i>note</i>, p. 234.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208"></a>[<a href="images/t-208.png">208</a>]</span></p> + + +<h3><a name="n22" id="n22"></a>22.—<a href="#The_Parrot_Judge">The Parrot Judge</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Makund Lál</span>, Mirzápur.<br /> +</div> + +<p>A Bird-catcher had a Parrot which knew only two words, +Beshak (undoubtedly) and Cheshak (what doubt)—Took it to +market, and gave out that it knew Persian, price 5 lakhs of +rupees—Nobleman asks it, "Do you know Persian?"—"Cheshak"—Buys +it—Puts it in a gold cage, and gives it good food—King +one day began to talk to the Parrot in Persian—It could +say nothing but these two words—The owner threw it on the +ground and killed it.</p> + + +<h3><a name="n23" id="n23"></a>23.—<a href="#The_Frog_and_the_Snake">The Frog and the Snake</a></h3> + +<div class="hang1">Told by <span class="smcap">Akbar Sháh</span>, Mánjhi, one of the jungle-folk of Manbasa, +Dudhi, Mirzápur, and recorded by Pandit Ramgharíb +Chaubé. <i>N.I.N.Q.</i>, iii. § 101.</div> + +<p>No change. The King of the Snakes is Vásuki Nága.</p> + + +<h3><a name="n24" id="n24"></a>24.—<a href="#Little_Miss_Mouse_and_her_Friends">Little Miss Mouse</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Akbar Sháh</span>, Mánjhi, of Manbasa, Dudhi,<br /> +Mirzápur. <i>N.I.N.Q.</i>, iv. § 19.<br /> +</div> + +<p>No change in first part. The music-shop is in the original +the house of the Chamâr (a caste of labourers and leather-workers), +who gives a drum, which is broken by a woman +husking rice, who strikes it with a pestle. The crop in the last +scene is rice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209"></a>[<a href="images/t-209.png">209</a>]</span></p> + + +<h3><a name="n25" id="n25"></a>25.—<a href="#The_Jackal_that_Lost_his_Tail">The Jackal that Lost his Tail</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Parmanand Tiwári</span>, student, Anglo-Sanskrit School,<br /> +Mirzápur. <i>N.I.N.Q.</i>, iv. § 17.<br /> +</div> + +<p>A Kurmi (one of the agricultural tribes) used to go to his +field—At noon his wife brought the dinner—Meets Jackal, and +all falls out as in tale till the tail is cut off—Jackal returns and +finds wife gathering cow-dung—"Your son (<i>sic</i>) has cut off +my tail, and I must bite you." "He is dead, come to the +funeral feast?"—He and his friends come—"To prevent you +squabbling, let me tie you up"—Ties them to the cattle pegs, +tailless Jackal with specially strong chain—Kurmi comes out +with bludgeon—They break their ropes and flee, all but tailless +Jackal, which Kurmi kills.</p> + +<p>This is connected with the Æsopian fable of "The Fox who +Lost his Tail."</p> + + +<h3><a name="n26" id="n26"></a>26.—<a href="#The_Wily_Tortoise">The Wily Tortoise</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Brij Mohan Lál</span>, second master, High School, Manipuri,<br /> +N.W.P. The bird is a <i>Hansa</i>. <i>N.I.N.Q.</i>, iii. § 295.<br /> +</div> + + +<h3><a name="n27" id="n27"></a>27.—<a href="#The_King_of_the_Mice">The King of the Mice</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told and recorded by <span class="smcap">Babu Gandharab Sinh</span>, of Etah.<br /> +</div> + +<p>Kingdom of Mice—Mouse King and Fox Wazir—All animals +of forest did homage—Caravan passed—Camel left behind—Eats +the Mouse King's garden—Fox brings him in—Mocks the King—Nose-string +gets entangled—King says he is served right—He +begs release and promises service—Mouse gnaws string—Camel +serves him—Woodcutters find Camel and take him—King sends +to fetch them—Demands his Camel—The Woodcutters tell their +King—He refuses—King of Mice collects armies and burrows<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210"></a>[<a href="images/t-210.png">210</a>]</span> +under Woodcutter's treasury—Brings all the money out in +charge of a detachment of Mice—Wise man sees it—Covets the +money—Old Mouse says, "Why do you covet? our King will +give you service"—Goes to the King—The King bids him fetch +more of his brethren—With these the Mouse King invades the +realm of Woodcutters—Mice undermine the walls of the enemy's +fort—Woodcutters' army flee—King of Mice gets back his Camel, +and makes the Woodcutter King his vassal.