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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/4324-h.zip b/4324-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c3af98d --- /dev/null +++ b/4324-h.zip diff --git a/4324-h/4324-h.htm b/4324-h/4324-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2ea0ca9 --- /dev/null +++ b/4324-h/4324-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4321 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of Fifty Famous Fables, by Lida Brown McMurry +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.letter {text-indent: 0%; + font-size: small ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.footnote {font-size: smaller ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.transnote {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.intro {font-size: medium ; + text-indent: -5% ; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.finis { font-size: larger ; + text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Fifty Fabulous Fables, by Lida Brown McMurry + +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: Fifty Fabulous Fables + +Author: Lida Brown McMurry + +Posting Date: July 25, 2009 [EBook #4324] +Release Date: August, 2003 +First Posted: January 5, 2002 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIFTY FABULOUS FABLES *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Rowe, Charles Franks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +FIFTY FAMOUS FABLES +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +BY LIDA BROWN McMURRY +</H2> + +<BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +PRIMARY CRITIC TEACHER STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, DE KALB, ILLINOIS +</H4> + +<BR><BR> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +B. F. JOHNSON PUBLISHING COMPANY +</H5> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +PREFACE +</H3> + +<P> +The fifty fables in this book have been selected for second grade +reading because they are easily comprehended by pupils of that grade, +and because they teach lessons which every child should learn. +</P> + +<P> +It is not wise to tell the class the moral application of the fables. +It is better to have each pupil make his own application without any +suggestion from the teacher. +</P> + +<P> +In adapting the stories the conversational form has been largely used; +this form not only gives much pleasure to the children, but it also +affords excellent opportunities for voice culture. +</P> + +<P> +Most of the stories have been successfully used for several years with +classes of children in the State Normal School at DeKalb. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H2> + +<H3> +DESIRABILITY OF SELF-CONTROL +</H3> + +<H4> + 1. <A HREF="#chap01">THE TORTOISE AND THE DUCKS</A><BR> +</H4> + +<H3> +RESULTS OF A MEAN JOKE +</H3> + +<H4> + 2. <A HREF="#chap02">THE MOUSE AND THE FROG</A><BR> + 3. <A HREF="#chap03">THE BOYS AND THE FROGS</A><BR> + 4. <A HREF="#chap04">THE SHEPHERD BOY AND THE WOLF</A><BR> +</H4> + +<H3> +FOLLY OF QUARRELING +</H3> + +<H4> + 5. <A HREF="#chap05">THE TWO GOATS</A><BR> + 6. <A HREF="#chap06">THE STRIKE OF THE MILL FEEDERS</A><BR> + 7. <A HREF="#chap07">THE FARMER AND HIS SONS</A><BR> + 8. <A HREF="#chap08">THE FOUR OXEN AND THE LION</A><BR> +</H4> + +<H3> +DEEDS BETTER THAN WORDS +</H3> + +<H4> + 9. <A HREF="#chap09">THE HUNTER AND THE FARMER</A><BR> + 10. <A HREF="#chap10">THE FOX IN THE WELL</A><BR> + 11. <A HREF="#chap11">THE MICE IN COUNCIL</A><BR> +</H4> + +<H3> +FOLLY OF PRIDE +</H3> + +<H4> + 12. <A HREF="#chap12">THE FOX AND THE CROW</A><BR> + 13. <A HREF="#chap13">THE VAIN CROW</A><BR> + 14. <A HREF="#chap14">THE HORSE AND THE LOADED DONKEY</A><BR> + 15. <A HREF="#chap15">THE LEAVES AND THE ROOTS</A><BR> + 16. <A HREF="#chap16">THE BULL AND THE GNAT</A><BR> +</H4> + +<H3> +WISDOM OF HEEDING GOOD ADVICE +</H3> + +<H4> + 17. <A HREF="#chap17">THE FARMER AND HIS THREE SONS</A><BR> + 18. <A HREF="#chap18">THE YOUNG FOX</A><BR> + 19. <A HREF="#chap19">VISIT OF THE MOUSE TO THE COUNTRY</A><BR> + 20. <A HREF="#chap20">THE TWO DOVES</A><BR> +</H4> + +<H3> +BASENESS OF DECEIT +</H3> + +<H4> + 21. <A HREF="#chap21">THE HORSE AND THE WOLF</A><BR> + 22. <A HREF="#chap22">THE BIRDS, THE BEASTS, AND THE BAT</A><BR> + 23. <A HREF="#chap23">THE BEES, THE DRONES, AND THE WASP</A><BR> + 24. <A HREF="#chap24">THE WOODMAN AND HIS AXE</A><BR> + 25. <A HREF="#chap25">THE FOX WITH HIS TAIL CUT OFF</A><BR> + 26. <A HREF="#chap26">THE BLACKBIRD AND THE DOVE</A><BR> +</H4> + +<H3> +RESULTS OF GREEDINESS +</H3> + +<H4> + 27. <A HREF="#chap27">THE GREEDY DOG</A><BR> + 28. <A HREF="#chap28">THE GOOSE THAT LAID GOLD EGGS</A><BR> +</H4> + +<H3> +DESIRABILITY OF CONTENTMENT +</H3> + +<H4> + 29. <A HREF="#chap29">THE DONKEY AND HIS MASTERS</A><BR> + 30. <A HREF="#chap30">THE COBBLER AND THE RICH MAN</A><BR> +</H4> + +<H3> +VALUE OF THINKING FOR ONESELF +</H3> + +<H4> + 31. <A HREF="#chap31">THE ICE KING</A><BR> + 32. <A HREF="#chap32">THE WOLF, THE GOAT, AND THE KID</A><BR> + 33. <A HREF="#chap33">THE WISE GOAT</A><BR> + 34. <A HREF="#chap34">THE SHEPHERD AND THE DOGS</A><BR> + 35. <A HREF="#chap35">THE BOY AND THE NUTS</A><BR> + 36. <A HREF="#chap36">THE CROW AND THE PITCHER</A><BR> + 37. <A HREF="#chap37">THE GROCER AND HIS DONKEY</A><BR> + 38. <A HREF="#chap38">THE THREE FISH</A><BR> +</H4> + +<H3> +WISDOM OF SELF-RELIANCE +</H3> + +<H4> + 39. <A HREF="#chap39">THE WAGONER</A><BR> + 40. <A HREF="#chap40">THE LARK AND THE FARMER</A><BR> +</H4> + +<H3> +KINDNESS AND ITS RESULTS +</H3> + +<H4> + 41. <A HREF="#chap41">THE LION AND THE MOUSE</A><BR> + 42. <A HREF="#chap42">THE ANT AND THE DOVE</A><BR> + 43. <A HREF="#chap43">THE HAPPY FAMILY</A><BR> + 44. <A HREF="#chap44">THE TYRANT WHO BECAME A JUST RULER</A><BR> +</H4> + +<H3> +MISCELLANEOUS +</H3> + +<H3> +WISDOM OF PERSEVERANCE +</H3> + +<H4> + 45. <A HREF="#chap45">THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE</A><BR> +</H4> + +<H3> +FOLLY OF TRYING TO PLEASE EVERYBODY +</H3> + +<H4> + 46. <A HREF="#chap46">THE MILLER, HIS SON, AND THEIR DONKEY</A><BR> +</H4> + +<H3> +APPEARANCES SOMETIMES DECEITFUL +</H3> + +<H4> + 47. <A HREF="#chap47">THE PUG DOG AND HIS SHADOW</A><BR> +</H4> + +<H3> +PUNISHMENT OF TREACHERY +</H3> + +<H4> + 48. <A HREF="#chap48">THE PARTRIDGE IN THE NET</A><BR> +</H4> + +<H3> +GENTLENESS BETTER THAN HARSHNESS +</H3> + +<H4> + 49. <A HREF="#chap49">THE NORTH WIND AND THE SUN</A><BR> +</H4> + +<H3> +MEANNESS OF SELFISHNESS +</H3> + +<H4> + 50. <A HREF="#chap50">THE CAMEL AND HIS MASTER</A><BR> +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +FIFTY FAMOUS FABLES +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE TORTOISE AND THE DUCKS +</H3> + +<P> +"Take me with you, please," called a tortoise to a gray duck and a +white duck that were flying over. +</P> + +<P> +The ducks heard the tortoise and flew down toward him. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you really wish to go with us?" asked the ducks as they came to the +ground near the tortoise. +</P> + +<P> +"I surely do," replied the tortoise. "Will you please take me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, yes, I think we can do so," said the white duck slowly. +</P> + +<P> +The two ducks talked together in low tones for a few minutes. Then they +flew to the woods. They soon brought back a strong twig and dropped it +in front of the tortoise. +</P> + +<P> +"Now," said the ducks, "if we take you off to see the world, you must +promise us one thing." +</P> + +<P> +"What is that?" asked the tortoise. "I will promise almost anything if +you will let me go." +</P> + +<P> +"You must promise not to say one word while you are in the air, NOT ONE +WORD," replied the ducks. +</P> + +<P> +"All right, I promise," said the tortoise. "Sometimes I do not say a +word for a whole day because there is no one to listen to me." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, take firm hold of the middle of the twig; we are ready to +start," said the gray duck. +</P> + +<P> +"If you value your life, you must hold on tightly," said the white duck. +</P> + +<P> +The tortoise took hold of the middle of the twig and each duck took +hold of one end. +</P> + +<P> +Then they flew up! up! up! while the tortoise swung from the middle of +the twig. How he enjoyed it! He had never had such a ride. +</P> + +<P> +They had gone a long way safely when they came to a hayfield. The +haymakers looked up and saw the ducks and the tortoise. +</P> + +<P> +"Ho! ho! the tortoise has stolen some wings," called one of the +haymakers. +</P> + +<P> +"What a queer carriage he has!" laughed another in a loud voice. +</P> + +<P> +"I pity his horses," said another. +</P> + +<P> +This made the tortoise so angry that he cried out, "You—" but no one +knows what he was going to say, for he fell to the ground and was +killed. +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +[Footnote: Adapted from The Tortoise and the Geese, in a book of the +same name published by Houghton, Mifflin Co.] +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE MOUSE AND THE FROG +</H3> + +<P> +A frog, while out walking one day, saw a mouse coming toward him. +</P> + +<P> +"There is that foolish mouse," said he. "I will play a good joke on +him," and he grinned as he thought how much fun he would have. +</P> + +<P> +As they met, the frog said, "Good morning, Sir Mouse; I hope I find you +well to-day." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well," replied the mouse. "How are you?" +</P> + +<P> +"My health is not very good, so I have taken a holiday. If you are not +busy, what do you say to our spending the day together?" +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" answered the mouse. "I have little to do and nothing would suit +me better." So they started off together. +</P> + +<P> +They had not gone far when the frog said, "Let me tie one of your front +feet to one of my hind legs, so that I may not lose you." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," replied the mouse. "We shall surely be fast friends then." +</P> + +<P> +So the frog took a blade of grass and fastened one of the mouse's front +feet to one of his hind legs. When the frog leaped, the mouse tumbled +after. Then they stopped and had a big laugh; it was very funny. +</P> + +<P> +They first went to an oat field, where the frog found many insects, and +the mouse plenty of grain. +</P> + +<P> +Beyond this field there was a pond. The frog had been going toward this +pond all of the time, but the mouse had not noticed it. They were soon +on its bank. +</P> + +<P> +When the mouse saw the pond he cried out, "Oh, you know I do not like +the water, Mr. Frog. Let us go to the barn." +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing would do you so much good as a cool bath on this hot day. You +have never taken one, so you can not know how good it will make you +feel," and the frog jumped into the water. +</P> + +<P> +The mouse tried to get free, but the frog only laughed. +</P> + +<P> +A hawk, looking down, saw the mouse and swooped down upon it. Since the +frog was fastened to the mouse, he too was carried off, and both lost +their lives. +</P> + +<P> +When the other frogs heard of what had happened, they said, "Served him +right. Served him right," and no frog since that time has ever played a +mean joke. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE BOYS AND THE FROGS +</H3> + +<P> +"Let us go to the pond and have some fun," said George. +</P> + +<P> +"What fun can we have there?" asked Frank. "The pond is nothing but an +old mudhole. We can not swim in such water." +</P> + +<P> +Down at the pond the sun shone warm, and an old mother frog and her +children were sunning themselves on a log. Now and then one plunged +into the water with a chug! and then crawled out on the bank. +</P> + +<P> +That was a happy time in frog land. +</P> + +<P> +In the midst of their play, they heard a sound which made the mother +frog tremble. It was only a boy's laugh, but as soon as the mother +heard it she said, "Into the water, every one of you. The giants are +coming;" and they all jumped into the water. +</P> + +<P> +The giants had armed themselves with pebbles. Each one had a pocketful. +As soon as they caught sight of the frogs, they cried, "Now for some +fun!" +</P> + +<P> +Before the mother frog could reach the water, a stone hit her on one of +her feet. The one-sided battle had begun. +</P> + +<P> +Every time a little frog peeped out of the water to get a breath of air +or to look at the two giants, whiz! flew a pebble right toward it, and +it never cared to look at its enemies again. +</P> + +<P> +The mother became very angry. She lifted her head boldly above the +water. +</P> + +<P> +"Cowards!" she cried. "If we could sting, would you fight us? If we +could bite, would you be here? You have great sport tormenting us, +because we cannot fight for ourselves. You are cowards! cowards!" +</P> + +<P> +And all the little frogs echoed, "Cowards! cowards!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE SHEPHERD BOY AND THE WOLF +</H3> + +<P> +John was a shepherd boy. He cared for his father's sheep. As there were +many wolves prowling about waiting for a chance to kill the sheep, John +had to be very watchful. +</P> + +<P> +Some men were harvesting wheat in a field not far from where the flock +was feeding. One day they were startled by the cry, "A wolf! a wolf!" +They looked up and saw John motioning wildly to them and pointing +toward the sheep. +</P> + +<P> +They threw down their sickles and ran to the flock. But they found the +sheep quietly grazing, and there was no wolf to be seen. +</P> + +<P> +"Where is the wolf?" they asked. +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't say the wolf was here,' replied John, and he laughed loud and +long as he saw the look of surprise in the men's faces. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean, you young rascal, by fooling us so?" they cried. +</P> + +<P> +If they could have caught John, they would have given him a sound +whipping, but he had run out of their reach. +</P> + +<P> +Not many days after, these same men heard the cry, "Wolf! wolf!" +</P> + +<P> +"John is trying to fool us again," they said, and went on with their +work. +</P> + +<P> +John called again and again, and seemed in so much trouble that the +kind-hearted men left their work and hurried toward the sheep pasture. +</P> + +<P> +When they came to the pasture, they knew that John had been playing +another trick on them. They looked for him, but could not find him. He +had hidden in some bushes where he could look on and enjoy their +surprise and anger. At last they went back to their work. +</P> + +<P> +One day wolves did come. John was very much frightened. He ran to the +men for help. They only laughed at him. "Oh, you have fooled us twice," +they said. "You shall not have another chance." +</P> + +<P> +"But the wolves are surely there," cried John. "They are killing the +sheep. Do come and help!" The men kept on with their work and did not +even look at John. +</P> + +<P> +Before he could find anyone who would believe him, many of the sheep +had been killed. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE TWO GOATS +</H3> + +<P> +A small stream ran between two hills. Over this stream there was a very +narrow bridge. If two persons came to the opposite ends of this bridge +at the same time, one must wait for the other to cross before he could +go over. +</P> + +<P> +One morning, two goats, a black one and a white one, reached the +opposite ends of the bridge at the same moment. +</P> + +<P> +The black goat called out to the white one, "Hold on a minute; I am +coming over." +</P> + +<P> +The white goat replied, "No, I will go over first; I am in a hurry." +</P> + +<P> +"No," said the black goat, "I will not wait for you. I am the older." +</P> + +<P> +"You shall wait for me," roared the white goat as he stepped upon the +bridge and started across. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll see if I am to wait for you," said the black goat, and he too +started across. +</P> + +<P> +They met in the middle of the bridge. +</P> + +<P> +"Go back and let me cross,' said the white goat, stamping his foot. +</P> + +<P> +"Go back, yourself," replied the black goat, and he pushed against the +other. +</P> + +<P> +They were very angry. Each drew back. Their heads came together with +terrible force. They locked horns. The white goat lost his footing and +fell, pulling the black goat over with him, and both were drowned. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE STRIKE OF THE MILL FEEDERS +</H3> + +<P> +The mill feeders of a great mill—the stomach—met together to talk +over their trials. +</P> + +<P> +The hands said, "We are tired of carrying grist to the door of the +greedy mill. We would rather spend all our time painting pictures or +writing books." +</P> + +<P> +"We were made for talking and singing," said the lips, "but much of our +time has to be spent in taking grist for the mill." +</P> + +<P> +"And we," said the teeth, "give our life to crushing the grist which is +brought to the mill. We are wearing out in its service, but what thanks +do we get?" +</P> + +<P> +"I have never had a holiday," said the tongue. "I do not mind talking, +but I do not like to work for the mill. Three times a day or oftener, I +must help the teeth to prepare the grist. I am tired of it." +</P> + +<P> +The gullet said, "My whole life is given up to carrying the grist to +the mill. I do not like such work. Let the mill feed itself. It has no +business to work us to death." +</P> + +<P> +"Let us all stop work," cried the mill feeders. "We will stop at once;" +and so the mill shut down. +</P> + +<P> +Many hours after, the lips said, "How strange that we should not feel +like talking now that we have nothing else to do!" +</P> + +<P> +The hands said, "We are too weak to paint or to write. We never felt so +tired before." +</P> + +<P> +The tongue became parched and all the mill feeders were unhappy. +</P> + +<P> +More hours passed; then the mill feeders held another meeting. It was a +short, quiet, earnest meeting. +</P> + +<P> +"We have been fools," they all said. "The mill was working for us while +we were working for it. Our strength came from the grist which we sent +to it. We can do nothing without the help of the mill. Let us go to +work again. If the mill will only grind for us, we will gladly furnish +the grist." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE FARMER AND HIS SONS +</H3> + +<P> +"Boys, why are you always quarreling? That is no way to live," said a +farmer to his sons one day. +</P> + +<P> +The sons would not listen to their father. Each wanted the best of +everything. Each thought the father did more for the others than for +him. +</P> + +<P> +The father bore the quarreling as long as he could. One day he called +his seven sons to him. He had in his hand a bundle of seven sticks. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish to see which one of you can break this bundle of sticks," he +said. +</P> + +<P> +The oldest one tried first. He was the strongest, but he could not +break it though he used all his strength. Then each of his brothers +tried hard to break the bundle. None of them could break it. +</P> + +<P> +At last they gave the bundle of sticks back to their father, saying, +"We cannot break it." +</P> + +<P> +The father untied the bundle and gave each son one stick. +</P> + +<P> +"Now see if you can break the sticks," said their father. +</P> + +<P> +They all said, "That is very easily done," and they held up the broken +sticks. +</P> + +<P> +"Now tell us why you asked us to break these sticks," said the sons. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you not see," replied the father, "that if you all stand together, +nothing can harm you; but if each of you stands by himself, you may +easily be ruined?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE FOUR OXEN AND THE LION +</H3> + +<P> +"Those oxen are too good friends to suit me," said a hungry lion. "They +are never far apart, and when I am near them they turn their tails to +one another and show long sharp horns on every side. They even walk +down to the river together when they become thirsty. If I could catch +one of them by himself, I should have a feast." +</P> + +<P> +But one day the oxen had a quarrel. +</P> + +<P> +"The grass is freshest over in the valley," said one of them. "Let us +go there." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't like the grass there," said another. "It is better on the +side of the hill. Let us spend the day there." +</P> + +<P> +"I do not want to climb the hill," said the third ox. "The grass right +here suits me best." +</P> + +<P> +"I do not like any of the places of which you speak," said the fourth +ox. "Come with me and I will find you the best grass you ever tasted." +</P> + +<P> +"I am going to the valley," said the first ox. "You three may go where +you please." +</P> + +<P> +"And I shall go to the hill," said the second ox. "I think you are mean +not to go with me." +</P> + +<P> +"And I," said the third ox, "shall stay right here. You may all be +sorry if you leave me. The lion may catch you." +</P> + +<P> +"I am not afraid of the lion," said the fourth ox; "and if none of you +will go with me, I shall go by myself to hunt a better pasture than any +of you can find. I am older than you and I know where the best grass +grows. You had better follow me." +</P> + +<P> +"We will not do it," said the other three oxen. "You are not our leader +if you are older." +</P> + +<P> +So the four oxen separated. One went to the valley. The lion was down +by the river and saw him coming. He waited quietly until the ox was +very near; then he pounced upon him and killed him. +</P> + +<P> +Then the lion looked about for the other oxen. One of them was feeding +on the hill. He saw the lion coining, but, he could not get away. He +could not defend himself with only one pair of horns; so he too was +killed. +</P> + +<P> +As the other two oxen were far apart, it was an easy matter for the +lion to kill them also. And that is the way the quarrel ended. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE HUNTER AND THE FARMER +</H3> + +<P> +"Are you afraid of a lion? I am not. There is nothing that I should +like better than to meet one," said a man to his neighbor whose calf +the lion had killed. "To-morrow morning I will go out and hunt for this +fierce lion, which is doing so much harm. If he is anywhere about, I +shall find him and kill him, and thus rid the village of fear." +</P> + +<P> +The next morning the man started out alone to hunt the lion. He had, a +gun and a sword. He looked so brave as he started off that the people +in the village said, "What a blessing it is to have so fearless a man +in our village! He will keep us from harm." +</P> + +<P> +He walked several miles. At last he came near a jungle. He thought that +the lion might have his home there. He asked a farmer whom he met if he +had seen the tracks of a lion. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said the farmer, "and I will show you where you can find him." +</P> + +<P> +When the man heard this, he turned pale and trembled with fright. +</P> + +<P> +"I do not care to see the lion," he cried. "I only wanted to see his +tracks." +</P> + +<P> +The farmer turned away in disgust, saying, "It is easy to be brave when +you are out of danger." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE FOX IN THE WELL +</H3> + +<P> +Once upon a time a fox fell into a well. He was not hurt by his fall. +As there was little water in the well, he was in no danger of drowning; +but he could not get out. +</P> + +<P> +He cried, "Help! help! help! help!" but no one heard him. +</P> + +<P> +By and by a wolf passed by the well. He heard the call. He looked into +the well and asked, "Who is down there?" +</P> + +<P> +"It is I," cried the fox. "I am glad that you have come to help me out." +</P> + +<P> +"How did you get down there?" asked the wolf. "Have you been there +long? Is the water very deep? Poor fellow, I do pity you! That is no +place for you. You have a very bad cold, I see. I wish you were out." +</P> + +<P> +"Please don't talk to me," cried the fox. "It is help I need. Do get me +out and then I shall know that you are sorry for me." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE MICE IN COUNCIL +</H3> + +<P> +What a queer meeting that was down in the cellar! There were big mice, +little mice, old mice, young mice, gray mice, and brown mice, all very +sober and thoughtful. +</P> + +<P> +At last an old mouse spoke up and said, "Shall we have Mr. Graypate for +our chairman? All those who wish Mr. Graypate to be chairman will +please hold up their right hands." Every mouse raised a tiny paw. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Graypate walked out to the front and took charge of the meeting. It +was well that they chose him, for he was the wisest mouse in the whole +country. Gazing over the crowd, he said, "Will Mr. Longtail tell us why +we have met here? Mr. Longtail, come out in front where we can hear +you." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Longtail walked slowly to the front. Then he stood upon his hind +legs and said: +</P> + +<P> +"My friends, I think you all know why we are here. Last night Mrs. +Whitenose, whom we all love, and all her family were killed by the big +white cat. The night before, while Mrs. Blackfoot was out hunting, all +her cunning little babies were killed by the same cat. Early this week +one of my finest boys was killed. You or I may be next. +</P> + +<P> +"Must we bear this and do nothing at all to save our loved ones and +ourselves? We have met here to make some plan for our defense." +</P> + +<P> +Having spoken, Mr. Longtail walked back into the crowd. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Graypate arose and said: +</P> + +<P> +"You have heard why we are here. Anyone who has a good plan for ridding +us of the cat will please tell of it. The meeting is open to all." +</P> + +<P> +"Let us all run at him suddenly when he is not looking for us, and each +give him a bite. That would surely kill him," said one brave mouse. +</P> + +<P> +"But how many of us do you think he would kill?" said another mouse. "I +will not risk my life nor that of my family." "Nor I"; "nor I"; "nor +I," said many other mice. +</P> + +<P> +"Let us steal his food and starve him to death," suggested another. +</P> + +<P> +"That will only make him hungrier for mice," they replied. "That will +never do." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish we might drown him," said another; "but I don't know how we +could get him into the water." +</P> + +<P> +At last a little gray mouse with a squeaky voice went up to the front +and spoke: +</P> + +<P> +"I have a plan that will surely work. If we could know when the cat is +coming, we could get out of his way. He steals in upon us so quietly, +that we can not escape. Let us find a little bell and a string. Let us +put the bell on the string and tie the string around the cat's neck. As +soon as we hear the bell, we can run and get out of the cat's way." +</P> + +<P> +"A very good plan," said Mr. Longtail. "We will ask our leader to say +which mouse shall put the bell on the cat's neck." +</P> + +<P> +At this there was a great outcry. One said, "I am so little that I can +not reach high enough to bell the cat." Another said, "I have been very +sick and am too weak to lift the bell"; and so the excuses came pouring +in. +</P> + +<P> +At last Mr. Graypate called to the crowd, "Silence! I shall choose no +one. Who will offer to bell the cat?" +</P> + +<P> +It was very quiet in the meeting. One after another of the younger mice +went out. None but the older ones were left. At last they too went +sadly home. No one would bell the cat. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE FOX AND THE CROW +</H3> + +<P> +One day the door of a cottage stood open. A tame crow flew through the +door into the cottage. She stole a piece of meat from the table, and +flew to a branch of a tall tree. +</P> + +<P> +Just as she had settled there to enjoy her meat a fox came along and +stopped under the tree. He sniffed something good to eat. Looking +about, he saw the meat in the crow's mouth and wanted it. +</P> + +<P> +How could he get the meat? He could not climb the tree. What good would +it do if he could? The crow would fly away when she saw him coming. He +could not coax the crow to come down to the ground. She knew what a fox +likes to eat. +</P> + +<P> +At last the fox had a happy thought. He said to himself, "A crow is one +of the proudest birds I ever knew. I will flatter her and she will +forget about the meat." +</P> + +<P> +So he called out in his sweetest voice, "Good day, my pretty bird"; but +the crow did not reply. She only stepped about proudly on the branch. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I had such a beautiful form as you have," said the fox. +</P> + +<P> +Still no answer, but the crow held up her head and turned it first to +one side and then to the other, showing that she was pleased. +</P> + +<P> +"What a graceful neck and bright eye!" said the fox. "The other birds +may well be jealous of you." +</P> + +<P> +No answer yet. She only raised her wings a little and gazed down upon +the fox. +</P> + +<P> +"If your voice were only as beautiful as your form and your dress, you +would be queen of all the birds; but it seems that you can not talk at +all. What a pity that you are dumb!" +</P> + +<P> +The crow gave a loud "caw!" As she did so, the meat fell from her +mouth. The fox snapped it up quickly. +</P> + +<P> +Poor crow, she saw when too late that the fox was only fooling her. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE VAIN CROW +</H3> + +<P> +"I hate a black dress, no matter how glossy," said a proud crow. "I +have made up my mind to be a peacock." +</P> + +<P> +As he said this, he flew away to a barnyard where he found some +feathers which the peacock had shed. He picked these up with his bill +and placed them among his own feathers. +</P> + +<P> +Then he marched back and forth, looking at his fine new coat. He even +tried to walk like the peacock. +</P> + +<P> +The peafowls came into the yard. They did not know at first what to +make of the sight. Then they saw that the crow was trying to dress and +act as they did. They flew at him, calling, "Away with the cheat! Away +with the cheat!" They pulled out all the peacock feathers and many of +his own glossy black ones. +</P> + +<P> +He was glad to get away alive, and flew back to his own family and old +friends. But one of the crows had seen him in the barnyard and told the +others how silly he had been acting. +</P> + +<P> +"Where have you been?" they cried. "We know. We know. We will not have +you in this flock. Away! away!" And they drove him from them. +</P> + +<P> +Even the owls, whom he had always hated, made eyes at him and screamed, +"Ch-ea-t! ch-ea-t!" +</P> + +<P> +He flew into the forest. Here in a tree by a pond he lived a lonely +life. +</P> + +<P> +The tree-toads learned their queer song from him. This is his warning +to them. "Don't, don't-be-cheat! Don't, don't-be-cheat!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE HORSE AND THE LOADED DONKEY +</H3> + +<P> +A man once owned a beautiful black horse and a very ugly donkey. +</P> + +<P> +The horse always had plenty to eat and was well groomed, but the donkey +was very poorly cared for. +</P> + +<P> +One bright morning both animals were made ready for a long journey. A +saddle was placed upon the horse, and a heavy pack of goods was loaded +upon the donkey. +</P> + +<P> +The donkey was a very patient animal. When well, he never complained of +his hard lot, but this morning he staggered under the weight of his +load. After going a short distance, he looked up at the proud horse and +asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Would you mind helping me to-day? I feel too ill to carry this heavy +load. If you will help me, I shall soon be well and able to carry the +whole load. If you refuse to help me, I shall surely fall by the way; +then you will have to bear the burden alone." +</P> + +<P> +The horse held his head very high while the donkey was talking; then he +replied: +</P> + +<P> +"Go on, you lazy beast! I am not a burden bearer. No, I will not take +one ounce of your load." +</P> + +<P> +The donkey groaned and moved forward a few steps, then fell to the +ground dead. +</P> + +<P> +The load was taken from the dead donkey's back and placed upon the +horse. +</P> + +<P> +At the close of the day the horse reached the end of his journey. Every +bone in his body was aching, and he was so lame that he could hardly +walk. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE LEAVES AND THE ROOTS +</H3> + +<P> +"We cast cool shade upon the green grass," whispered the fluttering +leaves. "We dress the tree in fresh and quiet green. It is bare and +brown without us. The tired traveler and the panting beast are thankful +for our shade. Children love to play under our shelter. At night the +song birds of the woods fly to us for our protection. We hide the nests +of mother birds. The light winds stay with us and caress us." And the +leaves felt very proud and important. +</P> + +<P> +"What you say is all very true, but you should not forget us," said a +voice from the earth. "We are surely worth something." +</P> + +<P> +"And who are you? Where do you grow?" asked the leaves. +</P> + +<P> +"We are buried deep in the ground, far below you, but we feed the stem +and make you grow. We are the roots. You owe your beauty to us. We are +not beautiful as you are, but we do not die. Winter does not change us, +but when it comes you fall. The tree stands firm, for it is held in +place by us. If we should die, the tree would die and you would die +with it." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE BULL AND THE GNAT +</H3> + +<P> +A gnat perched upon the horn of a bull. "Dear sir," he said to the +bull, "I am sorry to trouble you, but I am too worn out to go any +farther. Does my weight tire you? When you can bear it no longer, I +shall go on." +</P> + +<P> +"You need not leave on my account," said the bull. "I did not know when +you sat down and I shall not miss you when you leave." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE FARMER AND HIS THREE SONS +</H3> + +<P> +A farmer who had worked hard all his life was taken sick. He knew that +he must soon die. He called his three sons about his bed to give them +some advice. +</P> + +<P> +"My sons," said he, "keep all of the land which I leave you. Do not +sell any of it, for there is a treasure in the soil. I shall not tell +you where to hunt for it, but if you try hard to find it, and do not +give up, you will surely succeed. +</P> + +<P> +"As soon as the harvest is over, begin your search with plow, and +spade, and rake. Turn every foot of earth, then turn it again and +again. The treasure is there." +</P> + +<P> +After the father died, the sons gathered in the harvest. As soon as the +grain had been cared for, they planned to search for the hidden +treasure. The farm was divided into three equal parts. Each son agreed +to dig carefully his part. +</P> + +<P> +Every foot of soil was turned by the plow or by the spade. It was next +harrowed and raked, but no treasure was found. That seemed very strange. +</P> + +<P> +"Father was an honest man and a wise man," said the youngest son. "He +would never have told us to hunt for the treasure if it were not here. +Do you not remember that he said, 'Turn the soil again and again'? He +surely thought the treasure worth hunting for." +</P> + +<P> +"Our land is in such good condition now that we might as well sow +winter wheat," said the oldest son. His brothers agreed to this and the +wheat was sown. +</P> + +<P> +The next harvest was so great that it surprised them. No neighbor's +field bore so many bushels of wheat to the acre. The sons were pleased +with their success. +</P> + +<P> +After the wheat was harvested, they met to make plans for searching +again for the hidden treasure. The second son said: +</P> + +<P> +"I have been thinking ever since our big harvest that perhaps father +knew how this search would turn out. We have much gold, We did not find +it in a hole in the ground, but we found it by digging. If we had not +cultivated our fields well, we should not have had such a crop of +wheat. Our father was wise; we have dug for the treasure and have found +it. +</P> + +<P> +"We will cultivate the ground still better next year and make the soil +rich; then we shall find more treasure." +</P> + +<P> +The other sons agreed to this. "It is good to work for what we get," +they said. +</P> + +<P> +Year after year the farm was well tilled and bore good crops. The sons +became rich, and they had two things much better than wealth—good +health and happiness. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE YOUNG FOX +</H3> + +<P> +"You may hunt with me now, Reynard," said a wise old fox to his young +son. "It is time that you were beginning to make your living." +</P> + +<P> +"That pleases me well," said Reynard. "I should not mind going out +alone." +</P> + +<P> +"You are not ready yet to go by yourself. There are many things that I +must teach you first. Do not go without me." +</P> + +<P> +Reynard said nothing, but the next day, when his father was asleep, he +went out into the field and brought home a nice, fat partridge. +</P> + +<P> +He wakened his father by a quick bark and said, "See what I have +caught. I do not need to go with you." +</P> + +<P> +"You do not know what you need," replied his father. "No wise fox hunts +in the daytime." +</P> + +<P> +But Reynard did not mind what his father said, and every day he went +out hunting. He killed so many chickens, turkeys and ducks that +everyone tried to catch him. +</P> + +<P> +One night the old fox started out alone, but Reynard crept slowly after +him. The old fox went toward a large farmhouse. He stopped suddenly in +the path and waited; then he ran on quickly. +</P> + +<P> +Reynard followed. He stopped at the same place where the old fox had +stopped. +</P> + +<P> +"What is this?" he said. "A fine white turkey down in the grass! Well, +well, is my father losing his sharp sight and his keen scent? I shall +not let such a prize get away from me!" +</P> + +<P> +He sprang upon the turkey. The trap gave a loud snap, and Reynard was a +prisoner. +</P> + +<P> +"What a fool I am!" he said. "I saw the bait. My father saw the trap." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +VISIT OF THE MOUSE TO THE COUNTRY +</H3> + +<P> +"Mother, may I go into the country to-day? You said I might go some +day. I am big enough now to go out alone. Do let me go," said Frisky, a +young mouse, to his mother. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, child, I can not be with you always. I suppose there must be a +first time for you to go out alone. I dread to have you go, but if you +will promise to run home if a cat comes near you, I will let you go," +said Mrs. Gray, the mother. +</P> + +<P> +"I will run, mother, if I see a cat. You know how fast I can go. I +should like to see any cat catch me. I shall not be gone long. Good-by, +mother," and off went Frisky. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Gray watched him until he was out of sight. "I wish I had gone +with him," she said. "He does not know the world as I do. I fear some +harm will come to him," and she looked very much worried as she turned +to go into her house. She tried to sleep, for she was very tired; but +when she dozed she dreamed, and her dreams were all bad ones. +</P> + +<P> +At last she went back to the door and looked for Frisky. He was coming, +leaping along in a great hurry. He began talking to his mother before +he reached her. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, mother," he said, "I met two big creatures on the other side of +the pasture. +</P> + +<P> +"One of them was very fine looking. She had very gentle ways. She +stepped about so quietly that one could scarcely hear her. Her dress +was of soft gray fur, much like yours, mother, and she wore whiskers +like yours. I knew you would like to see her, so I was just going to +invite her home with me when a terrible-looking creature came right +toward me. +</P> + +<P> +"He walked as if he were too good to step on the ground. His legs were +naked, his toes were long, and his toe nails were strong and sharp. His +dress was not so soft as yours. It was black and white. His mouth +looked like a trap. I tell you, mother, I should hate to get caught in +that trap. On top of his head was something that wobbled as he walked. +He straightened himself up, raised his arms and screamed. Such a +scream! It nearly frightened me to death. He isn't coming, is he, +mother? Do let me run into the house." +</P> + +<P> +"My son," said his mother, stopping Frisky as he tried to pass her, "I +shall not let you go out alone again until you know more. +</P> + +<P> +"That animal which you liked so well and wished to invite to our house +is a cat. It is the very one no doubt that killed all of your brothers +and sisters when they were quite small. She would have killed you too +at the same time if a dog had not come along and frightened her away. +If you had gone close to her this afternoon, I should never have seen +you again. I thought you would know a cat. +</P> + +<P> +"The creature of which you were afraid cares nothing for us. He would +not have harmed you. He has bare legs so he can wade about in the grass +and not get his clothing wet. He uses those long toes and sharp claws +to scratch in the earth for food. He does not catch mice with them. He +uses that strong bill for picking up grain. People call him a rooster." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE TWO DOVES +</H3> + +<P> +Two doves, White-coat and Blue-feather, lived in a dovecote. They were +brothers and were very fond of each other. White-coat was a great home +body, but Blue-feather liked to travel. +</P> + +<P> +One day Blue-feather said to White-coat, "I want to see the world. This +place is very tame. I have lived here all my life (he was only six +months old) and have seen all there is to see. I want to visit other +countries." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't go, Blue-feather," said White-coat. "We have all we want to eat +here, everyone is kind, and we have a good home. I have heard that in +other places men set traps for birds or shoot them, and that sometimes +large hawks swoop down and carry them off. You might be caught out in a +storm and find no shelter; besides, it would almost kill me to be +separated from you long. You might be able to bear it, but not I. +Surely it is best to stay at home." +</P> + +<P> +Just then a crow cawed. "Do you hear that crow, brother?" asked +White-coat. "It seems to say, 'You will be sorry if you go.' Do not go. +Take his warning. See, too, it is raining. If you must go, do put it +off until a better time." +</P> + +<P> +"White-coat, why do you make such a fuss about nothing? I shall not be +gone more than three days; then you shall hear of all the wonderful +things I saw. I shall tell what happened to me from the beginning of my +journey until its close. It will be almost as good as going yourself." +</P> + +<P> +"I do not care about the world," said White-coat. "How can I let you +go! You will find me watching for you at whatever time of day or night +you reach home. I can not eat, I can not sleep, with you away." +</P> + +<P> +At this, they said a sad good-by to each other, and Blue-feather flew +away. +</P> + +<P> +A dark cloud covered the sky. Blue-feather looked about for shelter. He +flew to the only tree near, but its leaves could not keep off the +driving rain, so his coat was wet through and through. +</P> + +<P> +When the sky was clear again, Blue-feather left the tree and dried his +plumage as he flew. +</P> + +<P> +On the borders of a wood he spied some scattered grains of wheat. He +was hungry and saw no reason why he should not pick them up. As he flew +down, a snare was drawn about him. The wheat had been put there to +tempt pigeons so that they might get caught. It was well for +Blue-feather that the snare had been in use a long time and was rotten. +By using his beak and wings he got loose, but he lost a few feathers +out of his pretty coat. +</P> + +<P> +A hawk saw him as he rose. Blue-feather was dragging a piece of the +string which he could not loosen from his leg. The hawk was about to +seize him. It seemed as if there was no help for him. But just at that +moment an eagle caught the hawk and carried him off. +</P> + +<P> +Blue-feather flew as fast as he could to a high fence, where he stopped +to rest. He thought his dangers were over. He was very homesick. +</P> + +<P> +While Blue-feather was sitting on the fence, a boy saw him. He nearly +killed the poor bird with a shot from his sling. +</P> + +<P> +Blue-feather was just able to fly. His leg was lame, and one wing was +hurt, but he steered straight for home. +</P> + +<P> +Late at night he arrived at his own dovecote, tired and hungry, but +happy to be safe at home again. He found White-coat waiting for him. +</P> + +<P> +White-coat smoothed his poor brother's feathers, nestled close to him, +and soothed him with his coo! coo! coo! +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE HORSE AND THE WOLF +</H3> + +<P> +A horse, in the early spring, was turned into a pasture of fresh grass. +He was enjoying himself very much when a hungry wolf spied him. The +horse did not see the wolf. +</P> + +<P> +The wolf said, "I want that horse. I have not had a good meal for a +month. He is so big that I can not catch him as I would a sheep. I +shall have to play a trick." So he lay down on the ground and thought +how he could deceive the horse and then catch him. +</P> + +<P> +"I have it," he said at last. "I will be a doctor. The horse is sound +and well, but I will make him think that he needs a doctor; then I +shall tell him that I can cure him." The wolf smacked his lips as he +thought of the meal he would soon have. +</P> + +<P> +He marched into the pasture in a very business-like way. Going right up +to the horse, he said: +</P> + +<P> +"Good morning, my dear sir. This is fine grass you are eating and a +beautiful morning to be out. I am sorry to see you looking so poorly +this bright day. I happen to be a doctor. As you know, a good doctor +can tell at sight when one is sick. If you were well, you would not +have been turned out to pasture. You know that there is much work to be +done at this time of the year. Your master must think that you are not +able to work. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, my friend, be frank with me; tell me what ails you, that I may +cure you. I have been to the best schools in the country. There I +learned about diseases of every kind and a sure cure for every disease. +If you have no money to pay my bill, do not let that trouble you. We +can settle that later." +</P> + +<P> +The horse looked at the wolf out of the corner of his eye and said, +"Now that I think of it, I believe that something is wrong with the +bottom of my left hind foot." +</P> + +<P> +All the time the wolf had been looking for a good chance to spring upon +the horse, but the horse did not let him get out of his sight for an +instant. +</P> + +<P> +When the horse told of his trouble the wolf replied, "Yes, I understand +just what is the matter. There are many others having that same trouble +this year. I have had as many as twenty cases. All are doing well. Let +me look at your foot. Raise it now, please, care—" +</P> + +<P> +At this instant the horse raised his foot, and with it gave the wolf +such a terrible kick in his face that he fell heavily to the ground. +The horse went on feeding. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the wolf was able to get up, he went groaning out of the +field. He was cured of one thing, but the medicine was very bitter. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE BIRDS, THE BEASTS, AND THE BAT +</H3> + +<P> +There was once a terrible war between the birds and the beasts. For a +long time it was doubtful which would win. +</P> + +<P> +The bat said, "I am not a bird and I am not a beast, so I shall fight +on neither side." +</P> + +<P> +At last the beasts seemed to be gaining the victory. The bat flew to +them and said, "I am a beast. Look at my body and you will see that I +am. I shall fight on your side." +</P> + +<P> +New flocks of birds came to help their relatives, and the battle soon +turned against the beasts. +</P> + +<P> +Then the bat skulked over to the other side. "I am a bird," said he. "I +can prove it by my wings," and he fought with the birds. +</P> + +<P> +At last the war was over. The bat was hated by beasts and birds. Both +made war upon him. He was obliged to slink off and hide in dark places +during the day, never showing his face until dusk. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap23"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE BEES, THE DRONES, AND THE WASP +</H3> + +<P> +Some working bees had made their comb in the hollow trunk of an oak. +</P> + +<P> +The drones said, "We made that comb. It belongs to us." +</P> + +<P> +"You did not make that comb," replied the workers. "You know very well +that you did not. We made it." +</P> + +<P> +The drones answered, "That comb belongs to us and we are going to have +it." +</P> + +<P> +So the workers took the case to Judge Wasp that he might decide the +matter. +</P> + +<P> +The workers and the drones settled down before him. "You workers and +drones," said he, "are so much alike in shape and color that it is hard +to tell which has been seen in the tree. But I think the matter can be +justly decided. Each party may go to a hive in which there is no honey, +and build up a new comb. The one that makes comb and honey like that +found in the tree is the owner of the tree comb." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," said the workers, "we will do it;" but the drones said, +"We will have nothing to do with such a plan." +</P> + +<P> +So Judge Wasp said, "It is plain to see which of you made the comb. It +belongs to the workers." +</P> + +<P> +The drones buzzed away very angry, but they were not able to harm the +workers or the judge, and the workers went back to their tree. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap24"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE WOODMAN AND HIS AX +</H3> + +<P> +One day a poor woodman lost his ax. He hunted all day, but he could not +find it. He was very sad, for how could he make a living for his family +without an ax? Besides he had no money with which to buy a new one. As +night came on, he sank down by the roadside and buried his face in his +hands. +</P> + +<P> +He heard a noise in the bushes and raised his head. A stranger was +standing by him. "What is the matter?" asked the stranger. The woodman +told him of his trouble. +</P> + +<P> +"I am sorry your ax is lost," said the stranger. "Would you know it if +you were to see it? I found an ax in the road. It may be yours. Is this +it?" he asked, holding out a gold ax. +</P> + +<P> +"No," answered the woodman, "that is not my ax. All the money I ever +earned would not buy such an ax as that." +</P> + +<P> +"I found another," said the man. "This must be the one," and he held +out a silver ax. +</P> + +<P> +"No, that is not mine," replied the woodman. "I am too poor a man to +own such an ax as that." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, here is another ax that I found. Is this yours?" The stranger +held out an old ax of steel. +</P> + +<P> +"That is mine, oh, that is mine!" cried the woodman, springing up +joyously and taking his ax from the stranger. "Now we shall not starve. +Thank you, kind sir. Where did you find it?" +</P> + +<P> +The stranger said, "All three of the axes are yours. I am glad to make +you a present of the gold ax and the silver ax. Let me have your hand. +I am happy to meet an honest man." +</P> + +<P> +The woodman's neighbors heard of his good fortune. One of them lost his +ax. He appeared to feel very sad over his loss. He sat down by the +roadside and bowed his head, looking out of the corners of his eyes for +the stranger. +</P> + +<P> +At last he saw the stranger coming around a bend in the road. The sun +shown upon a gold ax which he carried in his hand. He stopped in front +of the woodman. "Why do you grieve, my friend?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"I have lost my ax with which I earned my living," the woodman replied. +</P> + +<P> +"Cheer up," said the stranger. "I have an ax here. Is it yours?" +</P> + +<P> +"That is the very one," said the woodman. "Thank you, stranger," and he +reached out his hand to take the gold ax. +</P> + +<P> +But the stranger drew back, and put the ax behind him. "It is not your +ax. It is my own, and you wish to claim it. You are both dishonest and +untruthful;" and he turned away. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap25"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE FOX WITH HIS TAIL CUT OFF +</H3> + +<P> +Reynard lost his tail in a trap. Now a fox is proud of two things—his +cunning and his tail. He had allowed himself to be trapped. This showed +his lack of cunning, and he had lost his tail. +</P> + +<P> +He was so ashamed of himself that he could not bear to meet another +fox. He slunk off to his den and came out only when driven by hunger. +When out hunting, he kept out of the way of all his neighbors. He did +not mean that any of them should know of his bad luck. +</P> + +<P> +At last he grew tired of living by himself. He wanted to gossip with +his friends. +</P> + +<P> +He wondered whether old Rufus was still running on top of the great +meadow fence to throw the hounds off the track. +</P> + +<P> +He longed to hear of the latest tricks of Fleetfoot's cubs. They were +three of the brightest little foxes that ever lived. He wished that he +could see them at their play. +</P> + +<P> +He wished to know if the men were still cutting down trees near +White-ear's den. If this went on, White-ear would have to find a new +home. It would be hard for her after living in that beautiful spot so +long. +</P> + +<P> +If he were to hear the news at all, he must meet his comrades. "How can +I bear to listen to their laugh!" he moaned. +</P> + +<P> +He had not lost all of his cunning, as you will see. He lay for a long +time with his head between his paws. His eyes were wide open, but he +was not watching for game. He was thinking. +</P> + +<P> +After a while he jumped up. He said to himself: +</P> + +<P> +"I shall invite all of my friends to come to my home to-morrow evening. +I shall tell them when they reach here that I can not get up to meet +them for I have been very sick. They will all gather about me here. I +shall sit upon my haunches so that no one will ever find out that my +tail is missing. As they are to be my guests, I must be the spokesman. +My friends have always thought me to be a very fine speaker. Many times +my advice has been asked. I have given it, and it paid my friends to +follow it. The thing which I shall advise to-morrow will surprise them, +but I feel sure that I can get my friends to follow it. I will set to +work now preparing for the feast." +</P> + +<P> +Early the next evening Reynard gave a series of strange barks. This was +an invitation to his home. The foxes came from every direction and met +at the foot of an old oak. +</P> + +<P> +Reynard's den was under this oak. He sat upon his haunches near the +door to welcome his guests as they came, but he did not move. +</P> + +<P> +"You all know, friends, why I do not rise to welcome you," he said. "I +have been very sick, and if I move about it gives me a very bad +headache." +</P> + +<P> +Reynard asked his friends, who were standing around him, what they had +been doing for the last week or so. They told many interesting stories +of how they had escaped from traps and dogs and men. +</P> + +<P> +A pile of chickens, turkeys, and ducks lay in sight not far away. As +they talked, their eyes often wandered to these. +</P> + +<P> +It grew late. The company became a little restless. At last Reynard +said: +</P> + +<P> +"Now, friends, before we take our evening meal, I have something to say +for the good of all of us. +</P> + +<P> +"I have been lying awake nights thinking what we could do to free +ourselves from the weight of our heavy tails. Spring is here with its +rainy weather. You all know how wet and muddy our tails become. Often I +have had to give up a first-class meal and trot off home, hungry, to +stay until my tail had dried. You have had to do the same. Many a poor +fox has lost his life because of his long tail. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, what do you say to having our tails cut off? Think what free +lives we shall then lead. I will cut them off if you wish. The cutting +will be almost painless, I am sure. Now let us have them off in a hurry +before supper. After our feast, we shall have a great dance." +</P> + +<P> +His visitors were silent for a moment. Some nodded their heads, showing +that they were ready to part with their tails. +</P> + +<P> +The oldest and wisest fox in the crowd had been looking at Reynard very +closely. He was the only one of all that crowd to miss Reynard's tail. +At last he spoke slowly: +</P> + +<P> +"Your advice may be good, but before I reply, pray turn yourself +around." +</P> + +<P> +Poor Reynard saw that he was found out. He dared not refuse to do as he +was told, so he turned about. +</P> + +<P> +What a shout the foxes gave! Poor bobtail could not say a word. The +foxes seized the turkeys, ducks, and chickens, and ran off home with +their long tails behind them, and poor Reynard was never again seen by +any of them. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap26"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE BLACKBIRD AND THE DOVE +</H3> + +<P> +One day a blackbird and a dove called upon a peacock. +</P> + +<P> +The peacock received both of them very kindly in his arbor. +</P> + +<P> +"I have long wished to meet you," said the blackbird. "Many have told +me of your beauty and of your grace. I find that they did not tell me +half." He stroked the peacock's coat lovingly as he praised him. +</P> + +<P> +The dove was silent. +</P> + +<P> +At last they bade the peacock good-by, the blackbird making many low +bows. +</P> + +<P> +As they started home, the blackbird said, "I hope I may never meet that +stupid peacock again. I can not bear him. Did you notice his feet? I +felt like laughing every time I looked at them. His voice makes me +shudder. What can anyone see to praise in that bird?" +</P> + +<P> +"I did not notice his feet nor his voice," said the dove. "He has a +noble form and his dress is very beautiful. The rainbow and the flowers +are not more beautiful." +</P> + +<P> +The blackbird turned away in shame. He wished to hear fault found with +the peacock, but the dove gave only the highest praise. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap27"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE GREEDY DOG +</H3> + +<P> +"What a good time I shall have eating this meat when I get home!" said +a dog as it started to cross a stream of water. +</P> + +<P> +He stopped suddenly and looked down into the water. There was his +shadow. "That dog has a larger piece of meat than I," he said. "I want +that piece of meat and I will have it!" +</P> + +<P> +He growled, but the dog in the water did not move nor did he drop his +piece of meat. +</P> + +<P> +He snapped at the dog in the water. He was soon sorry for that, for the +meat slipped from his mouth and sank to the bottom of the stream, and +the dog in the water lost his meat at the same time. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap28"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE GOOSE THAT LAID GOLD EGGS +</H3> + +<P> +One day a farmer bought a goose and took it home. +</P> + +<P> +The next day the goose laid an egg of solid gold. +</P> + +<P> +"That is a wonderful goose," said the farmer, and he took the egg to a +jeweler to find out its value. +</P> + +<P> +"It is pure gold," said the jeweler, and he paid the farmer a big price +for it. +</P> + +<P> +Each day the goose laid a gold egg. The farmer had a dozen. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall soon be a rich man," he said, "but I do wish the goose would +lay more than one egg a day." +</P> + +<P> +After the goose had laid many eggs, the farmer said, "That goose has +many more gold eggs for me. I will not wait for one a day. I will kill +the goose, open it, and get all the eggs at once." +</P> + +<P> +So he killed the goose and opened it, but what do you think? There was +not one egg to be found. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap29"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE DONKEY AND HIS MASTERS +</H3> + +<P> +"How I hate this early rising!" said a donkey, with a great yawn. "I +wish I might sleep till sunrise. Here I am, harnessed and ready to +start to town before the roosters crow. And why? To take a little fruit +and a few vegetables to market. Isn't that a foolish reason for +spoiling my dreams!" +</P> + +<P> +The master was tired of his donkey, for he never seemed willing to do +his work. "I do hate a donkey with his ears turned backward," he said. +"He has no right to complain, for his work is really light, and he gets +plenty of food and rest." +</P> + +<P> +One day a tanner came along. He saw what a strong donkey the gardener +drove, and asked his price. The gardener was glad to sell him. "I hope +he will enjoy his new work," said the gardener. "He never seemed quite +happy with me." +</P> + +<P> +The tanner used the donkey to carry hides. These were heavy and +bad-smelling. They almost made him sick. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, dear!" the donkey groaned one day. "I wish I were back with the +gardener. The vegetables were fresh and I was often given a cabbage +leaf or a beet top. I did have to get out early, to be sure, but I did +not work late. Here I must work early and late, and if I turn out of +the road to get a mouthful of grass, I am beaten soundly. I hate this +work and this place." +</P> + +<P> +The donkey was so ill-natured that the tanner sold him to a coal miner. +He was lowered into a coal mine, where he had to pass his time pulling +loads of coal. The mine was dark, and he was kept very busy. +</P> + +<P> +"This is very bad," he cried. "I wish I were with the gardener, or even +with the tanner. Anything would be better than working in this dismal +hole in the ground." But there he ended his unhappy life. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap30"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE COBBLER AND THE RICH MAN +</H3> + +<P> +A cobbler worked in his shop from morning until night, and as he worked +he sang. Tired people who heard him were rested, and sad men and women +were cheered as they came near the shop. Children visited him and +watched him at his work and heard him sing. They called him "Jolly +Gregory." +</P> + +<P> +"How can he sing when he works so hard and makes so little?" many +asked; but still his singing went on. +</P> + +<P> +Across the road from the cobbler lived a rich man. His home was +beautiful, his clothes fine, and his fare the best that money could +buy; but never in his life had he been known to give to anyone who +needed help. He was really poor, for he lacked one thing which he very +much wanted—sleep. Sometimes he could not get to sleep until early +morning; then his neighbor's song would waken him. He wished that sleep +could be bought for money. +</P> + +<P> +One day he said to himself, "I believe I will help that cobbler over +the way. He has a hard time to make enough money to buy his food and +clothes." So he sent for the cobbler. +</P> + +<P> +"Honest Gregory," he said "how much do you earn in a year?" +</P> + +<P> +"How much a year?" replied the cobbler, scratching his head. "I never +reckon my money in that way. It goes as fast as it comes, but I am glad +to be able to earn it. I cobble on from day to day and earn a living." +</P> + +<P> +"Well then, Gregory, how much do you earn each day?" asked the rich man. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, sometimes more and sometimes less," answered the cobbler. "On +many days—the holidays—I earn nothing. I wish there were fewer of +these; but then we manage to live." +</P> + +<P> +"You are a happy man now," said the rich man, "but I will make you +happier," and he handed the cobbler five hundred dollars. "Go spend +this money carefully. It will supply your needs for many days," he said. +</P> + +<P> +The cobbler had never dreamed of so much money before. He thought it +was enough to keep him in food and clothes all his life. +</P> + +<P> +He took the money home and hid it, but he hid his joy with it. He +stopped singing and became sad. He could not sleep for fear of robbers. +He thought that everyone who came into his shop was trying to find out +his secret, or wished a gift. When a cat ran over the floor, he thought +a thief had slipped through the door. +</P> + +<P> +At last, poor man, he could bear it no longer. He took the money, +hurried to the rich man, and cried, "Oh, give me back my songs and my +sweet sleep! Here is your money, every cent of it. I made a poor trade." +</P> + +<P> +The rich man looked at him and said, "I thought I had made you happy. I +have not missed your songs, for, strange as it may seem, I have been +sleeping soundly ever since I talked with you." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap31"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE ICE KING +</H3> + +<P> +A tribe of Indians lived near a river. One winter the weather was very +cold, and many of them died. +</P> + +<P> +But spring came at last. The snow melted from the tops of the mountains +and ran in torrents down their steep sides and into the river. +</P> + +<P> +The ice in the swollen river broke up into large cakes which floated +down the stream. +</P> + +<P> +The weather grew warmer. All the ice melted except one big cake which +the flood had left on the bank of the river. +</P> + +<P> +The sun had been shining on this piece of ice for many days, but it +would not melt. There were signs of spring everywhere except in this +one spot. +</P> + +<P> +A brave warrior had been watching this piece of ice. He said to +himself, "That is the Ice King, I am sure. I must conquer him." +</P> + +<P> +He raised his big war club and struck the Ice King, crying, "Come on, +Ice King! Do your best. Freeze me if you can. I will show you that I am +as strong as you are." +</P> + +<P> +He struck again and again, and the Ice King began to shrink. Pieces of +ice floated down the river. At last he became so small that the Indian +picked him up and tossed him into the river. +</P> + +<P> +"There!" cried the Indian, "off with you! Never dare to come back here +again." +</P> + +<P> +The Ice King whirled about and screamed, "I go now, but I shall come +again. Look for me next winter. I will show you then which of us is the +stronger." +</P> + +<P> +The Indian hunted and fished all summer, but when autumn was near he +began to think of the threat of the Ice King. "He will keep his word," +said the Indian, "and I must get ready to fight him." +</P> + +<P> +The Indian placed his wigwam among the trees, where it was well +sheltered from the winds. Near it he heaped up a large pile of dry +wood. Then he caught some large fish and tried out their fat so that he +might have plenty of oil. He made thick clothes for himself out of the +skins of animals. During the summer he had gathered much wild rice, and +now he dried meat. While he was getting ready, the weather was becoming +colder. +</P> + +<P> +At last all was done, and the Indian said, as he sat by his blazing +fire, "Let the Ice King come. I am ready for him." +</P> + +<P> +That night the Ice King froze the little pools of water. After a few +days the lakes and rivers were frozen. It was very cold. +</P> + +<P> +One night when the Indian was sitting by his fire, the Ice King stepped +to the door of the wigwam. He walked boldly to the fire and sat down +opposite the Indian. +</P> + +<P> +How cold the Ice King's breath felt! It nearly put out the fire. The +poor Indian shivered, but he said to himself, "The Ice King shall not +conquer me." He jumped up and threw dry wood on the fire. Then he +poured oil upon the wood. The fire blazed up. The Indian put on more +wood and more oil. The fire roared and crackled. +</P> + +<P> +The Ice King began to feel too warm. He moved back a little way. The +fire became hotter. The Ice King moved farther back. He began to sweat +and to grow smaller and weaker. Then he cried out, "My friend, I am +conquered. Let me go! Oh, let me go!" +</P> + +<P> +The Indian arose and pushed the fire back from the Ice King. Then he +took his trembling hand, lifted him up, and led him to the door of the +wigwam. +</P> + +<P> +As the Ice King passed out he said, "You have conquered me twice. You +shall always be my master." +</P> + +<P> +Ever since that time men have been masters of the Ice King. When his +cold breath blows, they make the fires warmer and their clothing +thicker. +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +[Footnote: Adapted from "The Ice Man" in Legends of the +MicMacs, published by S. T. Rand; permission to use given by Helen S. +Webster, owner of copyright.] +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap32"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE WOLF, THE GOAT, AND THE KID +</H3> + +<P> +"Good-by, little one," said Mrs. White Paw, the goat, to her daughter. +</P> + +<P> +"Do not go, mother, I am afraid to stay here alone," cried little Nanny. +</P> + +<P> +"But I must get my dinner or you will have no milk for your supper," +said her mother. +</P> + +<P> +"There is nothing to fear but the prowling wolf. Bar the door when I am +gone; then he can not get in. Do not open the door unless you hear this +password, 'Cursed be the wolf and all his race!'" +</P> + +<P> +The mother, as she trotted away, felt no fear for her little daughter's +safety. "No one knows that password but myself," she said; "but I shall +be very glad when Nanny is old enough to go out with me to dine on the +green hill. She is lonely when I am gone." +</P> + +<P> +Little Nanny was not as safe as the mother thought, for slinking in the +bushes near Mrs. White Paw's home was the hateful wolf. He heard the +password which the mother gave to her little one, and laughed at the +thought of the good feast which he should have by and by. +</P> + +<P> +After the mother had been away for some time, the wolf sneaked to the +door of the little house. He knocked, and gave the password, "Cursed be +the wolf and all his race." in a voice much like that of Mrs. White Paw. +</P> + +<P> +Nanny started to open the door, thinking that her mother had come home; +but she stopped, for the voice had not sounded quite like her mother's +voice. "I will make sure that it is no one but my mother," she said to +herself. So she called, "Mother, show me your white paw before I open +the door." +</P> + +<P> +The wolf was angry, for he had no white paw to show. He gave a long, +angry howl and went away. +</P> + +<P> +The mother heard the howl as she turned her face homeward. "That will +frighten Nanny," she said, and she hurried home. On reaching the house, +she knocked and called in a cheery voice, "Cursed be the wolf and all +his race." +</P> + +<P> +Nanny did not open the door at once. She called back, "Show me your +white paw, mother." +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. White Paw put her paw to the crack in the door, and the door flew +open. +</P> + +<P> +"Why did you not let me in as soon as I gave the password, Nanny?" +asked her mother. +</P> + +<P> +Nanny told her of the wolf's visit. Mrs. White Paw was very proud of +her wise daughter. +</P> + +<P> +"Now have your supper, my brave Nanny, and go to bed. How glad I am +that you are safe!" said the happy mother. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap33"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE WISE GOAT +</H3> + +<P> +A goat was on top of a high cliff eating grass. +</P> + +<P> +A wolf was at the foot of the cliff looking at him. He wanted the goat +for his supper, but he could not climb the steep cliff. +</P> + +<P> +"Come down here," said the wolf. "The grass is much better here. See +how much of it there is." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," said the goat. "You may have all of that good grass +yourself, but you shall not eat me." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap34"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE SHEPHERD AND THE DOGS +</H3> + +<P> +"Hero is a wonderful dog," said a shepherd, "I have not lost a sheep +since I owned him, not one. Some foolish wolves tried to kill him when +he was a puppy, but he treated them so badly that they have since been +careful to keep out of his way." +</P> + +<P> +"He is certainly a brave dog," said a neighbor, "but I think you are +foolish to keep him. He eats as much meat as a dozen small dogs, and +smaller dogs would take as good care of your sheep as he." +</P> + +<P> +"There may be something in what you say," said the shepherd. "I have +often wished that Hero ate less meat, but I should hate to part from +him." +</P> + +<P> +The next day the mayor of the town rode by. "What will you take for +that dog of yours?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"I can not spare him," said the shepherd; "he is too good a friend to +part from. His only fault is a liking for meat." +</P> + +<P> +"I will give you a hundred dollars for him," said the mayor, "and he +shall have all the meat he cares to eat." +</P> + +<P> +"You will not be foolish enough to refuse that offer, I hope," said the +neighbor. "Think how much meat you will save." +</P> + +<P> +"I think I shall have to let him go," replied the shepherd, slowly and +sadly. +</P> + +<P> +That night Hero was taken to the mayor's house and the shepherd +received his money. +</P> + +<P> +The shepherd found three curs in town to take Hero's place. He paid +nothing for them, for their owners were very glad to get rid of them. +</P> + +<P> +The next day the wolves said, "Hero is gone! Hero is gone! Now for a +feast. We do not care for those cowardly dogs." +</P> + +<P> +When the new dogs saw the wolves coming, they cried out, "Let us run," +and away they all went. +</P> + +<P> +When the sheep saw the wolves, they too began to run. +</P> + +<P> +The shepherd was taking care of a lame lamb in a distant part of the +field. When he saw the wolves chasing his sheep, he ran toward them; +but before he could frighten the wolves away, they had killed several +sheep. +</P> + +<P> +"What a fool I have been," said the shepherd, "to let my neighbor do my +thinking for me!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap35"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE BOY AND THE NUTS +</H3> + +<P> +A glass jar half full of nuts stood on a table. +</P> + +<P> +Albert, who was very fond of nuts, saw it. He climbed up on the table +and thrust his hand into the jar, grasping a whole handful. He tried to +pull his hand out. The mouth of the jar was too narrow for his fist. +</P> + +<P> +He pulled and pulled and became very angry at the jar, but it was of no +use. +</P> + +<P> +At last he began to scream and cry. His mother hurried into the room to +find out what was the matter with him. +</P> + +<P> +"What hurts you, Albert?" she asked. +</P> + +<P> +"This old jar will not let me have this handful of nuts," cried Albert. +</P> + +<P> +His mother laughed when she saw the cause of all his trouble. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you wish so many nuts?" she asked. "Try taking out a few at a time." +</P> + +<P> +Albert did as his mother told him to do, and found that he could easily +get the nuts. +</P> + +<P> +"When you get into trouble again, my son, stop and think of a way out, +instead of screaming," said his mother. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap36"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE CROW AND THE PITCHER +</H3> + +<P> +No rain had fallen for many weeks. All the small streams and the ponds +were dried up. +</P> + +<P> +An old crow had been looking for water all the morning. At last he +found some in a pitcher in a garden. He flew down to it and thrust in +his bill; but he could not reach the water. +</P> + +<P> +He walked around to the other side and tried again; but he could not +get a drink. Oh, how very thirsty he was! It seemed as if he should +faint. +</P> + +<P> +"I must have that water. I will have it," he said. +</P> + +<P> +Again he stretched his neck into the pitcher. No, he could not reach it. +</P> + +<P> +He stopped a second and seemed to be thinking; then he said, "I will +break the pitcher. My bill is strong and hard." So he gave the pitcher +a hard thump. It did not break. He "thumped! thumped! thumped!" first +here, then there. What a strong pitcher that was! It did not even crack. +</P> + +<P> +"This will not do," he said. "I must try some other plan. I am big and +strong. I will tip the pitcher over." +</P> + +<P> +With that he pushed against it with his breast. It did not move. It +seemed as if he must give up the attempt to get the water, but he did +not once think of doing that. +</P> + +<P> +Near by in the path lay some pebbles. The crow picked up one in his +bill and let it fall into the pitcher. He dropped one after another +into it. He could see the water rising a little. Now he worked harder +than ever. +</P> + +<P> +Before very long the water had risen so high that he could reach it +with his bill. How refreshing it was! He drank as much as he wished, +then flew away. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap37"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE GROCER AND HIS DONKEY +</H3> + +<P> +A grocer went to a city not far away to get some salt. He took his +donkey along to carry the load. On their way they had to cross a little +stream over which there was only a narrow footbridge. +</P> + +<P> +When they reached the city, the grocer placed some heavy sacks of salt +upon the donkey's back and they started homeward. +</P> + +<P> +On reaching the middle of the stream, the donkey stumbled and fell. As +he arose, the water dripped down his sides and he noticed that his load +had become much lighter. +</P> + +<P> +The grocer had lost so much salt that it was necessary for him to +return to the city and get a fresh supply. This time he put on a +heavier load than at first. +</P> + +<P> +When they reached the stream, the donkey said to himself, "This is a +very heavy load that I am carrying, but I know how to make it lighter," +and he lay down in the stream. When he arose, his load was much +lighter, as he had expected. +</P> + +<P> +"I will break him of that trick," said the grocer. +</P> + +<P> +He drove the donkey to the city again, and heaped great bags of sponges +upon his back. +</P> + +<P> +The load was not very heavy, but the donkey said to himself, "I will +make it still lighter." +</P> + +<P> +When he came to the stream, he lay down again in the water. He started +to rise, but to his surprise he could hardly get up. +</P> + +<P> +"What can be the matter?" he thought. +</P> + +<P> +His master, laughing, said, "Have you learned your lesson, old fellow? +We shall see." +</P> + +<P> +He drove the groaning donkey slowly back to the city, took the sponges +from his back, and loaded him again with salt. +</P> + +<P> +When the donkey came again to the stream, he picked his way carefully, +for he did not wish to fall. This time he got across safely, and the +grocer arrived at home with his entire load of salt. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap38"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE THREE FISH +</H3> + +<P> +Three large fish lived very happily in a pond which few people ever +passed. +</P> + +<P> +One of these fish was always wise, the second was wise sometimes, but +the third was never wise. +</P> + +<P> +One day two men who were passing by the pond saw the fish. +</P> + +<P> +One of them said, "Let us hurry home and get our nets. Those fish are +too fine to lose." So they hurried away. +</P> + +<P> +The three fish were very much frightened. The first one thought a +moment, then swam through the outlet of the pond into the river. +</P> + +<P> +When the men came back with their nets, there were only two fish to be +seen. They found the outlet of the pond and made a dam across it. +</P> + +<P> +The second fish now began to think; he came to the top of the water and +floated on his back. One of the men picked him up in his net, but he +seemed dead, so he threw him back into the water. +</P> + +<P> +The fish that never thought sank to the bottom of the pond and was +easily caught. +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +[Footnote: Adapted from "The Three Fish" in The Tortoise +and the Geese, published by Houghton, Mifflin Co] +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap39"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE WAGONER +</H3> + +<P> +"We must have coal," said the farmers to the wagoner. +</P> + +<P> +"But the roads are very bad," replied the wagoner. "I never saw them +worse." +</P> + +<P> +"We can not wait for the roads to dry," said the farmers, "for without +a fire we should take cold. Besides, we should have to eat uncooked +food." +</P> + +<P> +So the wagoner went into the country with a load of coal. He had not +gone far when his wagon stuck fast in the mud. +</P> + +<P> +"What am I to do now?" he asked himself. "I ought to have known better +than to start out." +</P> + +<P> +"Get up!" he cried to his horses. "Get up there, you lazy brutes! Pull +out of here!" +</P> + +<P> +The horses struggled hard, but they could not start the load. +</P> + +<P> +"Hey there!" he called to a man who was working in a field near by. +"Come and help us out of this mud-hole." +</P> + +<P> +The man in the field had been watching the poor horses as they pulled +with all their strength. He was angry at the wagoner for beating them +so cruelly. +</P> + +<P> +"Put your shoulder to the wheel," he called back. "When you have done +all you can to help yourself, I shall be willing to help you." +</P> + +<P> +The wagoner climbed down, muttering to himself, "I don't want to get +down into this mud." +</P> + +<P> +He put his shoulder to the wheel, pushed long and steadily while the +horses pulled. Slowly the load began to move. Before long it was on +firm ground. +</P> + +<P> +The wagoner climbed up to his seat and called back to the man who was +working in the field, "My load is out, but no thanks to you." +</P> + +<P> +The man replied, "You took my advice and put your shoulder to the +wheel; that is what brought you out." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap40"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE LARK AND THE FARMER +</H3> + +<P> +A meadow lark built her nest in a field of wheat. She had a happy time +raising her family, for no one came near her nest. +</P> + +<P> +There were four little larks in her family, and they were now nearly +large enough to fly. +</P> + +<P> +The wheat was ripe and the mother knew that men might come to the field +any day to reap; so she said to her little ones, "I am going out to get +your breakfast. You must keep your ears and eyes wide open while I am +gone; if you see or hear anything strange, you must tell me about it +when I come back." +</P> + +<P> +"All right, mother," said the young larks, "we shall do as you tell us." +</P> + +<P> +The mother had been gone but a few minutes when the farmer who owned +the field and his son came out to look at the wheat. +</P> + +<P> +"This grain is ready to cut," said the farmer to his son. "This evening +go to our neighbor, Mr. White, and ask him to cut it for us to-morrow." +</P> + +<P> +The little larks were much frightened. They could hardly wait for their +mother to get home. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, mother!" they called out as soon as they saw her; "do take us away +from this field. The farmer has sent for Mr. White to cut this wheat +to-morrow." +</P> + +<P> +"If that is so," said the mother, "you need have no fear. If he waits +for his neighbor to do his work, his wheat will not be cut." +</P> + +<P> +Late the next afternoon while the mother lark was away, the farmer and +his son came to the field again. +</P> + +<P> +"Did you ask Mr. White to reap the grain?" said the farmer. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied his son, "and he promised to come." +</P> + +<P> +"But he has not come," said the farmer, "and it is so late that I know +he will not come to-day. The wheat will spoil if it is not cut. If our +neighbors will not help us, we shall have to call upon our relatives. +Go out this afternoon and ask your uncle John and his sons to cut the +wheat for us to-morrow." +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the mother came home, the little birds said, "The wheat will +surely be cut tomorrow, for the farmer has sent for his relatives to +cut it. Please take us away to-night, mother." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't worry," said the mother; "there is no danger so long as the +farmer waits for his relatives to do the work. We will stay right here +to-night." +</P> + +<P> +About noon the next day, the farmer and his son came to the field +again. "This grain is still standing," said the father. "I told you to +get your uncle John and his sons to cut it today. Why has nothing been +done?" +</P> + +<P> +"I called upon them and asked them to cut the wheat. They said that +they would be here this morning. I do not know why they did not come." +</P> + +<P> +"This grain must not stand another day," said the farmer. "It is +shelling out now. You and I will come out here early to-morrow and cut +it ourselves." +</P> + +<P> +When the mother lark heard that the farmer had made up his mind to cut +the wheat himself, she said to her little ones, "Get ready to fly away. +If the farmer is to do the work himself, it will be done at once." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap41"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE LION AND THE MOUSE +</H3> + +<P> +A lion was sleeping one day when a little mouse came along and ran up +and down over his face. +</P> + +<P> +This awakened the lion and made him very angry. +</P> + +<P> +He put his paw over the mouse and said, "What do you mean by waking me? +You shall pay for this," and he opened his big mouth to swallow the +mouse. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, do not kill me, Mr. Lion!" squealed the mouse. "I did not mean to +waken you. Do let me go and I will never trouble you again." +</P> + +<P> +"No, I will not let you go," roared the lion. +</P> + +<P> +"Please do," cried the frightened mouse. "If you will let me go perhaps +I can do something for you sometime." +</P> + +<P> +This made the lion laugh. "You do something for ME," he said. "What a +joke! Well, you are such a little fellow that I will let you go this +time, but never let me see you about here again," and he lifted his paw. +</P> + +<P> +As the little mouse scampered off, he said, "Thank you, kind lion, I +shall not forget your kindness." +</P> + +<P> +Some time after this the lion was caught in a trap. The hunters tied +him to a tree while they went to get a wagon to carry him away. +</P> + +<P> +The lion roared so loud that the ground shook. The little mouse heard +him. +</P> + +<P> +"That lion is in trouble," he said. "I will see what I can do to help +him," and he ran to the lion. +</P> + +<P> +When the mouse saw that the lion was tied with ropes, he said, "Cheer +up, Mr. Lion. Be quiet and I will set you free," and he began gnawing +the ropes. +</P> + +<P> +He worked long and hard and at last the lion was free. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap42"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE ANT AND THE DOVE +</H3> + +<P> +An ant went to the river to get a drink. The water rushed along so fast +that he was washed off the bank into the river. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall drown!" he cried. "Help! help! help!" but his voice was so +tiny that it could not be heard. +</P> + +<P> +A dove was sitting in a tree that overhung the water. She saw the ant +struggling, and quickly nipped off a leaf and let it fall into the +water. The ant climbed upon it and floated down the river until the +leaf was washed upon the bank of the stream. +</P> + +<P> +The ant called out in its tiny voice, "Thank you, kind dove, you have +saved my life;" but of course the dove could not hear him. +</P> + +<P> +Several days after this, the dove was again sitting in a tree. A hunter +crept carefully up to the tree. His gun was pointed at the dove and he +was about to shoot, when he was bitten in the leg by an ant. +</P> + +<P> +He cried out with pain and dropped his gun. This frightened the dove +and she flew away. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you, kind ant," cooed the dove, and the ant heard and was glad. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap43"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE HAPPY FAMILY +</H3> + +<P> +There was once a very queer family living in the woods. There were four +in all—a rat, a raven, a tortoise, and a gazelle. +</P> + +<P> +All day the animals were away from home hunting food. +</P> + +<P> +The rat caught beetles which had hidden under leaves. He visited fields +and barns Now and then he went to a henhouse. +</P> + +<P> +The tortoise found plenty of insects in the woods and fields and did +not object to a toadstool now and then. +</P> + +<P> +The raven visited grain fields where he often met the rat. +</P> + +<P> +The gazelle ate grass wherever he could find it. When he could not get +grass, he ate the sprouts of trees. +</P> + +<P> +At night all met at their home in the woods and talked of what had +happened to them through the day. This is one of their adventures: +</P> + +<P> +One day when the gazelle was out feeding, a hound scented his tracks +and followed him. The gazelle heard the hound bark and darted off like +the wind. The hound followed until worn out with running; then he gave +up the chase. The gazelle stopped to eat grass. He was hungry and a +long way from home. +</P> + +<P> +That evening when the animals returned home they missed the gazelle. +</P> + +<P> +The raven asked, "How does it happen that the gazelle is not home? Is +he tired of us already?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeed," said the rat. "I am sure that he is not. If I were a bird +I should fly away at once to find him. I know that he would be here if +he could get here." +</P> + +<P> +"I will see if I can find him," said the raven, and he flew away. After +a while he spied the gazelle, who had been caught in a net. He was +trying hard to free himself, but the ropes that bound him were too +strong for him to break. The raven flew back home to get the help of +the rat. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, rat," he said, "follow me. Our friend, the gazelle, is caught in a +net. Come and gnaw the ropes and set him free!" +</P> + +<P> +The raven flew away and the rat followed. As the rat left home, he +said, "Tortoise, you had better stay at home. You go so slowly that you +can not reach the gazelle in time to help. We shall soon be back, I +hope." +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the raven and the rat were out of sight, the tortoise said, +"I can not stay here and do nothing. I may be needed. I will hurry as +fast as I can;" and he started off. +</P> + +<P> +The raven reached the gazelle first. He said, "Cheer up, the rat is +coming to set you free." +</P> + +<P> +Soon the rat arrived. He began at once to gnaw the ropes. He had just +set the gazelle free when a hunter came along. The gazelle sprang to +one side into the bushes, the raven flew into a tree, and the rat ran +into a hole in the ground. +</P> + +<P> +The hunter looked about for the gazelle, but could not find him. He was +very angry. +</P> + +<P> +Just then the tortoise came up. The hunter picked him up and put him +into his bag for his supper. +</P> + +<P> +The raven whispered to the gazelle, "The hunter is carrying off our +tortoise." +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the gazelle heard this, he came out of his hiding place and +limped along as if he were lame. +</P> + +<P> +The hunter saw him. He threw down his bag and ran after the gazelle, +thinking that he could easily catch him; but the gazelle kept ahead of +him. At last the hunter could run no more. He went back to get his bag, +tired and cross, but sure of a supper. +</P> + +<P> +But what do you suppose had happened while he was gone? The rat had +gnawed a hole in the hunter's bag and set the tortoise free, and both +had run off. +</P> + +<P> +It was now quite dark, and all the animals went home. That was the +happiest evening of their lives. Each one had done something for the +others, and all were safe, and it was good to be at home. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap44"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE TYRANT WHO BECAME A JUST RULER +</H3> + +<P> +There was once a king who was so cruel to his people that he was called +"The Tyrant." +</P> + +<P> +The people used to wish that he would die so that they might have a +better king. +</P> + +<P> +One day he called his people together. They feared to go to him, yet +they did not dare to stay away. When they were all standing before him, +he arose and said: +</P> + +<P> +"My dear people, I have been very unkind to you, but I hope after this +to make your lives peaceful and happy." +</P> + +<P> +The king kept his word. He sent good men to all parts of his kingdom to +find out what the people most needed to make them happy. He then had +everything done for them that a just king could do. He helped them to +build good roads and bridges. He made their taxes lighter. He gave them +a holiday now and then. The people learned to trust him and to love him. +</P> + +<P> +One day one of his subjects said to him, "Please, O king, tell me why +you are so much better to us now than you used to be." +</P> + +<P> +The king replied: +</P> + +<P> +"As I was going through a forest one afternoon I saw a hound chasing a +fox. He caught the fox and bit him badly. The fox will always be lame. +</P> + +<P> +"When the hound was going home, a man threw a stone at him and broke +his leg. +</P> + +<P> +"The man had not gone far when his horse threw him and his leg was +broken. +</P> + +<P> +"The horse started to run, but he stepped into a hole and broke his leg. +</P> + +<P> +"I sat down by the road and thought about what I had seen. I said to +myself, 'He who does wrong to any living thing will suffer for it +sooner or later,' and that is why I am a better king and a happier +man." +</P> + +<P CLASS="footnote"> +[Footnote: Adapted from a fable of the same name found in The +Tortoise and the Geese, published by Houghton, Mifflin Co.] +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap45"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE +</H3> + +<P> +"Why do you move along so slowly?" said a hare to a tortoise. "Let me +show you how to get over the ground." +</P> + +<P> +"You think I am slow, do you?" replied the tortoise. "Let us run a race +to the cross-roads. I think I can beat you." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you hear that?" said the hare to a fox, who was standing near. +"Could anyone even think that such a slow-coach could beat me in a +race?" +</P> + +<P> +"It would be a good joke if he did," said the fox. "Do you wish to run +a race? I will be the judge, if you care to have me." +</P> + +<P> +"That suits me well," answered the hare. +</P> + +<P> +"I am willing," said the tortoise. +</P> + +<P> +So the fox marked off a place for starting, and set up a stake at the +goal. +</P> + +<P> +The hare and the tortoise stood side by side, and at the command, +"Go!", from the fox, they began the race. +</P> + +<P> +The hare bounded along and was very soon far ahead of the tortoise. He +called back to the fox, "I think I shall take a little nap before I +finish the race; the tortoise will not reach here for an hour or more." +So he lay down in some bushes and went to sleep. +</P> + +<P> +Every minute brought the tortoise a little nearer to the goal. He did +not stop for a second. +</P> + +<P> +At last he passed the hare, but the hare still slept. On and on he +plodded; it was a long way, but he had no thought of stopping. +</P> + +<P> +He came nearer and nearer the goal. At last his foot touched the stake. +</P> + +<P> +The hare wakened, stretched himself, and leaped toward the goal. "What, +you here!" he cried when he saw the tortoise. "How did you ever reach +here?" +</P> + +<P> +"Just by keeping at it," said the tortoise. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap46"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE MILLER, HIS SON, AND THEIR DONKEY +</H3> + +<P> +"I shall have to sell that donkey of ours," said a miller to his son. +"I can not afford to keep him through the winter. I will take him to +town this very morning to see if I can find a buyer. You may go with +me." In a little while the miller, his son, and the donkey were on +their way to town. +</P> + +<P> +They had not gone far when they met some girls going to a party. They +were talking and laughing as they went along. One of them said, "Look +at that man and boy driving a donkey. One of them surely might ride." +</P> + +<P> +The miller heard what they said, and quickly made his you mount the +donkey, while he walked along at its side. +</P> + +<P> +After a while they came to a group of old men who were talking very +earnestly. "There," said one, "I was just saying that boys and girls +have no respect for the aged. You see it is true in this case. See that +boy riding while his old father has to walk." +</P> + +<P> +"Get down, my son," said his father, "and I will ride." So they went on. +</P> + +<P> +They next met some women coming from town. "Why!" they cried, "your +poor little boy is nearly tired out. How can you ride and make him +walk?" So the miller made his son ride on the donkey behind him. +</P> + +<P> +They were now in town. A man coming down the street called to the +miller, "Why do you make your donkey carry such a load? You can carry +him better than he can carry you." +</P> + +<P> +At this the miller and his son got off the donkey. They tied the +donkey's legs together, turned him over on his back; and began to carry +him. +</P> + +<P> +A crowd soon gathered to see the strange sight. As they were crossing a +bridge the donkey became frightened at the hooting of the crowd. He +broke loose, fell into the river, and was drowned. +</P> + +<P> +The miller was angry and ashamed. He said, "There! I have tried to +please everybody and have only made a fool of myself. After this I +shall do as I think best and let people say what they will." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap47"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE PUG DOG AND HIS SHADOW +</H3> + +<P> +"I am going out to see the world," said a pug puppy. +</P> + +<P> +He ran down a hill as fast as his wabbly legs could carry him, and +looked into a little brook which flowed by. +</P> + +<P> +"How queer!" he said, "I did not know that puppies live in water. This +one looks just like my brothers, but it can not be one of them. They +were all asleep when I came away. I will run home to tell mother about +it," and up the hill he went as fast as he could carry his fat little +body. +</P> + +<P> +When he arrived at home, he panted out, "Oh, mother! I have found out +something that you do not know. There is a pug puppy living in the +creek." +</P> + +<P> +"You are either dreaming, my son, or you have seen your own shadow," +said his mother. +</P> + +<P> +"I know what I saw, mother. I am not dreaming. It was not my shadow. It +was a puppy dog," and the little pug barked savagely at his mother. +"Come with me, mother. I will show you that I know what I am talking +about." So the mother followed her puppy. +</P> + +<P> +When they came near the foot of the hill, the little pug ran on ahead +of his mother and looked into the stream. +</P> + +<P> +"How lucky!" he said, "he is still here. Now, mother, you see that what +I said is true." +</P> + +<P> +"It is your shadow, little one." +</P> + +<P> +"No, no, my eyes are better than yours, mother." +</P> + +<P> +Just then his mother came up and stood beside him. +</P> + +<P> +"How queer!" said the little dog. "That is the pug's mother. I did not +see her before. It would be too cold for me down in that water. Why do +they live there?" +</P> + +<P> +"You foolish child," replied the mother. "It is our shadows that you +see there. See, they are just like us." +</P> + +<P> +"I am not a baby. I know what dogs are, mother. Those are real dogs." +</P> + +<P> +"Watch, my son, and see what happens," and the mother dropped a stone +on the two shadows. They were gone. +</P> + +<P> +The little pug stood surprised. He dropped his ears and went slowly +home without saying another word. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap48"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE PARTRIDGE IN THE NET +</H3> + +<P> +"I have caught one at last," said a hunter, "and this is as fine a +partridge as one often sees. It is a young one, too, I do believe," and +he reached his hand into the net to take it out. +</P> + +<P> +This frightened the partridge. It fluttered and cackled, pecking at the +hunter's hand. +</P> + +<P> +At last it cried out, "Let me go! Do let me go! I am but one little +bird. If you will set me free, I will lead a large flock of partridges +to your net, and will coax them to go into it." +</P> + +<P> +But the hunter said, "You seem very willing to deceive the partridges; +you might also deceive me. I will not let you go." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap49"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE NORTH WIND AND THE SUN +</H3> + +<P> +"I am stronger than you," said the North Wind to the Sun. +</P> + +<P> +"That is not true," said the Sun. "Everyone knows that I am the +stronger." +</P> + +<P> +"Show me that you are stronger than I," replied the North Wind. "You +know very well that you are not." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you see that traveler coming? I can make him take off his coat. You +can not," said the Sun. +</P> + +<P> +"We will see about that," answered the North Wind. "The one that makes +the traveler take off his coat is the victor." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," said the Sun, "and you may have the first trial." +</P> + +<P> +"Whew! How the North Wind blows," said the traveler. "Whew! whew! Hold +on there, North Wind; I would rather walk than fly. Whew! whew! +</P> + +<P> +"How cold it is! I must button my coat uptight. Whew! whew! whew! I +never felt such a wind before," said the traveler, as he folded his +arms over his breast. "It seems determined to tear off my coat. I will +turn my back to it. Whew! whew! whew! whew!" But the more the wind +blew, the tighter the traveler held on to his coat. +</P> + +<P> +At last the North Wind said, "I will try no longer, but you, Sun, can +do no better." +</P> + +<P> +The Sun said nothing, but came out from under a cloud and smiled down +upon the traveler. +</P> + +<P> +"How good that feels!" said the traveler. The Sun shone on. "It is +getting warm," said the traveler, unbuttoning his coat. +</P> + +<P> +It was now past noon. "The Sun is too much for me," said the traveler, +and he threw off his coat and hunted for a shady place. +</P> + +<P> +The North Wind's harshness had failed. The Sun's gentleness had won. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap50"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE CAMEL AND HIS MASTER +</H3> + +<P> +One night a camel looked into the tent where his master was sleeping. +"How warm it is in there!" he said. "I should like a good place like +that myself." +</P> + +<P> +The next night he put his head inside the door. "You will not mind my +putting my head into the tent, I am sure," said he to his master. "The +wind is cold to-night." +</P> + +<P> +"Not at all," replied his master; "there is plenty of room." +</P> + +<P> +In a little while the camel said, "Kind master, my neck is very cold; +would you mind if I put it inside the tent?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no," said his master. +</P> + +<P> +Now the camel seemed satisfied. But in a little while he wakened his +master, saying, "My forelegs are getting cold. I should like to have +them under cover." +</P> + +<P> +His master moved over a little and said, "You may have a little more +room. I know it is a cold night." So the camel moved a little farther +into the tent. +</P> + +<P> +Very soon the camel wakened his master again, saying, "I keep the tent +door open by standing in the door. That makes it cold for both of us. +Had I not better come wholly in?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, come in," said the master. "There is hardly room for both of us, +but I do not want you to suffer from the cold," So the camel crowded +into the tent. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as he was inside, he said: "Yes, I see there is not room for +both of us inside the tent. If you were to go out, I should have a +chance to lie down. So go!" And he pushed his master out of the tent. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Fifty Fabulous Fables, by Lida Brown McMurry + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIFTY FABULOUS FABLES *** + +***** This file should be named 4324-h.htm or 4324-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/2/4324/ + +Produced by Robert Rowe, Charles Franks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. HTML version by Al Haines. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Hart +and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.] +[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales +of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or +software or any other related product without express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.10/04/01*END* + + + + + + +Produced by Robert Rowe, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + +FIFTY FAMOUS FABLES + +BY LIDA BROWN McMURRY + +PRIMARY CRITIC TEACHER STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, DE KALB, ILLINOIS + +B. F. JOHNSON PUBLISHING COMPANY + + + + + +PREFACE + + +The fifty fables in this book have been selected for second grade +reading because they are easily comprehended by pupils of that +grade, and because they teach lessons which every child should +learn. + +It is not wise to tell the class the moral application of the +fables. It is better to have each pupil make his own application +without any suggestion from the teacher. + +In adapting the stories the conversational form has been largely +used; this form not only gives much pleasure to the children, but +it also affords excellent opportunities for voice culture. + +Most of the stories have been successfully used for several years +with classes of children in the State Normal School at DeKalb. + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +DESIRABILITY OF SELF-CONTROL + +1. THE TORTOISE AND THE DUCKS + +RESULTS OF A MEAN JOKE + +2. THE MOUSE AND THE FROG +3. THE BOYS AND THE FROGS +4. THE SHEPHERD BOY AND THE WOLF + +FOLLY OF QUARRELING + +5. THE TWO GOATS +6. THE STRIKE OP THE MILL FEEDERS +7. THE FARMER AND HIS SONS +8. THE FOUR OXEN AND THE LION + +DEEDS BETTER THAN WORDS + +9. THE HUNTER AND THE FARMER +10. THE FOX IN THE WELL +11. THE MICE IN COUNCIL + +FOLLY OF PRIDE + +12. THE FOX AND THE CROW +13. THE VAIN CROW +14. THE HORSE AND THE LOADED DONKEY +15. THE LEAVES AND THE ROOTS +16. THE BULL AND THE GNAT + +WISDOM OF HEEDING GOOD ADVICE + +17. THE FARMER AND HIS THREE SONS +18. THE YOUNG FOX +19. VISIT OF THE MOUSE TO THE COUNTRY +20. THE TWO DOVES + +BASENESS OF DECEIT + +21. THE HORSE AND THE WOLF +22. THE BIRDS, THE BEASTS, AND THE BAT +23. THE BEES, THE DRONES, AND THE WASP +24. THE WOODMAN AND HIS AXE +25. THE FOX WITH HIS TAIL CUT OFF +26. THE BLACKBIRD AND THE DOVE + +RESULTS OF GREEDINESS + +27. THE GREEDY DOG +28. THE GOOSE THAT LAID GOLD EGGS + +DESIRABILITY OF CONTENTMENT + +29. THE DONKEY AND HIS MASTERS +30. THE COBBLER AND THE RICH MAN + +VALUE OF THINKING FOR ONESELF + +31. THE ICE KING +32. THE WOLF, THE GOAT, AND THE KID +33. THE WISE GOAT +34. THE SHEPHERD AND THE DOGS +35. THE BOY AND THE NUTS +36. THE CROW AND THE PITCHER +37. THE GROCER AND HIS DONKEY +38. THE THREE FISH + +WISDOM OF SELF-RELIANCE + +39. THE WAGONER +40. THE LARK AND THE FARMER + +KINDNESS AND ITS RESULTS + +41. THE LION AND THE MOUSE +42. THE ANT AND THE DOVE +43. THE HAPPY FAMILY +44. THE TYRANT WHO BECAME A JUST RULER + +MISCELLANEOUS + +WISDOM OF PERSEVERANCE + +45. THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE + +FOLLY OF TRYING TO PLEASE EVERYBODY + +46. THE MILLER, HIS SON, AND THEIR DONKEY + +APPEARANCES SOMETIMES DECEITFUL + +47. THE PUG DOG AND HIS SHADOW + +PUNISHMENT OF TREACHERY + +48. THE PARTRIDGE IN THE NET + +GENTLENESS BETTER THAN HARSHNESS + +49. THE NORTH WIND AND THE SUN + +MEANNESS OF SELFISHNESS + +50. THE CAMEL AND HIS MASTER + + + + + +FIFTY FAMOUS FABLES + + + + + +THE TORTOISE AND THE DUCKS + + +"Take me with you, please," called a tortoise to a gray duck and a +white duck that were flying over. + +The ducks heard the tortoise and flew down toward him. + +"Do you really wish to go with us?" asked the ducks as they came +to the ground near the tortoise. + +"I surely do," replied the tortoise. "Will you please take me?" + +"Why, yes, I think we can do so," said the white duck slowly. + +The two ducks talked together in low tones for a few minutes. Then +they flew to the woods. They soon brought back a strong twig and +dropped it in front of the tortoise. + +"Now," said the ducks, "if we take you off to see the world, you +must promise us one thing." + +"What is that?" asked the tortoise. "I will promise almost +anything if you will let me go." + +"You must promise not to say one word while you are in the air, +NOT ONE WORD," replied the ducks. + +"All right, I promise," said the tortoise. "Sometimes I do not say +a word for a whole day because there is no one to listen to me." + +"Well, take firm hold of the middle of the twig; we are ready to +start," said the gray duck. + +"If you value your life, you must hold on tightly," said the white +duck. + +The tortoise took hold of the middle of the twig and each duck +took hold of one end. + +Then they flew up! up! up! while the tortoise swung from the +middle of the twig. How he enjoyed it! He had never had such a +ride. + +They had gone a long way safely when they came to a hayfield. The +haymakers looked up and saw the ducks and the tortoise. + +"Ho! ho! the tortoise has stolen some wings," called one of the +haymakers. + +"What a queer carriage he has!" laughed another in a loud voice. + +"I pity his horses," said another. + +This made the tortoise so angry that he cried out, "You--" but no +one knows what he was going to say, for he fell to the ground and +was killed. + +[Footnote: Adapted from The Tortoise and the Geese, in a book of +the same name published by Houghton, Mifflin Co.] + + + + + +THE MOUSE AND THE FROG + + +A frog, while out walking one day, saw a mouse coming toward him. + +"There is that foolish mouse," said he. "I will play a good joke +on him," and he grinned as he thought how much fun he would have. + +As they met, the frog said, "Good morning, Sir Mouse; I hope I +find you well to-day." + +"Very well," replied the mouse. "How are you?" + +"My health is not very good, so I have taken a holiday. If you are +not busy, what do you say to our spending the day together?" + +"Good!" answered the mouse. "I have little to do and nothing would +suit me better." So they started off together. + +They had not gone far when the frog said, "Let me tie one of your +front feet to one of my hind legs, so that I may not lose you." + +"All right," replied the mouse. "We shall surely be fast friends +then." + +So the frog took a blade of grass and fastened one of the mouse's +front feet to one of his hind legs. When the frog leaped, the +mouse tumbled after. Then they stopped and had a big laugh; it was +very funny. + +They first went to an oat field, where the frog found many +insects, and the mouse plenty of grain. + +Beyond this field there was a pond. The frog had been going toward +this pond all of the time, but the mouse had not noticed it. They +were soon on its bank. + +When the mouse saw the pond he cried out, "Oh, you know I do not +like the water, Mr. Frog. Let us go to the barn." + +"Nothing would do you so much good as a cool bath on this hot day. +You have never taken one, so you can not know how good it will +make you feel," and the frog jumped into the water. + +The mouse tried to get free, but the frog only laughed. + +A hawk, looking down, saw the mouse and swooped down upon it. +Since the frog was fastened to the mouse, he too was carried off, +and both lost their lives. + +When the other frogs heard of what had happened, they said, +"Served him right. Served him right," and no frog since that time +has ever played a mean joke. + + + + + +THE BOYS AND THE FROGS + + +"Let us go to the pond and have some fun," said George. + +"What fun can we have there?" asked Frank. "The pond is nothing +but an old mudhole. We can not swim in such water." + +Down at the pond the sun shone warm, and an old mother frog and +her children were sunning themselves on a log. Now and then one +plunged into the water with a chug! and then crawled out on the +bank. + +That was a happy time in frog land. + +In the midst of their play, they heard a sound which made the +mother frog tremble. It was only a boy's laugh, but as soon as the +mother heard it she said, "Into the water, every one of you. The +giants are coming;" and they all jumped into the water. + +The giants had armed themselves with pebbles. Each one had a +pocketful. As soon as they caught sight of the frogs, they cried, +"Now for some fun!" + +Before the mother frog could reach the water, a stone hit her on +one of her feet. The one-sided battle had begun. + +Every time a little frog peeped out of the water to get a breath +of air or to look at the two giants, whiz! flew a pebble right +toward it, and it never cared to look at its enemies again. + +The mother became very angry. She lifted her head boldly above the +water. + +"Cowards!" she cried. "If we could sting, would you fight us? If +we could bite, would you be here? You have great sport tormenting +us, because we cannot fight for ourselves. You are cowards! +cowards!" + +And all the little frogs echoed, "Cowards! cowards!" + + + + + +THE SHEPHERD BOY AND THE WOLF + + +John was a shepherd boy. He cared for his father's sheep. As there +were many wolves prowling about waiting for a chance to kill the +sheep, John had to be very watchful. + +Some men were harvesting wheat in a field not far from where the +flock was feeding. One day they were startled by the cry, "A wolf! +a wolf!" They looked up and saw John motioning wildly to them and +pointing toward the sheep. + +They threw down their sickles and ran to the flock. But they found +the sheep quietly grazing, and there was no wolf to be seen. + +"Where is the wolf?" they asked. + +"I didn't say the wolf was here,' replied John, and he laughed +loud and long as he saw the look of surprise in the men's faces. + +"What do you mean, you young rascal, by fooling us so?" they +cried. + +If they could have caught John, they would have given him a sound +whipping, but he had run out of their reach. + +Not many days after, these same men heard the cry, "Wolf! wolf!" + +"John is trying to fool us again," they said, and went on with +their work. + +John called again and again, and seemed in so much trouble that +the kind-hearted men left their work and hurried toward the sheep +pasture. + +When they came to the pasture, they knew that John had been +playing another trick on them. They looked for him, but could not +find him. He had hidden in some bushes where he could look on and +enjoy their surprise and anger. At last they went back to their +work. + +One day wolves did come. John was very much frightened. He ran to +the men for help. They only laughed at him. "Oh, you have fooled +us twice," they said. "You shall not have another chance." + +"But the wolves are surely there," cried John. "They are killing +the sheep. Do come and help!" The men kept on with their work and +did not even look at John. + +Before he could find anyone who would believe him, many of the +sheep had been killed. + + + + + +THE TWO GOATS + + +A small stream ran between two hills. Over this stream there was a +very narrow bridge. If two persons came to the opposite ends of +this bridge at the same time, one must wait for the other to cross +before he could go over. + +One morning, two goats, a black one and a white one, reached the +opposite ends of the bridge at the same moment. + +The black goat called out to the white one, "Hold on a minute; I +am coming over." + +The white goat replied, "No, I will go over first; I am in a +hurry." + +"No," said the black goat, "I will not wait for you. I am the +older." + +"You shall wait for me," roared the white goat as he stepped upon +the bridge and started across. + +"We'll see if I am to wait for you," said the black goat, and he +too started across. + +They met in the middle of the bridge. + +"Go back and let me cross,' said the white goat, stamping his +foot. + +"Go back, yourself," replied the black goat, and he pushed against +the other. + +They were very angry. Each drew back. Their heads came together +with terrible force. They locked horns. The white goat lost his +footing and fell, pulling the black goat over with him, and both +were drowned. + + + + + +THE STRIKE OF THE MILL FEEDERS + + +The mill feeders of a great mill--the stomach--met together to +talk over their trials. + +The hands said, "We are tired of carrying grist to the door of the +greedy mill. We would rather spend all our time painting pictures +or writing books." + +"We were made for talking and singing," said the lips, "but much +of our time has to be spent in taking grist for the mill." + +"And we," said the teeth, "give our life to crushing the grist +which is brought to the mill. We are wearing out in its service, +but what thanks do we get?" + +"I have never had a holiday," said the tongue. "I do not mind +talking, but I do not like to work for the mill. Three times a day +or oftener, I must help the teeth to prepare the grist. I am tired +of it." + +The gullet said, "My whole life is given up to carrying the grist +to the mill. I do not like such work. Let the mill feed itself. It +has no business to work us to death." + +"Let us all stop work," cried the mill feeders. "We will stop at +once;" and so the mill shut down. + +Many hours after, the lips said, "How strange that we should not +feel like talking now that we have nothing else to do!" + +The hands said, "We are too weak to paint or to write. We never +felt so tired before." + +The tongue became parched and all the mill feeders were unhappy. + +More hours passed; then the mill feeders held another meeting. It +was a short, quiet, earnest meeting. + +"We have been fools," they all said. "The mill was working for us +while we were working for it. Our strength came from the grist +which we sent to it. We can do nothing without the help of the +mill. Let us go to work again. If the mill will only grind for us, +we will gladly furnish the grist." + + + + + +THE FARMER AND HIS SONS + + +"Boys, why are you always quarreling? That is no way to live," +said a farmer to his sons one day. + +The sons would not listen to their father. Each wanted the best of +everything. Each thought the father did more for the others than +for him. + +The father bore the quarreling as long as he could. One day he +called his seven sons to him. He had in his hand a bundle of seven +sticks. + +"I wish to see which one of you can break this bundle of sticks," +he said. + +The oldest one tried first. He was the strongest, but he could not +break it though he used all his strength. Then each of his +brothers tried hard to break the bundle. None of them could break it. + +At last they gave the bundle of sticks back to their father, +saying, "We cannot break it." + +The father untied the bundle and gave each son one stick. + +"Now see if you can break the sticks," said their father. + +They all said, "That is very easily done," and they held up the +broken sticks. + +"Now tell us why you asked us to break these sticks," said the +sons. + +"Do you not see," replied the father, "that if you all stand +together, nothing can harm you; but if each of you stands by +himself, you may easily be ruined?" + + + + + +THE FOUR OXEN AND THE LION + + +"Those oxen are too good friends to suit me," said a hungry lion. +"They are never far apart, and when I am near them they turn their +tails to one another and show long sharp horns on every side. They +even walk down to the river together when they become thirsty. If +I could catch one of them by himself, I should have a feast." + +But one day the oxen had a quarrel. + +"The grass is freshest over in the valley," said one of them. "Let +us go there." + +"Oh, I don't like the grass there," said another. "It is better on +the side of the hill. Let us spend the day there." + +"I do not want to climb the hill," said the third ox. "The grass +right here suits me best." + +"I do not like any of the places of which you speak," said the +fourth ox. "Come with me and I will find you the best grass you +ever tasted." + +"I am going to the valley," said the first ox. "You three may go +where you please." + +"And I shall go to the hill," said the second ox. "I think you are +mean not to go with me." + +"And I," said the third ox, "shall stay right here. You may all be +sorry if you leave me. The lion may catch you." + +"I am not afraid of the lion," said the fourth ox; "and if none of +you will go with me, I shall go by myself to hunt a better pasture +than any of you can find. I am older than you and I know where the +best grass grows. You had better follow me." + +"We will not do it," said the other three oxen. "You are not our +leader if you are older." + +So the four oxen separated. One went to the valley. The lion was +down by the river and saw him coming. He waited quietly until the +ox was very near; then he pounced upon him and killed him. + +Then the lion looked about for the other oxen. One of them was +feeding on the hill. He saw the lion coining, but, he could not +get away. He could not defend himself with only one pair of horns; +so he too was killed. + +As the other two oxen were far apart, it was an easy matter for +the lion to kill them also. And that is the way the quarrel ended. + + + + + +THE HUNTER AND THE FARMER + + +"Are you afraid of a lion? I am not. There is nothing that I +should like better than to meet one," said a man to his neighbor +whose calf the lion had killed. "To-morrow morning I will go out +and hunt for this fierce lion, which is doing so much harm. If he +is anywhere about, I shall find him and kill him, and thus rid the +village of fear." + +The next morning the man started out alone to hunt the lion. He +had, a gun and a sword. He looked so brave as he started off that +the people in the village said, "What a blessing it is to have so +fearless a man in our village! He will keep us from harm." + +He walked several miles. At last he came near a jungle. He thought +that the lion might have his home there. He asked a farmer whom he +met if he had seen the tracks of a lion. + +"Yes," said the farmer, "and I will show you where you can find +him." + +When the man heard this, he turned pale and trembled with fright. + +"I do not care to see the lion," he cried. "I only wanted to see +his tracks." + +The farmer turned away in disgust, saying, "It is easy to be brave +when you are out of danger." + + + + + +THE FOX IN THE WELL + + +Once upon a time a fox fell into a well. He was not hurt by his +fall. As there was little water in the well, he was in no danger +of drowning; but he could not get out. + +He cried, "Help! help! help! help!" but no one heard him. + +By and by a wolf passed by the well. He heard the call. He looked +into the well and asked, "Who is down there?" + +"It is I," cried the fox. "I am glad that you have come to help me +out." + +"How did you get down there?" asked the wolf. "Have you been there +long? Is the water very deep? Poor fellow, I do pity you! That is +no place for you. You have a very bad cold, I see. I wish you were +out." + +"Please don't talk to me," cried the fox. "It is help I need. Do +get me out and then I shall know that you are sorry for me." + + + + + +THE MICE IN COUNCIL + + +What a queer meeting that was down in the cellar! There were big +mice, little mice, old mice, young mice, gray mice, and brown +mice, all very sober and thoughtful. + +At last an old mouse spoke up and said, "Shall we have Mr. +Graypate for our chairman? All those who wish Mr. Graypate to be +chairman will please hold up their right hands." Every mouse +raised a tiny paw. + +Mr. Graypate walked out to the front and took charge of the +meeting. It was well that they chose him, for he was the wisest +mouse in the whole country. Gazing over the crowd, he said, "Will +Mr. Longtail tell us why we have met here? Mr. Longtail, come out +in front where we can hear you." + +Mr. Longtail walked slowly to the front. Then he stood upon his +hind legs and said: + +"My friends, I think you all know why we are here. Last night Mrs. +Whitenose, whom we all love, and all her family were killed by the +big white cat. The night before, while Mrs. Blackfoot was out +hunting, all her cunning little babies were killed by the same +cat. Early this week one of my finest boys was killed. You or I +may be next. + +"Must we bear this and do nothing at all to save our loved ones +and ourselves? We have met here to make some plan for our +defense." + +Having spoken, Mr. Longtail walked back into the crowd. + +Mr. Graypate arose and said: + +"You have heard why we are here. Anyone who has a good plan for +ridding us of the cat will please tell of it. The meeting is open +to all." + +"Let us all run at him suddenly when he is not looking for us, and +each give him a bite. That would surely kill him," said one brave +mouse. + +"But how many of us do you think he would kill?" said another +mouse. "I will not risk my life nor that of my family." "Nor I"; +"nor I"; "nor I," said many other mice. + +"Let us steal his food and starve him to death," suggested +another. + +"That will only make him hungrier for mice," they replied. "That +will never do." + +"I wish we might drown him," said another; "but I don't know how +we could get him into the water." + +At last a little gray mouse with a squeaky voice went up to the +front and spoke: + +"I have a plan that will surely work. If we could know when the +cat is coming, we could get out of his way. He steals in upon us +so quietly, that we can not escape. Let us find a little bell and +a string. Let us put the bell on the string and tie the string +around the cat's neck. As soon as we hear the bell, we can run and +get out of the cat's way." + +"A very good plan," said Mr. Longtail. "We will ask our leader to +say which mouse shall put the bell on the cat's neck." + +At this there was a great outcry. One said, "I am so little that I +can not reach high enough to bell the cat." Another said, "I have +been very sick and am too weak to lift the bell"; and so the +excuses came pouring in. + +At last Mr. Graypate called to the crowd, "Silence! I shall choose +no one. Who will offer to bell the cat?" + +It was very quiet in the meeting. One after another of the younger +mice went out. None but the older ones were left. At last they too +went sadly home. No one would bell the cat. + + + + + +THE FOX AND THE CROW + + +One day the door of a cottage stood open. A tame crow flew through +the door into the cottage. She stole a piece of meat from the +table, and flew to a branch of a tall tree. + +Just as she had settled there to enjoy her meat a fox came along +and stopped under the tree. He sniffed something good to eat. +Looking about, he saw the meat in the crow's mouth and wanted it. + +How could he get the meat? He could not climb the tree. What good +would it do if he could? The crow would fly away when she saw him +coming. He could not coax the crow to come down to the ground. She +knew what a fox likes to eat. + +At last the fox had a happy thought. He said to himself, "A crow +is one of the proudest birds I ever knew. I will flatter her and +she will forget about the meat." + +So he called out in his sweetest voice, "Good day, my pretty +bird"; but the crow did not reply. She only stepped about proudly +on the branch. + +"I wish I had such a beautiful form as you have," said the fox. + +Still no answer, but the crow held up her head and turned it first +to one side and then to the other, showing that she was pleased. + +"What a graceful neck and bright eye!" said the fox. "The other +birds may well be jealous of you." + +No answer yet. She only raised her wings a little and gazed down +upon the fox. + +"If your voice were only as beautiful as your form and your dress, +you would be queen of all the birds; but it seems that you can not +talk at all. What a pity that you are dumb!" + +The crow gave a loud "caw!" As she did so, the meat fell from her +mouth. The fox snapped it up quickly. + +Poor crow, she saw when too late that the fox was only fooling +her. + + + + + +THE VAIN CROW + + +"I hate a black dress, no matter how glossy," said a proud crow. +"I have made up my mind to be a peacock." + +As he said this, he flew away to a barnyard where he found some +feathers which the peacock had shed. He picked these up with his +bill and placed them among his own feathers. + +Then he marched back and forth, looking at his fine new coat. He +even tried to walk like the peacock. + +The peafowls came into the yard. They did not know at first what +to make of the sight. Then they saw that the crow was trying to +dress and act as they did. They flew at him, calling, "Away with +the cheat! Away with the cheat!" They pulled out all the peacock +feathers and many of his own glossy black ones. + +He was glad to get away alive, and flew back to his own family and +old friends. But one of the crows had seen him in the barnyard and +told the others how silly he had been acting. + +"Where have you been?" they cried. "We know. We know. We will not +have you in this flock. Away! away!" And they drove him from them. + +Even the owls, whom he had always hated, made eyes at him and +screamed, "Ch-ea-t! ch-ea-t!" + +He flew into the forest. Here in a tree by a pond he lived a +lonely life. + +The tree-toads learned their queer song from him. This is his +warning to them. "Don't, don't-be-cheat! Don't, don't-be-cheat!" + + + + + +THE HOUSE AND THE LOADED DONKEY + + +A man once owned a beautiful black horse and a very ugly donkey. + +The horse always had plenty to eat and was well groomed, but the +donkey was very poorly cared for. + +One bright morning both animals were made ready for a long +journey. A saddle was placed upon the horse, and a heavy pack of +goods was loaded upon the donkey. + +The donkey was a very patient animal. When well, he never +complained of his hard lot, but this morning he staggered under +the weight of his load. After going a short distance, he looked up +at the proud horse and asked: + +"Would you mind helping me to-day? I feel too ill to carry this +heavy load. If you will help me, I shall soon be well and able to +carry the whole load. If you refuse to help me, I shall surely +fall by the way; then you will have to bear the burden alone." + +The horse held his head very high while the donkey was talking; +then he replied: + +"Go on, you lazy beast! I am not a burden bearer. No, I will not +take one ounce of your load." + +The donkey groaned and moved forward a few steps, then fell to the +ground dead. + +The load was taken from the dead donkey's back and placed upon the +horse. + +At the close of the day the horse reached the end of his journey. +Every bone in his body was aching, and he was so lame that he +could hardly walk. + + + + + +THE LEAVES AND THE ROOTS + + +"We cast cool shade upon the green grass," whispered the +fluttering leaves. "We dress the tree in fresh and quiet green. It +is bare and brown without us. The tired traveler and the panting +beast are thankful for our shade. Children love to play under our +shelter. At night the song birds of the woods fly to us for our +protection. We hide the nests of mother birds. The light winds +stay with us and caress us." And the leaves felt very proud and +important. + +"What you say is all very true, but you should not forget us," +said a voice from the earth. "We are surely worth something." + +"And who are you? Where do you grow?" asked the leaves. + +"We are buried deep in the ground, far below you, but we feed the +stem and make you grow. We are the roots. You owe your beauty to +us. We are not beautiful as you are, but we do not die. Winter +does not change us, but when it comes you fall. The tree stands +firm, for it is held in place by us. If we should die, the tree +would die and you would die with it." + + + + + +THE BULL AND THE GNAT + + +A gnat perched upon the horn of a bull. "Dear sir," he said to the +bull, "I am sorry to trouble you, but I am too worn out to go any +farther. Does my weight tire you? When you can bear it no longer, +I shall go on." + +"You need not leave on my account," said the bull. "I did not know +when you sat down and I shall not miss you when you leave." + + + + + +THE FARMER AND HIS THREE SONS + + +A farmer who had worked hard all his life was taken sick. He knew +that he must soon die. He called his three sons about his bed to +give them some advice. + +"My sons," said he, "keep all of the land which I leave you. Do +not sell any of it, for there is a treasure in the soil. I shall +not tell you where to hunt for it, but if you try hard to find it, +and do not give up, you will surely succeed. + +"As soon as the harvest is over, begin your search with plow, and +spade, and rake. Turn every foot of earth, then turn it again and +again. The treasure is there." + +After the father died, the sons gathered in the harvest. As soon +as the grain had been cared for, they planned to search for the +hidden treasure. The farm was divided into three equal parts. Each +son agreed to dig carefully his part. + +Every foot of soil was turned by the plow or by the spade. It was +next harrowed and raked, but no treasure was found. That seemed +very strange. + +"Father was an honest man and a wise man," said the youngest son. +"He would never have told us to hunt for the treasure if it were +not here. Do you not remember that he said, 'Turn the soil again +and again'? He surely thought the treasure worth hunting for." + +"Our land is in such good condition now that we might as well sow +winter wheat," said the oldest son. His brothers agreed to this +and the wheat was sown. + +The next harvest was so great that it surprised them. No +neighbor's field bore so many bushels of wheat to the acre. The +sons were pleased with their success. + +After the wheat was harvested, they met to make plans for +searching again for the hidden treasure. The second son said: + +"I have been thinking ever since our big harvest that perhaps +father knew how this search would turn out. We have much gold, We +did not find it in a hole in the ground, but we found it by +digging. If we had not cultivated our fields well, we should not +have had such a crop of wheat. Our father was wise; we have dug +for the treasure and have found it. + +"We will cultivate the ground still better next year and make the +soil rich; then we shall find more treasure." + +The other sons agreed to this. "It is good to work for what we +get," they said. + +Year after year the farm was well tilled and bore good crops. The +sons became rich, and they had two things much better than wealth +--good health and happiness. + + + + + +THE YOUNG FOX + + +"You may hunt with me now, Reynard," said a wise old fox to his +young son. "It is time that you were beginning to make your +living." + +"That pleases me well," said Reynard. "I should not mind going out +alone." + +"You are not ready yet to go by yourself. There are many things +that I must teach you first. Do not go without me." + +Reynard said nothing, but the next day, when his father was +asleep, he went out into the field and brought home a nice, fat +partridge. + +He wakened his father by a quick bark and said, "See what I have +caught. I do not need to go with you." + +"You do not know what you need," replied his father. "No wise fox +hunts in the daytime." + +But Reynard did not mind what his father said, and every day he +went out hunting. He killed so many chickens, turkeys and ducks +that everyone tried to catch him. + +One night the old fox started out alone, but Reynard crept slowly +after him. The old fox went toward a large farmhouse. He stopped +suddenly in the path and waited; then he ran on quickly. + +Reynard followed. He stopped at the same place where the old fox +had stopped. + +"What is this?" he said. "A fine white turkey down in the grass! +Well, well, is my father losing his sharp sight and his keen +scent? I shall not let such a prize get away from me!" + +He sprang upon the turkey. The trap gave a loud snap, and Reynard +was a prisoner. + +"What a fool I am!" he said. "I saw the bait. My father saw the +trap." + + + + + +VISIT OF THE MOUSE TO THE COUNTRY + + +"Mother, may I go into the country to-day? You said I might go +some day. I am big enough now to go out alone. Do let me go," said +Frisky, a young mouse, to his mother. + +"Well, child, I can not be with you always. I suppose there must +be a first time for you to go out alone. I dread to have you go, +but if you will promise to run home if a cat comes near you, I +will let you go," said Mrs. Gray, the mother. + +"I will run, mother, if I see a cat. You know how fast I can go. I +should like to see any cat catch me. I shall not be gone long. +Good-by, mother," and off went Frisky. + +Mrs. Gray watched him until he was out of sight. "I wish I had +gone with him," she said. "He does not know the world as I do. I +fear some harm will come to him," and she looked very much worried +as she turned to go into her house. She tried to sleep, for she +was very tired; but when she dozed she dreamed, and her dreams +were all bad ones. + +At last she went back to the door and looked for Frisky. He was +coming, leaping along in a great hurry. He began talking to his +mother before he reached her. + +"Oh, mother," he said, "I met two big creatures on the other side +of the pasture. + +"One of them was very fine looking. She had very gentle ways. She +stepped about so quietly that one could scarcely hear her. Her +dress was of soft gray fur, much like yours, mother, and she wore +whiskers like yours. I knew you would like to see her, so I was +just going to invite her home with me when a terrible-looking +creature came right toward me. + +"He walked as if he were too good to step on the ground. His legs +were naked, his toes were long, and his toe nails were strong and +sharp. His dress was not so soft as yours. It was black and white. +His mouth looked like a trap. I tell you, mother, I should hate to +get caught in that trap. On top of his head was something that +wobbled as he walked. He straightened himself up, raised his arms +and screamed. Such a scream! It nearly frightened me to death. He +isn't coming, is he, mother? Do let me run into the house." + +"My son," said his mother, stopping Frisky as he tried to pass +her," I shall not let you go out alone again until you know more. + +"That animal which you liked so well and wished to invite to our +house is a cat. It is the very one no doubt that killed all of +your brothers and sisters when they were quite small. She would +have killed you too at the same time if a dog had not come along +and frightened her away. If you had gone close to her this +afternoon, I should never have seen you again. I thought you would +know a cat. + +"The creature of which you were afraid cares nothing for us. He +would not have harmed you. He has bare legs so he can wade about +in the grass and not get his clothing wet. He uses those long toes +and sharp claws to scratch in the earth for food. He does not +catch mice with them. He uses that strong bill for picking up +grain. People call him a rooster." + + + + + +THE TWO DOVES + + +Two doves, White-coat and Blue-feather, lived in a dovecote. They +were brothers and were very fond of each other. White-coat was a +great home body, but Blue-feather liked to travel. + +One day Blue-feather said to White-coat, "I want to see the world. +This place is very tame. I have lived here all my life (he was +only six months old) and have seen all there is to see. I want to +visit other countries." + +"Don't go, Blue-feather," said White-coat. "We have all we want to +eat here, everyone is kind, and we have a good home. I have heard +that in other places men set traps for birds or shoot them, and +that sometimes large hawks swoop down and carry them off. You +might be caught out in a storm and find no shelter; besides, it +would almost kill me to be separated from you long. You might be +able to bear it, but not I. Surely it is best to stay at home." + +Just then a crow cawed. "Do you hear that crow, brother?" asked +White-coat. "It seems to say, 'You will be sorry if you go.' Do +not go. Take his warning. See, too, it is raining. If you must go, +do put it off until a better time." + +"White-coat, why do you make such a fuss about nothing? I shall +not be gone more than three days; then you shall hear of all the +wonderful things I saw. I shall tell what happened to me from the +beginning of my journey until its close. It will be almost as good +as going yourself." + +"I do not care about the world," said White-coat. "How can I let +you go! You will find me watching for you at whatever time of day +or night you reach home. I can not eat, I can not sleep, with you +away." + +At this, they said. a sad good-by to each other, and Blue-feather +flew away. + +A dark cloud covered the sky. Blue-feather looked about for +shelter. He flew to the only tree near, but its leaves could not +keep off the driving rain, so his coat was wet through and +through. + +When the sky was clear again, Blue-feather left the tree and dried +his plumage as he flew. + +On the borders of a wood he spied some scattered grains of wheat. +He was hungry and saw no reason why he should not pick them up. As +he flew down, a snare was drawn about him. The wheat had been put +there to tempt pigeons so that they might get caught. It was well +for Blue-feather that the snare had been in use a long time and +was rotten. By using his beak and wings he got loose, but he lost +a few feathers out of his pretty coat. + +A hawk saw him as he rose. Blue-feather was dragging a piece of +the string which he could not loosen from his leg. The hawk was +about to seize him. It seemed as if there was no help for him. But +just at that moment an eagle caught the hawk and carried him off. + +Blue-feather flew as fast as he could to a high fence, where he +stopped to rest. He thought his dangers were over. He was very +homesick. + +While Blue-feather was sitting on the fence, a boy saw him. He +nearly killed the poor bird with a shot from his sling. + +Blue-feather was just able to fly. His leg was lame, and one wing +was hurt, but he steered straight for home. + +Late at night he arrived at his own dovecote, tired and hungry, +but happy to be safe at home again. He found White-coat waiting +for him. + +White-coat smoothed his poor brother's feathers, nestled close to +him, and soothed him with his