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diff --git a/76243-h/76243-h.htm b/76243-h/76243-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..64c2c8c --- /dev/null +++ b/76243-h/76243-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3480 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + ÆSOP’S FABLES | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} +/* Heading Styles */ + h1,h3,h3,h4 { + text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em; + clear: both; + font-weight: bold; + page-break-before: avoid;} + +h1 { margin: 1em 5% 1em; + font-size: 180%;} +h2 { margin:2em 5% 1em; + font-size: 160%;} +h3 { margin: 2em 5% 1em; /* use for chapter headings */ + font-size: 140%;} +h4 { margin: 2em 5% 1em; + font-size: 120%;} + +.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} /* use with h3 for epubs */ + +.break {page-break-before: always;} /* for epubs */ + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always; + margin-top: 4em;} + +/* Paragraph styles */ +p {text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em;} + +.unindent {text-indent: 0em; + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em;} +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} +.tall {line-height: 150%;} /* Adjust as necessary */ +.center {text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em;} + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 5%; + text-align: justify; + font-size: 90%; +} + +/* Font styling */ +.smcap {font-style: normal; font-variant: small-caps;} +.allsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: lowercase;} +.muchsmaller {font-size: 75%;} +.caption {text-align: center; + page-break-before: avoid;} +.captionrt {text-align:right; + margin-right: 6em; + font-style: italic; + margin-top: -.51em;} + +/* Links */ +a:visited {text-decoration:none; color: red;} +a:link {text-decoration:none;} /* no UL of any links - useful for html accessibility */ + +/* Rules */ +hr { /*default rule across entire width */ + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + + hr.short { + margin-right:45%; + margin-left:45%; + text-align:center; + width:10%; + } + +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;}} + +.linebox {border-top-style:solid; border-top-width:thin; + border-bottom-style:solid; border-bottom-width:thin; + width: 45%; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 40%; } + +/* Images */ +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; /* avoid max-height w px number */ +} + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + margin-top: 1em; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} +.figcenter60 { + margin: 0 20%; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 35%; +} +.x-ebookmaker .figright {float: right;} + +/* Tables */ +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.tdl {margin-left: 2em; + text-align: left; + text-indent: -2em;} +.tdr {text-align: right; + vertical-align: bottom; + padding-left: 2em;} + +table.a {text-decoration:none;} /* no UL of links inside table*/ + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: 50%; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; /* needed if using indented paragraphs by default */ + color: #444;} + +/* Poetry */ +.poetry-container {display: flex; justify-content: center;} +.poetry {text-align: left; margin: .25em 5% .25em 5%;} +.poetry .verse {text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em;} +.poetry .indent0a {text-indent: -3.25em;} +.poetry .indent0 {text-indent: -3em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76243 ***</div> + +<h4>Transcriber’s Note:</h4> +<p>Mid-paragraph illustrations were moved to adjoin their +related fable.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/frontis.jpg" + alt="Frontispiece"> + <p class="caption">The Fox and the Grapes.—<a href="#THE_FOX_AND_THE_GRAPES">Page 10.</a></p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<p><i></i> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h1>ÆSOP’S FABLES</h1> + +<p class="p2 center">IN WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE.</p> + +<p class="p2 center"><span class="smcap">By</span> MARY GODOLPHIN.</p> + +<p class="p2 center"><i>ILLUSTRATED.</i></p> + +<p class="p2 center"><span class="allsmcap">NEW YORK:</span><br> +A. L. BURT, PUBLISHER. +</p> +</div><!--end chapter--> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="center tall"> +<span class="smcap">Copyright, 1895, by</span><br> +THE CASSELL PUBLISHING CO.<br> +<br> +<i>All rights reserved.</i><br> +</p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</span></p> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS.</h3> +</div> + +<table> +<tr><td class="tdr muchsmaller" colspan="2">PAGE</td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Boy and the Wolf</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_BOY_AND_THE_WOLF">9</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Boys and Frogs</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#BOYS_AND_FROGS">10</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The War Horse and the Ass</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_WAR_HORSE_AND_THE_ASS">10</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Fox and the Grapes</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_FOX_AND_THE_GRAPES">10</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Fly and the Moth</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_FLY_AND_THE_MOTH">11</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Lynx and the Mole</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_LYNX_AND_THE_MOLE">11</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Child and the Brook</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_CHILD_AND_THE_BROOK">12</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Mice, the Cat, and the Bell</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_MICE_THE_CAT_AND_THE_BELL">13</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Bear in the Wood</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_BEAR_IN_THE_WOOD">13</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Old Fox and her Young One</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_OLD_FOX_AND_HER_YOUNG_ONE">14</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Squeak of a Pig</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_SQUEAK_OF_A_PIG">15</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Wolf and the Lamb</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_WOLF_AND_THE_LAMB">15</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Stone Broth</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#STONE_BROTH">16</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Gnat and the Bull</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_GNAT_AND_THE_BULL">18</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Doves and the Mouse</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_DOVES_AND_THE_MOUSE">18</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Cock and the Gem</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_COCK_AND_THE_GEM">19</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Oak and the Reed</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_OAK_AND_THE_REED">20</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Kid and the Wolf</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_KID_AND_THE_WOLF">20</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Bag of Gold</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_BAG_OF_GOLD">22</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Fox who had lost his Tail</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_FOX_WHO_HAD_LOST_HIS_TAIL">22</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Man and the Ape</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_MAN_AND_THE_APE">24</a> + <span class="pagenum" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Man and his Live Stock</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_MAN_AND_HIS_LIVE_STOCK">25</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Frogs and the Bulls</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_FROGS_AND_THE_BULLS">25</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Blue Wolf</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_BLUE_WOLF">26</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Man, his Son, and his Ass</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_MAN_HIS_SON_AND_HIS_ASS">26</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Fox and the Crane</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_FOX_AND_THE_CRANE">28</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Old Hen and her Young Ones</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_OLD_HEN_AND_HER_YOUNG_ONES">29</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Boy and the Horn Book</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_BOY_AND_THE_HORN_BOOK">30</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Ass with a Load of Salt</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_ASS_WITH_A_LOAD_OF_SALT">31</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Wolf and the House Dog</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_WOLF_AND_THE_HOUSE_DOG">31</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Stag in the Lake</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_STAG_IN_THE_LAKE">32</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Man, the Fox, and the Bear</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_MAN_THE_FOX_AND_THE_BEAR">33</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Fox and the Crow</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_FOX_AND_THE_CROW">34</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Boor and the Stag</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_BOOR_AND_THE_STAG">34</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Cat, the Mouse, and the Cock</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_CAT_THE_MOUSE_AND_THE_COCK">35</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Plane Tree</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_PLANE_TREE">36</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Dog who was Hung</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_DOG_WHO_WAS_HUNG">37</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Birds, the Beasts, and the Bat</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_BIRDS_THE_BEASTS_AND_THE_BAT">38</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Boy and the Nuts</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_BOY_AND_THE_NUTS">38</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Ape and her Young Ones</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_APE_AND_HER_YOUNG_ONES">39</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Horse, the Wolf, and the Fox</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_HORSE_THE_WOLF_AND_THE_FOX">39</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Lark and her Young Ones</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_LARK_AND_HER_YOUNG_ONES">40</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Kite, the Sow, and the Cat</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_KITE_THE_SOW_AND_THE_CAT">41</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Man and the Perch</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_MAN_AND_THE_PERCH">43</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Rose and the Clay</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_ROSE_AND_THE_CLAY">44</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Ox and the Calf</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_OX_AND_THE_CALF">44</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Wolves and the Sheep</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_WOLVES_AND_THE_SHEEP">45</a> + <span class="pagenum" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Cock, the Fox, and the Springe</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_COCK_THE_FOX_AND_THE_SPRINGE">45</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Kid and the Wolf</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_KID_AND_THE_WOLF2">46</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Ass and the Lamb</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_ASS_AND_THE_LAMB">46</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Bees and the Snail</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_BEES_AND_THE_SNAIL">47</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Old Dame and her Maids</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_OLD_DAME_AND_HER_MAIDS">48</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Two Goats on the Bridge</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_TWO_GOATS_ON_THE_BRIDGE">48</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Ax and the Trees</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_AX_AND_THE_TREES">49</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Dog and the Thief</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_DOG_AND_THE_THIEF">49</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Fly and the Ant</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_FLY_AND_THE_ANT">50</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Wolf, and the Fox in the Well</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_WOLF_AND_THE_FOX_IN_THE_WELL">52</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Cat and the Mice</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_CAT_AND_THE_MICE">52</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Goose with the Gold Egg</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_GOOSE_WITH_THE_GOLD_EGG">54</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Fox and the Stork</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_FOX_AND_THE_STORK">55</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Hart and the Vine</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_HART_AND_THE_VINE">56</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Daw and the Jay</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_DAW_AND_THE_JAY">56</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Owls and the Wren</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_OWLS_AND_THE_WREN">57</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Leap at Rhodes</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_LEAP_AT_RHODES">58</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Dog in the Ox’s Stall</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_DOG_IN_THE_OXS_STALL">59</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Nurse and the Wolf</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_NURSE_AND_THE_WOLF">60</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Old Blind Dame</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_OLD_BLIND_DAME">60</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Cock, the Dog, and the Fox</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_COCK_THE_DOG_AND_THE_FOX">61</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Boar and the Horse</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_BOAR_AND_THE_HORSE">62</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Ape made King</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_APE_MADE_KING">62</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Frog, the Mouse, and the Hawk</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_FROG_THE_MOUSE_AND_THE_HAWK">63</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Wolf in a Sheep’s Skin</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_WOLF_IN_A_SHEEPS_SKIN">70</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Dog who went out to Sup</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_DOG_WHO_WENT_OUT_TO_SUP">70</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Judge and the Poor Man</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_JUDGE_AND_THE_POOR_MAN">64</a> + <span class="pagenum" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Stag in the Ox’s Stall</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_STAG_IN_THE_OXS_STALL">65</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Goat, and the Fox in the Well</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_GOAT_AND_THE_FOX_IN_THE_WELL">66</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Ape, the Wolf, and the Fox</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_APE_THE_WOLF_AND_THE_FOX">66</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Fox and the