</p> + +<p>(The episode of the wise man seems to be interpolated, as +the men play no part in the attack.)</p> + +<p>Another version in <i>N.I.N.Q.</i>, iii. § 292, told by <span class="smcap">Thákur +Umráo Sinh</span> of Sonhár, Etah district, N.W.P. For Kings of +Animals, compare <a href="#n9">No. 9</a> of this book.</p> + + +<h3><a name="n28" id="n28"></a>28.—<a href="#The_Valiant_Blackbird">The Valiant Blackbird</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Wazíran</span>, a Mohammedan servant of Mirzápur, and<br /> +recorded by <span class="smcap">Mirza Muhammad Beg</span>.<br /> +</div> + +<p>A Podna (weaver bird) and his mate lived in a tree—The Raja +catches the wife—Podna builds carts of reeds, yokes pairs of frogs, +makes kettle-drum, armed with piece of reed, sets out drumming—Meets +a Cat—"Where are you going?" "Sarkande ki to gári, +do mendak jote jaen, Raja mári Podni, ham bair bisahne jaen" +("My carriage is of reed with two frogs yoked thereto; the King +has seized my Podni; I go to take my revenge"). "May I go +with you?" "Get into my car"—Meets in same way Ants, Rope +and Club, River—Drives into King's courtyard and demands +Podni—King orders him to be shut in henhouse—"Nikal billi, +teri bári. Kán chhor, kanpati mári" ("Come out, Cat, your turn +now: come out of my ear and hit them on the head")—Cat comes +out and kills fowls—Next night shut in stable—"Niklo rassi, aur +sonte tumhari bari. Kan chhor, kanpati mari"—Rope ties horses +and Club kills them—Next night shut in with elephants—"Niklo +chiunti tumhári bári. Kán chhor, kanpati mári"—Ants run up +trunks and sting their brains—Next night tied to the Raja's bed—"Niklo<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211"></a>[<a href="images/t-211.png">211</a>]</span> +darya teri bári. Kán chhor, kanpati mári"—River +begins to drown King and bed—"For God's sake, take your +wife and go."</p> + +<p>Here, as in other tales of this collection, we have the incident +of the Helping Animals, for which see Tawney, "Katha Sarit +Ságara," ii. 103, 596; Crooke, "Popular Religion and Folk-lore +of Northern India," ii. 202. See <i>N.I.N.Q.</i>, iii. § 173.</p> + + +<h3><a name="n29" id="n29"></a>29.—<a href="#The_Goat_and_the_Hog">The Goat and the Hog</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Súraj Singh</span>, assistant master of the Kándhla school,<br /> +district Muzafarnagar, N.W.P. See <i>N.I.N.Q.</i>, iv. § 430.<br /> +</div> + +<p>Goat and Hog friends—Goat goes to seek his fortune—Enters +shop of a Banya—Eats all he can find—Goes into inner room—Banya +returns—Little girl cries for sugar—Goes in to get some—Goat +says, "Ek sing anrur ganrur; dusri sing meri, soni marhawal. +Banya beti awo nahin, dhenruki phoron" ("One of my +horns is twisted, one is gilt with gold. Don't come in, Banya +girl, or I will tear your stomach open")—Runs out—Father sends +for the Kotwal—Same thing—Prays to him—Goat comes out: +"I want sweetmeats, ornaments for my head, neck, feet, horns, +tail"—Gives them, putting on all the jewels he has in pawn—Goat +shows all this to the Hog—Hog goes to try his luck—Knew +no verses—No one frightened—Banya drives him out with stick +and dogs.</p> + + +<h3><a name="n30" id="n30"></a>30.—<a href="#The_Parrot_and_the_Parson">The Parrot and the Parson</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Bachau Kasera</span>, Mirzápur. <i>N.I.N.Q.</i>, v. § 72.<br /> +</div> + +<p>Banker taught his parrot to speak—A Sadhu passed by—Quoth +Parrot, "Salaam, Maharáj, how can I get out?" "Let me ask my +Guru"—Guru when asked swooned—Sádhu told Parrot what +had happened, and apologised for not being able to help—"I +understand," says Parrot—Feigns death—Cage opened.