coo! coo! coo! + + + + + +THE HORSE AND THE WOLF + + +A horse, in the early spring, was turned into a pasture of fresh +grass. He was enjoying himself very much when a hungry wolf spied +him. The horse did not see the wolf. + +The wolf said, "I want that horse. I have not had a good meal for +a month. He is so big that I can not catch him as I would a sheep. +I shall have to play a trick." So he lay down on the ground and +thought how he could deceive the horse and then catch him. + +"I have it," he said at last. "I will be a doctor. The horse is +sound and well, but I will make him think that he needs a doctor; +then I shall tell him that I can cure him." The wolf smacked his +lips as he thought of the meal he would soon have. + +He marched into the pasture in a very business-like way. Going +right up to the horse, he said: + +"Good morning, my dear sir. This is fine grass you are eating and +a beautiful morning to be out. I am sorry to see you looking so +poorly this bright day. I happen to be a doctor. As you know, a +good doctor can tell at sight when one is sick. If you were well, +you would not have been turned out to pasture. You know that there +is much work to be done at this time of the year. Your master must +think that you are not able to work. + +"Now, my friend, be frank with me; tell me what ails you, that I +may cure you. I have been to the best schools in the country. +There I learned about diseases of every kind and a sure cure for +every disease. If you have no money to pay my bill, do not let +that trouble you. We can settle that later." + +The horse looked at the wolf out of the corner of his eye and +said, "Now that I think of it, I believe that something is wrong +with the bottom of my left hind foot." + +All the time the wolf had been looking for a good chance to spring +upon the horse, but the horse did not let him get out of his sight +for an instant. + +When the horse told of his trouble the wolf replied, "Yes, I +understand just what is the matter. There are many others having +that same trouble this year. I have had as many as twenty cases. +All are doing well. Let me look at your foot. Raise it now, +please, care--" + +At this instant the horse raised his foot, and with it gave the +wolf such a terrible kick in his face that he fell heavily to the +ground. The horse went on feeding. + +As soon as the wolf was able to get up, he went groaning out of +the field. He was cured of one thing, but the medicine was very +bitter. + + + + + +THE BIRDS, THE BEASTS, AND THE BAT + + +There was once a terrible war between the birds and the beasts. +For a long time it was doubtful which would win. + +The bat said, "I am not a bird and I am not a beast, so I shall +fight on neither side." + +At last the beasts seemed to be gaining the victory. The bat flew +to them and said, "I am a beast. Look at my body and you will see +that I am. I shall fight on your side." + +New flocks of birds came to help their relatives, and the battle +soon turned against the beasts. + +Then the bat skulked over to the other side. "I am a bird," said +he. "I can prove it by my wings," and he fought with the birds. + +At last the war was over. The bat was hated by beasts and birds. +Both made war upon him. He was obliged to slink off and hide in +dark places during the day, never showing his face until dusk. + + + + + +THE BEES, THE DRONES, AND THE WASP + + +Some working bees had made their comb in the hollow trunk of an +oak. + +The drones said, "We made that comb. It belongs to us." + +"You did not make that comb," replied the workers. "You know +very well that you did not. We made it." + +The drones answered, "That comb belongs to us and we are going to +have it." + +So the workers took the case to Judge Wasp that he might decide +the matter. + +The workers and the drones settled down before him. "You workers +and drones," said he, "are so much alike in shape and color that +it is hard to tell which has been seen in the tree. But I think +the matter can be justly decided. Each party may go to a hive in +which there is no honey, and build up a new comb. The one that +makes comb and honey like that found in the tree is the owner of +the tree comb." + +"All right," said the workers, "we will do it;" but the drones +said, "We will have nothing to do with such a plan." + +So Judge Wasp said, "It is plain to see which of you made the +comb. It belongs to the workers." + +The drones buzzed away very angry, but they were not able to harm +the workers or the judge, and the workers went back to their tree. + + + + + +THE WOODMAN AND HIS AX + + +One day a poor woodman lost his ax. He hunted all day, but he +could not find it. He was very sad, for how could he make a living +for his family without an ax? Besides he had no money with which +to buy a new one. As night came on, he sank down by the roadside +and buried his face in his hands. + +He heard a noise in the bushes and raised his head. A stranger was +standing by him. "What is the matter?" asked the stranger. The +woodman told him of his trouble. + +"I am sorry your ax is lost," said the stranger. "Would you know +it if you were to see it? I found an ax in the road. It may be +yours. Is this it?" he asked, holding out a gold ax. + +"No," answered the woodman, "that is not my ax. All the money I +ever earned would not buy such an ax as that." + +"I found another," said the man. "This must be the one," and he +held out a silver ax. + +"No, that is not mine," replied the woodman. "I am too poor a man +to own such an ax as that." + +"Well, here is another ax that I found. Is this yours?" The +stranger held out an old ax of steel. + +"That is mine, oh, that is mine!" cried the woodman, springing up +joyously and taking his ax from the stranger. "Now we shall not +starve. Thank you, kind sir. Where did you find it?" + +The stranger said, "All three of the axes are yours. I am glad to +make you a present of the gold ax and the silver ax. Let me have +your hand. I am happy to meet an honest man." + +The woodman's neighbors heard of his good fortune. One of them +lost his ax. He appeared to feel very sad over his loss. He sat +down by the roadside and bowed his head, looking out of the +corners of his eyes for the stranger. + +At last he saw the stranger coming around a bend in the road. The +sun shown upon a gold ax which he carried in his hand. He stopped +in front of the woodman. "Why do you grieve, my friend?" he asked. + +"I have lost my ax with which I earned my living," the woodman +replied. + +"Cheer up," said the stranger. "I have an ax here. Is it yours?" + +"That is the very one," said the woodman. "Thank you, stranger," +and he reached out his hand to take the gold ax. + +But the stranger drew back, and put the ax behind him. "It is not +your ax. It is my own, and you wish to claim it. You are both +dishonest and untruthful;" and he turned away. + + + + + +THE FOX WITH HIS TAIL CUT OFF + + +Reynard lost his tail in a trap. Now a fox is proud of two things +--his cunning and his tail. He had allowed himself to be trapped. +This showed his lack of cunning, and he had lost his tail. + +He was so ashamed of himself that he could not bear to meet +another fox. He slunk off to his den and came out only when driven +by hunger. When out hunting, he kept out of the way of all his +neighbors. He did not mean that any of them should know of his bad +luck. + +At last he grew tired of living by himself. He wanted to gossip +with his friends. + +He wondered whether old Rufus was still running on top of the +great meadow fence to throw the hounds off the track. + +He longed to hear of the latest tricks of Fleetfoot's cubs. They +were three of the brightest little foxes that ever lived. He +wished that he could see them at their play. + +He wished to know if the men were still cutting down trees near +White-ear's den. If this went on, White-ear would have to find a +new home. It would be hard for her after living in that beautiful +spot so long. + +If he were to hear the news at all, he must meet his comrades. +"How can I bear to listen to their laugh!" he moaned. + +He had not lost all of his cunning, as you will see. He lay for a +long time with his head between his paws. His eyes were wide open, +but he was not watching for game. He was thinking. + +After a while he jumped up. He said to himself: + +"I shall invite all of my friends to come to my home to-morrow +evening. I shall tell them when they reach here that I can not get +up to meet them for I have been very sick. They will all gather +about me here. I shall sit upon my haunches so that no one will +ever find out that my tail is missing. As they are to be my +guests, I must be the spokesman. My friends have always thought me +to be a very fine speaker. Many times my advice has been asked. I +have given it, and it paid my friends to follow it. The thing +which I shall advise to-morrow will surprise them, but I feel sure +that I can get my friends to follow it. I will set to work now +preparing for the feast." + +Early the next evening Reynard gave a series of strange barks. +This was an invitation to his home. The foxes came from every +direction and met at the foot of an old oak. + +Reynard's den was under this oak. He sat upon his haunches near +the door to welcome his guests as they came, but he did not move. + +"You all know, friends, why I do not rise to welcome you," he +said. "I have been very sick, and if I move about it gives me a +very bad headache." + +Reynard asked his friends, who were standing around him, what they +had been doing for the last week or so. They told many interesting +stories of how they had escaped from traps and dogs and men. + +A pile of chickens, turkeys, and ducks lay in sight not far away. +As they talked, their eyes often wandered to these. + +It grew late. The company became a little restless. At last +Reynard said: + +"Now, friends, before we take our evening meal, I have something +to say for the good of all of us. + +"I have been lying awake nights thinking what we could do to free +ourselves from the weight of our heavy tails. Spring is here with +its rainy weather. You all know how wet and muddy our tails +become. Often I have had to give up a first-class meal and trot +off home, hungry, to stay until my tail had dried. You have had to +do the same. Many a poor fox has lost his life because of his long +tail. + +"Now, what do you say to having our tails cut off? Think what free +lives we shall then lead. I will cut them off if you wish. The +cutting will be almost painless, I am sure. Now let us have them +off in a hurry before supper. After our feast, we shall have a +great dance." + +His visitors were silent for a moment. Some nodded their heads, +showing that they were ready to part with their tails. + +The oldest and wisest fox in the crowd had been looking at Reynard +very closely. He was the only one of all that crowd to miss +Reynard's tail. At last he spoke slowly: + +"Your advice may be good, but before I reply, pray turn yourself +around." + +Poor Reynard saw that he was found out. He dared not refuse to do +as he was told, so he turned about. + +What a shout the foxes gave! Poor bobtail could not say a word. +The foxes seized the turkeys, ducks, and chickens, and ran off +home with their long tails behind them, and poor Reynard was never +again seen by any of them. + + + + + +THE BLACKBIRD AND THE DOVE + + +One day a blackbird and a dove called upon a peacock. + +The peacock received both of them very kindly in his arbor. + +"I have long wished to meet you," said the blackbird. "Many have +told me of your beauty and of your grace. I find that they did not +tell me half." He stroked the peacock's coat lovingly as he +praised him. + +The dove was silent. + +At last they bade the peacock good-by, the blackbird making many +low bows. + +As they started home, the blackbird said, "I hope I may never meet +that stupid peacock again. I can not bear him. Did you notice his +feet? I felt like laughing every time I looked at them. His voice +makes me shudder. What can anyone see to praise in that bird?" + +"I did not notice his feet nor his voice," said the dove. "He has +a noble form and his dress is very beautiful. The rainbow and the +flowers are not more beautiful." + +The blackbird turned away in shame. He wished to hear fault found +with the peacock, but the dove gave only the highest praise. + + + + + +THE GREEDY DOG + + +"What a good time I shall have eating this meat when I get home!" +said a dog as it started to cross a stream of water. + +He stopped suddenly and looked down into the water. There was his +shadow. "That dog has a larger piece of meat than I," he said. "I +want that piece of meat and I will have it!" + +He growled, but the dog in the water did not move nor did he drop +his piece of meat. + +He snapped at the dog in the water. He was soon sorry for that, +for the meat slipped from his mouth and sank to the bottom of the +stream, and the dog in the water lost his meat at the same time. + + + + + +THE GOOSE THAT LAID GOLD EGGS + + +One day a farmer bought a goose and took it home. + +The next day the goose laid an egg of solid gold. + +"That is a wonderful goose," said the farmer, and he took the egg +to a jeweler to find out its value. + +"It is pure gold," said the jeweler, and he paid the farmer a big +price for it. + +Each day the goose laid a gold egg. The farmer had a dozen. + +"I shall soon be a rich man," he said, "but I do wish the goose +would lay more than one egg a day." + +After the goose had laid many eggs, the farmer said, "That goose +has many more gold eggs for me. I will not wait for one a day. I +will kill the goose, open it, and get all the eggs at once." + +So he killed the goose and opened it, but what do you think? There +was not one egg to be found. + + + + + +THE DONKEY AND HIS MASTERS + + +"How I hate this early rising!" said a donkey, with a great yawn. +"I wish I might sleep till sunrise. Here I am, harnessed and ready +to start to town before the roosters crow. And why? To take a +little fruit and a few vegetables to market. Isn't that a foolish +reason for spoiling my dreams!" + +The master was tired of his donkey, for he never seemed willing to +do his work. "I do hate a donkey with his ears turned backward," +he said. "He has no right to complain, for his work is really +light, and he gets plenty of food and rest." + +One day a tanner came along. He saw what a strong donkey the +gardener drove, and asked his price. The gardener was glad to sell +him. "I hope he will enjoy his new work," said the gardener. "He +never seemed quite happy with me." + +The tanner used the donkey to carry hides. These were heavy and +bad-smelling. They almost made him sick. + +"Oh, dear!" the donkey groaned one day. "I wish I were back with +the gardener. The vegetables were fresh and I was often given a +cabbage leaf or a beet top. I did have to get out early, to be +sure, but I did not work late. Here I must work early and late, +and if I turn out of the road to get a mouthful of grass, I am +beaten soundly. I hate this work and this place." + +The donkey was so ill-natured that the tanner sold him to a coal +miner. He was lowered into a coal mine, where he had to pass his +time pulling loads of coal. The mine was dark, and he was kept +very busy. + +"This is very bad," he cried. "I wish I were with the gardener, or +even with the tanner. Anything would be better than working in +this dismal hole in the ground." But there he ended his unhappy +life. + + + + + +THE COBBLER AND THE RICH MAN + + +A cobbler worked in his shop from morning until night, and as he +worked he sang. Tired people who heard him were rested, and sad +men and women were cheered as they came near the shop. Children +visited him and watched him at his work and heard him sing. They +called him "Jolly Gregory." + +"How can he sing when he works so hard and makes so little?" many +asked; but still his singing went on. + +Across the road from the cobbler lived a rich man. His home was +beautiful, his clothes fine, and his fare the best that money +could buy; but never in his life had he been known to give to +anyone who needed help. He was really poor, for he lacked one +thing which he very much wanted--sleep. Sometimes he could not get +to sleep until early morning; then his neighbor's song would waken +him. He wished that sleep could be bought for money. + +One day he said to himself, "I believe I will help that cobbler +over the way. He has a hard time to make enough money to buy his +food and clothes." So he sent for the cobbler. + +"Honest Gregory," he said "how much do you earn in a year?" + +"How much a year?" replied the cobbler, scratching his head. "I +never reckon my money in that way. It goes as fast as it comes, +but I am glad to be able to earn it. I cobble on from day to day +and earn a living." + +"Well then, Gregory, how much do you earn each day?" asked the +rich man. + +"Why, sometimes more and sometimes less," answered the cobbler. +"On many days--the holidays--I earn nothing. I wish there were +fewer of these; but then we manage to live." + +"You are a happy man now," said the rich man, "but I will make you +happier," and he handed the cobbler five hundred dollars. "Go +spend this money carefully. It will supply your needs for many +days," he said. + +The cobbler had never dreamed of so much money before. He thought +it was enough to keep him in food and clothes all his life. + +He took the money home and hid it, but he hid his joy with it. He +stopped singing and became sad. He could not sleep for fear of +robbers. He thought that everyone who came into his shop was +trying to find out his secret, or wished a gift. When a cat ran +over the floor, he thought a thief had slipped through the door. + +At last, poor man, he could bear it no longer. He took the money, +hurried to the rich man, and cried, "Oh, give me back my songs and +my sweet sleep! Here is your money, every cent of it. I made a +poor trade." + +The rich man looked at him and said, "I thought I had made you +happy. I have not missed your songs, for, strange as it may seem, +I have been sleeping soundly ever since I talked with you." + + + + + +THE ICE KING + + +A tribe of Indians lived near a river. One winter the weather was +very cold, and many of them died. + +But spring came at last. The snow melted from the tops of the +mountains and ran in torrents down their steep sides and into the +river. + +The ice in the swollen river broke up into large cakes which +floated down the stream. + +The weather grew warmer. All the ice melted except one big cake +which the flood had left on the bank of the river. + +The sun had been shining on this piece of ice for many days, but +it would not melt. There were signs of spring everywhere except in +this one spot. + +A brave warrior had been watching this piece of ice. He said to +himself, "That is the Ice King, I am sure. I must conquer him." + +He raised his big war club and struck the Ice King, crying, "Come +on, Ice King! Do your best. Freeze me if you can. I will show you +that I am as strong as you are." + +He struck again and again, and the Ice King began to shrink. +Pieces of ice floated down the river. At last he became so small +that the Indian picked him up and tossed him into the river. + +"There!" cried the Indian, "off with you! Never dare to come back +here again." + +The Ice King whirled about and screamed, "I go now, but I shall +come again. Look for me next winter. I will show you then which of +us is the stronger." + +The Indian hunted and fished all summer, but when autumn was near +he began to think of the threat of the Ice King. "He will keep his +word," said the Indian, "and I must get ready to fight him." + +The Indian placed his wigwam among the trees, where it was well +sheltered from the winds. Near it he heaped up a large pile of dry +wood. Then he caught some large fish and tried out their fat so +that he might have plenty of oil. He made thick clothes for +himself out of the skins of animals. During the summer he had +gathered much wild rice, and now he dried meat. While he was +getting ready, the weather was becoming colder. + +At last all was done, and the Indian said, as he sat by his +blazing fire, "Let the Ice King come. I am ready for him." + +That night the Ice King froze the little pools of water. After a +few days the lakes and rivers were frozen. It was very cold. + +One night when the Indian was sitting by his fire, the Ice King +stepped to the door of the wigwam. He walked boldly to the fire +and sat down opposite the Indian. + +How cold the Ice King's breath felt! It nearly put out the fire. +The poor Indian shivered, but he said to himself, "The Ice King +shall not conquer me." He jumped up and threw dry wood on the +fire. Then he poured oil upon the wood. The fire blazed up. The +Indian put on more wood and more oil. The fire roared and +crackled. + +The Ice King began to feel too warm. He moved back a little way. +The fire became hotter. The Ice King moved farther back. He began +to sweat and to grow smaller and weaker. Then he cried out, "My +friend, I am conquered. Let me go! Oh, let me go!" + +The Indian arose and pushed the fire back from the Ice King. Then +he took his trembling hand, lifted him up, and led him to the door +of the wigwam. + +As the Ice King passed out he said, "You have conquered me twice. +You shall always be my master." + +Ever since that time men have been masters of the Ice King. When +his cold breath blows, they make the fires warmer and their +clothing thicker. [Footnote: Adapted from "The Ice Man" in Legends +of the MicMacs, published by S. T. Rand; permission to use given +by Helen S. Webster, owner of copyright.] + + + + + +THE WOLF, THE GOAT, AND THE KID + + +"Good-by, little one," said Mrs. White Paw, the goat, to her +daughter. + +"Do not go, mother, I am afraid to stay here alone," cried little +Nanny. + +"But I must get my dinner or you will have no milk for your +supper," said her mother. + +"There is nothing to fear but the prowling wolf. Bar the door when +I am gone; then he can not get in. Do not open the door unless you +hear this password, 'Cursed be the wolf and all his race!'" + +The mother, as she trotted away, felt no fear for her little +daughter's safety. "No one knows that password but myself," she +said; "but I shall be very glad when Nanny is old enough to go out +with me to dine on the green hill. She is lonely when I am gone." + +Little Nanny was not as safe as the mother thought, for slinking +in the bushes near Mrs. White Paw's home was the hateful wolf. He +heard the password which the mother gave to her little one, and +laughed at the thought of the good feast which he should have by +and by. + +After the mother had been away for some time, the wolf sneaked to +the door of the little house. He knocked, and gave the password, +"Cursed be the wolf and all his race." in a voice much like that +of Mrs. White Paw. + +Nanny started to open the door, thinking that her mother had come +home; but she stopped, for the voice had not sounded quite like +her mother's voice. "I will make sure that it is no one but my +mother," she said to herself. So she called, "Mother, show me your +white paw before I open the door." + +The wolf was angry, for he had no white paw to show. He gave a +long, angry howl and went away. + +The mother heard the howl as she turned her face homeward. "That +will frighten Nanny," she said, and she hurried home. On reaching +the house, she knocked and called in a cheery voice, "Cursed be +the wolf and all his race." + +Nanny did not open the door at once. She called back, "Show me +your white paw, mother." + +Mrs. White Paw put her paw to the crack in the door, and the door +flew open. + +"Why did you not let me in as soon as I gave the password, Nanny?" +asked her mother. + +Nanny told her of the wolf's visit. Mrs. White Paw was very proud +of her wise daughter. + +"Now have your supper, my brave Nanny, and go to bed. How glad I +am that you are safe!" said the happy mother. + + + + + +THE WISE GOAT + + +A goat was on top of a high cliff eating grass. + +A wolf was at the foot of the cliff looking at him. He wanted the +goat for his supper, but he could not climb the steep cliff. + +"Come down here," said the wolf. "The grass is much better here. +See how much of it there is." + +"Thank you," said the goat. "You may have all of that good grass +yourself, but you shall not eat me." + + + + + +THE SHEPHERD AND THE DOGS + + +"Hero is a wonderful dog," said a shepherd, "I have not lost a +sheep since I owned him, not one. Some foolish wolves tried to +kill him when he was a puppy, but he treated them so badly that +they have since been careful to keep out of his way." + +"He is certainly a brave dog," said a neighbor, "but I think you +are foolish to keep him. He eats as much meat as a dozen small +dogs, and smaller dogs would take as good care of your sheep as +he." + +"There may be something in what you say," said the shepherd. "I +have often wished that Hero ate less meat, but I should hate to +part from him." + +The next day the mayor of the town rode by. "What will you take +for that dog of yours?" he asked. + +"I can not spare him," said the shepherd; "he is too good a friend +to part from. His only fault is a liking for meat." + +"I will give you a hundred dollars for him," said the mayor, "and +he shall have all the meat he cares to eat." + +"You will not be foolish enough to refuse that offer, I hope," +said the neighbor. "Think how much meat you will save." + +"I think I shall have to let him go," replied the shepherd, slowly +and sadly. + +That night Hero was taken to the mayor's house and the shepherd +received his money. + +The shepherd found three curs in town to take Hero's place. He +paid nothing for them, for their owners were very glad to get rid +of them. + +The next day the wolves said, "Hero is gone! Hero is gone! Now for +a feast. We do not care for those cowardly dogs." + +When the new dogs saw the wolves coming, they cried out, "Let us +run," and away they all went. + +When the sheep saw the wolves, they too began to run. + +The shepherd was taking care of a lame lamb in a distant part of +the field. When he saw the wolves chasing his sheep, he ran toward +them; but before he could frighten the wolves away, they had +killed several sheep. + +"What a fool I have been," said the shepherd, "to let my neighbor +do my thinking for me!" + + + + + +THE BOY AND THE NUTS + + +A glass jar half full of nuts stood on a table. + +Albert, who was very fond of nuts, saw it. He climbed up on the +table and thrust his hand into the jar, grasping a whole handful. +He tried to pull his hand out. The mouth of the jar was too narrow +for his fist. + +He pulled and pulled and became very angry at the jar, but it was +of no use. + +At last he began to scream and cry. His mother hurried into the +room to find out what was the matter with him. + +"What hurts you, Albert?" she asked. + +"This old jar will not let me have this handful of nuts," cried +Albert. + +His mother laughed when she saw the cause of all his trouble. + +"Do you wish so many nuts?" she asked. "Try taking out a few at a +time." + +Albert did as his mother told him to do, and found that he could +easily get the nuts. + +"When you get into trouble again, my son, stop and think of a way +out, instead of screaming," said his mother. + + + + + +THE CROW AND THE PITCHER + + +No rain had fallen for many weeks. All the small streams and the +ponds were dried up. + +An old crow had been looking for water all the morning. At last he +found some in a pitcher in a garden. He flew down to it and thrust +in his bill; but he could not reach the water. + +He walked around to the other side and tried again; but he could +not get a drink. Oh, how very thirsty he was! It seemed as if he +should faint. + +"I must have that water. I will have it," he said. + +Again he stretched his neck into the pitcher. No, he could not +reach it. + +He stopped a second and seemed to be thinking; then he said, "I +will break the pitcher. My bill is strong and hard." So he gave +the pitcher a hard thump. It did not break. He "thumped! thumped! +thumped!" first here, then there. What a strong pitcher that was! +It did not even crack. + +"This will not do," he said. "I must try some other plan. I am big +and strong. I will tip the pitcher over." + +With that he pushed against it with his breast. It did not move. +It seemed as if he must give up the attempt to get the water, but +he did not once think of doing that. + +Near by in the path lay some pebbles. The crow picked up one in +his bill and let it fall into the pitcher. He dropped one after +another into it. He could see the water rising a little. Now he +worked harder than ever. + +Before very long the water had risen so high that he could reach +it with his bill. How refreshing it was! He drank as much as he +wished, then flew away. + + + + + +THE GROCER AND HIS DONKEY + + +A grocer went to a city not far away to get some salt. He took his +donkey along to carry the load. On their way they had to cross a +little stream over which there was only a narrow footbridge. + +When they reached the city, the grocer placed some heavy sacks of +salt upon the donkey's back and they started homeward. + +On reaching the middle of the stream, the donkey stumbled and +fell. As he arose, the water dripped down his sides and he noticed +that his load had become much lighter. + +The grocer had lost so much salt that it was necessary for him to +return to the city and get a fresh supply. This time he put on a +heavier load than at first. + +When they reached the stream, the donkey said to himself, "This is +a very heavy load that I am carrying, but I know how to make it +lighter," and he lay down in the stream. When he arose, his load +was much lighter, as he had expected. + +"I will break him of that trick," said the grocer. + +He drove the donkey to the city again, and heaped great bags of +sponges upon his back. + +The load was not very heavy, but the donkey said to himself, "I +will make it still lighter." + +When he came to the stream, he lay down again in the water. He +started to rise, but to his surprise he could hardly get up. + +"What can be the matter?" he thought. + +His master, laughing, said, "Have you learned your lesson, old +fellow? We shall see." + +He drove the groaning donkey slowly back to the city, took the +sponges from his back, and loaded him again with salt. + +When the donkey came again to the stream, he picked his way +carefully, for he did not wish to fall. This time he got across +safely, and the grocer arrived at home with his entire load of +salt. + + + + + +THE THREE FISH + + +Three large fish lived very happily in a pond which few people +ever passed. + +One of these fish was always wise, the second was wise sometimes, +but the third was never wise. + +One day two men who were passing by the pond saw the fish. + +One of them said, "Let us hurry home and get our nets. Those fish +are too fine to lose." So they hurried away. + +The three fish were very much frightened. The first one thought a +moment, then swam through the outlet of the pond into the river. + +When the men came back with their nets, there were only two fish +to be seen. They found the outlet of the pond and made a dam +across it. + +The second fish now began to think; he came to the top of the +water and floated on his back. One of the men picked him up in his +net, but he seemed dead, so he threw him back into the water. + +The fish that never thought sank to the bottom of the pond and was +easily caught. [Footnote: Adapted from "The Three Fish" in The +Tortoise and the Geese, published by Houghton, Mifflin Co] + + + + + +THE WAGONER + + +"We must have coal," said the farmers to the wagoner. + +"But the roads are very bad," replied the wagoner. "I never saw +them worse." + +"We can not wait for the roads to dry," said the farmers, "for +without a fire we should take cold. Besides, we should have to eat +uncooked food." + +So the wagoner went into the country with a load of coal. He had +not gone far when his wagon stuck fast in the mud. + +"What am I to do now?" he asked himself. "I ought to have known +better than to start out." + +"Get up!" he cried to his horses. "Get up there, you lazy brutes! +Pull out of here!" + +The horses struggled hard, but they could not start the load. + +"Hey there!" he called to a man who was working in a field near +by. "Come and help us out of this mud-hole." + +The man in the field had been watching the poor horses as they +pulled with all their strength. He was angry at the wagoner for +beating them so cruelly. + +"Put your shoulder to the wheel," he called back. "When you have +done all you can to help yourself, I shall be willing to help +you." + +The wagoner climbed down, muttering to himself, "I don't want to +get down into this mud." + +He put his shoulder to the wheel, pushed long and steadily while +the horses pulled. Slowly the load began to move. Before long it +was on firm ground. + +The wagoner climbed up to his seat and called back to the man who +was working in the field, "My load is out, but no thanks to you." + +The man replied, "You took my advice and put your shoulder to the +wheel; that is what brought you out." + + + + + +THE LARK AND THE FARMER + + +A meadow lark built her nest in a field of wheat. She had a happy +time raising her family, for no one came near her nest. + +There were four little larks in her family, and they were now +nearly large enough to fly. + +The wheat was ripe and the mother knew that men might come to the +field any day to reap; so she said to her little ones, "I am going +out to get your breakfast. You must keep your ears and eyes wide +open while I am gone; if you see or hear anything strange, you +must tell me about it when I come back." + +"All right, mother," said the young larks, "we shall do as you +tell us." + +The mother had been gone but a few minutes when the farmer who +owned the field and his son came out to look at the wheat. + +"This grain is ready to cut," said the farmer to his son. "This +evening go to our neighbor, Mr. White, and ask him to cut it for +us to-morrow." + +The little larks were much frightened. They could hardly wait for +their mother to get home. + +"Oh, mother!" they called out as soon as they saw her; "do take us +away from this field. The farmer has sent for Mr. White to cut +this wheat to-morrow." + +"If that is so," said the mother, "you need have no fear. If he +waits for his neighbor to do his work, his wheat will not be cut." + +Late the next afternoon while the mother lark was away, the farmer +and his son came to the field again. + +"Did you ask Mr. White to reap the grain?" said the farmer. + +"Yes," replied his son, "and he promised to come." + +"But he has not come," said the farmer, "and it is so late that I +know he will not come to-day. The wheat will spoil if it is not +cut. If our neighbors will not help us, we shall have to call upon +our relatives. Go out this afternoon and ask your uncle John and +his sons to cut the wheat for us to-morrow." + +As soon as the mother came home, the little birds said, "The wheat +will surely be cut tomorrow, for the farmer has sent for his +relatives to cut it. Please take us away to-night, mother." + +"Don't worry," said the mother; "there is no danger so long as the +farmer waits for his relatives to do the work. We will stay right +here to-night." + +About noon the next day, the farmer and his son came to the field +again. "This grain is still standing," said the father. "I told +you to get your uncle John and his sons to cut it today. Why has +nothing been done?" + +"I called upon them and asked them to cut the wheat. They said +that they would be here this morning. I do not know why they did +not come." + +"This grain must not stand another day," said the farmer. "It is +shelling out now. You and I will come out here early to-morrow and +cut it ourselves." + +When the mother lark heard that the farmer had made up his mind to +cut the wheat himself, she said to her little ones, "Get ready to +fly away. If the farmer is to do the work himself, it will be done +at once." + + + + + +THE LION AND THE MOUSE + + +A lion was sleeping one day when a little mouse came along and ran +up and down over his face. + +This awakened the lion and made him very angry. + +He put his paw over the mouse and said, "What do you mean by +waking me? You shall pay for this," and he opened his big mouth to +swallow the mouse. + +"Oh, do not kill me, Mr. Lion!" squealed the mouse. "I did not +mean to waken you. Do let me go and I will never trouble you +again." + +"No, I will not let you go," roared the lion. + +"Please do," cried the frightened mouse. "If you will let me go +perhaps I can do something for you sometime." + +This made the lion laugh. "You do something for ME," he said. +"What a joke! Well, you are such a little fellow that I will let +you go this time, but never let me see you about here again," and +he lifted his paw. + +As the little mouse scampered off, he said, "Thank you, kind lion, +I shall not forget your kindness." + +Some time after this the lion was caught in a trap. The hunters +tied him to a tree while they went to get a wagon to carry him +away. + +The lion roared so loud that the ground shook. The little mouse +heard him. + +"That lion is in trouble," he said. "I will see what I can do to +help him," and he ran to the lion. + +When the mouse saw that the lion was tied with ropes, he said, +"Cheer up, Mr. Lion. Be quiet and I will set you free," and he +began gnawing the ropes. + +He worked long and hard and at last the lion was free. + + + + + +THE ANT AND THE DOVE + + +An ant went to the river to get a drink. The water rushed along so +fast that he was washed off the bank into the river. + +"I shall drown!" he cried. "Help! help! help!" but his voice was +so tiny that it could not be heard. + +A dove was sitting in a tree that overhung the water. She saw the +ant struggling, and quickly nipped off a leaf and let it fall into +the water. The ant climbed upon it and floated down the river +until the leaf was washed upon the bank of the stream. + +The ant called out in its tiny voice, "Thank you, kind dove, you +have saved my life;" but of course the dove could not hear him. + +Several days after this, the dove was again sitting in a tree. A +hunter crept carefully up to the tree. His gun was pointed at the +dove and he was about to shoot, when he was bitten in the leg by +an ant. + +He cried out with pain and dropped his gun. This frightened the +dove and she flew away. + +"Thank you, kind ant," cooed the dove, and the ant heard and was +glad. + + + + + +THE HAPPY FAMILY + + +There was once a very queer family living in the woods. There were +four in all--a rat, a raven, a tortoise, and a gazelle. + +All day the animals were away from home hunting food. + +The rat caught beetles which had hidden under leaves. He visited +fields and barns Now and then he went to a henhouse. + +The tortoise found plenty of insects in the woods and fields and +did not object to a toadstool now and then. + +The raven visited grain fields where he often met the rat. + +The gazelle ate grass wherever he could find it. When he could not +get grass, he ate the sprouts of trees. + +At night all met at their home in the woods and talked of what had +happened to them through the day. This is one of their adventures: + +One day when the gazelle was out feeding, a hound scented his +tracks and followed him. The gazelle heard the hound bark and +darted off like the wind. The hound followed until worn out with +running; then he gave up the chase. The gazelle stopped to eat +grass. He was hungry and a long way from home. + +That evening when the animals returned home they missed the +gazelle. + +The raven asked, "How does it happen that the gazelle is not home? +Is he tired of us already?" "No, indeed," said the rat. "I am sure +that he is not. If I were a bird I should fly away at once to find +him. I know that he would be here if he could get here." + +"I will see if I can find him," said the raven, and he flew away. +After a while he spied the gazelle, who had been caught in a net. +He was trying hard to free himself, but the ropes that bound him +were too strong for him to break. The raven flew back home to get +the help of the rat. + +"Oh, rat," he said, "follow me. Our friend, the gazelle, is caught +in a net. Come and gnaw the ropes and set him free!" + +The raven flew away and the rat followed. As the rat left home, he +said, "Tortoise, you had better stay at home. You go so slowly +that you can not reach the gazelle in time to help. We shall soon +be back, I hope." + +As soon as the raven and the rat were out of sight, the tortoise +said, "I can not stay here and do nothing. I may be needed. I will +hurry as fast as I can;" and he started off. + +The raven reached the gazelle first. He said, "Cheer up, the rat +is coming to set you free." + +Soon the rat arrived. He began at once to gnaw the ropes. He had +just set the gazelle free when a hunter came along. The gazelle +sprang to one side into the bushes, the raven flew into a tree, +and the rat ran into a hole in the ground. + +The hunter looked about for the gazelle, but could not find him. +He was very angry. + +Just then the tortoise came up. The hunter picked him up and put +him into his bag for his supper. + +The raven whispered to the gazelle, "The hunter is carrying off +our tortoise." + +As soon as the gazelle heard this, he came out of his hiding place +and limped along as if he were lame. + +The hunter saw him. He threw down his bag and ran after the +gazelle, thinking that he could easily catch him; but the gazelle +kept ahead of him. At last the hunter could run no more. He went +back to get his bag, tired and cross, but sure of a supper. + +But what do you suppose had happened while he was gone? The rat +had gnawed a hole in the hunter's bag and set the tortoise free, +and both had run off. + +It was now quite dark, and all the animals went home. That was the +happiest evening of their lives. Each one had done something for +the others, and all were safe, and it was good to be at home. + + + + + +THE TYRANT WHO BECAME A JUST RULER + + +There was once a king who was so cruel to his people that he was +called "The Tyrant." + +The people used to wish that he would die so that they might have +a better king. + +One day he called his people together. They feared to go to him, +yet they did not dare to stay away. When they were all standing +before him, he arose and said: + +"My dear people, I have been very unkind to you, but I hope after +this to make your lives peaceful and happy." + +The king kept his word. He sent good men to all parts of his +kingdom to find out what the people most needed to make them +happy. He then had everything done for them that a just king could +do. He helped them to build good roads and bridges. He made their +taxes lighter. He gave them a holiday now and then. The people +learned to trust him and to love him. + +One day one of his subjects said to him, "Please, O king, tell me +why you are so much better to us now than you used to be." + +The king replied: + +"As I was going through a forest one afternoon I saw a hound +chasing a fox. He caught the fox and bit him badly. The fox will +always be lame. + +"When the hound was going home, a man threw a stone at him and +broke his leg. + +"The man had not gone far when his horse threw him and his leg was +broken. + +"The horse started to run, but he stepped into a hole and broke +his leg. + +"I sat down by the road and thought about what I had seen. I said +to myself, 'He who does wrong to any living thing will suffer for +it sooner or later,' and that is why I am a better king and a +happier man." [Footnote: Adapted from a fable of the same name +found in The Tortoise and the Geese, published by Houghton, Mifflin +Co.] + + + + + +THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE + + +"Why do you move along so slowly?" said a hare to a tortoise. "Let +me show you how to get over the ground." + +"You think I am slow, do you?" replied the tortoise. "Let us run a +race to the cross-roads. I think I can beat you." + +"Do you hear that?" said the hare to a fox, who was standing near. +"Could anyone even think that such a slow-coach could beat me in a +race?" + +"It would be a good joke if he did," said the fox. "Do you wish to +run a race? I will be the judge, if you care to have me." + +"That suits me well," answered the hare. + +"I am willing," said the tortoise. + +So the fox marked off a place for starting, and set up a stake at +the goal. + +The hare and the tortoise stood side by side, and at the command, +"Go!", from the fox, they began the race. + +The hare bounded along and was very soon far ahead of the +tortoise. He called back to the fox, "I think I shall take a +little nap before I finish the race; the tortoise will not reach +here for an hour or more." So he lay down in some bushes and went +to sleep. + +Every minute brought the tortoise a little nearer to the goal. He +did not stop for a second. + +At last he passed the hare, but the hare still slept. On and on he +plodded; it was a long way, but he had no thought of stopping. + +He came nearer and nearer the goal. At last his foot touched the +stake. + +The hare wakened, stretched himself, and leaped toward the goal. +"What, you here!" he cried when he saw the tortoise. "How did you +ever reach here?" + +"Just by keeping at it," said the tortoise. + + + + + +THE MILLER, HIS SON, AND THEIR DONKEY + + +"I shall have to sell that donkey of ours," said a miller to his +son. "I can not afford to keep him through the winter. I will take +him to town this very morning to see if I can find a buyer. You +may go with me." In a little while the miller, his son, and the +donkey were on their way to town. + +They had not gone far when they met some girls going to a party. +They were talking and laughing as they went along. One of them +said, "Look at that man and boy driving a donkey. One of them +surely might ride." + +The miller heard what they said, and quickly made his you mount +the donkey, while he walked along at its side. + +After a while they came to a group of old men who were talking +very earnestly. "There," said one, "I was just saying that boys +and girls have no respect for the aged. You see it is true in this +case. See that boy riding while his old father has to walk." + +"Get down, my son," said his father, "and I will ride." So they +went on. + +They next met some women coming from town. "Why!" they cried, +"your poor little boy is nearly tired out. How can you ride and +make him walk?" So the miller made his son ride on the donkey +behind him. + +They were now in town. A man coming down the street called to the +miller, "Why do you make your donkey carry such a load? You can +carry him better than he can carry you." + +At this the miller and his son got off the donkey. They tied the +donkey's legs together, turned him over on his back; and began to +carry him. + +A crowd soon gathered to see the strange sight. As they were +crossing a bridge the donkey became frightened at the hooting of +the crowd. He broke loose, fell into the river, and was drowned. + +The miller was angry and ashamed. He said, "There! I have tried to +please everybody and have only made a fool of myself. After this I +shall do as I think best and let people say what they will." + + + + + +THE PUG DOG AND HIS SHADOW + + +"I am going out to see the world," said a pug puppy. + +He ran down a hill as fast as his wabbly legs could carry him, and +looked into a little brook which flowed by. + +"How queer!" he said, "I did not know that puppies live in water. +This one looks just like my brothers, but it can not be one of +them. They were all asleep when I came away. I will run home to +tell mother about it," and up the hill he went as fast as he could +carry his fat little body. + +When he arrived at home, he panted out, "Oh, mother! I have found +out something that you do not know. There is a pug puppy living in +the creek." + +"You are either dreaming, my son, or you have seen your own +shadow," said his mother. + +"I know what I saw, mother. I am not dreaming. It was not my +shadow. It was a puppy dog," and the little pug barked savagely at +his mother. "Come with me, mother. I will show you that I know +what I am talking about." So the mother followed her puppy. + +When they came near the foot of the hill, the little pug ran on +ahead of his mother and looked into the stream. + +"How lucky!" he said, "he is still here. Now, mother, you see that +what I said is true." + +"It is your shadow, little one." + +"No, no, my eyes are better than yours, mother." + +Just then his mother came up and stood beside him. + +"How queer!" said the little dog. "That is the pug's mother. I did +not see her before. It would be too cold for me down in that +water. Why do they live there?" + +"You foolish child," replied the mother. "It is our shadows that +you see there. See, they are just like us." + +"I am not a baby. I know what dogs are, mother. Those are real +dogs." + +"Watch, my son, and see what happens," and the mother dropped a +stone on the two shadows. They were gone. + +The little pug stood surprised. He dropped his ears and went +slowly home without saying another word. + + + + + +THE PARTRIDGE IN THE NET + + +"I have caught one at last," said a hunter, "and this is as fine a +partridge as one often sees. It is a young one, too, I do +believe," and he reached his hand into the net to take it out. + +This frightened the partridge. It fluttered and cackled, pecking +at the hunter's hand. + +At last it cried out, "Let me go! Do let me go! I am but one +little bird. If you will set me free, I will lead a large flock of +partridges to your net, and will coax them to go into it." + +But the hunter said, "You seem very willing to deceive the +partridges; you might also deceive me. I will not let you go." + + + + + +THE NORTH WIND AND THE SUN + + +"I am stronger than you," said the North Wind to the Sun. + +"That is not true," said the Sun. "Everyone knows that I am the +stronger." + +"Show me that you are stronger than I," replied the North Wind. +"You know very well that you are not." + +"Do you see that traveler coming? I can make him take off his +coat. You can not," said the Sun. + +"We will see about that," answered the North Wind. "The one that +makes the traveler take off his coat is the victor." + +"All right," said the Sun, "and you may have the first trial." + +"Whew! How the North Wind blows," said the traveler. "Whew! whew! +Hold on there, North Wind; I would rather walk than fly. Whew! +whew! + +"How cold it is! I must button my coat uptight. Whew! whew! whew! +I never felt such a wind before," said the traveler, as he folded +his arms over his breast. "It seems determined to tear off my +coat. I will turn my back to it. Whew! whew! whew! whew!" But the +more the wind blew, the tighter the traveler held on to his coat. + +At last the North Wind said, "I will try no longer, but you, Sun, +can do no better." + +The Sun said nothing, but came out from under a cloud and smiled +down upon the traveler. + +"How good that feels!" said the traveler. The Sun shone on. "It is +getting warm," said the traveler, unbuttoning his coat. + +It was now past noon. "The Sun is too much for me," said the +traveler, and he threw off his coat and hunted for a shady place. + +The North Wind's harshness had failed. The Sun's gentleness had +won. + + + + + +THE CAMEL AND HIS MASTER + + +One night a camel looked into the tent where his master was +sleeping. "How warm it is in there!" he said. "I should like a +good place like that myself." + +The next night he put his head inside the door. "You will not mind +my putting my head into the tent, I am sure," said he to his +master. "The wind is cold to-night." + +"Not at all," replied his master; "there is plenty of room." + +In a little while the camel said, "Kind master, my neck is very +cold; would you mind if I put it inside the tent?" + +"Oh, no," said his master. + +Now the camel seemed satisfied. But in a little while he wakened +his master, saying, "My forelegs are getting cold. I should like +to have them under cover." + +His master moved over a little and said, "You may have a little +more room. I know it is a cold night." So the camel moved a little +farther into the tent. + +Very soon the camel wakened his master again, saying, "I keep the +tent door open by standing in the door. That makes it cold for +both of us. Had I not better come wholly in?" + +"Yes, come in," said the master. "There is hardly room for both of +us, but I do not want you to suffer from the cold," So the camel +crowded into the tent. + +As soon as he was inside, he said: "Yes, I see there is not room +for both of us inside the tent. If you were to go out, I should +have a chance to lie down. So go!" And he pushed his master out of +the tent. + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Fifty Famous Fables, by Lida Brown McMurry + diff --git a/4324.zip b/4324.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..dcdfdc4 --- /dev/null +++ b/4324.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this header are copyright (C) 2001 by Michael S. Hart +and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.] +[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales +of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or +software or any other related product without express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.10/04/01*END* + + + + + + +Produced by Robert Rowe, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + +FIFTY FAMOUS FABLES + +BY LIDA BROWN McMURRY + +PRIMARY CRITIC TEACHER STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, DE KALB, ILLINOIS + +B. F. JOHNSON PUBLISHING COMPANY + + + + + +PREFACE + + +The fifty fables in this book have been selected for second grade +reading because they are easily comprehended by pupils of that +grade, and because they teach lessons which every child should +learn. + +It is not wise to tell the class the moral application of the +fables. It is better to have each pupil make his own application +without any suggestion from the teacher. + +In adapting the stories the conversational form has been largely +used; this form not only gives much pleasure to the children, but +it also affords excellent opportunities for voice culture. + +Most of the stories have been successfully used for several years +with classes of children in the State Normal School at DeKalb. + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +DESIRABILITY OF SELF-CONTROL + +1. THE TORTOISE AND THE DUCKS + +RESULTS OF A MEAN JOKE + +2. THE MOUSE AND THE FROG +3. THE BOYS AND THE FROGS +4. THE SHEPHERD BOY AND THE WOLF + +FOLLY OF QUARRELING + +5. THE TWO GOATS +6. THE STRIKE OP THE MILL FEEDERS +7. THE FARMER AND HIS SONS +8. THE FOUR OXEN AND THE LION + +DEEDS BETTER THAN WORDS + +9. THE HUNTER AND THE FARMER +10. THE FOX IN THE WELL +11. THE MICE IN COUNCIL + +FOLLY OF PRIDE + +12. THE FOX AND THE CROW +13. THE VAIN CROW +14. THE HORSE AND THE LOADED DONKEY +15. THE LEAVES AND THE ROOTS +16. THE BULL AND THE GNAT + +WISDOM OF HEEDING GOOD ADVICE + +17. THE FARMER AND HIS THREE SONS +18. THE YOUNG FOX +19. VISIT OF THE MOUSE TO THE COUNTRY +20. THE TWO DOVES + +BASENESS OF DECEIT + +21. THE HORSE AND THE WOLF +22. THE BIRDS, THE BEASTS, AND THE BAT +23. THE BEES, THE DRONES, AND THE WASP +24. THE WOODMAN AND HIS AXE +25. THE FOX WITH HIS TAIL CUT OFF +26. THE BLACKBIRD AND THE DOVE + +RESULTS OF GREEDINESS + +27. THE GREEDY DOG +28. THE GOOSE THAT LAID GOLD EGGS + +DESIRABILITY OF CONTENTMENT + +29. THE DONKEY AND HIS MASTERS +30. THE COBBLER AND THE RICH MAN + +VALUE OF THINKING FOR ONESELF + +31. THE ICE KING +32. THE WOLF, THE GOAT, AND THE KID +33. THE WISE GOAT +34. THE SHEPHERD AND THE DOGS +35. THE BOY AND THE NUTS +36. THE CROW AND THE PITCHER +37. THE GROCER AND HIS DONKEY +38. THE THREE FISH + +WISDOM OF SELF-RELIANCE + +39. THE WAGONER +40. THE LARK AND THE FARMER + +KINDNESS AND ITS RESULTS + +41. THE LION AND THE MOUSE +42. THE ANT AND THE DOVE +43. THE HAPPY FAMILY +44. THE TYRANT WHO BECAME A JUST RULER + +MISCELLANEOUS + +WISDOM OF PERSEVERANCE + +45. THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE + +FOLLY OF TRYING TO PLEASE EVERYBODY + +46. THE MILLER, HIS SON, AND THEIR DONKEY + +APPEARANCES SOMETIMES DECEITFUL + +47. THE PUG DOG AND HIS SHADOW + +PUNISHMENT OF TREACHERY + +48. THE PARTRIDGE IN THE NET + +GENTLENESS BETTER THAN HARSHNESS + +49. THE NORTH WIND AND THE SUN + +MEANNESS OF SELFISHNESS + +50. THE CAMEL AND HIS MASTER + + + + + +FIFTY FAMOUS FABLES + + + + + +THE TORTOISE AND THE DUCKS + + +"Take me with you, please," called a tortoise to a gray duck and a +white duck that were flying over. + +The ducks heard the tortoise and flew down toward him. + +"Do you really wish to go with us?" asked the ducks as they came +to the ground near the tortoise. + +"I surely do," replied the tortoise. "Will you please take me?" + +"Why, yes, I think we can do so," said the white duck slowly. + +The two ducks talked together in low tones for a few minutes. Then +they flew to the woods. They soon brought back a strong twig and +dropped it in front of the tortoise. + +"Now," said the ducks, "if we take you off to see the world, you +must promise us one thing." + +"What is that?" asked the tortoise. "I will promise almost +anything if you will let me go." + +"You must promise not to say one word while you are in the air, +NOT ONE WORD," replied the ducks. + +"All right, I promise," said the tortoise. "Sometimes I do not say +a word for a whole day because there is no one to listen to me." + +"Well, take firm hold of the middle of the twig; we are ready to +start," said the gray duck. + +"If you value your life, you must hold on tightly," said the white +duck. + +The tortoise took hold of the middle of the twig and each duck +took hold of one end. + +Then they flew up! up! up! while the tortoise swung from the +middle of the twig. How he enjoyed it! He had never had such a +ride. + +They had gone a long way safely when they came to a hayfield. The +haymakers looked up and saw the ducks and the tortoise. + +"Ho! ho! the tortoise has stolen some wings," called one of the +haymakers. + +"What a queer carriage he has!" laughed another in a loud voice. + +"I pity his horses," said another. + +This made the tortoise so angry that he cried out, "You--" but no +one knows what he was going to say, for he fell to the ground and +was killed. + +[Footnote: Adapted from The Tortoise and the Geese, in a book of +the same name published by Houghton, Mifflin Co.] + + + + + +THE MOUSE AND THE FROG + + +A frog, while out walking one day, saw a mouse coming toward him. + +"There is that foolish mouse," said he. "I will play a good joke +on him," and he grinned as he thought how much fun he would have. + +As they met, the frog said, "Good morning, Sir Mouse; I hope I +find you well to-day." + +"Very well," replied the mouse. "How are you?" + +"My health is not very good, so I have taken a holiday. If you are +not busy, what do you say to our spending the day together?" + +"Good!" answered the mouse. "I have little to do and nothing would +suit me better." So they started off together. + +They had not gone far when the frog said, "Let me tie one of your +front feet to one of my hind legs, so that I may not lose you." + +"All right," replied the mouse. "We shall surely be fast friends +then." + +So the frog took a blade of grass and fastened one of the mouse's +front feet to one of his hind legs. When the frog leaped, the +mouse tumbled after. Then they stopped and had a big laugh; it was +very funny. + +They first went to an oat field, where the frog found many +insects, and the mouse plenty of grain. + +Beyond this field there was a pond. The frog had been going toward +this pond all of the time, but the mouse had not noticed it. They +were soon on its bank. + +When the mouse saw the pond he cried out, "Oh, you know I do not +like the water, Mr. Frog. Let us go to the barn." + +"Nothing would do you so much good as a cool bath on this hot day. +You have never taken one, so you can not know how good it will +make you feel," and the frog jumped into the water. + +The mouse tried to get free, but the frog only laughed. + +A hawk, looking down, saw the mouse and swooped down upon it. +Since the frog was fastened to the mouse, he too was carried off, +and both lost their lives. + +When the other frogs heard of what had happened, they said, +"Served him right. Served him right," and no frog since that time +has ever played a mean joke. + + + + + +THE BOYS AND THE FROGS + + +"Let us go to the pond and have some fun," said George. + +"What fun can we have there?" asked Frank. "The pond is nothing +but an old mudhole. We can not swim in such water." + +Down at the pond the sun shone warm, and an old mother frog and +her children were sunning themselves on a log. Now and then one +plunged into the water with a chug! and then crawled out on the +bank. + +That was a happy time in frog land. + +In the midst of their play, they heard a sound which made the +mother frog tremble. It was only a boy's laugh, but as soon as the +mother heard it she said, "Into the water, every one of you. The +giants are coming;" and they all jumped into the water. + +The giants had armed themselves with pebbles. Each one had a +pocketful. As soon as they caught sight of the frogs, they cried, +"Now for some fun!" + +Before the mother frog could reach the water, a stone hit her on +one of her feet. The one-sided battle had begun. + +Every time a little frog peeped out of the water to get a breath +of air or to look at the two giants, whiz! flew a pebble right +toward it, and it never cared to look at its enemies again. + +The mother became very angry. She lifted her head boldly above the +water. + +"Cowards!" she cried. "If we could sting, would you fight us? If +we could bite, would you be here? You have great sport tormenting +us, because we cannot fight for ourselves. You are cowards! +cowards!" + +And all the little frogs echoed, "Cowards! cowards!" + + + + + +THE SHEPHERD BOY AND THE WOLF + + +John was a shepherd boy. He cared for his father's sheep. As there +were many wolves prowling about waiting for a chance to kill the +sheep, John had to be very watchful. + +Some men were harvesting wheat in a field not far from where the +flock was feeding. One day they were startled by the cry, "A wolf! +a wolf!" They looked up and saw John motioning wildly to them and +pointing toward the sheep. + +They threw down their sickles and ran to the flock. But they found +the sheep quietly grazing, and there was no wolf to be seen. + +"Where is the wolf?" they asked. + +"I didn't say the wolf was here,' replied John, and he laughed +loud and long as he saw the look of surprise in the men's faces. + +"What do you mean, you young rascal, by fooling us so?" they +cried. + +If they could have caught John, they would have given him a sound +whipping, but he had run out of their reach. + +Not many days after, these same men heard the cry, "Wolf! wolf!" + +"John is trying to fool us again," they said, and went on with +their work. + +John called again and again, and seemed in so much trouble that +the kind-hearted men left their work and hurried toward the sheep +pasture. + +When they came to the pasture, they knew that John had been +playing another trick on them. They looked for him, but could not +find him. He had hidden in some bushes where he could look on and +enjoy their surprise and anger. At last they went back to their +work. + +One day wolves did come. John was very much frightened. He ran to +the men for help. They only laughed at him. "Oh, you have fooled +us twice," they said. "You shall not have another chance." + +"But the wolves are surely there," cried John. "They are killing +the sheep. Do come and help!" The men kept on with their work and +did not even look at John. + +Before he could find anyone who would believe him, many of the +sheep had been killed. + + + + + +THE TWO GOATS + + +A small stream ran between two hills. Over this stream there was a +very narrow bridge. If two persons came to the opposite ends of +this bridge at the same time, one must wait for the other to cross +before he could go over. + +One morning, two goats, a black one and a white one, reached the +opposite ends of the bridge at the same moment. + +The black goat called out to the white one, "Hold on a minute; I +am coming over." + +The white goat replied, "No, I will go over first; I am in a +hurry." + +"No," said the black goat, "I will not wait for you. I am the +older." + +"You shall wait for me," roared the white goat as he stepped upon +the bridge and started across. + +"We'll see if I am to wait for you," said the black goat, and he +too started across. + +They met in the middle of the bridge. + +"Go back and let me cross,' said the white goat, stamping his +foot. + +"Go back, yourself," replied the black goat, and he pushed against +the other. + +They were very angry. Each drew back. Their heads came together +with terrible force. They locked horns. The white goat lost his +footing and fell, pulling the black goat over with him, and both +were drowned. + + + + + +THE STRIKE OF THE MILL FEEDERS + + +The mill feeders of a great mill--the stomach--met together to +talk over their trials. + +The hands said, "We are tired of carrying grist to the door of the +greedy mill. We would rather spend all our time painting pictures +or writing books." + +"We were made for talking and singing," said the lips, "but much +of our time has to be spent in taking grist for the mill." + +"And we," said the teeth, "give our life to crushing the grist +which is brought to the mill. We are wearing out in its service, +but what thanks do we get?" + +"I have never had a holiday," said the tongue. "I do not mind +talking, but I do not like to work for the mill. Three times a day +or oftener, I must help the teeth to prepare the grist. I am tired +of it." + +The gullet said, "My whole life is given up to carrying the grist +to the mill. I do not like such work. Let the mill feed itself. It +has no business to work us to death." + +"Let us all stop work," cried the mill feeders. "We will stop at +once;" and so the mill shut down. + +Many hours after, the lips said, "How strange that we should not +feel like talking now that we have nothing else to do!" + +The hands said, "We are too weak to paint or to write. We never +felt so tired before." + +The tongue became parched and all the mill feeders were unhappy. + +More hours passed; then the mill feeders held another meeting. It +was a short, quiet, earnest meeting. + +"We have been fools," they all said. "The mill was working for us +while we were working for it. Our strength came from the grist +which we sent to it. We can do nothing without the help of the +mill. Let us go to work again. If the mill will only grind for us, +we will gladly furnish the grist." + + + + + +THE FARMER AND HIS SONS + + +"Boys, why are you always quarreling? That is no way to live," +said a farmer to his sons one day. + +The sons would not listen to their father. Each wanted the best of +everything. Each thought the father did more for the others than +for him. + +The father bore the quarreling as long as he could. One day he +called his seven sons to him. He had in his hand a bundle of seven +sticks. + +"I wish to see which one of you can break this bundle of sticks," +he said. + +The oldest one tried first. He was the strongest, but he could not +break it though he used all his strength. Then each of his +brothers tried hard to break the bundle. None of them could break it. + +At last they gave the bundle of sticks back to their father, +saying, "We cannot break it." + +The father untied the bundle and gave each son one stick. + +"Now see if you can break the sticks," said their father. + +They all said, "That is very easily done," and they held up the +broken sticks. + +"Now tell us why you asked us to break these sticks," said the +sons. + +"Do you not see," replied the father, "that if you all stand +together, nothing can harm you; but if each of you stands by +himself, you may easily be ruined?" + + + + + +THE FOUR OXEN AND THE LION + + +"Those oxen are too good friends to suit me," said a hungry lion. +"They are never far apart, and when I am near them they turn their +tails to one another and show long sharp horns on every side. They +even walk down to the river together when they become thirsty. If +I could catch one of them by himself, I should have a feast." + +But one day the oxen had a quarrel. + +"The grass is freshest over in the valley," said one of them. "Let +us go there." + +"Oh, I don't like the grass there," said another. "It is better on +the side of the hill. Let us spend the day there." + +"I do not want to climb the hill," said the third ox. "The grass +right here suits me best." + +"I do not like any of the places of which you speak," said the +fourth ox. "Come with me and I will find you the best grass you +ever tasted." + +"I am going to the valley," said the first ox. "You three may go +where you please." + +"And I shall go to the hill," said the second ox. "I think you are +mean not to go with me." + +"And I," said the third ox, "shall stay right here. You may all be +sorry if you leave me. The lion may catch you." + +"I am not afraid of the lion," said the fourth ox; "and if none of +you will go with me, I shall go by myself to hunt a better pasture +than any of you can find. I am older than you and I know where the +best grass grows. You had better follow me." + +"We will not do it," said the other three oxen. "You are not our +leader if you are older." + +So the four oxen separated. One went to the valley. The lion was +down by the river and saw him coming. He waited quietly until the +ox was very near; then he pounced upon him and killed him. + +Then the lion looked about for the other oxen. One of them was +feeding on the hill. He saw the lion coining, but, he could not +get away. He could not defend himself with only one pair of horns; +so he too was killed. + +As the other two oxen were far apart, it was an easy matter for +the lion to kill them also. And that is the way the quarrel ended. + + + + + +THE HUNTER AND THE FARMER + + +"Are you afraid of a lion? I am not. There is nothing that I +should like better than to meet one," said a man to his neighbor +whose calf the lion had killed. "To-morrow morning I will go out +and hunt for this fierce lion, which is doing so much harm. If he +is anywhere about, I shall find him and kill him, and thus rid the +village of fear." + +The next morning the man started out alone to hunt the lion. He +had, a gun and a sword. He looked so brave as he started off that +the people in the village said, "What a blessing it is to have so +fearless a man in our village! He will keep us from harm." + +He walked several miles. At last he came near a jungle. He thought +that the lion might have his home there. He asked a farmer whom he +met if he had seen the tracks of a lion. + +"Yes," said the farmer, "and I will show you where you can find +him." + +When the man heard this, he turned pale and trembled with fright. + +"I do not care to see the lion," he cried. "I only wanted to see +his tracks." + +The farmer turned away in disgust, saying, "It is easy to be brave +when you are out of danger." + + + + + +THE FOX IN THE WELL + + +Once upon a time a fox fell into a well. He was not hurt by his +fall. As there was little water in the well, he was in no danger +of drowning; but he could not get out. + +He cried, "Help! help! help! help!" but no one heard him. + +By and by a wolf passed by the well. He heard the call. He looked +into the well and asked, "Who is down there?" + +"It is I," cried the fox. "I am glad that you have come to help me +out." + +"How did you get down there?" asked the wolf. "Have you been there +long? Is the water very deep? Poor fellow, I do pity you! That is +no place for you. You have a very bad cold, I see. I wish you were +out." + +"Please don't talk to me," cried the fox. "It is help I need. Do +get me out and then I shall know that you are sorry for me." + + + + + +THE MICE IN COUNCIL + + +What a queer meeting that was down in