Cat</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_FOX_AND_THE_CAT">67</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Mules and the Thieves</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_MULES_AND_THE_THIEVES">68</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Bald Knight</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_BALD_KNIGHT">68</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The War Horse</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_WAR_HORSE">69</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Wind and the Sun</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_WIND_AND_THE_SUN">71</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Blind Man and the Lame Man</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_BLIND_MAN_AND_THE_LAME_MAN">72</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Man, the Horse, and the Ass</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_MAN_THE_HORSE_AND_THE_ASS">72</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Hog, Ox, Cow, Dog, and Sheep</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_HOG_OX_COW_DOG_AND_SHEEP">74</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Drum and the Vase</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_DRUM_AND_THE_VASE">75</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Frogs and their King</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_FROGS_AND_THEIR_KING">76</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Stag, the Crow, and the Wolf</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_STAG_THE_CROW_AND_THE_WOLF">78</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Field of Corn</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_FIELD_OF_CORN">79</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Hawk, the Rooks, and the Cat</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_HAWK_THE_ROOKS_AND_THE_CAT">80</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Cock and the Fox</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_COCK_AND_THE_FOX">81</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Wolf and the Stork</span></td> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_WOLF_AND_THE_STORK">82</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Jay and the Owl</span> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_JAY_AND_THE_OWL">83</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Nurse and the Snake</span> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_NURSE_AND_THE_SNAKE">83</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Lark and the Finch</span> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_LARK_AND_THE_FINCH">84</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Dove and the Ant</span> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_DOVE_AND_THE_ANT">84</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Maid and her Milk Pail</span> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_MAID_AND_HER_MILK_PAIL">85</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Hare and her Friends</span> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_HARE_AND_HER_FRIENDS">86</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Ass and the Lap Dog</span> + <td class="tdr"><a href="#THE_ASS_AND_THE_LAP_DOG">87</a></td></tr> +</table> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_8fp.jpg" + alt="Horse and Ass"> + <p class="caption">The Horse and the Ass.—<a href="#THE_WAR_HORSE_AND_THE_ASS">Page 10.</a></p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_9.jpg" + alt="dog"> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="AESOPS_FABLES">AESOP’S FABLES.</h3> +</div> + +<hr class="short"> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_BOY_AND_THE_WOLF">THE BOY AND THE WOLF.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">A boy</span>, who kept watch on a flock of sheep, was heard +from time to time to call out, “The Wolf! The Wolf!” +in mere sport. Scores of times, in this way, had he +drawn the men in the fields from their work. But when +they found it was a joke, they made up their minds that, +should the boy call “Wolf” once more, they would not +stir to help him. The wolf, at last, did come. “The +Wolf! The Wolf!” shrieks out the boy, in great fear, +but none will now heed his cries, and the wolf kills the +boy, that he may feast on the sheep.</p> + +<p>One knows not how to trust those who speak lies, +though they may tell one the truth. +</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_10fp.jpg" + alt="Boy and Wolf"> + <p class="caption">The Boy and the Wolf.—Page 9.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="BOYS_AND_FROGS">BOYS AND FROGS.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Some</span> boys were at play at the edge of a pond, and, as +their game was “ducks and drakes,” they had to throw +stones with as much force as they could, to the great +harm of some poor frogs in the pool. At length one of +them, who was more brave than the rest, put his head out +of the pond and said, “Oh, dear young sirs, stop, I pray +you, for what is sport to you is death to us!”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_WAR_HORSE_AND_THE_ASS">THE WAR HORSE AND THE ASS.</h3> +</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A fine</span> horse broke loose from his stall, and as he ran +down the road with a loud, shrill neigh, he met an ass +with a load on his back, to whom he said, in a proud tone, +that if he did not make way for him, he would kick him +with his heels, and tread him in the dust. The poor ass +held his peace, and made room for him as fast as he could. +In course of time the horse went to the wars, and was shot +in the eye, which so spoilt his good looks, that he was +sent to work on the farm. Stript of all his pomp, he was +met by the ass, who said to him. “Ha! is it you? Your +state is now as low as mine. I thought your pride would +have a fall some day!”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_FOX_AND_THE_GRAPES">THE FOX AND THE GRAPES.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">One</span> hot day a fox saw some grapes which hung on a wall, +and he took a spring to seize them, but made too short a +bound; so then he leapt with all his might, but could not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span> +quite reach them; and each jump he took was still too +short. There hung the fine ripe grapes, but not for +him. Then, as he found he could not get at them, he +said, “It is not worth my while to try, for the grapes are +sour.”</p> + +<p>They who can not as they will, must will as they can.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_FLY_AND_THE_MOTH">THE FLY AND THE MOTH.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A fly</span>, one night, stood on the rim of a pot of jam, and +as he could not turn from so rare a feast, he went down +the jar that he might reach the fruit; but found to his +cost that he stuck fast like a bird caught with lime. A +moth that flew by, chid him thus: “It serves thee right! +How couldst thou think that such legs and wings as thine, +would be safe in a pot of jam?” By and by the moth +saw a lamp in the same room, and flew in the light of it, +but at last his sight grew dim, he sprang up to the flame, +and was burnt to death. “What!” says the fly, who saw +him, “How is this? You love to play with fire! You +who took me to task for so small a crime as a taste for +jam!”</p> + +<p>We tax our friends with faults, but see not our own.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_LYNX_AND_THE_MOLE">THE LYNX AND THE MOLE.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A lynx</span> by chance met a mole at the foot of a mound. +“Ah, poor wretch!” said the lynx, “what a life is yours! +Shut up in the cold, damp ground, you see no light, nor +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span> +feel the warmth of the sun, for you do but move from +mine to mine. If you could but see me as I vault by +your dark mound with limbs so free, and my sight—ah! +my sight—so keen, you would die of grief at your dull +life. Would that I could change it for you, my friend!” +“I thank you for your kind wish,” said the mole; “but I +need not your help, nor do I feel so dull as you think, for +I was bred and born in the ground, and all my days have +been spent here. I have my dear young ones round me, +and more than all, I am safe. My eyes are small, it is +true, but that has made my ears sharp, and if they serve +me well now, I hear a sound which seems to come from +where you stand, and it tells of a foe.” Just then up +rode some men from the hunt, who thrust a spear through +the heart of the poor lynx, and he fell dead; but the mole +went safe back to her hole in the bank, and said, when she +got there, “Home is home for all that.”</p> + +<p>What the eye sees not, the heart rues not.</p> + +<p>Though the fox runs, the chick has wings.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_CHILD_AND_THE_BROOK">THE CHILD AND THE BROOK.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">An</span> old man who saw a child stand for a long time by +the side of a stream, said, “My boy, why do you gaze so +long on this brook?” “Sir,” said the child, “I stay here +to wait till the stream has run off, for then I shall pass +with dry feet.” “Nay,” quoth the old man, “you might +stay out your life, and yet not do that, for this brook will +run on as long as time. And as you wend your way +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span> +through life, you will find this out. If you go with the +stream, you will get to the sea; but if you do not go with +the stream, you will have to wade.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_MICE_THE_CAT_AND_THE_BELL">THE MICE, THE CAT, AND THE BELL.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Once</span> on a time some mice were in such great dread of +a cat, that they did not dare to stir day or night lest she +should kill them. At this rate they thought they should +starve, so they all met to talk of the best thing for them +to do. While they thus sat in great doubt, a pert young +mouse rose and said, “I have thought of a good plan, and +that is to tie a bell to the cat’s neck, which would ring at +each step she takes, and let us know when she comes near.” +This bright speech brought hope with it, and made the +mice jump for joy. Then a grave old mouse, who till +now had been quite mute, rose and said, “I have heard +that you ‘hold a wolf by the ears’ and that you ‘put salt +on the bird’s tail,’ but what shall we do to bell the cat?”</p> + +<p>Safe bind, safe find.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_BEAR_IN_THE_WOOD">THE BEAR IN THE WOOD.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Two</span> men had to pass through a thick wood, and one +of them said, “Should we fall in with wild beasts, I will +come to your help, if you will do the same by me.” “So +be it,” said his friend, and off they set. They had not +gone far when a bear made a rush out of the wood. The +man who had made the good rule for them to act on, got +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span> +up a tree to hide, and his poor friend was put to his wits’ +end to save his life, so he fell flat on the ground, held his +breath, and lay quite still, that the bear might think he +was dead. The huge beast came close up to him, and felt +him with his snout, but as he took him for a dead man, +did him no harm. When the bear was gone, and all was +safe, the man came down from the tree, and with a smile, +said, “What did the bear tell you when he put his snout +so close up to your ear?” “Well,” said his friend, “what +he told me was this—‘Have a care of that rogue up the +tree, and for the time to come put no trust in him!’”</p> + +<p>Prove thy friend ere thou have need of him.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_OLD_FOX_AND_HER_YOUNG_ONE">THE OLD FOX AND HER YOUNG ONE.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">An</span> old fox and her young one found their way to a +yard where hens were kept, and one by one they put +them all to death. It was the wish of the young fox to +eat them all then and there, but his dam said, “We have +had great luck, yet we must not spend all our stock at +once, but put some by, and come for it when we want it.” +“Don’t preach to me,” said the pert young fox, “the fowls +will not keep sweet a day, so I shall eat as much as I can +now, for when the men on the farm see what we have done, +they will, of course, look out for us.” The young fox +then ate such a meal that it was all he could do to crawl +to his hole, and in less than an hour he was dead. The +old fox came back to the hoard, and was caught by the +men, who had lain in wait to kill her. “Ah!” said she, +with her last breath, “each age hath its fault; each bean +its black; each day its night; each weal its woe!”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_SQUEAK_OF_A_PIG">THE SQUEAK OF A PIG.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A man</span>, well known for his wit, said he could show a +trick which had not yet been seen. So he took his stand +on a stage, and, with his head thrust down, he gave out a +sound like the squeak of a pig. This he did so well, that +all thought he had brought a young pig in his cloak; but +though a search was made, they did not find one. A +rough man from a farm, who had come to look on, said, +“Faith, I can do this as well as he.” So the next night +they were both to try their skill. A great crowd came to +see them, and the men went on the stage. The first man +gave his squeak, which brought a roar of praise, as it had +done the first night. The boor’s turn then came, and he +had a real young pig in his cloak; but though he made it +squeak by a hard pinch on the ear, all gave the palm to +the first man, and sent the boor off the stage with a loud +hiss.</p> + +<p>Give a man luck, and you may throw him in the sea.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_WOLF_AND_THE_LAMB">THE WOLF AND THE LAMB.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">One</span> hot day a wolf came to quench his thirst at a +clear brook that ran down the side of a hill. By chance +a young lamb stood there. The wolf had a wish to eat +her, but felt some qualms, so for a plea he made out that +the lamb was his foe. “Stand off from the banks, sir,” +said he, “for as you tread them you stir mud in the +stream, and all I can get to drink is thick and foul.” The +young lamb said, in a mild tone, that she did not see how +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span> +that could be the case, as the brook ran down hill to her +from the spot where he stood. “But,” said the wolf, +“how dare you drink of it at all, till I have had my fill?” +Then the poor lamb told him that as yet her dam’s milk +was both food and drink to her. “Be that as it may,” +said the wolf, “you are a bad lamb; for last year I heard +that you spoke ill of me and all my race.” “Last year! +dread sir,” quoth the lamb, “why, I have not yet been +shorn, and at the time you name I was not born.” The +wolf, who found it was of no use to tell lies, fell in a great +rage, and as he came up to the lamb, he said, “All you +sheep have the same dull kind of face, and how is one to +know which is which? If it was not you, it was your +dam, and that’s all the same thing, so I shall not let you +go from here.” He then flew at the poor meek lamb, and +made a meal of her.</p> + +<p>Might beats Right. +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span> + <img src="images/i_17.jpg" + alt="Wolf and lamb"> + <p class="caption">The Wolf and the Lamb.—Page 15.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="STONE_BROTH">STONE BROTH.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A poor</span> man, in a storm of wind and rain, came to a +great house to beg for alms, and was sent off with cross +words. But he went back, and said, “May I but ask to +dry my clothes at your fire, for I am wet with rain?” +This the maids thought would not cost them much, so they +let him come in. He then told the cook that if she would +but give him a pan, and let him fill it from the pump, he +would make some stone broth. This kind of dish was so +new to the cook, that she let him make it. The man then +got a stone from the road, and put it in the pan. The +cook gave him some salt, peas, mint, thyme, and all the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span> +scraps of meat that she could spare, to throw in. Thus +the poor man made a rich mess, and the cook said, “Well +done! you have made a silk purse out of a sow’s ear; and +it just shows that ‘they who crave for food will break +through stone walls.’”