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212"></a>[<a href="images/t-212.png">212</a>]</span></p> + + +<h3><a name="n31" id="n31"></a>31.—<a href="#The_Lion_and_the_Hare">The Lion and the Hare</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Suryabali</span>, Mirzápur.<br /> +</div> + +<p>No change. The verse is:—</p> + +<div class='center'> +Biná budhí ke bágh biláná:<br /> +Kharhá san kahún bágh maráná.<br /> +</div> + + +<h3><a name="n32" id="n32"></a>32.—<a href="#The_Monkeys_Bargains">The Monkey's Bargains</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told and recorded by <span class="smcap">Rameswar-Puri</span>, teacher, Khairwá<br /> +village school, district Mirzápur.<br /> +</div> + +<p>The Story of Gangá Bûrhi (name of the old woman). No +change in the incidents, except that the cowherd is grinding +corn, and the last sentence is added. The verses are:—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +Wáh, jangle men se lakari láyá,<br /> +Wáh, lakari main burhyá ko dinh,<br /> +Burhiyá monkon roti dinh,<br /> +Wáh rotiyá main tokôn dinh<br /> +Kyá tun mokôn mataki na degá? <span class="linenum">5</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>"Hullo! I brought fuel from the forest. (2) I gave it to +the old woman. (3) The old woman gave me cake. (4) I +gave that cake to thee. (5) Wilt not thou give me jugs?"</p> + +<div class='poem'> +U roti main kohrá ko dinh, <span class="linenum">4</span><br /> +Kohrá monkôn metuki dinh,<br /> +U metuki main tokôn dinh,<br /> +Kyá tu mujhko makkhan na degá?<br /> +</div> + +<p>"I gave that cake to the Potter. (5) The Potter gave me +an earthen vessel. (6) I gave that earthen vessel to thee. +(7) Wilt not thou give me butter?"</p> + +<div class='poem'> +Wáh roti main kumhará ko dinh, <span class="linenum">4</span><br /> +Kumhará monkon metuki dinh,<br /> +Wáh metuki main gwálin ko dinh<br /> +Gwálin monkon londi dinh,<br /> +Wáh londi main tokôn dinh,<br /> +Kyá tu monkôn ek bail bhí na degá?<br /> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213"></a>[<a href="images/t-213.png">213</a>]</span></p> + +<p>"(6) I gave that earthen vessel to the cowherd's wife. +(7) The cowherd's wife gave me a lump of butter. (8) I gave +that lump to thee. (9) Wilt not thou give me an Ox?"</p> + +<p>The others are not given, except the last lines:—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +Baj meri dholaki dhámak dhûn;<br /> +Râni ke badle ái tun.<br /> +</div> + +<p>"O my drum, make sounds like <i>dhámak dhûn</i>: thou art +come in exchange for a Queen."</p> + + +<h3><a name="n33" id="n33"></a>33.—<a href="#The_Monkeys_Rebuke">The Monkey's Rebuke</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told and recorded by <span class="smcap">Lálá Bhawání Dín</span>, teacher of Majhgáon<br /> +district Hamirpur.<br /> +</div> + +<p>A Banya sold milk mixed with water—Earns 100 rupees—Sets +out for home—Stops to wash at a tank—Lays the bag down—Monkey +takes the bag up a tree—Drops 50 rupees in the tank—Throws +down the bag to the man—"You sold half water and +half milk: therefore I have thrown half your money into this +tank"—Banya goes home a better man.</p> + + +<h3><a name="n34" id="n34"></a>34.—<a href="#The_Bull_and_the_Bullfinch">The Bull and the Bullfinch</a></h3> + +<div class="hang1">Told by <span class="smcap">Pandit Jagannáth Prasád</span>, master of Marári Kalán +village school, and recorded by Pandit Madhuban, second +master of the same, Unáo district, Oudh.</div> + +<p>Khusat Bird and Bull—The rest as in the story, save that +"the Almighty King of the Universe" promises his help to +the Lion—Bull tells Bird—Bird says, "Did not I warn you? +still I will help"—Tells him that he has dreamt a marriage has +been arranged for himself with Mahadeva's spouse—They apply +to Mahadeva for explanation—Mahadeva thinks, "If I say visions +are real things, this Bird will claim my wife"—So says, "Dreams +go by contraries: go home and don't be foolish."