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diff --git a/old/62514-0.txt b/old/62514-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 86337ee..0000000 --- a/old/62514-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2130 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Jakata tales, by Ellen C. Babbitt - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Jakata tales - -Author: Ellen C. Babbitt - -Illustrator: Ellsworth Young - -Release Date: June 28, 2020 [EBook #62514] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JAKATA TALES *** - - - - -Produced by Carlos Colón, the University of North Carolina -at Chapel Hill and the Online Distributed Proofreading -Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from -images generously made available by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - Transcriber's Notes: - - Italic text is denoted by _underscores_ and bold text by - =equal signs=. - - Small uppercase have been replaced with regular uppercase. - - Blank pages have been eliminated. - - Variations in spelling and hyphenation have been left as in the - original. - - - - - Jataka Tales - - - Re-told by - Ellen C. Babbitt - - - With illustrations by - Ellsworth Young - - - [Illustration] - - - New York - The Century Co. - 1912 - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1912, BY - THE CENTURY CO. - - _Published, September, 1912_ - - - - - Dedicated - to - DOT - - - - -FOREWORD - - -Long ago I was captivated by the charm of the Jataka Tales and realized -the excellent use that might be made of them in the teaching of -children. The obvious lessons are many of them suitable for little -people, and beneath the obvious there are depths and depths of meaning -which they may learn to fathom later on. The Oriental setting lends an -additional fascination. I am glad that Miss Babbitt has undertaken to -put together this collection, and commend it freely to teachers and -parents. - - FELIX ADLER. - - - - -CONTENTS - - PAGE - - I THE MONKEY AND THE CROCODILE 3 - - II HOW THE TURTLE SAVED HIS OWN LIFE 10 - - III THE MERCHANT OF SERI 13 - - IV THE TURTLE WHO COULDN'T STOP TALKING 18 - - V THE OX WHO WON THE FORFEIT 21 - - VI THE SANDY ROAD 25 - - VII THE QUARREL OF THE QUAILS 30 - - VIII THE MEASURE OF RICE 34 - - IX THE FOOLISH, TIMID RABBIT 39 - - X THE WISE AND THE FOOLISH MERCHANT 44 - - XI THE ELEPHANT GIRLY-FACE 52 - - XII THE BANYAN DEER 58 - - XIII THE PRINCES AND THE WATER-SPRITE 63 - - XIV THE KING'S WHITE ELEPHANT 69 - - XV THE OX WHO ENVIED THE PIG 74 - - XVI GRANNIE'S BLACKIE 77 - - XVII THE CRAB AND THE CRANE 84 - - XVIII WHY THE OWL IS NOT KING OF THE BIRDS 90 - - - - -PUBLISHER'S NOTE - - -The Jatakas, or Birth-stories, form one of the sacred books of the -Buddhists and relate to the adventures of the Buddha in his former -existences, the best character in any story being identified with the -Master. - -These legends were continually introduced into the religious discourses -of the Buddhist teachers to illustrate the doctrines of their faith or -to magnify the glory and sanctity of the Buddha, somewhat as medieval -preachers in Europe used to enliven their sermons by introducing fables -and popular tales to rouse the flagging interest of their hearers. - -Sculptured scenes from the Jatakas, found upon the carved railings -around the relic shrines of Sanchi and Amaravati and of Bharhut, -indicate that the "Birth-stories" were widely known in the third -century B.C., and were then considered as part of the sacred history of -the religion. At first the tales were probably handed down orally, and -it is uncertain when they were put together in systematic form. - -While some of the stories are Buddhistic and depend for their point -on some custom or idea peculiar to Buddhism, many are age-old fables, -the flotsam and jetsam of folk-lore, which have appeared under various -guises throughout the centuries, as when they were used by Boccaccio or -Poggio, merely as merry tales, or by Chaucer, who unwittingly puts a -Jataka story into the mouth of his pardoners when he tells the tale of -"the Ryotoures three." - -Quaint humor and gentle earnestness distinguish these legends and -they teach many wholesome lessons, among them the duty of kindness to -animals. - -Dr. Felix Adler in his "Moral Instruction of Children," says: - - The Jataka Tales contain deep truths, and are calculated to - impress lessons of great moral beauty. The tale of the Merchant of - Seri, who gave up all that he had in exchange for a golden dish, - embodies much the same idea as the parable of the priceless Pearl, - in the New Testament. The tale of the Measure of Rice illustrates - the importance of a true estimate of values. The tale of the - Banyan Deer, which offered its life to save a doe and her young, - illustrates self-sacrifice of the noblest sort. The tale of the - Sandy Road is one of the finest in the collection. - -And he adds that these tales "are, as everyone must admit, nobly -conceived, lofty in meaning, and many a helpful sermon might be -preached from them as texts." - -[Illustration] - - - - -Jataka Tales - - - - -I - -THE MONKEY AND THE CROCODILE - - -PART I - -A monkey lived in a great tree on a river bank. - -In the river there were many Crocodiles. - -A Crocodile watched the Monkeys for a long time, and one day she said -to her son: "My son, get one of those Monkeys for me. I want the heart -of a Monkey to eat." - -"How am I to catch a Monkey?" asked the little Crocodile. "I do not -travel on land, and the Monkey does not go into the water." - -"Put your wits to work, and you'll find a way," said the mother. - -And the little Crocodile thought and thought. - -At last he said to himself: "I know what I'll do. I'll get that Monkey -that lives in a big tree on the river bank. He wishes to go across the -river to the island where the fruit is so ripe." - -So the Crocodile swam to the tree where the Monkey lived. But he was a -stupid Crocodile. - -"Oh, Monkey," he called, "come with me over to the island where the -fruit is so ripe." - -"How can I go with you?" asked the Monkey. "I do not swim." - -"No--but I do. I will take you over on my back," said the Crocodile. - -The Monkey was greedy, and wanted the ripe fruit, so he jumped down on -the Crocodile's back. - -"Off we go!" said the Crocodile. - -"This is a fine ride you are giving me!" said the Monkey. - -"Do you think so? Well, how do you like this?" asked the Crocodile, -diving. - -"Oh, don't!" cried the Monkey, as he went under the water. He was -afraid to let go, and he did not know what to do under the water. - -When the Crocodile came up, the Monkey sputtered and choked. "Why did -you take me under water, Crocodile?" he asked. - -"I am going to kill you by keeping you under water," answered the -Crocodile. "My mother wants Monkey-heart to eat, and I'm going to take -yours to her." - -[Illustration: "Why did you take me under water, Crocodile?" he asked.] - -"I wish you had told me you wanted my heart," said the Monkey, "then I -might have brought it with me." - -"How queer!" said the stupid Crocodile. "Do you mean to say that you -left your heart back there in the tree?" - -"That is what I mean," said the Monkey. "If you want my heart, we must -go back to the tree and get it. But we are so near the island where the -ripe fruit is, please take me there first." - -"No, Monkey," said the Crocodile, "I'll take you straight back to your -tree. Never mind the ripe fruit. Get your heart and bring it to me at -once. Then we'll see about going to the island." - -"Very well," said the Monkey. - -But no sooner had he jumped onto the bank of the river than--whisk! up -he ran into the tree. - -From the topmost branches he called down to the Crocodile in the water -below: - -"My heart is way up here! If you want it, come for it, come for it!" - - -PART II - -The monkey soon moved away from that tree. - -He wanted to get away from the Crocodile, so that he might live in -peace. - -But the Crocodile found him, far down