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ÆSOP’S FABLES | Project Gutenberg
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<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>
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