the cellar! There were big +mice, little mice, old mice, young mice, gray mice, and brown +mice, all very sober and thoughtful. + +At last an old mouse spoke up and said, "Shall we have Mr. +Graypate for our chairman? All those who wish Mr. Graypate to be +chairman will please hold up their right hands." Every mouse +raised a tiny paw. + +Mr. Graypate walked out to the front and took charge of the +meeting. It was well that they chose him, for he was the wisest +mouse in the whole country. Gazing over the crowd, he said, "Will +Mr. Longtail tell us why we have met here? Mr. Longtail, come out +in front where we can hear you." + +Mr. Longtail walked slowly to the front. Then he stood upon his +hind legs and said: + +"My friends, I think you all know why we are here. Last night Mrs. +Whitenose, whom we all love, and all her family were killed by the +big white cat. The night before, while Mrs. Blackfoot was out +hunting, all her cunning little babies were killed by the same +cat. Early this week one of my finest boys was killed. You or I +may be next. + +"Must we bear this and do nothing at all to save our loved ones +and ourselves? We have met here to make some plan for our +defense." + +Having spoken, Mr. Longtail walked back into the crowd. + +Mr. Graypate arose and said: + +"You have heard why we are here. Anyone who has a good plan for +ridding us of the cat will please tell of it. The meeting is open +to all." + +"Let us all run at him suddenly when he is not looking for us, and +each give him a bite. That would surely kill him," said one brave +mouse. + +"But how many of us do you think he would kill?" said another +mouse. "I will not risk my life nor that of my family." "Nor I"; +"nor I"; "nor I," said many other mice. + +"Let us steal his food and starve him to death," suggested +another. + +"That will only make him hungrier for mice," they replied. "That +will never do." + +"I wish we might drown him," said another; "but I don't know how +we could get him into the water." + +At last a little gray mouse with a squeaky voice went up to the +front and spoke: + +"I have a plan that will surely work. If we could know when the +cat is coming, we could get out of his way. He steals in upon us +so quietly, that we can not escape. Let us find a little bell and +a string. Let us put the bell on the string and tie the string +around the cat's neck. As soon as we hear the bell, we can run and +get out of the cat's way." + +"A very good plan," said Mr. Longtail. "We will ask our leader to +say which mouse shall put the bell on the cat's neck." + +At this there was a great outcry. One said, "I am so little that I +can not reach high enough to bell the cat." Another said, "I have +been very sick and am too weak to lift the bell"; and so the +excuses came pouring in. + +At last Mr. Graypate called to the crowd, "Silence! I shall choose +no one. Who will offer to bell the cat?" + +It was very quiet in the meeting. One after another of the younger +mice went out. None but the older ones were left. At last they too +went sadly home. No one would bell the cat. + + + + + +THE FOX AND THE CROW + + +One day the door of a cottage stood open. A tame crow flew through +the door into the cottage. She stole a piece of meat from the +table, and flew to a branch of a tall tree. + +Just as she had settled there to enjoy her meat a fox came along +and stopped under the tree. He sniffed something good to eat. +Looking about, he saw the meat in the crow's mouth and wanted it. + +How could he get the meat? He could not climb the tree. What good +would it do if he could? The crow would fly away when she saw him +coming. He could not coax the crow to come down to the ground. She +knew what a fox likes to eat. + +At last the fox had a happy thought. He said to himself, "A crow +is one of the proudest birds I ever knew. I will flatter her and +she will forget about the meat." + +So he called out in his sweetest voice, "Good day, my pretty +bird"; but the crow did not reply. She only stepped about proudly +on the branch. + +"I wish I had such a beautiful form as you have," said the fox. + +Still no answer, but the crow held up her head and turned it first +to one side and then to the other, showing that she was pleased. + +"What a graceful neck and bright eye!" said the fox. "The other +birds may well be jealous of you." + +No answer yet. She only raised her wings a little and gazed down +upon the fox. + +"If your voice were only as beautiful as your form and your dress, +you would be queen of all the birds; but it seems that you can not +talk at all. What a pity that you are dumb!" + +The crow gave a loud "caw!" As she did so, the meat fell from her +mouth. The fox snapped it up quickly. + +Poor crow, she saw when too late that the fox was only fooling +her. + + + + + +THE VAIN CROW + + +"I hate a black dress, no matter how glossy," said a proud crow. +"I have made up my mind to be a peacock." + +As he said this, he flew away to a barnyard where he found some +feathers which the peacock had shed. He picked these up with his +bill and placed them among his own feathers. + +Then he marched back and forth, looking at his fine new coat. He +even tried to walk like the peacock. + +The peafowls came into the yard. They did not know at first what +to make of the sight. Then they saw that the crow was trying to +dress and act as they did. They flew at him, calling, "Away with +the cheat! Away with the cheat!" They pulled out all the peacock +feathers and many of his own glossy black ones. + +He was glad to get away alive, and flew back to his own family and +old friends. But one of the crows had seen him in the barnyard and +told the others how silly he had been acting. + +"Where have you been?" they cried. "We know. We know. We will not +have you in this flock. Away! away!" And they drove him from them. + +Even the owls, whom he had always hated, made eyes at him and +screamed, "Ch-ea-t! ch-ea-t!" + +He flew into the forest. Here in a tree by a pond he lived a +lonely life. + +The tree-toads learned their queer song from him. This is his +warning to them. "Don't, don't-be-cheat! Don't, don't-be-cheat!" + + + + + +THE HOUSE AND THE LOADED DONKEY + + +A man once owned a beautiful black horse and a very ugly donkey. + +The horse always had plenty to eat and was well groomed, but the +donkey was very poorly cared for. + +One bright morning both animals were made ready for a long +journey. A saddle was placed upon the horse, and a heavy pack of +goods was loaded upon the donkey. + +The donkey was a very patient animal. When well, he never +complained of his hard lot, but this morning he staggered under +the weight of his load. After going a short distance, he looked up +at the proud horse and asked: + +"Would you mind helping me to-day? I feel too ill to carry this +heavy load. If you will help me, I shall soon be well and able to +carry the whole load. If you refuse to help me, I shall surely +fall by the way; then you will have to bear the burden alone." + +The horse held his head very high while the donkey was talking; +then he replied: + +"Go on, you lazy beast! I am not a burden bearer. No, I will not +take one ounce of your load." + +The donkey groaned and moved forward a few steps, then fell to the +ground dead. + +The load was taken from the dead donkey's back and placed upon the +horse. + +At the close of the day the horse reached the end of his journey. +Every bone in his body was aching, and he was so lame that he +could hardly walk. + + + + + +THE LEAVES AND THE ROOTS + + +"We cast cool shade upon the green grass," whispered the +fluttering leaves. "We dress the tree in fresh and quiet green. It +is bare and brown without us. The tired traveler and the panting +beast are thankful for our shade. Children love to play under our +shelter. At night the song birds of the woods fly to us for our +protection. We hide the nests of mother birds. The light winds +stay with us and caress us." And the leaves felt very proud and +important. + +"What you say is all very true, but you should not forget us," +said a voice from the earth. "We are surely worth something." + +"And who are you? Where do you grow?" asked the leaves. + +"We are buried deep in the ground, far below you, but we feed the +stem and make you grow. We are the roots. You owe your beauty to +us. We are not beautiful as you are, but we do not die. Winter +does not change us, but when it comes you fall. The tree stands +firm, for it is held in place by us. If we should die, the tree +would die and you would die with it." + + + + + +THE BULL AND THE GNAT + + +A gnat perched upon the horn of a bull. "Dear sir," he said to the +bull, "I am sorry to trouble you, but I am too worn out to go any +farther. Does my weight tire you? When you can bear it no longer, +I shall go on." + +"You need not leave on my account," said the bull. "I did not know +when you sat down and I shall not miss you when you leave." + + + + + +THE FARMER AND HIS THREE SONS + + +A farmer who had worked hard all his life was taken sick. He knew +that he must soon die. He called his three sons about his bed to +give them some advice. + +"My sons," said he, "keep all of the land which I leave you. Do +not sell any of it, for there is a treasure in the soil. I shall +not tell you where to hunt for it, but if you try hard to find it, +and do not give up, you will surely succeed. + +"As soon as the harvest is over, begin your search with plow, and +spade, and rake. Turn every foot of earth, then turn it again and +again. The treasure is there." + +After the father died, the sons gathered in the harvest. As soon +as the grain had been cared for, they planned to search for the +hidden treasure. The farm was divided into three equal parts. Each +son agreed to dig carefully his part. + +Every foot of soil was turned by the plow or by the spade. It was +next harrowed and raked, but no treasure was found. That seemed +very strange. + +"Father was an honest man and a wise man," said the youngest son. +"He would never have told us to hunt for the treasure if it were +not here. Do you not remember that he said, 'Turn the soil again +and again'? He surely thought the treasure worth hunting for." + +"Our land is in such good condition now that we might as well sow +winter wheat," said the oldest son. His brothers agreed to this +and the wheat was sown. + +The next harvest was so great that it surprised them. No +neighbor's field bore so many bushels of wheat to the acre. The +sons were pleased with their success. + +After the wheat was harvested, they met to make plans for +searching again for the hidden treasure. The second son said: + +"I have been thinking ever since our big harvest that perhaps +father knew how this search would turn out. We have much gold, We +did not find it in a hole in the ground, but we found it by +digging. If we had not cultivated our fields well, we should not +have had such a crop of wheat. Our father was wise; we have dug +for the treasure and have found it. + +"We will cultivate the ground still better next year and make the +soil rich; then we shall find more treasure." + +The other sons agreed to this. "It is good to work for what we +get," they said. + +Year after year the farm was well tilled and bore good crops. The +sons became rich, and they had two things much better than wealth +--good health and happiness. + + + + + +THE YOUNG FOX + + +"You may hunt with me now, Reynard," said a wise old fox to his +young son. "It is time that you were beginning to make your +living." + +"That pleases me well," said Reynard. "I should not mind going out +alone." + +"You are not ready yet to go by yourself. There are many things +that I must teach you first. Do not go without me." + +Reynard said nothing, but the next day, when his father was +asleep, he went out into the field and brought home a nice, fat +partridge. + +He wakened his father by a quick bark and said, "See what I have +caught. I do not need to go with you." + +"You do not know what you need," replied his father. "No wise fox +hunts in the daytime." + +But Reynard did not mind what his father said, and every day he +went out hunting. He killed so many chickens, turkeys and ducks +that everyone tried to catch him. + +One night the old fox started out alone, but Reynard crept slowly +after him. The old fox went toward a large farmhouse. He stopped +suddenly in the path and waited; then he ran on quickly. + +Reynard followed. He stopped at the same place where the old fox +had stopped. + +"What is this?" he said. "A fine white turkey down in the grass! +Well, well, is my father losing his sharp sight and his keen +scent? I shall not let such a prize get away from me!" + +He sprang upon the turkey. The trap gave a loud snap, and Reynard +was a prisoner. + +"What a fool I am!" he said. "I saw the bait. My father saw the +trap." + + + + + +VISIT OF THE MOUSE TO THE COUNTRY + + +"Mother, may I go into the country to-day? You said I might go +some day. I am big enough now to go out alone. Do let me go," said +Frisky, a young mouse, to his mother. + +"Well, child, I can not be with you always. I suppose there must +be a first time for you to go out alone. I dread to have you go, +but if you will promise to run home if a cat comes near you, I +will let you go," said Mrs. Gray, the mother. + +"I will run, mother, if I see a cat. You know how fast I can go. I +should like to see any cat catch me. I shall not be gone long. +Good-by, mother," and off went Frisky. + +Mrs. Gray watched him until he was out of sight. "I wish I had +gone with him," she said. "He does not know the world as I do. I +fear some harm will come to him," and she looked very much worried +as she turned to go into her house. She tried to sleep, for she +was very tired; but when she dozed she dreamed, and her dreams +were all bad ones. + +At last she went back to the door and looked for Frisky. He was +coming, leaping along in a great hurry. He began talking to his +mother before he reached her. + +"Oh, mother," he said, "I met two big creatures on the other side +of the pasture. + +"One of them was very fine looking. She had very gentle ways. She +stepped about so quietly that one could scarcely hear her. Her +dress was of soft gray fur, much like yours, mother, and she wore +whiskers like yours. I knew you would like to see her, so I was +just going to invite her home with me when a terrible-looking +creature came right toward me. + +"He walked as if he were too good to step on the ground. His legs +were naked, his toes were long, and his toe nails were strong and +sharp. His dress was not so soft as yours. It was black and white. +His mouth looked like a trap. I tell you, mother, I should hate to +get caught in that trap. On top of his head was something that +wobbled as he walked. He straightened himself up, raised his arms +and screamed. Such a scream! It nearly frightened me to death. He +isn't coming, is he, mother? Do let me run into the house." + +"My son," said his mother, stopping Frisky as he tried to pass +her," I shall not let you go out alone again until you know more. + +"That animal which you liked so well and wished to invite to our +house is a cat. It is the very one no doubt that killed all of +your brothers and sisters when they were quite small. She would +have killed you too at the same time if a dog had not come along +and frightened her away. If you had gone close to her this +afternoon, I should never have seen you again. I thought you would +know a cat. + +"The creature of which you were afraid cares nothing for us. He +would not have harmed you. He has bare legs so he can wade about +in the grass and not get his clothing wet. He uses those long toes +and sharp claws to scratch in the earth for food. He does not +catch mice with them. He uses that strong bill for picking up +grain. People call him a rooster." + + + + + +THE TWO DOVES + + +Two doves, White-coat and Blue-feather, lived in a dovecote. They +were brothers and were very fond of each other. White-coat was a +great home body, but Blue-feather liked to travel. + +One day Blue-feather said to White-coat, "I want to see the world. +This place is very tame. I have lived here all my life (he was +only six months old) and have seen all there is to see. I want to +visit other countries." + +"Don't go, Blue-feather," said White-coat. "We have all we want to +eat here, everyone is kind, and we have a good home. I have heard +that in other places men set traps for birds or shoot them, and +that sometimes large hawks swoop down and carry them off. You +might be caught out in a storm and find no shelter; besides, it +would almost kill me to be separated from you long. You might be +able to bear it, but not I. Surely it is best to stay at home." + +Just then a crow cawed. "Do you hear that crow, brother?" asked +White-coat. "It seems to say, 'You will be sorry if you go.' Do +not go. Take his warning. See, too, it is raining. If you must go, +do put it off until a better time." + +"White-coat, why do you make such a fuss about nothing? I shall +not be gone more than three days; then you shall hear of all the +wonderful things I saw. I shall tell what happened to me from the +beginning of my journey until its close. It will be almost as good +as going yourself." + +"I do not care about the world," said White-coat. "How can I let +you go! You will find me watching for you at whatever time of day +or night you reach home. I can not eat, I can not sleep, with you +away." + +At this, they said. a sad good-by to each other, and Blue-feather +flew away. + +A dark cloud covered the sky. Blue-feather looked about for +shelter. He flew to the only tree near, but its leaves could not +keep off the driving rain, so his coat was wet through and +through. + +When the sky was clear again, Blue-feather left the tree and dried +his plumage as he flew. + +On the borders of a wood he spied some scattered grains of wheat. +He was hungry and saw no reason why he should not pick them up. As +he flew down, a snare was drawn about him. The wheat had been put +there to tempt pigeons so that they might get caught. It was well +for Blue-feather that the snare had been in use a long time and +was rotten. By using his beak and wings he got loose, but he lost +a few feathers out of his pretty coat. + +A hawk saw him as he rose. Blue-feather was dragging a piece of +the string which he could not loosen from his leg. The hawk was +about to seize him. It seemed as if there was no help for him. But +just at that moment an eagle caught the hawk and carried him off. + +Blue-feather flew as fast as he could to a high fence, where he +stopped to rest. He thought his dangers were over. He was very +homesick. + +While Blue-feather was sitting on the fence, a boy saw him. He +nearly killed the poor bird with a shot from his sling. + +Blue-feather was just able to fly. His leg was lame, and one wing +was hurt, but he steered straight for home. + +Late at night he arrived at his own dovecote, tired and hungry, +but happy to be safe at home again. He found White-coat waiting +for him. + +White-coat smoothed his poor brother's feathers, nestled close to +him, and soothed him with his coo! coo! coo! + + + + + +THE HORSE AND THE WOLF + + +A horse, in the early spring, was turned into a pasture of fresh +grass. He was enjoying himself very much when a hungry wolf spied +him. The horse did not see the wolf. + +The wolf said, "I want that horse. I have not had a good meal for +a month. He is so big that I can not catch him as I would a sheep. +I shall have to play a trick." So he lay down on the ground and +thought how he could deceive the horse and then catch him. + +"I have it," he said at last. "I will be a doctor. The horse is +sound and well, but I will make him think that he needs a doctor; +then I shall tell him that I can cure him." The wolf smacked his +lips as he thought of the meal he would soon have. + +He marched into the pasture in a very business-like way. Going +right up to the horse, he said: + +"Good morning, my dear sir. This is fine grass you are eating and +a beautiful morning to be out. I am sorry to see you looking so +poorly this bright day. I happen to be a doctor. As you know, a +good doctor can tell at sight when one is sick. If you were well, +you would not have been turned out to pasture. You know that there +is much work to be done at this time of the year. Your master must +think that you are not able to work. + +"Now, my friend, be frank with me; tell me what ails you, that I +may cure you. I have been to the best schools in the country. +There I learned about diseases of every kind and a sure cure for +every disease. If you have no money to pay my bill, do not let +that trouble you. We can settle that later." + +The horse looked at the wolf out of the corner of his eye and +said, "Now that I think of it, I believe that something is wrong +with the bottom of my left hind foot." + +All the time the wolf had been looking for a good chance to spring +upon the horse, but the horse did not let him get out of his sight +for an instant. + +When the horse told of his trouble the wolf replied, "Yes, I +understand just what is the matter. There are many others having +that same trouble this year. I have had as many as twenty cases. +All are doing well. Let me look at your foot. Raise it now, +please, care--" + +At this instant the horse raised his foot, and with it gave the +wolf such a terrible kick in his face that he fell heavily to the +ground. The horse went on feeding. + +As soon as the wolf was able to get up, he went groaning out of +the field. He was cured of one thing, but the medicine was very +bitter. + + + + + +THE BIRDS, THE BEASTS, AND THE BAT + + +There was once a terrible war between the birds and the beasts. +For a long time it was doubtful which would win. + +The bat said, "I am not a bird and I am not a beast, so I shall +fight on neither side." + +At last the beasts seemed to be gaining the victory. The bat flew +to them and said, "I am a beast. Look at my body and you will see +that I am. I shall fight on your side." + +New flocks of birds came to help their relatives, and the battle +soon turned against the beasts. + +Then the bat skulked over to the other side. "I am a bird," said +he. "I can prove it by my wings," and he fought with the birds. + +At last the war was over. The bat was hated by beasts and birds. +Both made war upon him. He was obliged to slink off and hide in +dark places during the day, never showing his face until dusk. + + + + + +THE BEES, THE DRONES, AND THE WASP + + +Some working bees had made their comb in the hollow trunk of an +oak. + +The drones said, "We made that comb. It belongs to us." + +"You did not make that comb," replied the workers. "You know +very well that you did not. We made it." + +The drones answered, "That comb belongs to us and we are going to +have it." + +So the workers took the case to Judge Wasp that he might decide +the matter. + +The workers and the drones settled down before him. "You workers +and drones," said he, "are so much alike in shape and color that +it is hard to tell which has been seen in the tree. But I think +the matter can be justly decided. Each party may go to a hive in +which there is no honey, and build up a new comb. The one that +makes comb and honey like that found in the tree is the owner of +the tree comb." + +"All right," said the workers, "we will do it;" but the drones +said, "We will have nothing to do with such a plan." + +So Judge Wasp said, "It is plain to see which of you made the +comb. It belongs to the workers." + +The drones buzzed away very angry, but they were not able to harm +the workers or the judge, and the workers went back to their tree. + + + + + +THE WOODMAN AND HIS AX + + +One day a poor woodman lost his ax. He hunted all day, but he +could not find it. He was very sad, for how could he make a living +for his family without an ax? Besides he had no money with which +to buy a new one. As night came on, he sank down by the roadside +and buried his face in his hands. + +He heard a noise in the bushes and raised his head. A stranger was +standing by him. "What is the matter?" asked the stranger. The +woodman told him of his trouble. + +"I am sorry your ax is lost," said the stranger. "Would you know +it if you were to see it? I found an ax in the road. It may be +yours. Is this it?" he asked, holding out a gold ax. + +"No," answered the woodman, "that is not my ax. All the money I +ever earned would not buy such an ax as that." + +"I found another," said the man. "This must be the one," and he +held out a silver ax. + +"No, that is not mine," replied the woodman. "I am too poor a man +to own such an ax as that." + +"Well, here is another ax that I found. Is this yours?" The +stranger held out an old ax of steel. + +"That is mine, oh, that is mine!" cried the woodman, springing up +joyously and taking his ax from the stranger. "Now we shall not +starve. Thank you, kind sir. Where did you find it?" + +The stranger said, "All three of the axes are yours. I am glad to +make you a present of the gold ax and the silver ax. Let me have +your hand. I am happy to meet an honest man." + +The woodman's neighbors heard of his good fortune. One of them +lost his ax. He appeared to feel very sad over his loss. He sat +down by the roadside and bowed his head, looking out of the +corners of his eyes for the stranger. + +At last he saw the stranger coming around a bend in the road. The +sun shown upon a gold ax which he carried in his hand. He stopped +in front of the woodman. "Why do you grieve, my friend?" he asked. + +"I have lost my ax with which I earned my living," the woodman +replied. + +"Cheer up," said the stranger. "I have an ax here. Is it yours?" + +"That is the very one," said the woodman. "Thank you, stranger," +and he reached out his hand to take the gold ax. + +But the stranger drew back, and put the ax behind him. "It is not +your ax. It is my own, and you wish to claim it. You are both +dishonest and untruthful;" and he turned away. + + + + + +THE FOX WITH HIS TAIL CUT OFF + + +Reynard lost his tail in a trap. Now a fox is proud of two things +--his cunning and his tail. He had allowed himself to be trapped. +This showed his lack of cunning, and he had lost his tail. + +He was so ashamed of himself that he could not bear to meet +another fox. He slunk off to his den and came out only when driven +by hunger. When out hunting, he kept out of the way of all his +neighbors. He did not mean that any of them should know of his bad +luck. + +At last he grew tired of living by himself. He wanted to gossip +with his friends. + +He wondered whether old Rufus was still running on top of the +great meadow fence to throw the hounds off the track. + +He longed to hear of the latest tricks of Fleetfoot's cubs. They +were three of the brightest little foxes that ever lived. He +wished that he could see them at their play. + +He wished to know if the men were still cutting down trees near +White-ear's den. If this went on, White-ear would have to find a +new home. It would be hard for her after living in that beautiful +spot so long. + +If he were to hear the news at all, he must meet his comrades. +"How can I bear to listen to their laugh!" he moaned. + +He had not lost all of his cunning, as you will see. He lay for a +long time with his head between his paws. His eyes were wide open, +but he was not watching for game. He was thinking. + +After a while he jumped up. He said to himself: + +"I shall invite all of my friends to come to my home to-morrow +evening. I shall tell them when they reach here that I can not get +up to meet them for I have been very sick. They will all gather +about me here. I shall sit upon my haunches so that no one will +ever find out that my tail is missing. As they are to be my +guests, I must be the spokesman. My friends have always thought me +to be a very fine speaker. Many times my advice has been asked. I +have given it, and it paid my friends to follow it. The thing +which I shall advise to-morrow will surprise them, but I feel sure +that I can get my friends to follow it. I will set to work now +preparing for the feast." + +Early the next evening Reynard gave a series of strange barks. +This was an invitation to his home. The foxes came from every +direction and met at the foot of an old oak. + +Reynard's den was under this oak. He sat upon his haunches near +the door to welcome his guests as they came, but he did not move. + +"You all know, friends, why I do not rise to welcome you," he +said. "I have been very sick, and if I move about it gives me a +very bad headache." + +Reynard asked his friends, who were standing around him, what they +had been doing for the last week or so. They told many interesting +stories of how they had escaped from traps and dogs and men. + +A pile of chickens, turkeys, and ducks lay in sight not far away. +As they talked, their eyes often wandered to these. + +It grew late. The company became a little restless. At last +Reynard said: + +"Now, friends, before we take our evening meal, I have something +to say for the good of all of us. + +"I have been lying awake nights thinking what we could do to free +ourselves from the weight of our heavy tails. Spring is here with +its rainy weather. You all know how wet and muddy our tails +become. Often I have had to give up a first-class meal and trot +off home, hungry, to stay until my tail had dried. You have had to +do the same. Many a poor fox has lost his life because of his long +tail. + +"Now, what do you say to having our tails cut off? Think what free +lives we shall then lead. I will cut them off if you wish. The +cutting will be almost painless, I am sure. Now let us have them +off in a hurry before supper. After our feast, we shall have a +great dance." + +His visitors were silent for a moment. Some nodded their heads, +showing that they were ready to part with their tails. + +The oldest and wisest fox in the crowd had been looking at Reynard +very closely. He was the only one of all that crowd to miss +Reynard's tail. At last he spoke slowly: + +"Your advice may be good, but before I reply, pray turn yourself +around." + +Poor Reynard saw that he was found out. He dared not refuse to do +as he was told, so he turned about. + +What a shout the foxes gave! Poor bobtail could not say a word. +The foxes seized the turkeys, ducks, and chickens, and ran off +home with their long tails behind them, and poor Reynard was never +again seen by any of them. + + + + + +THE BLACKBIRD AND THE DOVE + + +One day a blackbird and a dove called upon a peacock. + +The peacock received both of them very kindly in his arbor. + +"I have long wished to meet you," said the blackbird. "Many have +told me of your beauty and of your grace. I find that they did not +tell me half." He stroked the peacock's coat lovingly as he +praised him. + +The dove was silent. + +At last they bade the peacock good-by, the blackbird making many +low bows. + +As they started home, the blackbird said, "I hope I may never meet +that stupid peacock again. I can not bear him. Did you notice his +feet? I felt like laughing every time I looked at them. His voice +makes me shudder. What can anyone see to praise in that bird?" + +"I did not notice his feet nor his voice," said the dove. "He has +a noble form and his dress is very beautiful. The rainbow and the +flowers are not more beautiful." + +The blackbird turned away in shame. He wished to hear fault found +with the peacock, but the dove gave only the highest praise. + + + + + +THE GREEDY DOG + + +"What a good time I shall have eating this meat when I get home!" +said a dog as it started to cross a stream of water. + +He stopped suddenly and looked down into the water. There was his +shadow. "That dog has a larger piece of meat than I," he said. "I +want that piece of meat and I will have it!" + +He growled, but the dog in the water did not move nor did he drop +his piece of meat. + +He snapped at the dog in the water. He was soon sorry for that, +for the meat slipped from his mouth and sank to the bottom of the +stream, and the dog in the water lost his meat at the same time. + + + + + +THE GOOSE THAT LAID GOLD EGGS + + +One day a farmer bought a goose and took it home. + +The next day the goose laid an egg of solid gold. + +"That is a wonderful goose," said the farmer, and he took the egg +to a jeweler to find out its value. + +"It is pure gold," said the jeweler, and he paid the farmer a big +price for it. + +Each day the goose laid a gold egg. The farmer had a dozen. + +"I shall soon be a rich man," he said, "but I do wish the goose +would lay more than one egg a day." + +After the goose had laid many eggs, the farmer said, "That goose +has many more gold eggs for me. I will not wait for one a day. I +will kill the goose, open it, and get all the eggs at once." + +So he killed the goose and opened it, but what do you think? There +was not one egg to be found. + + + + + +THE DONKEY AND HIS MASTERS + + +"How I hate this early rising!" said a donkey, with a great yawn. +"I wish I might sleep till sunrise. Here I am, harnessed and ready +to start to town before the roosters crow. And why? To take a +little fruit and a few vegetables to market. Isn't that a foolish +reason for spoiling my dreams!" + +The master was tired of his donkey, for he never seemed willing to +do his work. "I do hate a donkey with his ears turned backward," +he said. "He has no right to complain, for his work is really +light, and he gets plenty of food and rest." + +One day a tanner came along. He saw what a strong donkey the +gardener drove, and asked his price. The gardener was glad to sell +him. "I hope he will enjoy his new work," said the gardener. "He +never seemed quite happy with me." + +The tanner used the donkey to carry hides. These were heavy and +bad-smelling. They almost made him sick. + +"Oh, dear!" the donkey groaned one day. "I wish I were back with +the gardener. The vegetables were fresh and I was often given a +cabbage leaf or a beet top. I did have to get out early, to be +sure, but I did not work late. Here I must work early and late, +and if I turn out of the road to get a mouthful of grass, I am +beaten soundly. I hate this work and this place." + +The donkey was so ill-natured that the tanner sold him to a coal +miner. He was lowered into a coal mine, where he had to pass his +time pulling loads of coal. The mine was dark, and he was kept +very busy. + +"This is very bad," he cried. "I wish I were with the gardener, or +even with the tanner. Anything would be better than working in +this dismal hole in the ground." But there he ended his unhappy +life. + + + + + +THE COBBLER AND THE RICH MAN + + +A cobbler worked in his shop from morning until night, and as he +worked he sang. Tired people who heard him were rested, and sad +men and women were cheered as they came near the shop. Children +visited him and watched him at his work and heard him sing. They +called him "Jolly Gregory." + +"How can he sing when he works so hard and makes so little?" many +asked; but still his singing went on. + +Across the road from the cobbler lived a rich man. His home was +beautiful, his clothes fine, and his fare the best that money +could buy; but never in his life had he been known to give to +anyone who needed help. He was really poor, for he lacked one +thing which he very much wanted--sleep. Sometimes he could not get +to sleep until early morning; then his neighbor's song would waken +him. He wished that sleep could be bought for money. + +One day he said to himself, "I believe I will help that cobbler +over the way. He has a hard time to make enough money to buy his +food and clothes." So he sent for the cobbler. + +"Honest Gregory," he said "how much do you earn in a year?" + +"How much a year?" replied the cobbler, scratching his head. "I +never reckon my money in that way. It goes as fast as it comes, +but I am glad to be able to earn it. I cobble on from day to day +and earn a living." + +"Well then, Gregory, how much do you earn each day?" asked the +rich man. + +"Why, sometimes more and sometimes less," answered the cobbler. +"On many days--the holidays--I earn nothing. I wish there were +fewer of