</p> + +<p>Where there’s a will there’s a way.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_GNAT_AND_THE_BULL">THE GNAT AND THE BULL.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Once</span> on a time a poor gnat sat on the horn of a bull, +and said, “I have made free to rest on the tip of your +horn; but if my weight is at all too much for you, pray +say so, and I will move off.” “I think you are more nice +than wise,” said the bull. “To tell you the truth, I did +not know when you sat down, so I shall not miss you +when you think fit to rise up.” At this the bull gave his +head a toss, and put the gnat to death with his tongue.</p> + +<p>It is a dull bird that points out her own nest.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_DOVES_AND_THE_MOUSE">THE DOVES AND THE MOUSE.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A man</span> who sold doves in the East threw down some +grains of rice in a wood, and flung a net on the top of +them in such a way that it could not be seen in the grass, +and then hid close by to watch. Soon the king of the +wild doves, “Smooth Neck” by name, flew up to the spot +with his train, and said, “Whence can all these grains of +rice come? Let it be seen to. Eat them not yet.” But +the doves, drawn by greed, set to work to pick them up, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span> +and they were all caught in the net. “Ha!” said Smooth +Neck, “I thought this might be the work of a foe. You +would not wait, as I told you to do, and this has come of +it. Hark to the plan which I have in hand. We know +that small things may work out great ends, and that huge +beasts may be bound with straws made firm in a thick +rope. Now, all put out your strength at once, take up +the net, and fly off.” This they did, and the man who +had set the snare was much struck to see his net borne off +in the air by the birds. “This is well,” said one of the +doves, “but what are we to do now, with these toils on our +feet?” Smooth Neck said, “We are in an ill plight, but +Gold Fur, the wise king of the mice, may help us.” So +he went in search of Gold Fur’s hole, which had scores of +small doors that led to it, deep down in the ground. The +good mouse came out to meet them, and when he had +heard their tale, he said, “As long as my teeth do not +break, I will gnaw the nets for you.” So with his sharp +teeth he cut the snare, and set them all free. Then, with +great joy, the king of the doves bent low his smooth neck +to him, and said, “How much we owe to you! Think of +us as your slaves for life; for a friend in need is the best +friend of all.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_COCK_AND_THE_GEM">THE COCK AND THE GEM.</h3> +</div> + +<p>A cock came down from his roost at break of day, and +set up a loud, shrill crow; he then went to work to scratch +the ground in search of food for the hens. By and by, +what should he turn up but a bright gem. He gave it a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span> +kick and said, “Ha! you are a fine thing, no doubt; but, +to my mind, one good grain of wheat is worth all the +gems in the world.”</p> + +<p>Do not cast pearls to swine.</p> + +<div class="figcenter break"> + <img src="images/i_18fp.jpg" + alt="Cock and gem"> + <p class="caption">The Cock and the Gem.—Page 19.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_OAK_AND_THE_REED">THE OAK AND THE REED.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">An</span> oak which stood on the side of a brook was torn up +by the roots in a storm, and as the wind took it down the +stream, its boughs caught on some reeds which grew on +the bank. “How strange it is,” said the oak, “that such +a slight and frail thing as a reed should face the blast, +while my proud front, which till now has stood like an Alp, +is torn down, root and branch!” A reed, which caught +the sound of these words, said, in soft tones, “If I may +be free with you, I think the cause of it lies in your pride +of heart. You are stiff and hard, and trust in your own +strength, while we yield and bow to the rough blast.”</p> + +<p>It is worse to break than to bend.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_KID_AND_THE_WOLF">THE KID AND THE WOLF.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A young</span> kid that would stray from the herd saw a +wolf, and did her best to get out of his reach; but when +she found that all hope was lost, she said, “Sir wolf, I +know that I am to die at your hands, so as my life will +now be but short, I pray of you to let it be a gay one. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span> +Now, do you pipe while I dance.” So the wolf pipes, and +the kid jumps and springs to please him. A pack of +hounds who heard the sound, ran up to see who was +there, and then the wolf set off as fast as his legs would +take him, and the kid came home safe. Quoth she, with +a hop and a skip:</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_21.jpg" + alt="untitled illustration"> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="verse indent0a">“He that sticks to chance,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">When fools pipe he may dance.”</div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class="unindent">But the wolf gave a deep sigh, and said:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="verse indent0a">“He who will not when he may,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">When he wills, he shall have nay.”</div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_20fp.jpg" + alt="Kid and wolf"> + <p class="caption">The Kid and the Wolf.—Page 20.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_BAG_OF_GOLD">THE BAG OF GOLD.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Two</span> men set off to walk from Bath to York, and said +they would each share the same fate, come what might. +All went well till they got half way, when one of them +saw a bag of gold in the path, which he took up. “Ha!” +said he, “I am in luck’s way. See, I have found a bag +of gold! I will buy a horse and ride the rest of my way.” +“My friend,” said the man who went with him, “when +we set out you told me we were to share the same luck, be +it good or bad; so you ought to say ‘we’ have found a +bag of gold, not ‘I.’” “You may think just as you +please,” said the man, “but as it was I who found the gold, +I shall keep it, and do with it as I said, and wish you +good day.” Just then they heard a hue and cry of “Stop +thief!” “Come, I pray you,” said the man (who held the +bag), in a great fright; “come, let us hide in this wood, +for if the men find us with the gold, they will take us for +thieves, and we shall get hung for it.” “How now?” +said his friend; “you swore it should be ‘I’ when you +found the bag, so pray let it be ‘I’ as long as there is fear +of theft.”</p> + +<p>A just man’s word is as good as a bond.</p> + +<p>One gets the prize, and both bear the blame.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_FOX_WHO_HAD_LOST_HIS_TAIL">THE FOX WHO HAD LOST HIS TAIL.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A fox</span> who went to steal some young chicks was caught +in a trap, from which he got free, but with the loss of his +tail; and when he came to mix with the world, he saw +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span> +how high a price he had paid for it, for none of the beasts +who stole a look at him could hide a laugh, and the fox +thought it would have been well for him if his life had +gone with the “brush.” But, to make the best of things, +he sent to all the rest of his race to beg of them to meet +him on a heath, and there the fox held forth and said, +“I would have you all cut off your tails. You know not +the ease with which I can now move. Of what use is the +tail to us? If we creep through a hole in the hedge, as +we fly from the hounds, it stops us in the way. It is the +‘brush,’ you know, that man strives for in the hunt; and +then, too, in spite of all we can do, it is apt to be caught +in a trap.” A sly old fox who heard him, said, with a +leer, “It strikes me that you would not so much care to +see us part with our tails, if you had a chance to get your +own back!”</p> + +<p>Bought wit is the best.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_23.jpg" + alt="Fox lost tail"> + <p class="caption">The Fox who had lost His Tail.—Page 22.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_MAN_AND_THE_APE">THE MAN AND THE APE.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A man</span> in the East kept a tame ape, who was of great +use to him, for he could scare the birds from the fruit and +peas. One day the man took his sleep at noon, and the +ape sat by his side to brush the flies from his face. One +fly came and stood on the tip of his nose, so the ape, with +a grin, sent it off; then it flew to his chin, and this put +the ape in such a rage that he flung a stone at it, which +smote the fly; but, sad to tell, the force with which the +stone was thrown broke the man’s jaw.</p> + +<p>A rash friend is worse than a foe.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_MAN_AND_HIS_LIVE_STOCK">THE MAN AND HIS LIVE STOCK.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A man</span> who had a farm in a cold part of the world, was +shut up in it by a deep fall of snow, and could not get +out to buy food, so he ate all his sheep, one by one, and, +as the frost did not break up, he then ate his pigs, then +his goats, and, at last, the ox that was kept for the plough. +When the dogs on the farm found this out, they said, +“Let us be off! for since the man thinks it no harm to kill +his sheep, his pigs, his goats, and his ox, how can we hope +that he will spare us?”</p> + +<p>When the house next door is on fire, it is high time to +look to our own.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_FROGS_AND_THE_BULLS">THE FROGS AND THE BULLS.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Some</span> frogs that were in a damp marsh saw two bulls +which fought in a field some way off. “Look!” said one +of them, “there’s a sight! Dear sirs, what must we do?” +“I pray thee,” said a young frog, “do not take fright at +that. How can the feuds of two bulls hurt us? They are +not of the same tribe as we are, far less in the same rank +of life; and as to size, why we are too small for such large +beasts as those to take note of us. They do but fight to +see which shall be head of the herd.” “That is true,” +said an old frog, “but as one will win the day, one must, +of course, yield, and the bull that is sent out of the field +will come to the marsh for rush and reed, and will crush +us to death at each step. Know you not that when great +folk fall out, small folk smart for it?”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_BLUE_WOLF">THE BLUE WOLF.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A wolf</span> once fell in a vat of blue dye which is made in +the East. A man came by and thought he was dead, so +he took him out and laid him on the bank and went his +way; and then the wolf, glad to be safe, ran off to the +woods. One by one, all the beasts came to gaze on him, +and knew not what to make of him. So then the sly wolf +said, “My fur is of a fine blue! You see in me a new +kind of beast, and so I must, of course, be king of all the +rest!” Then the bears, the boars, the apes, the wolves, as +well as the ounce, the lynx, the bull, the fox, and all the +rest of them, drew near to bow their heads to him as the +lord of the wood. But soon the wolves thought they saw +in the king some trace of kin, and one of them said, “Be +it for me to find out, and let it be done as I say. At +night you must all set up a loud yell near him, and if he +be one of us—as I think he is—he will send forth a loud +howl too.” So all at once the wolves put up their heads +to howl, and they soon heard the new king join in the cry, +for he could not help it. At this, a loud laugh rang through +the wood from all the beasts of the plain. What is bred +in the bone will not out of the flesh.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_MAN_HIS_SON_AND_HIS_ASS">THE MAN, HIS SON, AND HIS ASS.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A man</span> and his son drove their ass to a fair to sell him. +They had not gone far, when one of a group of girls, who +stood round a well, said, with a laugh, “Look at those +two fools—they let their ass walk at his ease, while they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span> +trudge on foot by his side.” The man heard this, and set +his son on the beast. They had not gone more than half +a mile, when they came up to some old men who sat in +grave talk. “There,” said one of them, “that just proves +what I say; now a days the young take no care of the +old; see, that young rogue rides, while the old man has to +walk by his side. Get down, and let your sire rest his +limbs.” At this the man made his son jump off the ass, +that he might ride him. Thus they went on for a space, +when they met three kind dames, each with a child on her +arm. “Why, you old sloth,” said one of them, “what a +shame to sit at ease while that poor slight lad can scarce +keep pace by the side of you!” The man then took his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span> +son on the croup of the ass by his side, and so they rode +till they got near the town. “Pray, good friend,” said a +young man who met them, “is that ass your own?” +“Yes,” said he. “One would not have thought so by the +way you load him. Why, it seems to me more fit that +you two should take him to the fair, than that he should +take you.” “Well, be it so,” said the old man; “we can +but try.” So they got off, and made fast the legs of the +ass to a pole, which each took hold of at one end, and so +went on their way, till they came to a bridge. This +was a rare sight, and so the boys and girls thought, +for they ran in crowds to laugh at the farce, till the ass—which +took fright at the noise—gave a kick which broke +the cords that bound him; so he fell in the stream, and +sank. The old man then made the best of his way home, +and said, “If we try to please all, we please none.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_27.jpg" + alt="Man, son, ass"> + <p class="caption allsmcap">THE MAN, HIS SON, AND HIS ASS.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_FOX_AND_THE_CRANE">THE FOX AND THE CRANE.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A fox</span> that had been out to poach, had got hurt in a +trap, and lay at the point of death. For a long time he +sought in vain for aid, but at last he saw a crane, and said +to her, “I beg of you to bring me some drink to quench +my thirst, for I might then gain strength to go in search of +food.” “Not far in search, I think,” said the crane, “for +were I to bring you drink, I make no doubt that the food +would come with me.”</p> + +<p>Play not with edge tools.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_OLD_HEN_AND_HER_YOUNG_ONES">THE OLD HEN AND HER YOUNG ONES.</h3> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter60"> + <img src="images/i_29.jpg" + alt="Hen and chicks"> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<p><span class="smcap">A hen</span> led her train of young chicks through a yard, to +rake the chaff and to show the grain, when one of them +flew on the edge of a well to try her wings, and by chance +dropt down it, to the great grief of the old bird. The +next day, when the hen met one of her chicks from an old +brood, she said, “My dear son, I know you are strong and +bold, but, for your life, do not go near that well; if you +do, some great harm will come to you.” “Why should +she give me this charge?” said he. “Does she think I +am not brave, or does she store some good thing down the +well, which she keeps for her last brood? I will go and +see.” So he stood at the brink of the well, and, far down +in the dark, he saw a spruce young cock, whose plumes +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span> +rose, and whose wings spread, as if he had a wish to fight. +Down flew the young bird—to rise no more.</p> + +<p>If a fool is bid not to do a thing, he is sure to do it.</p> + +<p>The best shield is to keep out of the reach of shot.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_BOY_AND_THE_HORN_BOOK">THE BOY AND THE HORN BOOK.