</p> + +<p>See the value of friendship.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214"></a>[<a href="images/t-214.png">214</a>]</span></p> + + +<h3><a name="n35" id="n35"></a>35.—<a href="#The_Swan_and_the_Crow">The Swan and the Crow</a></h3> + +<div class="hang1">Told by <span class="smcap">Lála Shankar Lál</span>, village accountant, and recorded +by <span class="smcap">Changan Sinh</span>, master of the school at Chamkari, Etah +district, N.W.P.</div> + +<p>No change, except Wazir for Judge and Gayá for Jerusalem. +The Judge is a Hindu, and the Crow promises to take his father's +bones to the sacred city of Gayá, in Bengal.</p> + + +<h3><a name="n36" id="n36"></a>36.—<a href="#Pride_shall_have_a_Fall">Pride shall have a Fall</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Akbar Sháh</span>, Mánjhi, one of the jungle-folk of<br /> +Manbasa, district Mirzápur.<br /> +</div> + +<p>No change. The animal with one eye is supposed to be +cunning and uncanny (Crooke, "Popular Religion and Folk-lore +of Northern India," ii. 37, 51). Compare <a href="#n37">No. 37</a> of this +collection.</p> + + +<h3><a name="n37" id="n37"></a>37.—<a href="#The_Kid_and_the_Tiger">The Kid and the Tiger</a></h3> + +<div class="hang1">Told by <span class="smcap">Akbar Sháh</span>, Mánjhi, and recorded by <span class="smcap">Pandit Ramgharíb +Chaubé</span>. A favourite nursery tale of the Kharwárs +of Mirzápur.</div> + +<p>Tigress and She-goat great friends—Tigress has two cubs, Goat +four kids named Khurbhur, Muddil, Goddil, and Nathil—Tigress +thinks: "It is hard that I have only two, and the Goat has four: +suppose I eat two of hers to make things even"—Asks the Goat +to let one kid sleep with her—Only Khurbhur consents—Khurbhur +puts one of her cubs in his place—She eats it—Puts a stone in +his place—She breaks her teeth—One-eyed Tiger calls—Tells a +"story": "When I eat goats, all the four kids are one mouthful"—Khurbhur +says, "When you come to eat us, Muddil will hold<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215"></a>[<a href="images/t-215.png">215</a>]</span> +your head, Nathil the fore-paws, Goddil the hind-paws, Khurbhur +will cut off your head, if mother holds the light"—Tiger runs away—Meets +six more—They go to Goat's house—Khurbhur climbs +tree—They jump and miss him—They climb one on another, +One-eye at bottom—Khurbhur says, "Mother, a lump of mud to +throw in his eye"—One-eye jumps—They fall—They run away, +and trouble the goats no more.</p> + +<p>The one-eyed animal appears in <a href="#n35">No. 35</a> of this collection.</p> + + +<h3><a name="n38" id="n38"></a>38.—<a href="#The_Stag_the_Crow_and_the_Jackal">The Stag, the Crow, and the Jackal</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told and recorded by <span class="smcap">Balbír Prasád</span>, Brahman,<br /> +of Mirzápur.<br /> +</div> + +<p>Stag and Crow are friends—Jackal covets Stag—Says, "A +crow is not a friend for you; choose a denizen of earth like me"—They +become friends—Jackal leads him to snare—Stag is +trapped—"I cannot help you, because there is leather in the +snare, and it is the Ekádashi (eleventh day of the lunar fortnight) +when I fast"—Crow advises him to feign death—He does so, and +escapes.</p> + + +<h3><a name="n39" id="n39"></a>39.—<a href="#The_Monkey_and_the_Crows">The Monkey and the Crows</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Sariju Prasád</span>, teacher of the school at Subhikha,<br /> +Bahraich district, Oudh.<br /> +</div> + +<p>Crows build nests in a cotton-tree (<i>semal</i>)—In the rains +a Monkey arrives soaking—Said the Crows, "We build nests +with only a beak: can you not make a better with two hands +and two feet?" "Wait till morning"—Then he tears down their +nests—"Good advice given to a fool only kindles his malice."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216"></a>[<a href="images/t-216.png">216</a>]</span></p> + + +<h3><a name="n40" id="n40"></a>40.