the river, living in another tree. - -In the middle of the river was an island covered with fruit-trees. - -Half-way between the bank of the river and the island, a large rock -rose out of the water. The Monkey could jump to the rock, and then to -the island. The Crocodile watched the Monkey crossing from the bank of -the river to the rock, and then to the island. - -He thought to himself, "The Monkey will stay on the island all day, and -I'll catch him on his way home at night." - -The Monkey had a fine feast, while the Crocodile swam about, watching -him all day. - -Toward night the Crocodile crawled out of the water and lay on the -rock, perfectly still. - -When it grew dark among the trees, the Monkey started for home. He ran -down to the river bank, and there he stopped. - -"What is the matter with the rock?" the Monkey thought to himself. "I -never saw it so high before. The Crocodile is lying on it!" - -But he went to the edge of the water and called: "Hello, Rock!" - -No answer. - -Then he called again: "Hello, Rock!" - -Three times the Monkey called, and then he said: "Why is it, Friend -Rock, that you do not answer me to-night?" - -"Oh," said the stupid Crocodile to himself, "the rock answers the -Monkey at night. I'll have to answer for the rock this time." - -So he answered: "Yes, Monkey! What is it?" - -The Monkey laughed, and said: "Oh, it's you, Crocodile, is it?" - -"Yes," said the Crocodile. "I am waiting here for you. I am going to -eat you." - -"You have caught me in a trap this time," said the Monkey. "There is no -other way for me to go home. Open your mouth wide so I can jump right -into it." - -[Illustration: The Monkey jumped.] - -Now the Monkey well knew that when Crocodiles open their mouths wide, -they shut their eyes. - -While the Crocodile lay on the rock with his mouth wide open and his -eyes shut, the Monkey jumped. - -But not into his mouth! Oh, no! He landed on the top of the Crocodile's -head, and then sprang quickly to the bank. Up he whisked into his tree. - -When the Crocodile saw the trick the Monkey had played on him, he said: -"Monkey, you have great cunning. You know no fear. I'll let you alone -after this." - -"Thank you, Crocodile, but I shall be on the watch for you just the -same," said the Monkey. - - - - -II - -HOW THE TURTLE SAVED HIS OWN LIFE - - -A king once had a lake made in the courtyard for the young princes to -play in. They swam about in it, and sailed their boats and rafts on it. -One day the king told them he had asked the men to put some fishes into -the lake. - -Off the boys ran to see the fishes. Now, along with the fishes, there -was a Turtle. The boys were delighted with the fishes, but they had -never seen a Turtle, and they were afraid of it, thinking it was a -demon. They ran back to their father, crying, "There is a demon on the -bank of the lake." - -The king ordered his men to catch the demon, and to bring it to the -palace. When the Turtle was brought in, the boys cried and ran away. - -The king was very fond of his sons, so he ordered the men who had -brought the Turtle to kill it. - -"How shall we kill it?" they asked. - -"Pound it to powder," said some one. "Bake it in hot coals," said -another. - -[Illustration: "Throw the thing into the lake."] - -So one plan after another was spoken of. Then an old man who had always -been afraid of the water said: "Throw the thing into the lake where it -flows out over the rocks into the river. Then it will surely be killed." - -When the Turtle heard what the old man said, he thrust out his head and -asked: "Friend, what have I done that you should do such a dreadful -thing as that to me? The other plans were bad enough, but to throw me -into the lake! Don't speak of such a cruel thing!" - -When the king heard what the Turtle said, he told his men to take the -Turtle at once and throw it into the lake. - -The Turtle laughed to himself as he slid away down the river to his old -home. "Good!" he said, "those people do not know how safe I am in the -water!" - - - - -III - -THE MERCHANT OF SERI - - -There was once a merchant of Seri who sold brass and tinware. He went -from town to town, in company with another man, who also sold brass and -tinware. This second man was greedy, getting all he could for nothing, -and giving as little as he could for what he bought. - -When they went into a town, they divided the streets between them. Each -man went up and down the streets he had chosen, calling, "Tinware for -sale. Brass for sale." People came out to their door-steps, and bought, -or traded, with them. - -In one house there lived a poor old woman and her granddaughter. The -family had once been rich, but now the only thing they had left of all -their riches was a golden bowl. The grandmother did not know it was a -golden bowl, but she had kept this because her husband used to eat out -of it in the old days. It stood on a shelf among the other pots and -pans, and was not often used. - -[Illustration: He threw the bowl on the ground.] - -The greedy merchant passed this house, calling, "Buy my water-jars! Buy -my pans!" The granddaughter said: "Oh, Grandmother, do buy something -for me!" - -"My dear," said the old woman, "we are too poor to buy anything. I have -not anything to trade, even." - -"Grandmother, see what the merchant will give for the old bowl. We do -not use that, and perhaps he will take it and give us something we -want for it." - -The old woman called the merchant and showed him the bowl, saying, -"Will you take this, sir, and give the little girl here something for -it?" - -The greedy man took the bowl and scratched its side with a needle. -Thus he found that it was a golden bowl. He hoped he could get it for -nothing, so he said: "What is this worth? Not even a halfpenny." He -threw the bowl on the ground, and went away. - -By and by the other merchant passed the house. For it was agreed that -either merchant might go through any street which the other had left. -He called: "Buy my water-jars! Buy my tinware! Buy my brass!" - -The little girl heard him, and begged her grandmother to see what he -would give for the bowl. - -"My child," said the grandmother, "the merchant who was just here threw -the bowl on the ground and went away. I have nothing else to offer in -trade." - -"But, Grandmother," said the girl, "that was a cross man. This one -looks pleasant. Ask him. Perhaps he'll give some little tin dish." - -"Call him, then, and show it to him," said the old woman. - -As soon as the merchant took the bowl in his hands, he knew it was of -gold. He said: "All that I have here is not worth so much as this bowl. -It is a golden bowl. I am not rich enough to buy it." - -"But, sir, a merchant who passed here a few moments ago, threw it on -the ground, saying it was not worth a halfpenny, and he went away," -said the grandmother. "It was worth nothing to him. If you value it, -take it, giving the little girl some dish she likes for it." - -But the merchant would not have it so. He gave the woman all the money -he had, and all his wares. "Give me but eight pennies," he said. - -So he took the pennies, and left. Going quickly to the river, he paid -the boatman the eight pennies to take him across the river. - -Soon the greedy merchant went back to the house where he had seen the -golden bowl, and said: "Bring that bowl to me, and I will give you -something for it." - -"No," said the grandmother. "You said the bowl was worthless, but -another merchant has paid a great price for it, and taken it away." - -[Illustration: "It is a golden bowl."] - -Then the greedy merchant was angry, crying out, "Through this other man -I have lost a small fortune. That bowl was of gold." - -He ran down to the riverside, and, seeing the other merchant in the -boat out in the river, he called: "Hallo, Boatman! Stop your boat!" - -But the man in the boat said: "Don't stop!" So he reached the city on -the other side of the river, and lived well for a time on the money the -bowl brought him. - - - - -IV - -THE