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A boy</span> stole a horn book from school, and brought it home +to his aunt, who did not take him to task for what he had +done, but gave him some plums for his pains. In course +of time the child grew up to be a man, and—need we +say?—a thief. He stole more and more, and at last was +caught in a great theft, and was hung. A crowd came to +look on at the sad scene, and with them the aunt of the +thief, who, with sobs and tears, tore her hair and beat her +breast. The thief saw her, and said to those who were in +charge of him, “Give me leave to say a word to my aunt.” +When she came up, he put his face to hers, as if he would +speak, and bit off her ear! At this the aunt gave a loud +cry, and all who stood near were struck with awe at so +base a deed. “Good sirs,” said the young man, “it is she +who is the cause of my guilt; for if, when I stole the horn +book from school, she had had the sense to point out to +me that I had done wrong, I should not have come to this +sad end.”</p> + +<p>Spare the rod, and spoil the child.</p> + +<p>He that will steal an ounce, will steal a pound.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_ASS_WITH_A_LOAD_OF_SALT">THE ASS WITH A LOAD OF SALT.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A man</span> drove his ass down to the coast to buy a load +of salt, and on his way home the ass fell in the midst of a +stream. The salt, of course, did not take long to melt, +and so the ass lost his load, and came home fresh and +gay. The next day the man set off to the coast for some +more salt, and put the load on his ass once more. As +they went through the stream, the ass took care to fall +down just at the same spot, and thus got rid of his load +this time too. But the man, who now saw the trick, made +a plan to cure the ass of it. He bought a large load of +sponge, and put it on the back of the beast, and drove +him, for the third time, to the coast. By and by they +came to the stream, when the ass thought to play his old +pranks. But the sponge got wet through, and the ass +found to his cost that so far from a light load, he had now +on his back one which was ten times the weight of the +first.</p> + +<p>If a man cheats me once, shame on him. If he cheats +me twice, shame on me.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_WOLF_AND_THE_HOUSE_DOG">THE WOLF AND THE HOUSE DOG.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A poor</span> lean wolf, that was but skin and bone, fell in +with a plump house dog, and said, “How comes it, my +friend, that you look so fat and sleek, while I, who am in +the woods night and day in search of food, do but starve +at the best?” “Well,” said the dog, “you may be as +well off as I am, if you will do the same for it. I have +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span> +but to guard the house from thieves; so come home with +me, and see how you like the life.” “With all my +heart!” cries the wolf.</p> + +<p>As they went down the road side by side, the wolf saw +a mark on the dog’s neck, and would know what it was. +So they had a talk.</p> + +<p><i>Dog.</i>—Well, it may be a slight mark from the chain.</p> + +<p><i>Wolf.</i>—Chain! Do you mean to say that you may not +roam when and where you please?</p> + +<p><i>Dog.</i>—Why, not quite. For, you see, they do look on +me as the least in the world fierce, so they tie me up by +day, but I am let loose at night. And all in the house +pet me, and feed me with scraps from their own plates, +and—Come on. What ails you?</p> + +<p><i>Wolf.</i>—Oh, good night to you. I wish you joy of your +fine life; but, for my part, though I may not be fat, I will +at least be free.</p> + +<p>No one loves chains, though they be made of gold.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_30fp.jpg" + alt="Wolf and house dog"> + <p class="caption">The Wolf and the House Dog.—Page 31.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_STAG_IN_THE_LAKE">THE STAG IN THE LAKE.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">One</span> hot day, a stag came to quench his thirst at a lake, +and stood there to scan his shape from head to foot, as it +shone in the clear pool. “What strength is there,” said +he, “in this fine pair of horns which branch out with so +much grace from each side of my head! If the rest of +my form were but of a piece with my horns, I would give +place to none. But, ah, me! how slight are these poor +legs of mine. I would as lief have none at all.” Just +then some men, and a pack of hounds that had been on +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span> +the scent, made to the spot where the stag stood. Off he +went, at full speed; and those legs, with which he found +so much fault, soon took him out of the reach of hounds +and men. But the horns which he was so vain of, by ill +luck, caught in the boughs of a tree, and held him there +till the hounds came to pull him down. +</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_32fp.jpg" + alt="Title or description"> + <p class="caption">The Stag in the Lake.—Page 32.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_MAN_THE_FOX_AND_THE_BEAR">THE MAN, THE FOX, AND THE BEAR.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A man</span> once saw a fox which had so sleek a coat that he +felt a wish to kill him for the sake of it, and he thought +of a plan by which he might save the skin whole. He +dug a deep trench just in front of his hole, on which he +spread leaves, sticks, and straw, and then hid in the thick +trees out of sight, to wait till the fox came home. But he +went to sleep; and while he slept, the fox came up, saw +the piece of meat, and had a great wish to taste it; yet +when he stole a look round him, he had his doubts that all +was right, so he did not touch it. Soon a bear came up, +and sprang on the bait. The sticks gave way as he lit on +them, and down he fell in the pit. The noise woke up the +man, who, as he thought of course it was his friend the +fox, went down the pit, where the bear gave him a hug +which took all the breath out of his lungs, and then ate +him up. So the man was caught in his own trap.</p> + +<p>He must rise in good time who would cheat the fox.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_FOX_AND_THE_CROW">THE FOX AND THE CROW.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A crow</span> sat on the bough of a tree with a piece of +cheese in her beak. A sly old fox which saw her, said, +“What a fine bird thou art! How bright is thine eye, +how sleek are thy wings, what grace is there in the turn +of thy whole form! Oh, that such a bird should lack a +voice!” The poor crow was much struck with this speech, +saw not its guile, and would fain prove how sweet her note +was; so she gave a loud caw, and down fell the cheese to +the ground. The fox ran off with it, and said, as he went, +“I spoke loud of her charms; but fair words do not cost +much, nor does the heart feel all that the false tongue +speaks. Yet I said not a word of her brains; for a wise +head makes a close mouth, and a close mouth will catch +no flies.” +</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_34fp.jpg" + alt="Fox and crow"> + <p class="caption">The Fox and the Crow.—Page 34.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_BOOR_AND_THE_STAG">THE BOOR AND THE STAG.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A stag</span> that had left the hounds a long way off, came +up to a man who was at work on a farm, to ask if he +would show him some safe place to hide in. So the man +bade him hide in his own hut, which was close by. The +stag lay quite still in the hut, and in a short time up came +the squire and his train with the hounds. The squire +caught sight of the boor, and drew back to ask him if he +had seen the stag pass that way. “No,” said the boor, in +a loud tone, “I have not.” At the same time—as he had +a wish to keep on good terms with the squire—he held out +his hand, with a sly look, to point to the hut where the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span> +stag lay hid; but as luck would have it, the squire took no +heed of this sign, nor did he so much as see it. So on he +went to join the rest; but though they rode through the +field where the hut was, they did not see the stag. As +soon as they were well out of sight, the stag stole from the +hut, but said not a word to the boor, who now gave a loud +call to him. “You wretch!” said he, “you owe your life +to me, yet when you leave my hut, where I sent you to +screen you from your foes, you say not one word of +thanks.” “Nay,” quoth the stag, “you may make sure I +should fill your ears as full of praise and thanks as my +heart is of joy, if your deeds had been true to your words; +in short, if I had not, through the door of the hut, seen +your hand play false to your tongue.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_CAT_THE_MOUSE_AND_THE_COCK">THE CAT, THE MOUSE, AND THE COCK.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A young</span> mouse, which had not seen much of the +world, came home one day and said, “Oh, I have had +such a fright! I have seen a thing with such a fierce +look, that struts now here, now there, on two legs; on his +head he wears a small red flag, and one round his throat, +his arms flap up and down on his sides as if he meant to +rise in the air. But you should have seen him stretch out +his head, and roar at me with his sharp mouth, till I +thought he would eat me up. It made me shake from +head to foot with fear, and I was glad to run home as fast +as my feet would take me. But for this I should have +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span> +made friends with as sweet a soul as could be. She had +soft fur like ours, which was black and gray in streaks. +Her look was so bland and meek that I fell quite in love +with her. Then she had a fine long tail, which you might +see wave to and fro, first on this side, then on that; and +when I saw her fix her bright eyes on me I thought she +had a wish to speak; when that fierce wretch set up his +scream, which drove me in this haste, quite out of breath +with fear.” “Ah! my dear child,” said the old mouse, +“in good truth you have run for your life; but the fierce +thing you speak of was not your foe, for it was but a bird, +that would not have done you the least harm in the +world; while that sweet thing, of which you seem so fond, +was a cat, and cats eat all us mice when they have a +chance—in short, they live on mice.”</p> + +<p>Judge not by looks.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_PLANE_TREE">THE PLANE TREE.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">One</span> hot day in June, two men lay down in the shade +of a plane tree, to get out of the rays of the sun, and as +they lay there, they cast their eyes up to the boughs. “A +plane tree bears no fruit,” said one of them. “In good +sooth,” quoth his friend, “that seems but a poor tree that +is of no use to man!” The plane chid them, and said, +“Sirs, you must be as blind as you are base, to come here +and lie in the shade I give, and yet rail at me as a thing +that is of no use to man.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_DOG_WHO_WAS_HUNG">THE DOG WHO WAS HUNG.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Once</span> on a time two sheep met, and one of them said +to her friend, “Last night our dog Spring ate a lamb, and +then bit the old one to death, as well as the man of the +farm.” “Nay,” quoth the friend, “if that be true, in whom +can we put our trust?” Thus spread the news, and such +was the crime of Spring, who now lay bound, while a +group of men sat to judge his case. Spring then said, +with a firm voice, “For more than ten years I have done +my work as a sheep dog should. Last night, as I lay on +the ground, a wolf leapt forth from the wood, sprang at a +lamb, and drank its blood, then let fall his prize, and stood +at bay. We fought, and I slew the wolf. But now, when +I saw the lamb, as it lay dead on the grass, I could in no +way curb my wish to eat it. While I was at my feast, the +ewe came up to seek for her young one; so, lest she should +charge its death on me, I thought it best to kill her. Just +then, up came the man of the farm, who of course thought +that I had put both to death. His eye met mine; he held +up his staff; I could not pause; dead men tell no tales, +thought I, and so flew at his throat. You know, too well, +the rest.”</p> + +<p>If we do not crush sin in the bud, it will grow strong, +and crush us.</p> + +<p>Do what you ought, come what may.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_BIRDS_THE_BEASTS_AND_THE_BAT">THE BIRDS, THE BEASTS, AND THE BAT.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> birds and the beasts once went to war. The bat—which +could not be said to be bird or beast—at first kept +out of the way of both, but when he thought the beasts +would win the day, he was found in their ranks, and to +prove his right to be there, he said, “Can you find a bird +that has two rows of teeth in his head, as I have?” At +last the birds had the best of the fight, so then the bat was +seen to join their ranks. “Look,” said he, “I have wings, +so what else can I be but a bird?” “To grind with all +winds” was thought base in the bat by both sides of the +fight, and he could not get bird or beast to own him, and +to this day he hides and skulks in caves and stems of +trees, and does not come out till dark, when all the birds +of the air have gone to roost, and the beasts of the field +are wrapt in sleep.</p> + +<p>One must not blow hot and cold.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_BOY_AND_THE_NUTS">THE BOY AND THE NUTS.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A young</span> child put his hand in a jar where nuts and +figs were kept. He took all that his fist could hold, but +when he came to pull it out, the neck of the jar was too +small for him to do so. At this the tears came in his +eyes, and a friend, who stood by, said, “Grasp at but +half, my boy, and you will have it; but grasp at all, and +lose all.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_APE_AND_HER_YOUNG_ONES">THE APE AND HER YOUNG ONES.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">An</span> ape, who had two young ones, felt a great love for +her fine child, but did not care at all for the plain one. +One day, when by chance the old dam was put to flight, +she caught up the fine young ape in her arms, but left the +plain one to get on as it could, so it leapt on the dam’s +back, and off they set. The old ape ran so fast to save +her pet, that in her haste its head was caught by the +branch of a tree, and it fell down dead from the blow; +but the plain one clung on tight to the dam’s rough back, +and so came off safe and sound.</p> + +<p>The pet child may die from too much care.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_HORSE_THE_WOLF_AND_THE_FOX">THE HORSE, THE WOLF, AND THE FOX.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A fox</span> one night had been out some hours in the snow +in search of food, and yet had found none. At last he +met a wolf in the same case, to whom he said, “Do you +see the horse in that field? Well, I think if you lend me +your help, I could kill him.” When they came up to the +horse, the fox was much struck to find how small his size +was by the side of him. “May I ask your name, and +that of the man who owns you?” “My name is Squire,” +said the horse. “I have not yet heard the man’s name, +but I think if you wish to know it you can see the stamp +on my shoe.” The sly fox, who made a shrewd guess at +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span> +what this meant, said, “Nay, I do not know how to read, +but”—here he gave a low bow to the wolf—“my friend +has a gift that way.” The wolf, who was made quite vain +by this soft speech, came up to read, but as he bent down +his head to do so, Squire gave a kick which clave his skull +in two.</p> + +<p>Take the nuts out of the fire with the cat’s paw.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_LARK_AND_HER_YOUNG_ONES">THE LARK AND HER YOUNG ONES.</h3> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_41.jpg" + alt="Lark and young"> + <p class="caption allsmcap">THE LARK AND HER YOUNG ONES.