—<a href="#The_Swan_and_the_Paddy-Bird">The Swan and the Paddy-bird</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Devi Dín</span>, student, and recorded by <span class="smcap">Badari Prasád</span>,<br /> +of the school at Musanagar, Cawnpur district.<br /> +</div> + +<p>No change. The lake in the original is the famous Mana +Sarovar lake in Tibet. The Swan at the end repeats this +couplet:—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +Bit chhoto, chit saugun, bit men chit na samáe:<br /> +So murak binsat sadan, jirni bakuli nariyar kháe.<br /> +</div> + +<p>("Desire is one thing, capacity is another. The desire exceeds +the power. Thus die the foolish, as did the Paddy-bird when +she tried to eat the cocoa-nut.")</p> + +<p>The Paddy-bird is the Bagla, or Bagula, a sort of small +heron (<i>Ardea torra</i>), which frequents the banks of ponds and +catches little fish and frogs. In folk-lore, from its quaint appearance, +it is the type of demure cunning, and a sanctimonious +rogue ascetic is often compared to it.</p> + +<p>Compare a similar tale of a crane: <i>Jātaka</i>, No. 236 +(Cambridge translation, ii. 161).</p> + + +<h3><a name="n41" id="n41"></a>41.—<a href="#What_is_a_Man">What is a Man?</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <i>Shibbá Sinh Gaur</i>, Brahman, resident in<br /> +Saharanpur, N.W.P.<br /> +</div> + +<p>No change, except that the order of the animals is Elephant, +Camel, Ox.</p> + +<p>Another version makes the man a carpenter—He goes away +and makes a cage—Induces the Lion to enter—Leaves him to +starve.</p> + +<p>The complaints of the animals against men form the subject +of a very amusing Hindustani book derived from the Persian, +the Akhwán-us-safa.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217"></a>[<a href="images/t-217.png">217</a>]</span></p> + + +<h3><a name="n42" id="n42"></a>42.—<a href="#The_Wound_and_the_Scar">The Wound and the Scar</a></h3> + +<div class='center'> +Told by <span class="smcap">Shaikh Faríd Ahmad</span>, and recorded by the teacher of<br /> +the village school, Barhauli, district Bahraich, Oudh.<br /> +</div> + +<p>No change, except the Wound is dealt by the Woodman's +axe, at the command of the Lion, when first he visits him after +the sickness. The verses are—</p> + +<div class='poem'> +Samman dhaga prem ka jin toryo chatkay<br /> +Jore se na jurat hai, aut ganth par jay.<br /> +</div> + + +<h3><a name="n43" id="n43"></a>43.—<a href="#The_Cat_and_the_Parrot">The Cat and the Parrot</a></h3> + +<div class="hang1">Told by <span class="smcap">Biseshar Dayál</span>, Banya (or corn-chandler), of Bindki, +district Fatehpur, N.W.P., and recorded by <span class="smcap">Pandit Baldeo +Prasád</span>, teacher of the Tahsili school, Bindki.</div> + +<p>No change, except the Parrot says, "I am sitting on the +branch of a mango-tree and getting a bill made." Number of +cakes not given. And after meeting the Raja, the Cat meets +(1) four young of the wild cow (Surahgáya), which she eats, and +(2) a pair of Surahgáya, which fall upon her, and tear her stomach +open, when all those she has eaten troop out.</p> + +<p>Here, as in other tales of this collection, the Parson is the +Guru or spiritual adviser of pious Hindus.</p> + + +<div class='copyright'><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> +PRINTED BY<br /> +THE TEMPLE PRESS AT LETCHWORTH IN GREAT BRITAIN<br /><br /><br /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218"></a>[218]</span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 202px;"> +<img src="images/i_233.png" width="202" height="300" alt="Man walking away with book" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 420px;"><br /><br /> +<img src="images/i_back.jpg" width="420" height="600" alt="Back Cover" title="" /> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Talking Thrush, by +William Crooke and W. 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