TURTLE WHO COULDN'T STOP TALKING - - -A turtle lived in a pond at the foot of a hill. Two young wild Geese, -looking for food, saw the Turtle, and talked with him. The next day -the Geese came again to visit the Turtle and they became very well -acquainted. Soon they were great friends. - -"Friend Turtle," the Geese said one day, "we have a beautiful home far -away. We are going to fly back to it to-morrow. It will be a long but -pleasant journey. Will you go with us?" - -"How could I? I have no wings," said the Turtle. - -"Oh, we will take you, if only you can keep your mouth shut, and say -not a word to anybody," they said. - -"I can do that," said the Turtle. "Do take me with you. I will do -exactly as you wish." - -[Illustration: "How could I go with you?" said the Turtle.] - -So the next day the Geese brought a stick and they held the ends of it. -"Now take the middle of this in your mouth, and don't say a word until -we reach home," they said. - -[Illustration: The Geese sprang into the air.] - -The Geese then sprang into the air, with the Turtle between them, -holding fast to the stick. - -The village children saw the two Geese flying along with the Turtle -and cried out: "Oh, see the Turtle up in the air! Look at the Geese -carrying a Turtle by a stick! Did you ever see anything more ridiculous -in your life!" - -The Turtle looked down and began to say, "Well, and if my friends carry -me, what business is that of yours?" when he let go, and fell dead at -the feet of the children. - -As the two Geese flew on, they heard the people say, when they came to -see the poor Turtle, "That fellow could not keep his mouth shut. He had -to talk, and so lost his life." - -[Illustration: "Oh, see the Turtle up in the air."] - - - - -V - -THE OX WHO WON THE FORFEIT - - -Long ago a man owned a very strong Ox. The owner was so proud of his -Ox, that he boasted to every man he met about how strong his Ox was. - -One day the owner went into a village, and said to the men there: "I -will pay a forfeit of a thousand pieces of silver if my strong Ox -cannot draw a line of one hundred wagons." - -The men laughed, and said: "Very well; bring your Ox, and we will tie a -hundred wagons in a line and see your Ox draw them along." - -So the man brought his Ox into the village. A crowd gathered to see the -sight. The hundred carts were in line, and the strong Ox was yoked to -the first wagon. - -Then the owner whipped his Ox, and said: "Get up, you wretch! Get -along, you rascal!" - -But the Ox had never been talked to in that way, and he stood still. -Neither the blows nor the hard names could make him move. - -[Illustration: "Get along, you rascal."] - -At last the poor man paid his forfeit, and went sadly home. There he -threw himself on his bed and cried: "Why did that strong Ox act so? -Many a time he has moved heavier loads easily. Why did he shame me -before all those people?" - -At last he got up and went about his work. When he went to feed the Ox -that night, the Ox turned to him and said: "Why did you whip me to-day? -You never whipped me before. Why did you call me 'wretch' and 'rascal'? -You never called me hard names before." - -Then the man said: "I will never treat you badly again. I am sorry I -whipped you and called you names. I will never do so any more. Forgive -me." - -"Very well," said the Ox. "To-morrow I will go into the village and -draw the one hundred carts for you. You have always been a kind master -until to-day. To-morrow you shall gain what you lost." - -The next morning the owner fed the Ox well, and hung a garland of -flowers about his neck. When they went into the village the men laughed -at the man again. - -They said: "Did you come back to lose more money?" - -"To-day I will pay a forfeit of two thousand pieces of silver if my Ox -is not strong enough to pull the one hundred carts," said the owner. - -So again the carts were placed in a line, and the Ox was yoked to the -first. A crowd came to watch again. The owner said: "Good Ox, show how -strong you are! You fine, fine creature!" And he patted his neck and -stroked his sides. - -[Illustration: A garland of flowers about his neck.] - -At once the Ox pulled with all his strength. The carts moved on until -the last cart stood where the first had been. - -Then the crowd shouted, and they paid back the forfeit the man had -lost, saying: "Your Ox is the strongest Ox we ever saw." - -And the Ox and the man went home, happy. - - - - -VI - -THE SANDY ROAD - - -Once upon a time a merchant, with his goods packed in many carts, came -to a desert. He was on his way to the country on the other side of the -desert. - -The sun shone on the fine sand, making it as hot as the top of a stove. -No man could walk on it in the sunlight. But at night, after the sun -went down, the sand cooled, and then men could travel upon it. - -So the merchant waited until after dark, and then set out. Besides the -goods that he was going to sell, he took jars of water and of rice, and -firewood, so that the rice could be cooked. - -All night long he and his men rode on and on. One man was the pilot. He -rode first, for he knew the stars, and by them he guided the drivers. - -At daybreak they stopped and camped. They unyoked the oxen, and fed -them. They built fires and cooked the rice. Then they spread a great -awning over all the carts and the oxen, and the men lay down under it -to rest until sunset. - -[Illustration: They built fires and cooked the rice.] - -In the early evening, they again built fires and cooked rice. After -supper, they folded the awning and put it away. They yoked the oxen, -and, as soon as the sand was cool, they started again on their journey -across the desert. - -Night after night they traveled in this way, resting during the heat -of the day. At last one morning the pilot said: "In one more night we -shall get out of the sand." The men were glad to hear this, for they -were tired. - -After supper that night the merchant said: "You may as well throw away -nearly all the water and the firewood. By to-morrow we shall be in the -city. Yoke the oxen and start on." - -Then the pilot took his place at the head of the line. But, instead of -sitting up and guiding the drivers, he lay down in the wagon on the -cushions. Soon he was fast asleep, because he had not slept for many -nights, and the light had been so strong in the daytime that he had not -slept well then. - -All night long the oxen went on. Near daybreak, the pilot awoke and -looked at the last stars fading in the light. "Halt!" he called to the -drivers. "We are in the same place where we were yesterday. The oxen -must have turned about while I slept." - -They unyoked the oxen, but there was no water for them to drink. They -had thrown away the water that was left the night before. So the -men spread the awning over the carts, and the oxen lay down, tired -and thirsty. The men, too, lay down saying, "The wood and water are -gone--we are lost." - -But the merchant said to himself, "This is no time for me to sleep. -I must find water. The oxen cannot go on if they do not have water to -drink. The men must have water. They cannot cook the rice unless they -have water. If I give up, we shall all be lost!" - -[Illustration: "There must be water somewhere below."] - - -On and on he walked, keeping close watch of the ground. At last he saw -a tuft of grass. "There must be water somewhere below, or that grass -would not be there," he said. - -He ran back, shouting to the men, "Bring the spade and the hammer!" - -They jumped up, and ran with him to the spot where the grass grew. -They began to dig, and by and by they struck a rock and could dig no -further. Then the merchant jumped down into the hole they had dug, and -put his ear to the rock. "I hear water running under this rock," he -called to them. "We must not give up!" Then the merchant came up out -of the hole and said to a serving-lad: "My boy, if you give up we are -lost! You go down and try!" - -The boy stood up straight and raised