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<p>A lark had a nest of young birds in a field of corn, and +one day two men came to look at the state of the crop. +“Well,” says one of them to his son, “I think this wheat +is ripe, so now go and ask our friends to help us reap it.” +When the old lark came back to her nest, the young brood +told her, in a great fright, what they had heard. “So +they look to their friends,” said she; “well, I think we +have no cause to fear.” The next day the man of the +farm came, and saw no friends in the corn field, so he bade +his son fetch his kith and kin to help him. This the young +birds heard, and told to the old one when she came home +to her nest. Quoth she, “I do not see that men go much +out of their way to help those that are of the same kith +and kin.” In the course of a day or two, as the man +found that no one came, he said to his son, “Hark you, +John; we will trust to none, but you and I will reap the +corn at dawn of day.” “Now,” said the old lark, “we +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span> +must be gone; for when a man takes his work in his own +hands, it is sure to be done.”</p> + +<p>No eye so good as one’s own; no work so well done.</p> + +<p>He that by the plow would thrive ... must hold or +drive. +</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_40fp.jpg" + alt="Lark and her young"> + <p class="caption">The Lark and Her Young Ones.—Page 40.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_KITE_THE_SOW_AND_THE_CAT">THE KITE, THE SOW, AND THE CAT.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A kite</span> had built her nest at the top of an old oak, and +in a hole half way up the tree, a wild cat had found a +home; while the foot of the tree made a sty for a sow +and her young pigs. For some time they all went on in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span> +peace, and might have done so to this day, but for the +spite of the cat. For, first of all, she crept up to the +kite, and said, “Good friend, I have news to tell you, +which will plunge us both in grief. The old sow does +naught else than grub at the foot of the tree, and we all +know what that will come to. It is clear that she means +to root it up, that she may kill your young ones. For my +part, I will take care of my own, and you can do as you +please; but you may be sure I shall watch her well, +though I were to stay at home for a month for it.” When +she had said this to the kite, she went down and made a +call on the sow at the foot of the tree. She put on a +grave face, and said, “I hope you do not mean to go +out?” “Why not?” said the sow. “Nay,” said she, +“you may do as you please; but I heard the kite say to +her brood that she would treat them with a pig the first +time she saw you go out; and I do not feel sure that she +may not take one of <i>my</i> young ones at the same time. So +good day to you, for I must look at home, you see.” +With these words she went back to her hole.</p> + +<p>The scheme that puss had in her head was to steal out +at night for her prey, and peep all day at her hole, that +the sow and the kite might think she was in great dread. +This plan put them both in such a fright, that the kite did +not dare to stir out in search of food, for fear of the sow, +nor the sow for fear of the kite; and the end of it was +that they and their young ones were all kept in their +homes to starve, and so were made a prey of by the cat.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_MAN_AND_THE_PERCH">THE MAN AND THE PERCH.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A man</span> went to fish in a fresh stream, and caught a +small perch, who said, “I pray of you to save my life, and +put me in the stream once more, for as I am but young +and small now, it is not so well worth your while to take +me as it will be some time hence, when I am grown a +large fish.” “So you think,” said the man; “but I am +not one of those who give up that which is at hand for +that which is far off; nor do I make sure of fish, flesh, or +fowl till I have got it, for one bird in the hand is worth +two in the bush.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_43.jpg" + alt="fisherman"> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<p>All is fish that comes to the net. + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_ROSE_AND_THE_CLAY">THE ROSE AND THE CLAY.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A man</span> in the East by chance took up a piece of clay +which lay in his path, and was much struck to find it smell +so sweet. “It is but a poor piece of clay,” said he, “a +mean clod of earth, yet how sweet is it! How fresh! +But whence has it this scent?” The clay said, “I have +dwelt with the rose.”</p> + +<p>Make friends with the good if you wish to be like them.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_OX_AND_THE_CALF">THE OX AND THE CALF.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> days of old, a calf that ran wild in some fields near +Rome, and had not yet felt the yoke, said to an old ox, +“Dull slave! How can you drudge on in this way from +day to day with a plough at your tail? Look at me, see +how I skip and play!” The ox said not a word, but went +on with his work. The next day there was a great feast +held at Rome, so the ox did not go to the plough; but his +friend the calf, was led off in great pomp to be slain, with +a wreath round his neck. “If this is the last scene of your +gay life,” said the ox, “let me drudge on at the plough, +for the yoke is more to my mind than the ax.”</p> + +<p>Of two ills, choose the least.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_42fp.jpg" + alt="Ox and Calf"> + <p class="caption">The Ox and the Calf.—Page 44.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_WOLVES_AND_THE_SHEEP">THE WOLVES AND THE SHEEP.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> wolves and the sheep had been for a long time at +war. At last the wolves said, “It is the dogs that are +the cause of it all; they bark if we do but come near +you. Now, if you will but send them off from your heels, +we, on our part, will give up our young ones to you.” +The poor sheep thought it a fair thing; but as soon as the +change was made, the young cubs set up a howl for want +of their dams. On this the old wolves gave out that the +peace was at an end; so they fell on the sheep, who, as +they had lost their best friends, the dogs, had none now +to help them, and were torn to death by the wolves.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_44fp.jpg" + alt="Wolves and sheep"> + <p class="caption">The Wolves and the Sheep.—Page 45.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_COCK_THE_FOX_AND_THE_SPRINGE">THE COCK, THE FOX, AND THE SPRINGE.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A fox</span>, who came to a farm at break of day, was caught +in a springe, which had been put there for that end. A +cock, who sat on the bough of a tree, did not at first dare +to go near so dire a foe; but when he saw that the fox +could not stir from the spot, he came down from the tree +to greet him. The fox said, “Dear bird, you see what has +come to me, and all for your sake; for as I crept through +the hedge, on my way home, I felt I must come to ask how +you are. And now I will beg of you to fetch me a knife +to cut this wire.” The cock spoke not, but flew off as fast +as he could to tell the news to the men on the farm, who +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span> +soon came up with a knife with which to cut the wire, +and kill the fox. The cock said that he thought those +who spoke doves’ words should lead doves’ lives. “Ha!” +cries the fox, “he gives twice who gives in a trice.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_KID_AND_THE_WOLF2">THE KID AND THE WOLF.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A young</span> kid who stood on the roof of a house, out of +harm’s way, saw a wolf pass by, and set to work to taunt +and tease his foe. But the wolf said, “I hear you. Yet +it is not you who mock me, but the roof on which you +stand.”</p> + +<p>Time and place will give to the weak more strength +than the strong.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_ASS_AND_THE_LAMB">THE ASS AND THE LAMB.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">An</span> ass once lay down in a shed that he might shirk +his work, and make known to those who were near what +toil was put on him. All the beasts, great and small, +came to lend him help. At the same time a poor meek +lamb lay at the point of death from want, but none came +to give her their aid. “How is it,” said she, “that I lie +here in so much need of care, whilst the ass gets all this +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span> +help?” A fox, who heard her, said, “The ass knows +well that the loud bray which he gives by way of thanks, +makes the kind acts of his friends well known, and so it +swells their pride to help him.”</p> + +<p>A good deed may spring from a bad source.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_BEES_AND_THE_SNAIL">THE BEES AND THE SNAIL.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A snail</span>, one day, made his way through the hole of a +bee hive, where, in a great rage, the bees flew round him, +and stung him to death. But soon they found that the +snail, when dead, was all the more a foe than when he had +life, for the air in the hive was not fit to breathe. What +was to be done? He was of too great bulk for the bees +to turn him out, so they had to leave the hive; and they +found, to their cost, that they ought to have let the poor +snail just crawl out as he had come in. The bees made a +long search for a new home, but in vain, so they went back +to their old hive, to see what could be done with the dead +snail. And, in the end, they all set to work to build a +case of wax round the shell of their guest, so as to close +him in a sort of tomb, and thus they made the hive as +sweet as the stores that were laid up in the combs.</p> + +<p>When things come to the worst, they must mend.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_OLD_DAME_AND_HER_MAIDS">THE OLD DAME AND HER MAIDS.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> the good old times, when there were no clocks, an +old dame kept a cock in her yard, which at dawn of day +gave a loud crow, and then she got up to rouse her maids, +that they might go to their work. But they thought it +hard to be woke out of their sweet sleep at such an hour, +so, one day, they wrung the cock’s neck. The next night +the old dame slept till late, as she had not heard the cock +crow; but when she found that he was dead, and that +there was now no means by which to tell the time, she +went at all hours of the night to wake up her maids, for +fear they should sleep too long.</p> + +<p>Strive to mend, and you will oft times mar what’s well.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_TWO_GOATS_ON_THE_BRIDGE">THE TWO GOATS ON THE BRIDGE.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Two</span> goats that had been brought up in the same glen, +left it, and by chance met on a bridge, which was a mere +plank, and would not hold them both side by side. One +of the fair ones set her foot on it, and her friend was not +slow to do the same. They came up, step by step, till +they met half way, and as they could not pass, and were +both too proud to give in, each did her best to push by +with a skip and jump, till at last the plank broke, and they +both fell in, and were borne off by the stream.</p> + +<p>It is not so bad to clear the way as to fall in the ditch.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_AX_AND_THE_TREES">THE AX AND THE TREES.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Once</span> on a time a man came to a wood to ask the trees +if they would give him a stick for his ax. This was so +small a boon to ask, that the chief trees said at once, +“By all means, give him what he wants from a good +tough ash.” But as soon as the man had made the stick +fit the ax, he fell to work with it to hack and hew down +all the best trees in the wood. The oak was heard to say, +in sad tones to the beech, “The first step has lost us all. +We gave up our poor friend the ash to the foe. But for +this we might all have stood for an age to come; now we +must take our sad fate for our pains.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_DOG_AND_THE_THIEF">THE DOG AND THE THIEF.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">One</span> dark night a thief came to a man’s house to rob +it, and when the dog heard him he gave a loud bark. At +this the man sprang from his bed to look out, but saw no +one, nor did he hear the least sound, so he bade the dog +be still, and then went back to sleep. The thief in the +mean time had hid in the shed in a state of great fear; +but when he found that the dog was bound by a chain, +and did not now bark, he crept to the door of the house, +and took out his bunch of false keys to try the lock. +The dog saw him, and set up his loud bark, so the man +of the house put his head out once more to look round +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span> +him, but as he saw no one, and found that all was +now quite still, in a great rage he cries out, “Down, you +brute! Down, I tell you! You will not let me have a +wink of sleep!” So the dog left off, and in the mean +time the thief made his way to the house, and took all +that he could find. The next day when the man saw +what had been done, he said, “This will teach me to +give ear to the voice of a warm and true friend when he +warns me.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_FLY_AND_THE_ANT">THE FLY AND THE ANT.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A fly</span> and an ant came to words as to which stood first +in rank. The fly said, “How can you place your mean +state by the side of mine? Look how I soar up in the +air, skip round the head of a king, and kiss the lips of a +queen! I toil not, nor stoop to work, but live a life of +ease. What is there you can have to say to this?” +“Why,” quoth the ant, in a sharp tone, “to be made +much of by kings and queens is a great thing, I grant, if +they send for you, but not if they deem you a pest. In +good sooth, I think it is but your small size that screens +you from their wrath; and as to work, you will learn the +use of it when the frost and snow pinch, and the cold +winds blow, while I shall reap the fruits of my toil. To +be free with you, I think you will find no pains, no gains.”</p> + +<p>One tale is good, till the next is told.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span> + <img src="images/i_51.jpg" + alt="Fly and ant"> + <p class="caption allsmcap">THE FLY AND THE ANT.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_WOLF_AND_THE_FOX_IN_THE_WELL">THE WOLF, AND THE FOX IN THE WELL.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A fox</span> fell down a deep well, in the sides of which he +stuck his claws, and so, for a while, kept his head up. A +wolf came to take a peep down the well, and when the +fox saw him, he said, “Oh, I beg of you to run for a rope, +or some such thing, to pull me out, for I am at the point +of death!” “Poor friend! you are in a sad strait,” said +the wolf; “I grieve for you, with all my heart! How +long have you been here?” “Nay,” said the fox, “if you +wish me well, don’t stand there to say soft words to me, +but get me some help, and that soon, or I must die.” The +wolf then gave one more sigh, and went home, and the +poor fox sank, to rise no more.</p> + +<p>A long tongue hath a short hand.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_48fp.jpg" + alt="Wolf fox in well"> + <p class="caption">The Wolf, and the Fox in the Well.—Page 52.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_CAT_AND_THE_MICE">THE CAT AND THE MICE.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">An</span> old dame dwelt in a house that had such swarms of +mice in it that she got a cat, who caught and ate them one +by one. But in course of time all the mice kept on the +top shelves to be out of the cat’s reach, and puss saw that +at this rate she should starve. So she hit on a plan, which +was to hang in a bag, by her hind legs, from a peg in the +shelf, that she might pass for dead. The young mice took +no heed of her, but the old ones gave a peep round the +edge of the shelf, and said, “Ah, you sly thing! We see +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span> +you! Hang there as long as you please, but we would +not trust a child of ours to go near you, though you were +full of straw.”</p> + +<p>Old birds are not caught with chaff. +</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_53.jpg" + alt="Cat and mice"> + <p class="caption">The Cat and the Mice.