these; but then we manage to live." + +"You are a happy man now," said the rich man, "but I will make you +happier," and he handed the cobbler five hundred dollars. "Go +spend this money carefully. It will supply your needs for many +days," he said. + +The cobbler had never dreamed of so much money before. He thought +it was enough to keep him in food and clothes all his life. + +He took the money home and hid it, but he hid his joy with it. He +stopped singing and became sad. He could not sleep for fear of +robbers. He thought that everyone who came into his shop was +trying to find out his secret, or wished a gift. When a cat ran +over the floor, he thought a thief had slipped through the door. + +At last, poor man, he could bear it no longer. He took the money, +hurried to the rich man, and cried, "Oh, give me back my songs and +my sweet sleep! Here is your money, every cent of it. I made a +poor trade." + +The rich man looked at him and said, "I thought I had made you +happy. I have not missed your songs, for, strange as it may seem, +I have been sleeping soundly ever since I talked with you." + + + + + +THE ICE KING + + +A tribe of Indians lived near a river. One winter the weather was +very cold, and many of them died. + +But spring came at last. The snow melted from the tops of the +mountains and ran in torrents down their steep sides and into the +river. + +The ice in the swollen river broke up into large cakes which +floated down the stream. + +The weather grew warmer. All the ice melted except one big cake +which the flood had left on the bank of the river. + +The sun had been shining on this piece of ice for many days, but +it would not melt. There were signs of spring everywhere except in +this one spot. + +A brave warrior had been watching this piece of ice. He said to +himself, "That is the Ice King, I am sure. I must conquer him." + +He raised his big war club and struck the Ice King, crying, "Come +on, Ice King! Do your best. Freeze me if you can. I will show you +that I am as strong as you are." + +He struck again and again, and the Ice King began to shrink. +Pieces of ice floated down the river. At last he became so small +that the Indian picked him up and tossed him into the river. + +"There!" cried the Indian, "off with you! Never dare to come back +here again." + +The Ice King whirled about and screamed, "I go now, but I shall +come again. Look for me next winter. I will show you then which of +us is the stronger." + +The Indian hunted and fished all summer, but when autumn was near +he began to think of the threat of the Ice King. "He will keep his +word," said the Indian, "and I must get ready to fight him." + +The Indian placed his wigwam among the trees, where it was well +sheltered from the winds. Near it he heaped up a large pile of dry +wood. Then he caught some large fish and tried out their fat so +that he might have plenty of oil. He made thick clothes for +himself out of the skins of animals. During the summer he had +gathered much wild rice, and now he dried meat. While he was +getting ready, the weather was becoming colder. + +At last all was done, and the Indian said, as he sat by his +blazing fire, "Let the Ice King come. I am ready for him." + +That night the Ice King froze the little pools of water. After a +few days the lakes and rivers were frozen. It was very cold. + +One night when the Indian was sitting by his fire, the Ice King +stepped to the door of the wigwam. He walked boldly to the fire +and sat down opposite the Indian. + +How cold the Ice King's breath felt! It nearly put out the fire. +The poor Indian shivered, but he said to himself, "The Ice King +shall not conquer me." He jumped up and threw dry wood on the +fire. Then he poured oil upon the wood. The fire blazed up. The +Indian put on more wood and more oil. The fire roared and +crackled. + +The Ice King began to feel too warm. He moved back a little way. +The fire became hotter. The Ice King moved farther back. He began +to sweat and to grow smaller and weaker. Then he cried out, "My +friend, I am conquered. Let me go! Oh, let me go!" + +The Indian arose and pushed the fire back from the Ice King. Then +he took his trembling hand, lifted him up, and led him to the door +of the wigwam. + +As the Ice King passed out he said, "You have conquered me twice. +You shall always be my master." + +Ever since that time men have been masters of the Ice King. When +his cold breath blows, they make the fires warmer and their +clothing thicker. [Footnote: Adapted from "The Ice Man" in Legends +of the MicMacs, published by S. T. Rand; permission to use given +by Helen S. Webster, owner of copyright.] + + + + + +THE WOLF, THE GOAT, AND THE KID + + +"Good-by, little one," said Mrs. White Paw, the goat, to her +daughter. + +"Do not go, mother, I am afraid to stay here alone," cried little +Nanny. + +"But I must get my dinner or you will have no milk for your +supper," said her mother. + +"There is nothing to fear but the prowling wolf. Bar the door when +I am gone; then he can not get in. Do not open the door unless you +hear this password, 'Cursed be the wolf and all his race!'" + +The mother, as she trotted away, felt no fear for her little +daughter's safety. "No one knows that password but myself," she +said; "but I shall be very glad when Nanny is old enough to go out +with me to dine on the green hill. She is lonely when I am gone." + +Little Nanny was not as safe as the mother thought, for slinking +in the bushes near Mrs. White Paw's home was the hateful wolf. He +heard the password which the mother gave to her little one, and +laughed at the thought of the good feast which he should have by +and by. + +After the mother had been away for some time, the wolf sneaked to +the door of the little house. He knocked, and gave the password, +"Cursed be the wolf and all his race." in a voice much like that +of Mrs. White Paw. + +Nanny started to open the door, thinking that her mother had come +home; but she stopped, for the voice had not sounded quite like +her mother's voice. "I will make sure that it is no one but my +mother," she said to herself. So she called, "Mother, show me your +white paw before I open the door." + +The wolf was angry, for he had no white paw to show. He gave a +long, angry howl and went away. + +The mother heard the howl as she turned her face homeward. "That +will frighten Nanny," she said, and she hurried home. On reaching +the house, she knocked and called in a cheery voice, "Cursed be +the wolf and all his race." + +Nanny did not open the door at once. She called back, "Show me +your white paw, mother." + +Mrs. White Paw put her paw to the crack in the door, and the door +flew open. + +"Why did you not let me in as soon as I gave the password, Nanny?" +asked her mother. + +Nanny told her of the wolf's visit. Mrs. White Paw was very proud +of her wise daughter. + +"Now have your supper, my brave Nanny, and go to bed. How glad I +am that you are safe!" said the happy mother. + + + + + +THE WISE GOAT + + +A goat was on top of a high cliff eating grass. + +A wolf was at the foot of the cliff looking at him. He wanted the +goat for his supper, but he could not climb the steep cliff. + +"Come down here," said the wolf. "The grass is much better here. +See how much of it there is." + +"Thank you," said the goat. "You may have all of that good grass +yourself, but you shall not eat me." + + + + + +THE SHEPHERD AND THE DOGS + + +"Hero is a wonderful dog," said a shepherd, "I have not lost a +sheep since I owned him, not one. Some foolish wolves tried to +kill him when he was a puppy, but he treated them so badly that +they have since been careful to keep out of his way." + +"He is certainly a brave dog," said a neighbor, "but I think you +are foolish to keep him. He eats as much meat as a dozen small +dogs, and smaller dogs would take as good care of your sheep as +he." + +"There may be something in what you say," said the shepherd. "I +have often wished that Hero ate less meat, but I should hate to +part from him." + +The next day the mayor of the town rode by. "What will you take +for that dog of yours?" he asked. + +"I can not spare him," said the shepherd; "he is too good a friend +to part from. His only fault is a liking for meat." + +"I will give you a hundred dollars for him," said the mayor, "and +he shall have all the meat he cares to eat." + +"You will not be foolish enough to refuse that offer, I hope," +said the neighbor. "Think how much meat you will save." + +"I think I shall have to let him go," replied the shepherd, slowly +and sadly. + +That night Hero was taken to the mayor's house and the shepherd +received his money. + +The shepherd found three curs in town to take Hero's place. He +paid nothing for them, for their owners were very glad to get rid +of them. + +The next day the wolves said, "Hero is gone! Hero is gone! Now for +a feast. We do not care for those cowardly dogs." + +When the new dogs saw the wolves coming, they cried out, "Let us +run," and away they all went. + +When the sheep saw the wolves, they too began to run. + +The shepherd was taking care of a lame lamb in a distant part of +the field. When he saw the wolves chasing his sheep, he ran toward +them; but before he could frighten the wolves away, they had +killed several sheep. + +"What a fool I have been," said the shepherd, "to let my neighbor +do my thinking for me!" + + + + + +THE BOY AND THE NUTS + + +A glass jar half full of nuts stood on a table. + +Albert, who was very fond of nuts, saw it. He climbed up on the +table and thrust his hand into the jar, grasping a whole handful. +He tried to pull his hand out. The mouth of the jar was too narrow +for his fist. + +He pulled and pulled and became very angry at the jar, but it was +of no use. + +At last he began to scream and cry. His mother hurried into the +room to find out what was the matter with him. + +"What hurts you, Albert?" she asked. + +"This old jar will not let me have this handful of nuts," cried +Albert. + +His mother laughed when she saw the cause of all his trouble. + +"Do you wish so many nuts?" she asked. "Try taking out a few at a +time." + +Albert did as his mother told him to do, and found that he could +easily get the nuts. + +"When you get into trouble again, my son, stop and think of a way +out, instead of screaming," said his mother. + + + + + +THE CROW AND THE PITCHER + + +No rain had fallen for many weeks. All the small streams and the +ponds were dried up. + +An old crow had been looking for water all the morning. At last he +found some in a pitcher in a garden. He flew down to it and thrust +in his bill; but he could not reach the water. + +He walked around to the other side and tried again; but he could +not get a drink. Oh, how very thirsty he was! It seemed as if he +should faint. + +"I must have that water. I will have it," he said. + +Again he stretched his neck into the pitcher. No, he could not +reach it. + +He stopped a second and seemed to be thinking; then he said, "I +will break the pitcher. My bill is strong and hard." So he gave +the pitcher a hard thump. It did not break. He "thumped! thumped! +thumped!" first here, then there. What a strong pitcher that was! +It did not even crack. + +"This will not do," he said. "I must try some other plan. I am big +and strong. I will tip the pitcher over." + +With that he pushed against it with his breast. It did not move. +It seemed as if he must give up the attempt to get the water, but +he did not once think of doing that. + +Near by in the path lay some pebbles. The crow picked up one in +his bill and let it fall into the pitcher. He dropped one after +another into it. He could see the water rising a little. Now he +worked harder than ever. + +Before very long the water had risen so high that he could reach +it with his bill. How refreshing it was! He drank as much as he +wished, then flew away. + + + + + +THE GROCER AND HIS DONKEY + + +A grocer went to a city not far away to get some salt. He took his +donkey along to carry the load. On their way they had to cross a +little stream over which there was only a narrow footbridge. + +When they reached the city, the grocer placed some heavy sacks of +salt upon the donkey's back and they started homeward. + +On reaching the middle of the stream, the donkey stumbled and +fell. As he arose, the water dripped down his sides and he noticed +that his load had become much lighter. + +The grocer had lost so much salt that it was necessary for him to +return to the city and get a fresh supply. This time he put on a +heavier load than at first. + +When they reached the stream, the donkey said to himself, "This is +a very heavy load that I am carrying, but I know how to make it +lighter," and he lay down in the stream. When he arose, his load +was much lighter, as he had expected. + +"I will break him of that trick," said the grocer. + +He drove the donkey to the city again, and heaped great bags of +sponges upon his back. + +The load was not very heavy, but the donkey said to himself, "I +will make it still lighter." + +When he came to the stream, he lay down again in the water. He +started to rise, but to his surprise he could hardly get up. + +"What can be the matter?" he thought. + +His master, laughing, said, "Have you learned your lesson, old +fellow? We shall see." + +He drove the groaning donkey slowly back to the city, took the +sponges from his back, and loaded him again with salt. + +When the donkey came again to the stream, he picked his way +carefully, for he did not wish to fall. This time he got across +safely, and the grocer arrived at home with his entire load of +salt. + + + + + +THE THREE FISH + + +Three large fish lived very happily in a pond which few people +ever passed. + +One of these fish was always wise, the second was wise sometimes, +but the third was never wise. + +One day two men who were passing by the pond saw the fish. + +One of them said, "Let us hurry home and get our nets. Those fish +are too fine to lose." So they hurried away. + +The three fish were very much frightened. The first one thought a +moment, then swam through the outlet of the pond into the river. + +When the men came back with their nets, there were only two fish +to be seen. They found the outlet of the pond and made a dam +across it. + +The second fish now began to think; he came to the top of the +water and floated on his back. One of the men picked him up in his +net, but he seemed dead, so he threw him back into the water. + +The fish that never thought sank to the bottom of the pond and was +easily caught. [Footnote: Adapted from "The Three Fish" in The +Tortoise and the Geese, published by Houghton, Mifflin Co] + + + + + +THE WAGONER + + +"We must have coal," said the farmers to the wagoner. + +"But the roads are very bad," replied the wagoner. "I never saw +them worse." + +"We can not wait for the roads to dry," said the farmers, "for +without a fire we should take cold. Besides, we should have to eat +uncooked food." + +So the wagoner went into the country with a load of coal. He had +not gone far when his wagon stuck fast in the mud. + +"What am I to do now?" he asked himself. "I ought to have known +better than to start out." + +"Get up!" he cried to his horses. "Get up there, you lazy brutes! +Pull out of here!" + +The horses struggled hard, but they could not start the load. + +"Hey there!" he called to a man who was working in a field near +by. "Come and help us out of this mud-hole." + +The man in the field had been watching the poor horses as they +pulled with all their strength. He was angry at the wagoner for +beating them so cruelly. + +"Put your shoulder to the wheel," he called back. "When you have +done all you can to help yourself, I shall be willing to help +you." + +The wagoner climbed down, muttering to himself, "I don't want to +get down into this mud." + +He put his shoulder to the wheel, pushed long and steadily while +the horses pulled. Slowly the load began to move. Before long it +was on firm ground. + +The wagoner climbed up to his seat and called back to the man who +was working in the field, "My load is out, but no thanks to you." + +The man replied, "You took my advice and put your shoulder to the +wheel; that is what brought you out." + + + + + +THE LARK AND THE FARMER + + +A meadow lark built her nest in a field of wheat. She had a happy +time raising her family, for no one came near her nest. + +There were four little larks in her family, and they were now +nearly large enough to fly. + +The wheat was ripe and the mother knew that men might come to the +field any day to reap; so she said to her little ones, "I am going +out to get your breakfast. You must keep your ears and eyes wide +open while I am gone; if you see or hear anything strange, you +must tell me about it when I come back." + +"All right, mother," said the young larks, "we shall do as you +tell us." + +The mother had been gone but a few minutes when the farmer who +owned the field and his son came out to look at the wheat. + +"This grain is ready to cut," said the farmer to his son. "This +evening go to our neighbor, Mr. White, and ask him to cut it for +us to-morrow." + +The little larks were much frightened. They could hardly wait for +their mother to get home. + +"Oh, mother!" they called out as soon as they saw her; "do take us +away from this field. The farmer has sent for Mr. White to cut +this wheat to-morrow." + +"If that is so," said the mother, "you need have no fear. If he +waits for his neighbor to do his work, his wheat will not be cut." + +Late the next afternoon while the mother lark was away, the farmer +and his son came to the field again. + +"Did you ask Mr. White to reap the grain?" said the farmer. + +"Yes," replied his son, "and he promised to come." + +"But he has not come," said the farmer, "and it is so late that I +know he will not come to-day. The wheat will spoil if it is not +cut. If our neighbors will not help us, we shall have to call upon +our relatives. Go out this afternoon and ask your uncle John and +his sons to cut the wheat for us to-morrow." + +As soon as the mother came home, the little birds said, "The wheat +will surely be cut tomorrow, for the farmer has sent for his +relatives to cut it. Please take us away to-night, mother." + +"Don't worry," said the mother; "there is no danger so long as the +farmer waits for his relatives to do the work. We will stay right +here to-night." + +About noon the next day, the farmer and his son came to the field +again. "This grain is still standing," said the father. "I told +you to get your uncle John and his sons to cut it today. Why has +nothing been done?" + +"I called upon them and asked them to cut the wheat. They said +that they would be here this morning. I do not know why they did +not come." + +"This grain must not stand another day," said the farmer. "It is +shelling out now. You and I will come out here early to-morrow and +cut it ourselves." + +When the mother lark heard that the farmer had made up his mind to +cut the wheat himself, she said to her little ones, "Get ready to +fly away. If the farmer is to do the work himself, it will be done +at once." + + + + + +THE LION AND THE MOUSE + + +A lion was sleeping one day when a little mouse came along and ran +up and down over his face. + +This awakened the lion and made him very angry. + +He put his paw over the mouse and said, "What do you mean by +waking me? You shall pay for this," and he opened his big mouth to +swallow the mouse. + +"Oh, do not kill me, Mr. Lion!" squealed the mouse. "I did not +mean to waken you. Do let me go and I will never trouble you +again." + +"No, I will not let you go," roared the lion. + +"Please do," cried the frightened mouse. "If you will let me go +perhaps I can do something for you sometime." + +This made the lion laugh. "You do something for ME," he said. +"What a joke! Well, you are such a little fellow that I will let +you go this time, but never let me see you about here again," and +he lifted his paw. + +As the little mouse scampered off, he said, "Thank you, kind lion, +I shall not forget your kindness." + +Some time after this the lion was caught in a trap. The hunters +tied him to a tree while they went to get a wagon to carry him +away. + +The lion roared so loud that the ground shook. The little mouse +heard him. + +"That lion is in trouble," he said. "I will see what I can do to +help him," and he ran to the lion. + +When the mouse saw that the lion was tied with ropes, he said, +"Cheer up, Mr. Lion. Be quiet and I will set you free," and he +began gnawing the ropes. + +He worked long and hard and at last the lion was free. + + + + + +THE ANT AND THE DOVE + + +An ant went to the river to get a drink. The water rushed along so +fast that he was washed off the bank into the river. + +"I shall drown!" he cried. "Help! help! help!" but his voice was +so tiny that it could not be heard. + +A dove was sitting in a tree that overhung the water. She saw the +ant struggling, and quickly nipped off a leaf and let it fall into +the water. The ant climbed upon it and floated down the river +until the leaf was washed upon the bank of the stream. + +The ant called out in its tiny voice, "Thank you, kind dove, you +have saved my life;" but of course the dove could not hear him. + +Several days after this, the dove was again sitting in a tree. A +hunter crept carefully up to the tree. His gun was pointed at the +dove and he was about to shoot, when he was bitten in the leg by +an ant. + +He cried out with pain and dropped his gun. This frightened the +dove and she flew away. + +"Thank you, kind ant," cooed the dove, and the ant heard and was +glad. + + + + + +THE HAPPY FAMILY + + +There was once a very queer family living in the woods. There were +four in all--a rat, a raven, a tortoise, and a gazelle. + +All day the animals were away from home hunting food. + +The rat caught beetles which had hidden under leaves. He visited +fields and barns Now and then he went to a henhouse. + +The tortoise found plenty of insects in the woods and fields and +did not object to a toadstool now and then. + +The raven visited grain fields where he often met the rat. + +The gazelle ate grass wherever he could find it. When he could not +get grass, he ate the sprouts of trees. + +At night all met at their home in the woods and talked of what had +happened to them through the day. This is one of their adventures: + +One day when the gazelle was out feeding, a hound scented his +tracks and followed him. The gazelle heard the hound bark and +darted off like the wind. The hound followed until worn out with +running; then he gave up the chase. The gazelle stopped to eat +grass. He was hungry and a long way from home. + +That evening when the animals returned home they missed the +gazelle. + +The raven asked, "How does it happen that the gazelle is not home? +Is he tired of us already?" "No, indeed," said the rat. "I am sure +that he is not. If I were a bird I should fly away at once to find +him. I know that he would be here if he could get here." + +"I will see if I can find him," said the raven, and he flew away. +After a while he spied the gazelle, who had been caught in a net. +He was trying hard to free himself, but the ropes that bound him +were too strong for him to break. The raven flew back home to get +the help of the rat. + +"Oh, rat," he said, "follow me. Our friend, the gazelle, is caught +in a net. Come and gnaw the ropes and set him free!" + +The raven flew away and the rat followed. As the rat left home, he +said, "Tortoise, you had better stay at home. You go so slowly +that you can not reach the gazelle in time to help. We shall soon +be back, I hope." + +As soon as the raven and the rat were out of sight, the tortoise +said, "I can not stay here and do nothing. I may be needed. I will +hurry as fast as I can;" and he started off. + +The raven reached the gazelle first. He said, "Cheer up, the rat +is coming to set you free." + +Soon the rat arrived. He began at once to gnaw the ropes. He had +just set the gazelle free when a hunter came along. The gazelle +sprang to one side into the bushes, the raven flew into a tree, +and the rat ran into a hole in the ground. + +The hunter looked about for the gazelle, but could not find him. +He was very angry. + +Just then the tortoise came up. The hunter picked him up and put +him into his bag for his supper. + +The raven whispered to the gazelle, "The hunter is carrying off +our tortoise." + +As soon as the gazelle heard this, he came out of his hiding place +and limped along as if he were lame. + +The hunter saw him. He threw down his bag and ran after the +gazelle, thinking that he could easily catch him; but the gazelle +kept ahead of him. At last the hunter could run no more. He went +back to get his bag, tired and cross, but sure of a supper. + +But what do you suppose had happened while he was gone? The rat +had gnawed a hole in the hunter's bag and set the tortoise free, +and both had run off. + +It was now quite dark, and all the animals went home. That was the +happiest evening of their lives. Each one had done something for +the others, and all were safe, and it was good to be at home. + + + + + +THE TYRANT WHO BECAME A JUST RULER + + +There was once a king who was so cruel to his people that he was +called "The Tyrant." + +The people used to wish that he would die so that they might have +a better king. + +One day he called his people together. They feared to go to him, +yet they did not dare to stay away. When they were all standing +before him, he arose and said: + +"My dear people, I have been very unkind to you, but I hope after +this to make your lives peaceful and happy." + +The king kept his word. He sent good men to all parts of his +kingdom to find out what the people most needed to make them +happy. He then had everything done for them that a just king could +do. He helped them to build good roads and bridges. He made their +taxes lighter. He gave them a holiday now and then. The people +learned to trust him and to love him. + +One day one of his subjects said to him, "Please, O king, tell me +why you are so much better to us now than you used to be." + +The king replied: + +"As I was going through a forest one afternoon I saw a hound +chasing a fox. He caught the fox and bit him badly. The fox will +always be lame. + +"When the hound was going home, a man threw a stone at him and +broke his leg. + +"The man had not gone far when his horse threw him and his leg was +broken. + +"The horse started to run, but he stepped into a hole and broke +his leg. + +"I sat down by the road and thought about what I had seen. I said +to myself, 'He who does wrong to any living thing will suffer for +it sooner or later,' and that is why I am a better king and a +happier man." [Footnote: Adapted from a fable of the same name +found in The Tortoise and the Geese, published by Houghton, Mifflin +Co.] + + + + + +THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE + + +"Why do you move along so slowly?" said a hare to a tortoise. "Let +me show you how to get over the ground." + +"You think I am slow, do you?" replied the tortoise. "Let us run a +race to the cross-roads. I think I can beat you." + +"Do you hear that?" said the hare to a fox, who was standing near. +"Could anyone even think that such a slow-coach could beat me in a +race?" + +"It would be a good joke if he did," said the fox. "Do you wish to +run a race? I will be the judge, if you care to have me." + +"That suits me well," answered the hare. + +"I am willing," said the tortoise. + +So the fox marked off a place for starting, and set up a stake at +the goal. + +The hare and the tortoise stood side by side, and at the command, +"Go!", from the fox, they began the race. + +The hare bounded along and was very soon far ahead of the +tortoise. He called back to the fox, "I think I shall take a +little nap before I finish the race; the tortoise will not reach +here for an hour or more." So he lay down in some bushes and went +to sleep. + +Every minute brought the tortoise a little nearer to the goal. He +did not stop for a second. + +At last he passed the hare, but the hare still slept. On and on he +plodded; it was a long way, but he had no thought of stopping. + +He came nearer and nearer the goal. At last his foot touched the +stake. + +The hare wakened, stretched himself, and leaped toward the goal. +"What, you here!" he cried when he saw the tortoise. "How did you +ever reach here?" + +"Just by keeping at it," said the tortoise. + + + + + +THE MILLER, HIS SON, AND THEIR DONKEY + + +"I shall have to sell that donkey of ours," said a miller to his +son. "I can not afford to keep him through the winter. I will take +him to town this very morning to see if I can find a buyer. You +may go with me." In a little while the miller, his son, and the +donkey were on their way to town. + +They had not gone far when they met some girls going to a party. +They were talking and laughing as they went along. One of them +said, "Look at that man and boy driving a donkey. One of them +surely might ride." + +The miller heard what they said, and quickly made his you mount +the donkey, while he walked along at its side. + +After a while they came to a group of old men who were talking +very earnestly. "There," said one, "I was just saying that boys +and girls have no respect for the aged. You see it is true in this +case. See that boy riding while his old father has to walk." + +"Get down, my son," said his father, "and I will ride." So they +went on. + +They next met some women coming from town. "Why!" they cried, +"your poor little boy is nearly tired out. How can you ride and +make him walk?" So the miller made his son ride on the donkey +behind him. + +They were now in town. A man coming down the street called to the +miller, "Why do you make your donkey carry such a load? You can +carry him better than he can carry you." + +At this the miller and his son got off the donkey. They tied the +donkey's legs together, turned him over on his back; and began to +carry him. + +A crowd soon gathered to see the strange sight. As they were +crossing a bridge the donkey became frightened at the hooting of +the crowd. He broke loose, fell into the river, and was drowned. + +The miller was angry and ashamed. He said, "There! I have tried to +please everybody and have only made a fool of myself. After this I +shall do as I think best and let people say what they will." + + + + + +THE PUG DOG AND HIS SHADOW + + +"I am going out to see the world," said a pug puppy. + +He ran down a hill as fast as his wabbly legs could carry him, and +looked into a little brook which flowed by. + +"How queer!" he said, "I did not know that puppies live in water. +This one looks just like my brothers, but it can not be one of +them. They were all asleep when I came away. I will run home to +tell mother about it," and up the hill he went as fast as he could +carry his fat little body. + +When he arrived at home, he panted out, "Oh, mother! I have found +out something that you do not know. There is a pug puppy living in +the creek." + +"You are either dreaming, my son, or you have seen your own +shadow," said his mother. + +"I know what I saw, mother. I am not dreaming. It was not my +shadow. It was a puppy dog," and the little pug barked savagely at +his mother. "Come with me, mother. I will show you that I know +what I am talking about." So the mother followed her puppy. + +When they came near the foot of the hill, the little pug ran on +ahead of his mother and looked into the stream. + +"How lucky!" he said, "he is still here. Now, mother, you see that +what I said is true." + +"It is your shadow, little one." + +"No, no, my eyes are better than yours, mother." + +Just then his mother came up and stood beside him. + +"How queer!" said the little dog. "That is the pug's mother. I did +not see her before. It would be too cold for me down in that +water. Why do they live there?" + +"You foolish child," replied the mother. "It is our shadows that +you see there. See, they are just like us." + +"I am not a baby. I know what dogs are, mother. Those are real +dogs." + +"Watch, my son, and see what happens," and the mother dropped a +stone on the two shadows. They were gone. + +The little pug stood surprised. He dropped his ears and went +slowly home without saying another word. + + + + + +THE PARTRIDGE IN THE NET + + +"I have caught one at last," said a hunter, "and this is as fine a +partridge as one often sees. It is a young one, too, I do +believe," and he reached his hand into the net to take it out. + +This frightened the partridge. It fluttered and cackled, pecking +at the hunter's hand. + +At last it cried out, "Let me go! Do let me go! I am but one +little bird. If you will set me free, I will lead a large flock of +partridges to your net, and will coax them to go into it." + +But the hunter said, "You seem very willing to deceive the +partridges; you might also deceive me. I will not let you go." + + + + + +THE NORTH WIND AND THE SUN + + +"I am stronger than you," said the North Wind to the Sun. + +"That is not true," said the Sun. "Everyone knows that I am the +stronger." + +"Show me that you are stronger than I," replied the North Wind. +"You know very well that you are not." + +"Do you see that traveler coming? I can make him take off his +coat. You can not," said the Sun. + +"We will see about that," answered the North Wind. "The one that +makes the traveler take off his coat is the victor." + +"All right," said the Sun, "and you may have the first trial." + +"Whew! How the North Wind blows," said the traveler. "Whew! whew! +Hold on there, North Wind; I would rather walk than fly. Whew! +whew! + +"How cold it is! I must button my coat uptight. Whew! whew! whew! +I never felt such a wind before," said the traveler, as he folded +his arms over his breast. "It seems determined to tear off my +coat. I will turn my back to it. Whew! whew! whew! whew!" But the +more the wind blew, the tighter the traveler held on to his coat. + +At last the North Wind said, "I will try no longer, but you, Sun, +can do no better." + +The Sun said nothing, but came out from under a cloud and smiled +down upon the traveler. + +"How good that feels!" said the traveler. The Sun shone on. "It is +getting warm," said the traveler, unbuttoning his coat. + +It was now past noon. "The Sun is too much for me," said the +traveler, and he threw off his coat and hunted for a shady place. + +The North Wind's harshness had failed. The Sun's gentleness had +won. + + + + + +THE CAMEL AND HIS MASTER + + +One night a camel looked into the tent where his master was +sleeping. "How warm it is in there!" he said. "I should like a +good place like that myself." + +The next night he put his head inside the door. "You will not mind +my putting my head into the tent, I am sure," said he to his +master. "The wind is cold to-night." + +"Not at all," replied his master; "there is plenty of room." + +In a little while the camel said, "Kind master, my neck is very +cold; would you mind if I put it inside the tent?" + +"Oh, no," said his master. + +Now the camel seemed satisfied. But in a little while he wakened +his master, saying, "My forelegs are getting cold. I should like +to have them under cover." + +His master moved over a little and said, "You may have a little +more room. I know it is a cold night." So the camel moved a little +farther into the tent. + +Very soon the camel wakened his master again, saying, "I keep the +tent door open by standing in the door. That makes it cold for +both of us. Had I not better come wholly in?" + +"Yes, come in," said the master. "There is hardly room for both of +us, but I do not want you to suffer from the cold," So the camel +crowded into the tent. + +As soon as he was inside, he said: "Yes, I see there is not room +for both of us inside the tent. If you were to go out, I should +have a chance to lie down. So go!" And he pushed his master out of +the tent. + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Fifty Famous Fables, by Lida Brown McMurry + diff --git a/old/fffbl10.zip b/old/fffbl10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fbaf6cb --- /dev/null +++ b/old/fffbl10.zip |