the hammer high above his head -and hit the rock as hard as ever he could. He would not give in. They -must be saved. Down came the hammer. This time the rock broke. And the -boy had hardly time to get out of the well before it was full of cool -water. The men drank as if they never could get enough, and then they -watered the oxen, and bathed. - -Then they split up their extra yokes and axles, and built a fire, and -cooked their rice. Feeling better, they rested through the day. They -set up a flag on the well for travelers to see. - -At sundown, they started on again, and the next morning reached the -city, where they sold the goods, and then returned home. - - - - -VII - -THE QUARREL OF THE QUAILS - - -Once upon a time many quails lived together in a forest. The wisest of -them all was their leader. - -A man lived near the forest and earned his living by catching quails -and selling them. Day after day he listened to the note of the leader -calling the quails. By and by this man, the fowler, was able to call -the quails together. Hearing the note the quails thought it was their -leader who called. - -When they were crowded together, the fowler threw his net over them and -off he went into the town, where he soon sold all the quails that he -had caught. - -The wise leader saw the plan of the fowler for catching the quails. He -called the birds to him and said, "This fowler is carrying away so many -of us, we must put a stop to it. I have thought of a plan; it is this: -The next time the fowler throws a net over you, each of you must put -your head through one of the little holes in the net. Then all of you -together must fly away to the nearest thorn-bush. You can leave the net -on the thorn-bush and be free yourselves." - -The quails said that was a very good plan and they would try it the -next time the fowler threw the net over them. - -The very next day the fowler came and called them together. Then he -threw the net over them. The quails lifted the net and flew away with -it to the nearest thorn-bush where they left it. They flew back to -their leader to tell him how well his plan had worked. - -The fowler was busy until evening getting his net off the thorns and he -went home empty-handed. The next day the same thing happened, and the -next. His wife was angry because he did not bring home any money, but -the fowler said, "The fact is those quails are working together now. -The moment my net is over them, off they fly with it, leaving it on a -thorn-bush. As soon as the quails begin to quarrel I shall be able to -catch them." - -Not long after this, one of the quails in alighting on their feeding -ground, trod by accident on another's head. "Who trod on my head?" -angrily cried the second. "I did; but I didn't mean to. Don't be -angry," said the first quail, but the second quail was angry and said -mean things. - -[Illustration: The quails lifted the net and flew away with it.] - -Soon all the quails had taken sides in this quarrel. When the fowler -came that day he flung his net over them, and this time instead of -flying off with it, one side said, "Now, you lift the net," and the -other side said, "Lift it yourself." - -"You try to make us lift it all," said the quails on one side. "No, we -don't!" said the others, "you begin and we will help," but neither side -began. - -So the quails quarreled, and while they were quarreling the fowler -caught them all in his net. He took them to town and sold them for a -good price. - -[Illustration: The fowler caught them all in his net.] - - - - -VIII - -THE MEASURE OF RICE - - -At one time a dishonest king had a man called the Valuer in his -court. The Valuer set the price which ought to be paid for horses and -elephants and the other animals. He also set the price on jewelry and -gold, and things of that kind. - -This man was honest and just, and set the proper price to be paid to -the owners of the goods. - -The king was not pleased with this Valuer, because he was honest. "If -I had another sort of a man as Valuer, I might gain more riches," he -thought. - -One day the king saw a stupid, miserly peasant come into the palace -yard. The king sent for the fellow and asked him if he would like to be -the Valuer. The peasant said he would like the position. So the king -had him made Valuer. He sent the honest Valuer away from the palace. - -Then the peasant began to set the prices on horses and elephants, upon -gold and jewels. He did not know their value, so he would say anything -he chose. As the king had made him Valuer, the people had to sell their -goods for the price he set. - -[Illustration: So they went before the king.] - -By and by a horse-dealer brought five hundred horses to the court of -this king. The Valuer came and said they were worth a mere measure of -rice. So the king ordered the horse-dealer to be given the measure of -rice, and the horses to be put in the palace stables. - -The horse-dealer went then to see the honest man who had been the -Valuer, and told him what had happened. - -"What shall I do?" asked the horse-dealer. - -"I think you can give a present to the Valuer which will make him do -and say what you want him to do and say," said the man. "Go to him and -give him a fine present, then say to him: 'You said the horses are -worth a measure of rice, but now tell what a measure of rice is worth! -Can you value that standing in your place by the king?' If he says he -can, go with him to the king, and I will be there, too." - -The horse-dealer thought this was a good idea. So he took a fine -present to the Valuer, and said what the other man had told him to say. - -The Valuer took the present, and said: "Yes, I can go before the king -with you and tell what a measure of rice is worth. I can value that -now." - -"Well, let us go at once," said the horse-dealer. So they went before -the king and his ministers in the palace. - -The horse-dealer bowed down before the king, and said: "O King, I have -learned that a measure of rice is the value of my five hundred horses. -But will the king be pleased to ask the Valuer what is the value of -the measure of rice?" - -[Illustration: He ran away from the laughing crowd.] - -The king, not knowing what had happened, asked: "How now, Valuer, what -are five hundred horses worth?" - -"A measure of rice, O King!" said he. - -"Very good, then! If five hundred horses are worth a measure of rice, -what is the measure of rice worth?" - -"The measure of rice is worth your whole city," replied the foolish -fellow. - -The ministers clapped their hands, laughing, and saying, "What a -foolish Valuer! How can such a man hold that office? We used to think -this great city was beyond price, but this man says it is worth only a -measure of rice." - -Then the king was ashamed, and drove out the foolish fellow. - -"I tried to please the king by setting a low price on the horses, and -now see what has happened to me!" said the Valuer, as he ran away from -the laughing crowd. - - - - -IX - -THE FOOLISH, TIMID RABBIT - - -Once upon a time, a Rabbit was asleep under a palm-tree. - -All at once he woke up, and thought: "What if the world should break -up! What then would become of me?" - -At that moment, some Monkeys dropped a cocoanut. It fell down on the -ground just back of the Rabbit. - -Hearing the noise, the Rabbit said to himself: "The earth is all -breaking up!" - -And he jumped up and ran just as fast as he could, without even looking -back to see what made the noise. - -[Illustration: He jumped up and ran.] - -Another Rabbit saw him running, and called after him, "What are you -running so fast for?" - -"Don't ask me!" he cried. - -But the other Rabbit ran after him, begging to know what was the matter. - -[Illustration: The lion.] - -Then the first Rabbit said: "Don't you know? The earth is all breaking -up!" - -And on he ran, and the second Rabbit ran with him. - -The next Rabbit they met ran with them when he heard that the earth was -all breaking up. - -One Rabbit after another joined them, until there were hundreds of -Rabbits running as fast as they could go. - -They passed a Deer, calling out to him that the earth was all breaking -up. The Deer then ran with them. - -[Illustration: Saw the animals running.] - -The Deer called to a Fox to come along because the earth was all -breaking up. - -On and on they ran, and an Elephant joined them. - -At last the Lion saw the animals running, and heard their cry that the -earth was all breaking up. - -He thought there must be some mistake, so he ran to the foot of a hill -in front of them and roared three times. - -This stopped them, for they knew the voice of the King of Beasts, and -they feared him. - -"Why are you running so fast?" asked the Lion. - -"Oh, King Lion," they answered him, "the earth is all breaking up!" - -"Who saw it breaking up?" asked the Lion. - -"I didn't," said the Elephant. "Ask the Fox--he told me about it." - -"I didn't," said the Fox. - -"The Rabbits told me about it," said the Deer. - -One after another of the Rabbits said: "I did not see it, but another -Rabbit told me about it." - -At last the Lion came to the Rabbit who had first said the earth was -all breaking up. - -"Is it true that the earth is all breaking up?" the Lion asked. - -"Yes, O Lion, it is," said the Rabbit. "I was asleep under a palm-tree. -I woke up and thought, 'What would become of me if the earth should all -break up?' At that very moment, I heard the sound of the earth breaking -up, and I ran away." - -"Then," said the Lion, "you and I will go back to the place where the -earth began to break up, and see what is the matter." - -So the Lion put the little Rabbit on his back, and away they went like -the wind. The other animals waited for them at the foot of the hill. - -The Rabbit told the Lion when they were near the place where he slept, -and the Lion saw just where the Rabbit had been sleeping. - -He saw, too, the cocoanut that had fallen to the ground near by. Then -the Lion said to the Rabbit, "It must have been the sound of the -cocoanut falling to the ground that you heard. You foolish Rabbit!" - -And the Lion ran back to the other animals, and told them all about it. - -If it had not been for the wise King of Beasts, they might be running -still. - -[Illustration: Away they went like the wind.] - - - - -X - -THE WISE AND THE FOOLISH MERCHANT - - -Once upon a time in a certain country a thrifty merchant visited a -great city and bought a great supply of goods. He loaded wagons with -the goods, which he was going to sell as he traveled through the -country. - -A stupid young merchant was buying goods in the same city. He, too, was -going to sell what he bought as he traveled through the country. - -They were both ready to start at the same time. - -The thrifty merchant thought, "We cannot travel together, for the men -will find it hard to get wood and water, and there will not be enough -grass for so many oxen. Either he or I ought to go first." - -So he went to the young man and told him this, saying, "Will you go -before or come on after me?" - -The other one thought, "It will be better for me to go first. I shall -then travel on a road that is not cut up. The oxen will eat grass that -has not been touched. The water will be clean. Also, I shall sell my -goods at what price I like." So he said, "Friend, I will go on first." - -This answer pleased the thrifty merchant. He said to himself, "Those -who go before will make the rough places smooth. The old rank grass -will have been eaten by the oxen that have gone before, while my oxen -will eat the freshly grown tender shoots. Those who go before will dig -wells from which we shall drink. Then, too, I will not have to bother -about setting prices, but I can sell my goods at the prices set by the -other man." So he said aloud, "Very well, friend, you may go on first." - -At once the foolish merchant started on his journey. Soon he had left -the city and was in the country. By and by he came to a desert which -he had to cross. So he filled great water-jars with water, loaded them -into a large wagon and started across the desert. - -Now on the sands of this desert there lived a wicked demon. This demon -saw the foolish young merchant coming and thought to himself, "If I can -make him empty those water-jars, soon I shall be able to overcome him -and have him in my power." - -So the demon went further along the road and changed himself into the -likeness of a noble gentleman. He called up a beautiful carriage, drawn -by milk-white oxen. Then he called ten other demons, dressed them like -men and armed them with bows and arrows, swords and shields. Seated -in his carriage, followed by the ten demons, he rode back to meet the -merchant. He put mud on the carriage wheels, hung water-lilies and wet -grasses upon the oxen and the carriage. Then he made the clothes the -demons wore and their hair all wet. Drops of water trickled down over -their faces just as if they had all come through a stream. - -As the demons neared the foolish merchant they turned their carriage to -one side of the way, saying pleasantly, "Where are you going?" - -The merchant replied, "We have come from the great city back there and -are going across the desert to the villages beyond. You come dripping -with mud and carrying water-lilies and grasses. Does it rain on the -road you have come by? Did you come through a stream?" - -[Illustration: He put mud on the carriage wheels, hung water-lilies and -wet grasses upon the oxen and the carriage.] - -The demon answered, "The dark streak across the sky is a forest. In it -there are ponds full of water-lilies. The rains come often. What have -you in all those carts?" - -"Goods to be sold," replied the merchant. - -"But in that last big heavy wagon what do you carry?" the demon asked. - -"Jars full of water for the journey," answered the merchant. - -The demon said, "You have done well to bring water as far as this, -but there is no need of it beyond. Empty out all that water and go on -easily." Then he added, "But we have delayed too long. Drive on!" And -he drove on until he was out of sight of the merchant. Then he returned -to his home with his followers to wait for the night to come. - -The foolish merchant did as the demon bade him and emptied every jar, -saving not even a cupful. On and on they traveled and the streak on the -sky faded with the sunset. There was no forest, the dark line being -only clouds. No water was to be found. The men had no water to drink -and no food to eat, for they had no water in which to cook their rice, -so they went thirsty and supperless to bed. The oxen, too, were hungry -and thirsty and dropped down to sleep here and there. Late at night the -demons fell upon them and easily carried off every man. They drove the -oxen on ahead of them, but the loaded carts they did not care to take -away. - -A month and a half after this the wise merchant followed over the same -road. He, too, was met on the desert by the demon just as the other -had been. But the wise man knew the man was a demon because he cast no -shadow. When the demon told him of the ponds in the forest ahead and -advised him to throw away the water-jars the wise merchant replied, "We -don't throw away the water we have until we get to a place where we see -there is more." - -Then the demon drove on. But the men who were with the merchant said, -"Sir! those men told us that yonder was the beginning of a great -forest, and from there onwards it was always raining. Their clothes and -hair were dripping with water. Let us throw away the water-jars and go -on faster with lighter carts!" - -Stopping all the carts the wise merchant asked the men, "Have you ever -heard any one say that there was a lake or pond in this desert? You -have lived near here always." - -"We never heard of a pond or lake," they said. - -"Does any man feel a wind laden with dampness blowing against him?" he -asked. - -"No, sir," they answered. - -"Can you see a rain cloud, any of you?" said he. - -"No, sir, not one," they said. - -"Those fellows were not men, they were demons!" said the wise merchant. -"They must have come out to make us throw away the water. Then when we -were faint and weak they might have put an end to us. Go on at once and -don't throw away a single half-pint of water." - -[Illustration: He himself with the head men stood on guard.] - -So they drove on and before nightfall they came upon the loaded wagons -belonging to the foolish merchant. - -Then the thrifty merchant had his wagons drawn up in a circle. In the -middle of the circle he had the oxen lie down, and also some of the -men. He himself with the head men stood on guard, swords in hand and -waited for the demons. But the demons did not bother them. Early the -next day the thrifty merchant took the best of the wagons left by the -foolish merchant and went on safely to the city across the desert. - -There he sold all the goods at a profit and returned with his company -to his own city. - - - - -XI - -THE ELEPHANT GIRLY-FACE - - -Once upon a time a king had an Elephant named Girly-face. The Elephant -was called Girly-face because he was so gentle and good and looked so -kind. "Girly-face never hurts anybody," the keeper of the Elephants -often said. - -Now one night some robbers came into the courtyard and sat on the -ground just outside the stall where Girly-face slept. The talk of the -robbers awoke Girly-face. - -"This is the way to break into a house," they said. "Once inside the -house kill any one who wakens. A robber must not be afraid to kill. A -robber must be cruel and have no pity. He must never be good, even for -a moment." - -Girly-face said to himself, "Those men are teaching me how I should -act. I will be cruel. I will show no pity. I will not be good--not even -for a moment." - -[Illustration: The talk of the robbers awoke Girly-face.] - -[Illustration: He picked him up in his trunk and threw the poor keeper -to the ground.] - -So the next morning when the keeper came to feed Girly-face he picked -him up in his trunk and threw the poor keeper to the ground, killing -him. - -Another keeper ran to see what the trouble was, and Girly-face killed -him, too. - -For days and days Girly-face was so ugly that no one dared go near. The -food was left for him, but no man would go near him. - -By and by the king heard of this and sent one of his wise men to find -out what ailed Girly-face. - -The wise man had known Girly-face a long time. He looked the Elephant -over carefully and could find nothing that seemed to be the matter. - -He thought at last, "Girly-face must have heard some bad men talking. -Have there been any bad men talking about here?" asked the wise man. - -"Yes," one of the keepers said, "a band of robbers were caught here a -few weeks ago. They had met in the yard to talk over their plans. They -were talking together near the stall where Girly-face sleeps." - -[Illustration: He looked the Elephant over carefully.] - -So the wise man went back to the king. Said he, "I think Girly-face -has been listening to bad talk. If you will send some good men to talk -where Girly-face can hear them I think he will be a good Elephant -once more." - -So that night the king sent a company of the best men to be found to -sit and talk near the stall where Girly-face lived. They said to one -another, "It is wrong to hurt any one. It is wrong to kill. Every one -should be gentle and good." - -"Now those men are teaching me," thought Girly-face. "I must be gentle -and good. I must hurt no one. I must not kill any one." And from that -time on Girly-face was tame and as good as ever an Elephant could be. - - - - -XII - -THE BANYAN DEER - - -There was once a Deer the color of gold. His eyes were like round -jewels, his horns were white as silver, his mouth was red like a -flower, his hoofs were bright and hard. He had a large body and a fine -tail. - -He lived in a forest and was king of a herd of five hundred Banyan -Deer. Near by lived another herd of Deer, called the Monkey Deer. They, -too, had a king. - -The king of that country was fond of hunting the Deer and eating deer -meat. He did not like to go alone so he called the people of his town -to go with him, day after day. - -The townspeople did not like this for while they were gone no one did -their work. So they decided to make a park and drive the Deer into it. -Then the king could go into the park and hunt and they could go on with -their daily work. - -They made a park, planted grass in it and provided water for the Deer, -built a fence all around it and drove the Deer into it. - -Then they shut the gate and went to the king to tell him that in the -park near by he could find all the Deer he wanted. - -The king went at once to look at the Deer. First he saw there the two -Deer kings, and granted them their lives. Then he looked at their great -herds. - -Some days the king would go to hunt the Deer, sometimes his cook would -go. As soon as any of the Deer saw them they would shake with fear and -run. But when they had been hit once or twice they would drop down dead. - -The King of the Banyan Deer sent for the King of the Monkey Deer and -said, "Friend, many of the Deer are being killed. Many are wounded -besides those who are killed. After this suppose one from my herd goes -up to be killed one day, and the next day let one from your herd go up. -Fewer Deer will be lost this way." - -[Illustration: The King of the Banyan Deer sent for the King of the -Monkey Deer.] - -The Monkey Deer agreed. Each day the Deer whose turn it was would go -and lie down, placing its head on the block. The cook would come and -carry off the one he found lying there. - -One day the lot fell to a mother Deer who had a young baby. She went to -her king and said, "O King of the Monkey Deer, let the turn pass me by -until my baby is old enough to get along without me. Then I will go and -put my head on the block." - -But the king did not help her. He told her that if the lot had fallen -to her she must die. - -Then she went to the King of the Banyan Deer and asked him to save her. - -"Go back to your herd. I will go in your place," said he. - -The next day the cook found the King of the Banyan Deer lying with his -head on the block. The cook went to the king, who came himself to find -out about this. - -"King of the Banyan Deer! did I not grant you your life? Why are you -lying here?" - -"O great King!" said the King of the Banyan Deer, "a mother came with -her young baby and told me that the lot had fallen to her. I could not -ask any one else to take her place, so I came myself." - -[Illustration: Rise up. I grant your life and hers.] - -"King of the Banyan Deer! I never saw such kindness and mercy. Rise up. -I grant your life and hers. Nor will I hunt any more the Deer in either -park or forest." - - - - -XIII - -THE PRINCES AND THE WATER-SPRITE - - -Once upon a time a king had three sons. The first was called Prince of -the Stars. The next was called the Moon Prince and the third was called -the Sun Prince. The king was so very happy when the third son was born -that he promised to give the queen any boon she might ask. - -The queen kept the promise in mind, waiting until the third son was -grown before asking the king to give her the boon. - -On the twenty-first birthday of the Sun Prince she said to the king, -"Great King, when our youngest child was born you said you would give -me a boon. Now I ask you to give the kingdom to Sun Prince." - -But the king refused, saying that the kingdom must go to the oldest -son, for it belonged by right to him. Next it would belong by right to -the second son, and not until they were both dead could the kingdom go -to the third son. - -The queen went away, but the king saw that she was not pleased with his -answer. He feared that she would do harm to the older princes to get -them out of the way of the Sun Prince. - -So he called his elder sons and told them that they must go and live -in the forest until his death. "Then come back and reign in the city -that is yours by right," he said. And with tears he kissed them on the -foreheads and sent them away. - -As they were going down out of the palace, after saying good-by to -their father, the Sun Prince called to them, "Where are you going?" - -And when he heard where they were going and why, he said, "I will go -with you, my brothers." - -So off they started. They went on and on and by and by they reached the -forest. There they sat down to rest in the shade of a pond. Then the -eldest brother said to Sun Prince, "Go down to the pond and bathe and -drink. Then bring us a drink while we rest here." - -Now the King of the Fairies had given this pond to a water-sprite. The -Fairy King had said to the water-sprite, "You are to have in your power -all who go down into the water except those who give the right answer -to one question. Those who give the right answer will not be in your -power. The question is, 'What are the Good Fairies like?'" - -[Illustration: The Sun Prince went into the pond.] - -When the Sun Prince went into the pond the water-sprite saw him and -asked him the question, "What are the Good Fairies like?" - -"They are like the Sun and the Moon," said the Sun Prince. - -"You don't know what the Good Fairies are like," cried the -water-sprite, and he carried the poor boy down into his cave. - -By and by the eldest brother said, "Moon Prince, go down and see why -our brother stays so long in the pond!" - -As soon as the Moon Prince reached the water's edge the water-sprite -called to him and said, "Tell me what the Good Fairies are like!" - -"Like the sky above us," replied the Moon Prince. - -"You don't know, either," said the water-sprite, and dragged the Moon -Prince down into the cave where the Sun Prince sat. - -"Something must have happened to those two brothers of mine," thought -the eldest. So he went to the pond and saw the marks of the footsteps -where his brothers had gone down into the water. Then he knew that a -water-sprite must live in that pond. He girded on his sword, and stood -with his bow in his hand. - -The water-sprite soon came along in the form of a woodsman. - -"You seem tired, Friend," he said to the prince. "Why don't you bathe -in the lake and then lie on the bank and rest?" - -[Illustration: The water-sprite in the form of a woodsman.] - -But the prince knew that it was a water-sprite and he said, "You have -carried off my brothers!" - -"Yes," said the water-sprite. - -"Why did you carry them off?" - -"Because they did not answer my question," said the water-sprite, "and -I have power over all who go down into the water except those who do -give the right answer." - -"I will answer your question," said the eldest brother. And he did. -"The Good Fairies are like - - The pure in heart who fear to sin, - The good, kindly in word and deed." - -"O Wise Prince, I will bring back to you one of your brothers. Which -shall I bring?" said the water-sprite. - -"Bring me the younger one," said the prince. "It was on his account -that our father sent us away. I could never go away with Moon Prince -and leave poor Sun Prince here." - -"O Wise Prince, you know what the good should do and you are kind. I -will bring back both your brothers," said the water-sprite. - -After that the three princes lived together in the forest until the -king died. Then they went back to the palace. The eldest brother was -made king and he had his brothers rule with him. He also built a home -for the water-sprite in the palace grounds. - - - - -XIV - -THE KING'S WHITE ELEPHANT - - -Once upon a time a number of carpenters lived on a river bank near a -large forest. Every day the carpenters went in boats to the forest to -cut down the trees and make them into lumber. - -One day while they were at work an Elephant came limping on three feet -to them. He held up one foot and the carpenters saw that it was swollen -and sore. Then the Elephant lay down and the men saw that there was a -great splinter in the sore foot. They pulled it out and washed the sore -carefully so that in a short time it would be well again. - -Thankful for the cure, the Elephant thought: "These carpenters have -done so much for me, I must be useful to them." - -So after that the Elephant used to pull up trees for the carpenters. -Sometimes when the trees were chopped down he would roll the logs down -to the river. Other times he brought their tools for them. And the -carpenters used to feed him well morning, noon and night. - -[Illustration: He held up one foot and the carpenters saw that it was -swollen and sore.] - -Now this Elephant had a son who was white all over--a beautiful, strong -young one. Said the old Elephant to himself, "I will take my son to the -place in the forest where I go to work each day so that he may learn to -help the carpenters, for I am no longer young and strong." - -[Illustration: The Elephant used to pull up trees for the carpenters.] - -So the old Elephant told his son how the carpenters had taken good care -of him when he was badly hurt and took him to them. The white Elephant -did as his father told him to do and helped the carpenters and they -fed him well. - -When the work was done at night the young Elephant went to play in the -river. The carpenters' children played with him, in the water and on -the bank. He liked to pick them up in his trunk and set them on the -high branches of the trees and then let them climb down on his back. - -[Illustration: With a last look at his playmates the beautiful white -Elephant went on with the king.] - -One day the king came down the river and saw this beautiful white -Elephant working for the carpenters. The king at once wanted the -Elephant for his own and paid the carpenters a great price for him. -Then with a last look at his playmates, the children, the beautiful -white Elephant went on with the king. - -The king was proud of his new Elephant and took the best care of him as -long as he lived. - - - - -XV - -THE OX WHO ENVIED THE PIG - - -Once upon a time there was an Ox named Big Red. He had a younger -brother named Little Red. These two brothers did all the carting on a -large farm. - -Now the farmer had an only daughter and she was soon to be married. -Her mother gave orders that the Pig should be fattened for the wedding -feast. - -Little Red noticed that the Pig was fed on choice food. He said to his -brother, "How is it, Big Red, that you and I are given only straw and -grass to eat, while we do all the hard work on the farm? That lazy Pig -does nothing but eat the choice food the farmer gives him." - -Said his brother, "My dear Little Red, envy him not. That little Pig is -eating the food of death! He is being fattened for the wedding feast. -Eat your straw and grass and be content and live long." - -[Illustration: Little Red noticed that the Pig was fed on choice food.] - -[Illustration: The fattened Pig was killed and cooked for the wedding -feast.] - -Not long afterwards the fattened Pig was killed and cooked for the -wedding feast. - -Then Big Red said, "Did you see, Little Red, what became of the Pig -after all his fine feeding?" - -"Yes," said the little brother, "we can go on eating plain food for -years, but the poor little Pig ate the food of death and now he is -dead. His feed was good while it lasted, but it did not last long." - - - - -XVI - -GRANNY'S BLACKIE - - -Once upon a time a rich man gave a baby Elephant to a woman. - -She took the best of care of this great baby and soon became very fond -of him. - -The children in the village called her Granny, and they called the -Elephant "Granny's Blackie." - -The Elephant carried the children on his back all over the village. -They shared their goodies with him and he played with them. - -"Please, Blackie, give us a swing," they said to him almost every day. - -"Come on! Who is first?" Blackie answered and picked them up with -his trunk, swung them high in the air, and then put them down again, -carefully. - -But Blackie never did any work. - -He ate and slept, played with the children, and visited with Granny. - -One day Blackie wanted Granny to go off to the woods with him. - -[Illustration: Blackie swung them high in the air.] - -"I can't go, Blackie, dear. I have too much work to do." - -Then Blackie looked at her and saw that she was growing old and feeble. - -"I am young and strong," he thought. "I'll see if I cannot find some -work to do. If I could bring some money home to her, she would not have -to work so hard." - -So next morning, bright and early, he started down to the river bank. - -There he found a man who was in great trouble. There was a long line of -wagons so heavily loaded that the oxen could not draw them through the -shallow water. - -When the man saw Blackie standing on the bank he asked, "Who owns this -Elephant? I want to hire him to help my Oxen pull these wagons across -the river." - -A child standing near by said, "That is Granny's Blackie." - -"Very well," said the man, "I'll pay two pieces of silver for each -wagon this Elephant draws across the river." - -Blackie was glad to hear this promise. He went into the river, and -drew one wagon after another across to the other side. - -Then he went up to the man for the money. - -The man counted out one piece of silver for each wagon. - -When Blackie saw that the man had counted out but one piece of silver -for each wagon, instead of two, he would not touch the money at all. He -stood in the road and would not let the wagons pass him. - -The man tried to get Blackie out of the way, but not one step would he -move. - -Then the man went back and counted out another piece of silver for each -of the wagons and put the silver in a bag tied around Blackie's neck. - -Then Blackie started for home, proud to think that he had a present for -Granny. - -The children had missed Blackie and had asked Granny where he was, but -she said she did not know where he had gone. - -They all looked for him but it was nearly night before they heard him -coming. - -"Where have you been, Blackie? And what is that around your neck?" the -children cried, running to meet their playmate. - -[Illustration: He would not touch the money at all.] - -[Illustration: Blackie told her that he had earned some money for her.] - -But Blackie would not stop to talk with his playmates. He ran straight -home to Granny. - -"Oh, Blackie!" she said, "Where have you been? What is in that bag?" -And she took the bag off his neck. - -Blackie told her that he had earned some money for her. - -"Oh, Blackie, Blackie," said Granny, "how hard you must have worked to -earn these pieces of silver! What a good Blackie you are!" - -And after that Blackie did all the hard work and Granny rested, and -they were both very happy. - - - - -XVII - -THE CRAB AND THE CRANE - - -In the Long Ago there was a summer when very little rain fell. - -All the Animals suffered for want of water, but the Fishes suffered -most of all. - -In one pond full of Fishes, the water was very low indeed. - -A Crane sat on the bank watching the Fishes. - -"What are you doing?" asked a little Fish. - -"I am thinking about you Fishes there in the pond. It is so nearly -dry," answered the Crane. - -"Yes," the Crane went on, "I was wishing I might do something for you. -I know of a pond in the deep woods where there is plenty of water." - -"I declare," said the little Fish, "you are the first Crane that ever -offered to help a Fish." - -"That may be," said the Crane, "but the water is so low in your pond. I -could easily carry you one by one on my back to that other pond where -there is plenty of water and food and cool shade." - -"I don't believe there is any such pond," said the little Fish. "What -you wish to do is to eat us, one by one." - -"If you don't believe me," said the Crane, "send with me one of the -Fishes whom you can believe. I'll show him the pond and bring him back -to tell you all about it." - -A big Fish heard the Crane and said, "I will go with you to see the -pond--I may as well be eaten by the Crane as to die here." - -So the Crane put the big Fish on his back and started for the deep -woods. - -Soon the Crane showed the big Fish the pool of water. "See how cool and -shady it is here," he said, "and how much larger the pond is, and how -full it is!" - -"Yes!" said the big Fish, "take me back to the little pond and I'll -tell the other Fishes all about it." So back they went. - -The Fishes all wanted to go when they heard the big Fish talk about the -fine pond which he had seen. - -[Illustration: So the Crane put the big Fish on his back and started -for the deep woods.] - -Then the Crane picked up another Fish and carried it away. Not to the -pool, but into the woods where the other Fishes could not see them. - -Then the Crane put the Fish down and ate it. The Crane went back for -another Fish. He carried it to the same place in the woods and ate it, -too. - -This he did until he had eaten all the Fishes in the pond. - -The next day the Crane went to the pond to see if he had left a Fish. -There was not one left, but there was a Crab on the sand. - -"Little Crab," said the Crane, "would you let me take you to the fine -pond in the deep woods where I took the Fishes?" - -"But how could you carry me?" asked the Crab. - -"Oh, easily," answered the Crane. "I'll take you on my back as I did -the Fishes." - -"No, I thank you," said the Crab, "I can't go that way. I am afraid you -might drop me. If I could take hold of your neck with my claws, I would -go. You know we Crabs have a tight grip." - -The Crane knew about the tight grip of the Crabs, and he did not like -to have the Crab hold on with his claws. But he was hungry, so he said: - -"Very well, hold tight." - -[Illustration: And off went the Crane with the Crab.] - -And off went the Crane with the Crab. - -When they reached the place where the Crane had eaten the Fishes, the -Crane said: - -"I think you can walk the rest of the way. Let go of my neck." - -"I see no pond," said the Crab. "All I can see is a pile of Fish bones. -Is that all that is left of the Fishes?" - -"Yes," said the Crane, "and if you will let go of my neck, your shell -will be all that will be left of you." - -And the Crane put his head down near the ground so that the Crab could -get off easily. - -But the Crab pinched the Crane's neck so that his head fell off. - -"Not my shell, but your bones are left to dry with the bones of the -Fishes," said the Crab. - - - - -XVIII - -WHY THE OWL IS NOT KING OF THE BIRDS - - -Why is it that Crows torment the Owls as they sleep in the daytime? For -the same reason that the Owls try to kill the Crows while they sleep at -night. - -Listen to a tale of long ago and then you will see why. - -Once upon a time, the people who lived together when the world was -young took a certain man for their king. The four-footed animals also -took one of their number for their king. The fish in the ocean chose -a king to rule over them. Then the birds gathered together on a great -flat rock, crying: - -"Among men there is a king, and among the beasts, and the fish have -one, too; but we birds have none. We ought to have a king. Let us -choose one now." - -And so the birds talked the matter over and at last they all said, "Let -us have the Owl for our king." - -[Illustration: "See how sour he looks right now."] - -No, not all, for one old Crow rose up and said, "For my part, I don't -want the Owl to be our king. Look at him now while you are all crying -that you want him for your king. See how sour he looks right now. If -that's the cross look he wears when he is happy, how will he look when -he is angry? I, for one, want no such sour-looking king!" - -Then the Crow flew up into the air crying, "I don't like it! I don't -like it!" The Owl rose and followed him. From that time on the Crows -and the Owls have been enemies. The birds chose a Turtle Dove to be -their king, and then flew to their homes. - - -THE END - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Jakata tales, by Ellen C. 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