—Page 52.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_GOOSE_WITH_THE_GOLD_EGG">THE GOOSE WITH THE GOLD EGG.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> the good old times, a man and his wife had a goose +that each day of her life laid a gold egg; but they thought +that one egg from the time the sun rose till he set was +slow work, and in the hopes that they should seize all the +eggs at once, they put the goose to death. But to their +great grief they found that their goose was just the same +as all geese. “Ah, my dear,” quoth the old man, “he +who has much would have more.” “True,” said his wife, +with a sigh, “and so comes to lose all.” +</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_54fp.jpg" + alt="golden egg"> + <p class="caption">The Goose with the Gold Egg.—Page 54.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_FOX_AND_THE_STORK">THE FOX AND THE STORK.</h3> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_55.jpg" + alt="untitled illustration"> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<p><span class="smcap">One</span> day the fox had a mind to play the wag with the +stork, and said, “You must come and dine with me to +day, for I have had good luck, and the soup will be rich.” +When the time came for them to dine, the stork found to +her grief, that the dish in which the soup was put was so +flat that she could but dip in the point of her bill, while +the fox could lap it up with his tongue. “It grieves me,” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span> +said he, “to see you make so poor a meal; I fear it is not +to your mind.” The stork did not say much, but told her +host that it was now his turn to come and dine with her. +So he came, true to the hour. “Good day,” quoth the +stork. “Now I hope you will feel that you are quite at +home.” The smell of the stew was fine, but it was put in +a jar with a thin neck, down which the stork thrust her +long bill with ease, but all the fox could do was to lick +the brim of it; and when the time came for him to take +his leave, he made his bow with a bad grace. The stork +told him that she had but paid him off in his own coin.</p> + +<p>Tit for tat.</p> + +<p>Good cat, good rat. +</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_56fp.jpg" + alt="Fox and stork"> + <p class="caption">The Fox and the Stork.—Page 54.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_DAW_AND_THE_JAY">THE DAW AND THE JAY.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Once</span> on a time there was a daw, who was so vain that +he must needs leave his old friends (the jacks), and go +quite out of his sphere to pass for a jay. So he stuck +the bright plumes that fell from those gay birds on his +own back, that he might look like them. But they soon +found him out, took off his plumes, fell on him with their +sharp bills, and made him smart for his pride. Full of +shame, he hung down his head, and once more went to +flock with those of his own tribe, but they knew his vain +ways too well, and told him they did not now choose to +own him; and one of them said, “If you had been true +to your own friends, you would not have had such hard +cuts from those whom you have just left, nor would you +have had to bear the slights which we now feel we must +put on you.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_HART_AND_THE_VINE">THE HART AND THE VINE.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Some</span> men sought out a hart for the chase, when one +made a rush out of the wood, and hid from them in the +shade of a thick vine, so that they quite lost sight of him. +It was the best hide and seek that could be, and so +thought the stag, but he hid not for sport, but for dear +life. There he lay, still as a mouse. In a short time he +took heart to browse on the leaves of the vine, which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span> +hung so green and fresh just at his nose. He saw no +harm in one more crop, and then one more, till he quite +lost sight of what he had come there for. More than +this, he so shook the tree when he took a bite, that he +drew the eyes of the men to the spot, and as the vine +was now too thin of leaves to hide him, they shot at him, +and he fell down dead.</p> + +<p>Where the hedge is thin, men will see through it.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_OWLS_AND_THE_WREN">THE OWLS AND THE WREN.</h3> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_57.jpg" + alt="untitled illustration"> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<p><span class="smcap">Two</span> owls sat on the branch of a tree. “How strange +is it,” said one of them, “that in the old days of Greece, +men best knew our worth, for owls were then thought to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span> +be the type of all that is wise.” “Not so,” said the wren, +who heard them, “and if you were less vain, you would +know well that in those days men wore owls on their +shields to show that they should not judge by mere +looks. If they did, they would take an owl to be a wise +bird; for, though he has but a small wit, he has a large +head.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_LEAP_AT_RHODES">THE LEAP AT RHODES.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A man</span> who had been in all parts of the world told his +old friends when he came home of the great feats he had +done. These tales they at first heard with great glee; but +in time they found out that he shot with a long bow, nay, +more than this, that he told lies, and when he once did +that, he set less and less guard on his tongue, till he made +those who heard him stare. “How comes it,” said they, +“that this man, who when at home could boast of no +great feats, should, when he goes to strange lands, do +such great things?” One day he told them that there was +no place in the world where men leapt like the men at +Rhodes; “but I beat them all,” said he, “for I took a leap +there of two score yards.” A grave old man, who sat +near him, said with a sneer, “Sir, if your tale be true, +think this place to be Rhodes, and, to prove your words, +take the leap once more.” The man kept his seat, and +had no more to say.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_DOG_IN_THE_OXS_STALL">THE DOG IN THE OX’S STALL.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A dog</span> once made his bed on some hay in a stall, and +an ox, who was much in want of food, came near to eat +some of it. Up sprang the fierce cur, with a growl and a +snarl, and would not let him touch it. At this the ox said, +“Fie on thee, thou cur! Thou dost not feed on hay, yet, +in thy spite, thou must needs stand in the way of those +who do.” With this, a man on the farm took the dog up +by the neck, and laid his whip on his back till he ran off +in shame.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_59.jpg" + alt="untitled illustration"> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span><h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_NURSE_AND_THE_WOLF">THE NURSE AND THE WOLF.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A wolf</span> that was in search of food, was seen to prowl +near a house where he heard a child cry, and its nurse +chide it in these words—“Now leave off at once, or I will +throw you out of doors to the wolf!” So the wolf sat +near the house for a long time in the hopes that he should +see her words made good. At last the child, worn out by +its cries, fell off to sleep. In a short time the wolf heard +the nurse say, “There’s a good dear then; if the fierce +old wolf comes for my babe, we will beat him to death, +we will.” The wolf now thought it high time to be off, +and said, as he went, “If folk say that which they do not +mean at one hour, and mean that which they do not say +the next, what can a child or a wolf think of it?” +</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_60fp.jpg" + alt="Nurse and wolf"> + <p class="caption">The Nurse and the Wolf.—Page 60.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_OLD_BLIND_DAME">THE OLD BLIND DAME.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Once</span> on a time an old dame that was blind sent for +Dr. Dash to cure her. She told him that if he brought +back her sight he should have a large fee, but that if he +did not cure her, he was to have no fee at all. Well, day +by day Dr. Dash made his call on the dame, and one by +one he took off all her goods. At last, when he had +swept the house clear of them, he set to work on the +case, and made a cure of it; so once more, to her great +joy, the old dame could see. “I must ask you for my +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span> +fee,” said Dr. Dash; but the dame put him off from time +to time, and did not pay him. At last he went to law; +and when she came to the court, she spoke thus to the +judge: “What Dr. Dash tells you is quite true, in so far +as I said I would give him a large fee if he brought back +my sight. Now, then, he tells me my eyes are well, but +I say they are not; for till my bad sight had come on, I +could see all sorts of goods in my house, while now, when +he tells me he has made a cure of my eyes, I can see +none there; and I think, my lord, that he who plays +tricks ought to take a joke!”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_COCK_THE_DOG_AND_THE_FOX">THE COCK, THE DOG, AND THE FOX.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A dog</span> and a cock had been in a wood, and as night +came on, they went to rest. The cock flew on the bough +of a tree to roost, while the dog slept in a hole in the +trunk of it. At break of day the cock set up a loud shrill +crow, which was heard by a fox, who soon ran to the place +whence the sound came, and said, “Let me beg of you to +fly down, that I may greet you, and praise you for so +sweet a song.” “I would first ask you,” said the cock, +“to wake up my friend, who lies in the trunk of this +tree.” “By all means,” quoth the fox, who thought he +should find a nest, with the hen and her young chicks in +it; so he thrust his head in the hole, and was torn to +death by the dog, who said, with a loud bark, “Paid in +his own coin.” +</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_62fp.jpg" + alt="Cock, dog, fox"> + <p class="caption">The Cock, the Dog, and the Fox.—Page 61.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_BOAR_AND_THE_HORSE">THE BOAR AND THE HORSE.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> days of old a horse came to drink at a pond, when +he saw that a boar lay in the mud at the edge, which +made the pool thick and foul. Fierce neighs and grunts +were soon heard, and but for the fear the horse had of the +boar’s huge tusks, they would have fought. At last the +horse found a man to help him, who soon made a bit and +a rein, took his bow, got on his back, and off they both +set. The boar, struck with awe at so strange a sight, ran +off as fast as he could, but the horse soon came up to +him, and the man shot him dead. Now that there was +no cause for fear, the horse would fain be once more free; +so he said, “I pray thee take off this rein.” “Nay, that +I will not do, my friend,” quoth the man; “for now that I +have found out thy use, I will keep thee to ride on.”</p> + +<p>A man may beat the bush, and his friend catch the +bird.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_APE_MADE_KING">THE APE MADE KING.</h3> +</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> beasts once chose an ape for their king. From +morn till night he would play all his droll tricks to please +them, and they could not rest till they had put him on a +throne, with a king’s crown on his head. They did all +they could to swell his pomp, and the beasts took him to +be as wise as he was great—all but the fox, who knew +what a bad choice they had made. One day, as the fox +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span> +was on his way to the court, he saw a trap in a ditch with +nuts, figs, and dates for a bait. He told the ape of all +these good things, and said that as they were found on a +piece of waste land, they were the king’s by right. The +ape, who did not dream of fraud, went to claim them; +but as soon as he had laid his paw on the bait, he was +caught in the trap. Stung with rage and pain, he gave +the fox all the hard names he could think of; but all the +fox said was, “Are you a king, and not up to trap?”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_FROG_THE_MOUSE_AND_THE_HAWK">THE FROG, THE MOUSE, AND THE HAWK.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">By</span> chance a mouse made friends with a frog, who spent +his life for the most part in a pool. The frog one day, by +way of sport, bound the foot of the mouse to his own, and +step by step led him to the pool in which he spent most +of his time, till at last he got to the brink, when he gave +a leap which took them both in the midst of the pond. +The frog, who was fond of a swim, went now here, now +there, with a croak which would seem to say that all was +right, and that he thought he had done a great feat. But +the poor mouse could not stand it long, as the dry ground +was his home, and he was soon seen to float on the pool +quite dead, but still bound fast to the frog. By and by a +hawk stuck his claws in the mouse, and flew off with him; +but the frog, who could not get loose from the mouse, had +to share the same fate, and the hawk made a meal of both.</p> + +<p>Harm hatch, harm catch.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_64fp.jpg" + alt="Frog, Mouse, Hawk"> + <p class="caption">The Frog, the Mouse, and the Hawk.—Page 63.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span><h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_JUDGE_AND_THE_POOR_MAN">THE JUDGE AND THE POOR MAN.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A man</span> who kept a small farm came to the house of a +judge. “Well, my man,” said the judge, “what do you +come to me for?” “If you please, my lord, I have a sad +tale to tell.” “Ha, the old tale! You folk with your +small farms fall out, and then you come to plague me.” +“Nay, my lord, this time it is with you and me. I have +a bull that breaks out of his bounds, and he has got to +your best field of corn, and has spoilt half of it; now I +want to know what you would have me do in this case?” +“Well, I must say you are a staunch old man to come and +tell me of it, and I shall send my man John to look at +the waste, and what he says it comes to you must pay. +As to your bull, as you say he breaks out of his bounds, +you must kill him, and that at once.” “Bless my heart!” +said the man, “what was it I told you? I have but two +small cows in the world. No, it was that red bull of +yours, my lord, which locks and bars will not keep in; it +is he that breaks through the fence of my corn field, and +fine work he has made of it; but as you say you will send +your man to make things right, I thank you, and take my +leave.” “No,” said the judge, “you must not play me +such a trick as this. I would not part with that red bull +for all the world, and as to the field of corn, of course you +must take your chance.”</p> + +<p>The law will catch small flies, but wasps will break +through.</p> + +<p>We weigh not in the same scale the ills we do and the +ills we feel. +</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_STAG_IN_THE_OXS_STALL">THE STAG IN THE OX’S STALL.</h3> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter60"> + <img src="images/i_65.jpg" + alt="Illo without caption"> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<p><span class="smcap">A pack</span> of hounds drove a poor stag out of a wood, +and in a great fright he made off to a farm that was near, +and hid in a heap of straw in an ox’s stall. “What can +have brought you to such a place as this, where you are +sure to meet with your doom?” said the ox. “Oh,” cries +the stag, “if you will but help to hide me for a while, I +shall do well, and by and by I will move off.” It grew +dusk, and the men on the farm came in and out, but did +not see the stag, so he now thought it time to leave. +“Nay,” quoth the ox, “wait a while; there is the man +who owns the farm to come yet, and should he pass this +way, I would not give the straw you hide in for your life.” +While the ox spoke, the man came up and cast his eyes +on the stag, and made a prize of him. “That is a bad +game,” said he, “where none wins.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_66fp.jpg" + alt="Stag in Ox stall"> + <p class="caption">The Stag in the Ox’s Stall.—Page 65.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_GOAT_AND_THE_FOX_IN_THE_WELL">THE GOAT AND THE FOX IN THE WELL.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A fox</span>, who was a great rogue, fell down a deep well. +Just then, a goat came up who had a mind to slake his +thirst, so he said to the fox, “Is the well a sweet one?” +“Sweet!” says the fox; “it is the best well I have drunk +from for along time. Come and try it.” At this the goat +leapt in; and the fox—who put his feet on the goat’s +horns—sprang out, and said, “If you had as much brain +as you have beard, you would ‘Look ere you leap,’ for</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="verse indent0a">‘Those who trust ere they try,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">They will grieve ere they die.’”</div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class="unindent">The poor goat put his head up, and said, “True, I see too +late that I have lent you a stick to break my own head +with.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_68fp.jpg" + alt="Fox in the well"> + <p class="caption">The Goat and the Fox in the Well.—Page 66.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_APE_THE_WOLF_AND_THE_FOX">THE APE, THE WOLF, AND THE FOX.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A wolf</span> one day brought a fox up to the Bench for +theft. The ape, who was the judge, knew well that both +were knaves; so he said, “I know you well of old, my +friends; and as I wish to be just, I shall lay the same fine +on both of you: on you, Sir Wolf, for you have no right +to bring the charge; and on you, Sir Fox, for there can +be no doubt that the charge is a true one.”</p> + +<p>Set a thief to catch a thief. +</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_FOX_AND_THE_CAT">THE FOX AND THE CAT.</h3> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_67.jpg" + alt="Illustrion without caption"> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<p><span class="smcap">A fox</span> and a cat once met on a heath, and had a long +chat on things of state. The fox said, “Let the war +turn out as bad as it may, it is all one to me, for I have +lots of plans by which to save my life. But now, pray +tell me, puss, if the foe should come, what course do you +mean to take?” “Nay,” says the cat, “I have but one +shift, and if that will not do, I am lost.” Just then a pack +of hounds came on them in full cry. Puss, by the help of +her one trick, ran up a tree, from the top branch of which +she saw that the fox, who had not the skill to get out of +sight, was torn to death by the hounds. “Great boast, +small roast,” quoth the cat, “but he plays well that wins.” +</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_70fp.jpg" + alt="Title or description"> + <p class="caption">The Fox and the Cat.—Page 67.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_MULES_AND_THE_THIEVES">THE MULES AND THE THIEVES.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Two</span> mules were once on the road, one of which had +bags of gold on his back, and rang his bells with a proud +toss of the neck, as if he felt vain of his load; and one +took but sacks of grain, and hung down his head as he +trod the way. They had not gone far, when three thieves, +who lay in wait for them in a wood close by, ran out, +took the bags of gold from off the back of the mule, and +put him to death, as well as the men with him. But the +mule who was the drudge stood quite safe, and said he +should count the scorn in which he was held as so much +gain, for he was best off in the end.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_BALD_KNIGHT">THE BALD KNIGHT.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> the good old times there was a brave knight who +had lost all his hair, and wore a wig. As he rode in the +hunt a gust of wind blew his wig off, and a loud laugh +rang forth from those who saw his bald pate. When the +knight found his wig was in the air, he, of course, felt +much put out, for it was his false hair that made him look +young; but he thought the best way to pass it off would +be to take the laugh in his own hands; so he said, “How +could I hope to keep strange hair on my head, when my +own would not stay there!”</p> + +<p>He must stoop that has a low door.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_WAR_HORSE">THE WAR HORSE.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">There</span> was a man who in time of war took great pains +with his horse, and fed him on as much corn and hay as +he could eat. But when the war was at an end all he +gave him was chaff, and he put him to draw great loads +of wood; in short, made a slave and a drudge of him. +When the war broke out once more, and there was a call +to arms, the man, clad in his coat of mail, sprang on the +back of his steed, and went off to join the fight. But +soon the horse fell down with all his weight of steel. +“You must now go to the war on foot,” said he; “for if +you turn me from a horse to an ass, how can you think +that I can all at once turn from an ass to a horse?”</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_69.jpg" + alt="Illustraion without caption"> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_WOLF_IN_A_SHEEPS_SKIN">THE WOLF IN A SHEEP’S SKIN.</h3> +</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Once</span> on a time a wolf put on a sheep’s skin, by which +means he got shut in the fold at night. By and by the +man of the farm came in to kill one of his flock for food, +and as luck would have it, he chose out the wolf. But +when he saw how it was, he put a rope round his neck, +and hung him to the branch of a tree. Some folks who +came by said, “What! do you hang sheep?” “No,” +said the man, “but I hang a wolf when I can catch him, +though in the garb of a sheep.”</p> + +<p>You may find more than one face in a hood.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_DOG_WHO_WENT_OUT_TO_SUP">THE DOG WHO WENT OUT TO SUP.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A man</span> made a great feast, and his dog Tray said to +Gyp, who was a great friend of his, “Come and sup with +us to-night. Eight o’clock is the time; but if you are +there an hour too soon, you will find there is much to be +done.” Gyp lay in the sun a while, to wink and wait. +He thought of fish, flesh, and fowl, tripe and toast, and +made a feast in his heart that might grace a bill of fare +for a king. At length the time came, and he set off to the +cook’s room, where he found all hands hard at work. +Gyp went with a skulk, now here, now there; gave a peep +at this dish, and smelt at that, and with a wag of his tail, +as much as to say, “O rare! What a feast have I in +store!” This wag of the tail brought the eyes of the +cook on him, and he said, “How now? what’s this I spy? +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span> +A cur! who let him in? A nice sort of guest, to be sure. +I shall soon pack you off.” The cook then brought poor +Gyp to view, and threw him out at the back door.</p> + +<p>There’s oft a slip ’twixt cup and lip.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_WIND_AND_THE_SUN">THE WIND AND THE SUN.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> wind and the sun once came to high words as to +which had the most strength. Just then by chance a +man came by, so they let the point rest on this, that he +who got this man’s cloak off first, should win the day. +The wind was the first to try, and he blew with all his +might and main a fierce blast; but the man wrapt his +cloak all the more close round him. Next came the sun, +who broke out with his warm beams, and cast his bright +rays on the man, till at length he grew faint with the heat, +and was glad to part with his cloak, which he flung to +the ground.</p> + +<p>Kind means are best. + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_71.jpg" + alt="No caption"> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_MAN_THE_HORSE_AND_THE_ASS">THE MAN, THE HORSE, AND THE ASS.</h3> +</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Once</span> on a time a horse and an ass went on the high +road, side by side, and the man who kept them went on +foot. The poor ass had told the horse that if he would +share the load with him he should soon get well; but that +if he did not lend him some help, the weight of it would +kill him. But the horse took no heed of this, and bade +him go on, till from the weight of the load he fell down +dead. When the man found the poor ass was dead, he +put the load on the back of the horse, and the dead ass too.</p> + +<p>One may bear till his back break.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_BLIND_MAN_AND_THE_LAME_MAN">THE BLIND MAN AND THE LAME MAN.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Once</span> on a time, as a blind man went on his way, he +came to a bad part of the road, and knew not how to get +on. By chance a lame man sat on a bank near, so the +blind man said to him, “Hark you to what I say. I have +thought of a plan which will help us both on our way—my +feet shall be thy feet, and thine eyes shall be mine.” +“With all my heart,” said the lame man; and off they +set. “Stop,” said he, “I see a purse that lies on the road, +and if you go straight on, and then turn to the left, you +will come to it.” This the blind man did, and at last he +took it up. “Give it to me,” said the lame man, who was +on the blind man’s back. “Not so,” said his friend; “but +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span> +for my feet you would not have come so far, so now I shall +keep it.” “Nay,” said the lame man; “but for my sight +you would not have known it was there.”</p> + +<p>All keys hang not on one bunch. +</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_73.jpg" + alt="Blind and Lame"> + <p class="caption allsmcap">THE BLIND MAN AND THE LAME MAN.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_HOG_OX_COW_DOG_AND_SHEEP">THE HOG, OX, COW, DOG, AND SHEEP.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">One</span> day a hog, an ox, a cow, a dog, and a sheep all +met in a straw yard. The hog told the rest that he +thought that beast stood first in rank who was kept most +for his own sake, and not for the sake of the work that he +did. “Now, which of you,” said he, “can boast of this +so well as I can?” To the horse he spoke first. “As for +you, though you are well fed, and have grooms to wait +on you, and make you sleek and clean, yet all this is for +the sake of your work. Do not I see the man on the +farm take you out at break of day, put you in chains, or +bind you fast to the shafts of a cart with a load in it, and +keep you out till noon? Then, in the space of an hour +does he not take you to work once more till dusk? I +may say just the same of the ox, save that he does not +work for such good fare.” To the cow he spoke next: +“You, who are so fond of your straw and grains, you are +thought worth your cost for your milk, which they drain +from you twice a day; and your young ones, who should +by right have the milk, are torn from you to go no one +knows where.” Then thus spoke he to the sheep: “They +turn you out to shift as well as you can on the bare hills. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span> +You pay dear for your keep, for you have to part with +your warm coats once a year, and at night starve with the +cold. As for the dog, he has to keep watch all the live +long night, while the rest of us are wrapt in soft sleep. +In short, you are all slaves, kept for use; while I, on my +part, have a warm sty, with food close to my snout, all +day and free of cost. All they want from me is to see +me eat my food from the trough, bask in the sun, and live +at my ease.” Thus spoke the hog. But in a short time +the frost set in, and, as it was a bad time for all kinds of +food, the man was in great straits to keep his live stock +till the spring. “How can I feed them all?” thought he. +“I must part with those I can best spare. As for my +horse and ox, I shall have <i>work</i> for them—they must be +kept, cost what it will. My cows will not give much milk +in the frost, it may be, but they will calve in the spring, +and will thrive in the new grass; the sheep will do as +long as there is a blade on the hills; and if a deep fall of +snow should come, I must give them hay, for I count on +their wool to make out my rent with. But my hog will +eat me out of house and home; so, as he <i>yields</i> naught, I +must kill him at once.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_DRUM_AND_THE_VASE">THE DRUM AND THE VASE.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A drum</span> was heard to boast, in these words, to a vase +of sweet herbs, “Hark at my loud, strong tone which +rends the sky. When men hear my voice they march to +arms, and join the fight with joy!” “Be not too proud,” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span> +said the vase; “as for me, I grant you there is a chain on +my lips. I speak not, but I am full of good things, while +thou hast naught in thee but noise, and must be struck to +give it out.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_FROGS_AND_THEIR_KING">THE FROGS AND THEIR KING.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> the days of yore the frogs met to beg of Jove to +send them a king. So he threw them a log, and said, +“There’s a king for you—a good, mild one!” Well, +King Log came on the pond with such a splash, that the +frogs took fright at him. Some sought the mud, and +some the reeds; and, for a long time, there was not one +that would dare to take a peep. By and by, when they +saw that King Log lay quite still, they said, “See, he +sleeps!” Some came round him, and up to him, till, one +by one they leapt on his back, and at last held him quite +in scorn. So, with harsh croaks, they beg of Jove to +change him for one with more life; in short, a king that +would move. Jove then sent them an eel, and he, too, +was too tame for them; and, a third time, they ask of +Jove to choose for them a king with more strength of will. +This time, he sent them a stork, who, day by day, made +the frogs his prey, till there were none left to croak on +the lake, save one, and he shook his head, and said, “If +we had had the sense to keep well, there would have been +no need to mend our state. Now we have found to our +loss what we did not seek.”</p> + +<p>Set not the Fox to keep the Geese.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_77.jpg" + alt="Frogs and their King"> + <p class="caption">The Frogs and their King—Page 76.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span><span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_STAG_THE_CROW_AND_THE_WOLF">THE STAG, THE CROW, AND THE WOLF.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A wolf</span> saw a plump stag, and thought, How can I +feast on his flesh? Then he drew near, and said, “All +hail be to thee!” and made friends with the stag. “Hey +day! whom have you here?” quoth a crow that flew by. +The stag told him that he was a good wolf. “Have a +care!” said the crow; “trust him not.” Yet the stag +took no heed of his words, but let the wolf lead him at +night to feed in a field that had a crop of ripe wheat in it. +Now, there was a trap in the field, and the poor stag was +caught by the feet. “This is well,” thought the wolf; +“for when his flesh is cut up, the bones, and what is left, +will be for me.” The crow flew to the spot, but could +give his friend no aid. The next day the man who set +the snare came with a knife in his hand to kill the stag. +“If you care for your life,” quoth the crow, “lie quite +still, and seem to be dead; but when I give a caw, start +up at once, and take to your heels as fast as you can.” +So the stag lay down quite stiff, held his breath, and shut +his eyes. When the man came up, he thought the stag +was dead, and took him from the toils, and went a few +steps off to fold up the net, when the crow’s voice was +heard, and the stag ran off at full speed. In the mean +time the wolf came up to seek for his feast, and was slain +by the man.</p> + +<p>Bad faith is like to fall back on the head of those who +make use of it. + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_FIELD_OF_CORN">THE FIELD OF CORN.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">An</span> old man had a field, and when he fell ill, he sent for +his three sons, that he might take leave of them, and give +them his last charge. “My sons,” said he, “there is one +thing which, with my last breath, I charge you to do, and +that is, to seek out a rich gift which I have left you, and +which you will find in my field—” Here the poor old +man’s voice grew faint, and his head sank down on his +breast in death. The sons were in too much grief for +their loss to put in force that which the old man had bade +them do, till want drove them to seek for what they +thought must be a hoard of gold in the field; so they +made a search from end to end of it, till there was not a +clod they did not turn, in the hunt. At last they gave it +up. “It is strange that the old man should have set us +on this long search for a thing that is not here,” said Jack. +“Come,” said Dick, “since we have gone through so much +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span> +toil on the field, we may as well sow it with corn, and so +make the most of it.” At this bright thought they set to +work to sow the grain, and in due time a crop sprang up, +five times as large as those crops which grew there in the +old man’s time. The thought now struck the youths that +this was the wealth the old man meant, and that it was his +wish that they should earn their bread by the sweat of +their brow.</p> + +<p>Seek till you find, and you will not lose by the toil.</p> + +<div class="figcenter60"> + <img src="images/i_79.jpg" + alt="Illustration without caption"> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_HAWK_THE_ROOKS_AND_THE_CAT">THE HAWK, THE ROOKS, AND THE CAT.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> the trunk of an old elm tree dwelt a large bird of +prey, with claws blunt, and eyes blind with age. The +rooks fed him from their own store, while he, on his part, +took charge of their young ones when the old birds went +in search of food. One day, a cat—“Long Ear” by +name—came to prey on the young rooks, who, when they +saw her, gave a loud scream. The old hawk heard it, and +said, “Who is that?” “I am a cat,” said “Long Ear.” +“Ha!” quoth the hawk, “Cats love flesh, and the young +rooks dwell here—that’s all I know. Get you gone at +once, or I will put you to death!” “Not so,” said the +cat. “I eat no meat now; and all the beasts of the field +and the birds of the air love me—for I am good. I pray +of you to let me stay, for you are old and wise, and can +teach me much.” By this praise sly puss made the old +hawk put his trust in her, so he let her stay in the trunk +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span> +of the tree. Day by day she ate some of the young birds, +and took all the bones that were left from the feast to a +hole in the stem of the old elm tree, that the death of the +young rooks might be laid to the charge of the hawk. +The old birds were in great grief for the loss of their +young ones; and when they saw the bones in the hole of +the tree, they of course laid the blame on the hawk, and +they all flew at the poor old bird and put him to death. +He said with his last breath, “Ah me! How much worse +than a foe is a false friend!”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_COCK_AND_THE_FOX">THE COCK AND THE FOX.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A cock</span> stood on the top of a rick, and gave a loud +crow. A fox, who saw him, thought he would just do for +a meal; but though the cock could fly down to him, he +could not climb up to the cock; so he said, “Have you +heard the news?”</p> + +<p><i>Cock.</i>—What news?</p> + +<p><i>Fox.</i>—Peace has been sworn by bird and beast.</p> + +<p><i>Cock.</i>—Do you say so? Let me hear how it came to pass.</p> + +<p><i>Fox.</i>—Well, the birds and the beasts have met, and +have sworn a truce. We are now quite safe by night and +day. The wolf will no more tear the lamb, nor the fox +kill the kid; the cat will not catch the mice, nor the dog +bark at the sheep; and from this time all will live in +peace: so come down, that I may wish you joy on this +new state of things. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span></p> + +<p>The cock did not say much, but gave his neck a stretch, +and made a feint that he saw some foe at hand.</p> + +<p><i>Fox.</i>—What is it you see?</p> + +<p><i>Cock.</i>—Why, I think I see a pack of hounds. No +doubt they come this way to tell the good news.</p> + +<p><i>Fox.</i>—Oh, then, I must be gone!</p> + +<p><i>Cock.</i>—No; pray, sir, do not go; I am just on the +point of a flight down to you. You can have no fear of +dogs in this time of peace.</p> + +<p><i>Fox.</i>—Why, no—no—but—ten to one they have not +heard the news.</p> + +<p><i>Cock.</i>—If the sky falls, we shall catch larks. You +might as well try to make me think the moon is made +of green cheese!</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_WOLF_AND_THE_STORK">THE WOLF AND THE STORK.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A wolf</span> had a bone that stuck in his throat, and gave +him so much pain, that he ran with a howl, up and down, +to ask all whom he met to lend him a kind hand, and said +he would give a large sum to bird or beast who would +take it out. At last a crane, who heard of the bribe, came +up, put her long bill down the wolf’s throat, and drew out +the bone. The crane then said, “Now, where is the fee +which you spoke of?” “Wretch that you are!” said the +wolf, “to ask for more than this—that you should put +your head in a wolf’s mouth, and bring it safe out!”</p> + +<p>A bribe walks in, and gives no knock.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> + <img src="images/i_82fp.jpg" + alt="Title or description"> + <p class="caption">The Wolf and the Stork.—Page 82.</p> + <p class="captionrt">Æsop.</p> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_JAY_AND_THE_OWL">THE JAY AND THE OWL.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">One</span> day an old owl, who sat in a dark barn, had a call +from a jay. The owl sat quite still in his nook, save when +he saw a mouse, and did not speak a word, so that the +jay had all the talk. When he had thus spent an hour or +so, he took his leave, full of glee, with a heart as gay as +his plumes, and said as he went that he must love that +dear old owl, and that he did not know when he had had +a chat to cheer him up so much.</p> + +<p>If you wish to please your friend, sit still, and let him +talk.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_NURSE_AND_THE_SNAKE">THE NURSE AND THE SNAKE.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A child</span> that was at play in a field, by chance trod on +a snake which stung him to death. The nurse, in a great +rage, hit the snake a blow which struck off his tail. The +next day she came to the snake’s hole to coax him with +some salt and meal, that she might kill him. “I pray +thee come forth,” said the nurse, “and let us make it up +on both sides”; but she could in no way get the snake to +leave his hole. All he would do was to give a hiss, and +tell her that as long as she thought of the dead child, and +he thought of the tail, they could not be friends.</p> + +<p>He who does you a wrong is sure not to love you. + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_LARK_AND_THE_FINCH">THE LARK AND THE FINCH.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A poor</span> lark was kept in a cage that hung on a wall, in +a town that was full of dust and dirt. One day, as he +stood on his piece of dead turf, to trill out his sweet song, +a finch, who by chance flew that way, said, “How canst +thou sing so blithe a strain, shut up in that vile cage?” +“Finch, finch,” rang out the lark, in his clear tones, +“know you not that if I did not sing while I am shut up +here, I should fail to call to mind my song, when the time +came for me to mount up to the sky?”</p> + +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">It is meet for us to sing hymns of praise while we are</span><br> +on earth, to fit us for our flight to realms of bliss. + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_DOVE_AND_THE_ANT">THE DOVE AND THE ANT.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A hot</span> day in June drove a poor ant to take a sip from +a clear brook, when she fell in, and went down with the +stream. A dove that sat in a tree close by saw the ant +fall, so she threw a leaf down to her in the brook, which +the ant clung to, and so was brought safe to land. In a +few days from this time, the ant saw a man take aim with +his bow to shoot the dove, and, just in the nick of time, +she stung him on the heel. This made him give a start, +and spoilt his aim, so that the dove flew off safe and +sound.</p> + +<p>Live, and let live. + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_MAID_AND_HER_MILK_PAIL">THE MAID AND HER MILK PAIL.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">One</span> day, as a young maid went down the road with +her pail of milk on her head, she was heard to say, “This +pail of milk will fetch me so much, which sum I will lay +out in eggs; these eggs will bring a score of chicks, and +they will be fit to sell just at the time when fowls bear a +good price; so that on May day I shall have a new gown. +Let me see,—yes, green will suit me best, and green it +shall be. In this dress I will go to the fair, and all who +are there will pay their court to me; but with a proud +look I shall turn from them.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter60"> + <img src="images/i_85.jpg" + alt="No caption"> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + + +<p>Wrapt in this dream of joy, she gave a toss of the head +to suit the words, when down came the pail of milk, and +with it the eggs, the chicks, the green gown, and all the +bright thoughts of what she would do at the fair.</p> + +<p>Count not your chicks till they are out of the shell. +Each “may be” hath a “may not be.” + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_HARE_AND_HER_FRIENDS">THE HARE AND HER FRIENDS.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">A hare</span> that was known to be good and kind was a +friend to all the beasts of the field. One day the hounds +caught sight of her, and gave her such a hard chase that +at last she lay quite faint by the side of the road. To her +great joy a horse came by. “Let me mount you,” said +she, “and the hounds will then be thrown off the scent.” +“Poor Puss,” said the horse, with a sigh, “it makes me +sad to see you thus; but look up—all your friends are +near.” She next sought aid from the bull. “I would +lend you help, and be sure I wish you well,” said he; +“but I am the head of the herd, and I must now join it.” +The goat, who came next, said, “I fear my coat is too +rough for you; there’s the sheep with his soft wool.” But +the sheep told her that she was too weak to bear her +weight, and that hounds eat sheep as well as hares. A +young calf was the poor hare’s last chance, and he said, +“If those who have gone by, who are grown up, did not +help you, what good can I do, who am but young and +weak?” Just then the hounds came in sight, and the +calf ran off, and left the poor hare to her fate. “Ah!” +said she, “friends are like bees: on bright days they +swarm, but when clouds shut out the sun they are not to +be found, though sought.”</p> + +<p>When your friend is in want, lose no time, but help him. + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="THE_ASS_AND_THE_LAP_DOG">THE ASS AND THE LAP DOG.</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Once</span> on a time there was a man who had a pet dog, of +which he was so fond that he let him eat from his own +plate, and sit on his knee. The same man kept an ass +that drew wood all day, and had to take his turn at the +mill at night. “What a hard fate is mine!” said he; “I +work night and day, while the lap dog leads a life of ease. +No doubt my lord would get as fond of his ass as he is of +his dog, if I could but win him by the same tricks.”</p> + +<p>At this thought he broke from the stall, set off to the +room where the man was, sprang to his face to lick it, and +gave a loud bray in his ear. But now the ass had gone +too far with his rough play; for the men of the farm came +in with clubs, sticks, and staves to beat him.</p> + + +<p class="p2 center">THE END.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="Advertisement"><b>BURT’S SERIES of ONE SYLLABLE BOOKS</b></h2> +</div> + +<div class="figright"> + <img src="images/advert.jpg" + alt="advertisement"> +</div><!--end figcenter--> + +<p class="center"><b>12 Titles. Handsome Illuminated Cloth Binding.</b></p> + +<p>A series of Classics, selected specially for young people’s +reading, and told in simple language for youngest readers. +Printed from large type, with many illustrations.</p> + +<div class="linebox"> +<p class="center"><b>Price, 50 Cents per Volume.</b></p> +</div> + +<p class="unindent"><b>AESOP’S FABLES.</b></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p class="unindent">Retold in words of one syllable for young people. By +<span class="smcap">Mary Godolphin</span>. With 41 illustrations. Illuminated +cloth.</p> +</div> + + +<p class="unindent"><b>ANDERSEN’S FAIRY TALES.</b></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p class="unindent">(Selections.) Retold in words of one syllable for +young people. By <span class="smcap">Harriet T. Comstock</span>. With many +illustrations. Illuminated cloth.</p> +</div> + + +<p class="unindent"><b>BIBLE HEROES.</b></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p class="unindent">Told in words of one syllable for young people. By <span class="smcap">Harriet T. Comstock</span>. With +many illustrations. Illuminated cloth.</p> +</div> + + +<p class="unindent"><b>GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES.</b></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p class="unindent">(Selections.) Retold in words of one syllable. By <span class="smcap">Jean S. Rémy</span>. With many illustrations. +Illuminated cloth.</p> +</div> + + +<p class="unindent"><b>GULLIVER’S TRAVELS.</b></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p class="unindent"><span class="smcap">In</span>to several remote regions of the world. Retold in words of one syllable for young +people. By J. C. G. With 32 illustrations. Illuminated cloth.</p> +</div> + + +<p class="unindent"><b>LIFE OF CHRIST.</b></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p class="unindent">Told in words of one syllable for young people By <span class="smcap">Jean S. Rémy</span>. With many illustrations. +Illuminated cloth.</p> +</div> + + +<p class="unindent"><b>LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS.</b></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p class="unindent">Told in words of one syllable for young people. By <span class="smcap">Jean S. Rémy</span>. With 24 large +portraits. Illuminated cloth.</p> +</div> + + +<p class="unindent"><b>PILGRIM’S PROGRESS.</b></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p class="unindent">Retold in words of one syllable for young people, By <span class="smcap">Samuel Phillips Day</span>. With +33 illustrations. Illuminated cloth.</p> +</div> + + +<p class="unindent"><b>REYNARD THE FOX.</b></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p class="unindent">The Crafty Courtier. Retold in words of one syllable for young people. By <span class="smcap">Samuel +Phillips Day</span>. With 23 illustrations. Illuminated cloth.</p> +</div> + + +<p class="unindent"><b>ROBINSON CRUSOE.</b></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p class="unindent">His life and surprising adventures retold in words of one syllable for young people. +By <span class="smcap">Mary A. Schwacofer</span>. With 32 illustrations. Illuminated cloth.</p> +</div> + + +<p class="unindent"><b>SANFORD AND MERTON.</b></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p class="unindent">Retold in words of one syllable for young people. By <span class="smcap">Mary Godolphin</span>. With 20 +illustrations. Illuminated cloth.</p> +</div> + + +<p class="unindent"><b>SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON.</b></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p class="unindent">Retold in words of one syllable for young people. Adapted from the original. With +31 illustrations. Illuminated cloth.</p> +</div> + +<hr> + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the publisher, <b>A. L. +BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York</b>. +</p> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76243 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + |