The Dog & His Reflection

A Dog, to whom the butcher had thrown a

bone, was hurrying home with his prize as fast
as he could go. As he crossed a narrow
footbridge, he happened to look down and saw
himself reflected in the quiet water as if in a
mirror. But the greedy Dog thought he saw a
real Dog carrying a bone much bigger than his
own.

If he had stopped to think he would have

known better. But instead of thinking, he
dropped his bone and sprang at the Dog in the
river, only to find himself swimming for dear life
to reach the shore. At last he managed to
scramble out, and as he stood sadly thinking
about the good bone he had lost, he realized
what a stupid Dog he had been.

It is very foolish to be greedy.

 The Fox & the Crow
One bright morning as the Fox was following his
sharp nose through the wood in search of a bite to
eat, he saw a Crow on the limb of a tree overhead.
This was by no means the first Crow the Fox had ever
seen. What caught his attention this time and made
him stop for a second look, was that the lucky Crow
held a bit of cheese in her beak.
"No need to search any farther," thought sly
Master Fox. "Here is a dainty bite for my breakfast."
Up he trotted to the foot of the tree in which the
Crow was sitting, and looking up admiringly, he cried,
"Good-morning, beautiful creature!"
The Crow, her head cocked on one side, watched
the Fox suspiciously. But she kept her beak tightly
closed on the cheese and did not return his greeting.
"What a charming creature she is!" said the Fox.
"How her feathers shine! What a beautiful form and
what splendid wings! Such a wonderful Bird should
have a very lovely voice, since everything else about
her is so perfect. Could she sing just one song, I know
I should hail her Queen of Birds."
Listening to these flattering words, the Crow
forgot all her suspicion, and also her breakfast. She
wanted very much to be called Queen of Birds. So she
opened her beak wide to utter her loudest caw, and
down fell the cheese straight into the Fox's open
mouth.
 "Thank you," said Master Fox sweetly, as he
walked off. "Though it is cracked, you have a voice
sure enough. But where are your wits?"

The flatterer lives at the expense of those who will listen to

him.

THE LION AND THE MOUSE

A Lion lay asleep in the forest, his great

head resting on his paws. A timid little Mouse
came upon him unexpectedly, and in her
fright and haste to get away, ran across the
Lion's nose. Roused from his nap, the Lion
laid his huge paw angrily on the tiny creature
to kill her. "Spare me!" begged the poor
Mouse. "Please let me go and someday I will
surely repay you." The Lion was much amused
to think that a Mouse could ever help him. But
he was generous and finally let the Mouse go.
Some days later, while stalking his prey in
the forest, the Lion was caught in the tangles
of a hunter's net. Unable to free himself, he
filled the forest with his angry roaring. The
Mouse knew the voice and quickly found the
Lion struggling in the net. Running to one of
the great ropes that bound him, she gnawed it
until it split apart, and soon the Lion was free.
"You laughed when I said I would repay you,"
said the Mouse. "Now you see that even a
Mouse can help a Lion."

A kindness is never wasted.

The Three Little Pigs

Once upon a time there were three little pigs. One

pig built a house of straw while the second pig built his
house with sticks. They built their houses very quickly
and then sang and danced all day because they were
lazy. The third little pig worked hard all day and built his
house with bricks. A big bad wolf saw the two little pigs
while they danced and played and thought, “What juicy
tender meals they will make!” He chased the two pigs
and they ran and hid in their houses. The big bad wolf
went to the first house and huffed and puffed and blew
the house down in minutes. The frightened little pig ran
to the second pig’s house that was made of sticks. The
big bad wolf now came to this house and huffed and
puffed and blew the house down in hardly any time.
Now, the two little pigs were terrified and ran to the
third pig’s house that was made of bricks. The big bad
wolf tried to huff and puff and blow the house down, but
he could not. He kept trying for hours but the house was
very strong and the little pigs were safe inside. He tried
to enter through the chimney but the third little pig
boiled a big pot of water and kept it below the chimney.
The wolf fell into it and died. The two little pigs now felt
sorry for having been so lazy. They too built their houses
with bricks and lived happily ever after.

The Little Red Hen

Once upon a time there was a little red hen who lived
with her friends, the cow, the horse, and the cat. In the
springtime the flowers were blossoming, the leaves were
appearing on the trees once more, and the farmers were
busy planting their fields. The little red hen was
delighted to find some seeds of wheat and she hurried
home to show them to her friends.
The little red hen said, “Who will help me plant the
wheat?”
“Moooo. Not I,” said the cow.
“Neigh. Not I,” said the horse.
“Meow. Not I,” said the kitty cat.
So the little red hen said, “Then I will plant the seeds of
wheat all by myself.” And so she planted the seeds of
wheat.
In the summertime, the sun glowed bright and hot, the
fields and gardens were growing and growing, and
everywhere was green. The wheat grew tall and golden
in the sun, and the little red hen asked her friends, “Who
will help me cut the wheat?”
“Moooo. Not I,” said the cow.
“Neigh. Not I,” said the horse.
“Meow. Not I,” said the kitty cat.
So the little red hen said, “Then I will cut the wheat all
by myself.” And so she cut the stalks of wheat.
In the autumn, the days grew cooler, the leaves turned
beautiful shades of red and orange, gold and brown, and
the farmers were busy bringing in the harvest. The little
red hen asked her friends, “Who will help me take the
wheat to the mill?”
“Moooo. Not I,” said the cow.
“Neigh. Not I,” said the horse.
“Meow. Not I,” said the kitty cat.
So the little red hen said, “Then I will take the wheat to
the mill all by myself.” And so she took the wheat to the
mill. The miller ground the wheat into flour, and then
the little red hen brought the big bags of flour back
home.
In the winter the snow fell and the days were short and
very cold. The little red hen asked her friends, “Who
will help me bake the bread?”
“Moooo. Not I,” said the cow.
“Neigh. Not I,” said the horse.
“Meow. Not I,” said the kitty cat.
So the little red hen said, “Then I will bake the bread all
by myself.” And so she took the flour, mixed it and
kneaded it and put it in the oven. And while the bread
was baking, it smelled wonderful! The cow and the
horse and the cat came running when they smelled that
fresh bread.
The little red hen took the bread out of the oven and
asked her friends, “Who will help me eat the bread?”
“Moooo. I will!” said the cow.
“Neigh. I will!” said the horse.
“Meow. I will!” said the kitty cat.
But the little red hen said, “Oh, no, no, no! I planted the
seeds of wheat, I cut the wheat, I took the wheat to the
mill and brought home the flour, and I baked the bread,
all by myself. Now I will eat the bread - all by myself!”
And so she did, and it was delicious!
The End

The Little Seed

Once upon a time, there was a little seed. It was small and brown, and
it dreamed of becoming a big, strong tree. But the little seed was
scared. It thought it was too small and weak to grow. Every day, it
watched the big, tall trees around it, feeling discouraged.
A small brown seed surrounded by big, tall trees.
One day, a friendly bird flew by and saw the little seed. The bird said,
'Don't be afraid, little seed. You have great potential within you. All you
need is a little sunshine, water, and belief in yourself.' The little seed
listened and felt a spark of hope.

A colorful bird encouraging the A small brown seed surrounded by big,

tall trees.
With new determination, the little seed started to believe in itself. It
pushed its roots deep into the soil and reached out its tiny leaves
towards the sun. It didn't compare itself to others; it focused on its own
growth. Day by day, it became stronger and taller.

The A small brown seed surrounded by big, tall trees. growing with
roots and leaves.
Months passed, and the little seed turned into a beautiful tree. Its
branches spread wide, providing shade for animals and shelter for
birds. The other trees were amazed by its growth and strength. The
little seed had become what it had once dreamt of.

A big, strong tree providing shade and shelter.

The little seed's story inspired many others. They realized that they
shouldn't be discouraged by their size or compare themselves to
others. They had their own unique potential to grow, just like the little
seed. And so, they began their own journeys, believing in themselves
and their dreams.

A group of small seeds ready to start their own journeys.

The little seed's journey taught us that no dream is too big and no seed
is too small. We all have the power to grow and become what we
dream of. So, believe in yourself, focus on your own growth, and one
day, you'll be amazed at how far you've come.

My Pet Dog

When I was four years old I had a little dog named Benny. He
was a faithful dog to our family. He used to take care of me
when I was little. Mother always trusted Benny because he
was never known to leave me or allow anyone to touch me.
One day when I was in the house playing with my dolls,
Benny was not with me. I knew that the back door was open
and I could get outdoors without being seen. So I got my
dolly all dressed up because I was going to take her too. I put
my coat and hat on and started off. My dolly and I got
outdoors and had started down the lane to the canal when I
felt something p7ulling on my dress. I looked around and
there was Benny. Oh, how angry I was. I slapped Benny but
he knew I was doing wrong. He pulled me home. When I got
home mother and my grandmother were looking for me.
When they saw Benny pulling me they gave on scream and
rant to me and Benny. Benny wagged his tail. Mother put me
to bed, but she gave Benny a big piece of meat.
 The Ant and The Dove
On a hot day of summer, an ant was searching for some water. After
walking around for some time, she came near the river. To drink the
water, she climbed up on a small rock. While trying to drink a water,
she slipped and fell into the river.
There was a dove sitting on a branch of a tree who saw an ant falling
into the river. The dove quickly plucked a leaf and dropped it into the
river near the struggling ant. The ant moved towards the leaf and
climbed up onto it. Soon, the leaf drifted to dry ground, and the ant
jumped out. She looked up to the tree and thanked the dove.
Later, the same day, a bird catcher nearby was about to throw his net
over the dove hoping to trap it. An ant saw him and guessed what he
was about to do. The dove was resting and he had no idea about the
bird catcher. An ant quickly bit him on the foot. Feeling the pain, the
bird catcher dropped his net and let out a light scream. The dove
noticed it and quickly flew away.
Moral: If you do good, good will come to you. One good turn deserves
another.

The North Wind & the Sun

The North Wind and the Sun had a quarrel about which of them was
the stronger. While they were disputing with much heat and bluster, a
Traveler passed along the road wrapped in a cloak.
"Let us agree," said the Sun, "that he is the stronger who can strip that
Traveler of his cloak."
"Very well," growled the North Wind, and at once sent a cold, howling
blast against the Traveler.
With the first gust of wind the ends of the cloak whipped about the
Traveler's body. But he immediately wrapped it closely around him, and
the harder the Wind blew, the tighter he held it to him. The North Wind
tore angrily at the cloak, but all his efforts were in vain.
Then the Sun began to shine. At first his beams were gentle, and in the
pleasant warmth after the bitter cold of the North Wind, the Traveler
unfastened his cloak and let it hang loosely from his shoulders. The
Sun's rays grew warmer and warmer. The man took off his cap and
mopped his brow. At last he became so heated that he pulled off his
cloak, and, to escape the blazing sunshine, threw himself down in the
welcome shade of a tree by the roadside.
Gentleness and kind persuasion win where force and bluster fail.

The Wolves & the Sheep

A pack of Wolves lurked near the Sheep pasture. But the Dogs kept
them all at a respectful distance, and the Sheep grazed in perfect
safety. But now the Wolves thought of a plan to trick the Sheep.
"Why is there always this hostility between us?" they said. "If it were
not for those Dogs who are always stirring up trouble, I am sure we
should get along beautifully. Send them away and you will see what
good friends we shall become."
The Sheep were easily fooled. They persuaded the Dogs to go away,
and that very evening the Wolves had the grandest feast of their lives.
Do not give up friends for foes.

The Dog in the Manger

A Dog asleep in a manger filled with hay, was awakened by the Cattle, which
came in tired and hungry from working in the field. But the Dog would not let
them get near the manger, and snarled and snapped as if it were filled with the
best of meat and bones, all for himself.
The Cattle looked at the Dog in disgust. "How selfish he is!" said one. "He cannot
eat the hay and yet he will not let us eat it who are so hungry for it!"
Now the farmer came in. When he saw how the Dog was acting, he seized a
stick and drove him out of the stable with many a blow for his selfish behavior.
Do not grudge others what you cannot enjoy yourself.

The Lion's Share

A long time ago, the Lion, the Fox, the Jackal, and the Wolf agreed to
go hunting together, sharing with each other whatever they found.
One day the Wolf ran down a Stag and immediately called his
comrades to divide the spoil.
Without being asked, the Lion placed himself at the head of the feast to
do the carving, and, with a great show of fairness, began to count the
guests.
"One," he said, counting on his claws, "that is myself the Lion. Two,
that's the Wolf, three, is the Jackal, and the Fox makes four."
He then very carefully divided the Stag into four equal parts.
"I am King Lion," he said, when he had finished, "so of course I get the
first part. This next part falls to me because I am the strongest; and this
is mine because I am the bravest."
He now began to glare at the others very savagely. "If any of you have
any claim to the part that is left," he growled, stretching his claws
meaningly, "now is the time to speak up."
Might makes right.

The Miller, His Son, & the Ass

One day, a long time ago, an old Miller and his Son were on their way
to market with an Ass which they hoped to sell. They drove him very
slowly, for they thought they would have a better chance to sell him if
they kept him in good condition. As they walked along the highway
some travelers laughed loudly at them.
"What foolishness," cried one, "to walk when they might as well ride.
The most stupid of the three is not the one you would expect it to be."
The Miller did not like to be laughed at, so he told his son to climb up
and ride.
They had gone a little farther along the road, when three merchants
passed by.
"Oho, what have we here?" they cried. "Respect old age, young man!
Get down, and let the old man ride."
Though the Miller was not tired, he made the boy get down and
climbed up himself to ride, just to please the Merchants.
At the next turnstile they overtook some women carrying market
baskets loaded with vegetables and other things to sell.
"Look at the old fool," exclaimed one of them. "Perched on the Ass,
while that poor boy has to walk."
The Miller felt a bit vexed, but to be agreeable he told the Boy to climb
up behind him.
They had no sooner started out again than a loud shout went up from
another company of people on the road.
"What a crime," cried one, "to load up a poor dumb beast like that!
They look more able to carry the poor creature, than he to carry them."
"They must be on their way to sell the poor thing's hide," said another.
The Miller and his Son quickly scrambled down, and a short time later,
the market place was thrown into an uproar as the two came along
carrying the Donkey slung from a pole. A great crowd of people ran out
to get a closer look at the strange sight.
The Ass did not dislike being carried, but so many people came up to
point at him and laugh and shout, that he began to kick and bray, and
then, just as they were crossing a bridge, the ropes that held him gave
way, and down he tumbled into the river.
The poor Miller now set out sadly for home. By trying to please
everybody, he had pleased nobody, and lost his Ass besides.
If you try to please all, you please none.

The Wolf & the House Dog

There was once a Wolf who got very little to eat because the Dogs of
the village were so wide awake and watchful. He was really nothing but
skin and bones, and it made him very downhearted to think of it.
One night this Wolf happened to fall in with a fine fat House Dog who
had wandered a little too far from home. The Wolf would gladly have
eaten him then and there, but the House Dog looked strong enough to
leave his marks should he try it. So the Wolf spoke very humbly to the
Dog, complimenting him on his fine appearance.
"You can be as well-fed as I am if you want to," replied the Dog. "Leave
the woods; there you live miserably. Why, you have to fight hard for
every bite you get. Follow my example and you will get along
beautifully."
"What must I do?" asked the Wolf.
"Hardly anything," answered the House Dog. "Chase people who carry
canes, bark at beggars, and fawn on the people of the house. In return
you will get tidbits of every kind, chicken bones, choice bits of meat,
sugar, cake, and much more beside, not to speak of kind words and
caresses."
The Wolf had such a beautiful vision of his coming happiness that he
almost wept. But just then he noticed that the hair on the Dog's neck
was worn and the skin was chafed.
"What is that on your neck?"
"Nothing at all," replied the Dog.
"What! nothing!"
"Oh, just a trifle!"
"But please tell me."
"Perhaps you see the mark of the collar to which my chain is fastened."
"What! A chain!" cried the Wolf. "Don't you go wherever you please?"
"Not always! But what's the difference?" replied the Dog.
"All the difference in the world! I don't care a rap for your feasts and I
wouldn't take all the tender young lambs in the world at that price."
And away ran the Wolf to the woods.
There is nothing worth so much as liberty.

The Milkmaid & Her Pail

A Milkmaid had been out to milk the cows and was returning from the
field with the shining milk pail balanced nicely on her head. As she
walked along, her pretty head was busy with plans for the days to
come.
"This good, rich milk," she mused, "will give me plenty of cream to
churn. The butter I make I will take to market, and with the money I get
for it I will buy a lot of eggs for hatching. How nice it will be when they
are all hatched and the yard is full of fine young chicks. Then when May
day comes I will sell them, and with the money I'll buy a lovely new
dress to wear to the fair. All the young men will look at me. They will
come and try to make love to me,—but I shall very quickly send them
about their business!"
As she thought of how she would settle that matter, she tossed her
head scornfully, and down fell the pail of milk to the ground. And all the
milk flowed out, and with it vanished butter and eggs and chicks and
new dress and all the milkmaid's pride.
Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.

The Ass & the Lap Dog

There was once an Ass whose Master also owned a Lap Dog. This Dog was a
favorite and received many a pat and kind word from his Master, as well as
choice bits from his plate. Every day the Dog would run to meet the Master,
frisking playfully about and leaping up to lick his hands and face.
All this the Ass saw with much discontent. Though he was well fed, he had much
work to do; besides, the Master hardly ever took any notice of him.
Now the jealous Ass got it into his silly head that all he had to do to win his
Master's favor was to act like the Dog. So one day he left his stable and clattered
eagerly into the house.
Finding his Master seated at the dinner table, he kicked up his heels and, with a
loud bray, pranced giddily around the table, upsetting it as he did so. Then he
planted his forefeet on his Master's knees and rolled out his tongue to lick the
Master's face, as he had seen the Dog do. But his weight upset the chair, and Ass
and man rolled over together in the pile of broken dishes from the table.
The Master was much alarmed at the strange behavior of the Ass, and calling for
help, soon attracted the attention of the servants. When they saw the danger
the Master was in from the clumsy beast, they set upon the Ass and drove him
with kicks and blows back to the stable. There they left him to mourn the
foolishness that had brought him nothing but a sound beating.
Behavior that is regarded as agreeable in one is very rude and impertinent in
another.
Do not try to gain favor by acting in a way that is contrary to your own nature
and character.

The Old Lion & the Fox

An old Lion, whose teeth and claws were so worn that it was not so easy for him
to get food as in his younger days, pretended that he was sick. He took care to
let all his neighbors know about it, and then lay down in his cave to wait for
visitors. And when they came to offer him their sympathy, he ate them up one
by one.
The Fox came too, but he was very cautious about it. Standing at a safe distance
from the cave, he inquired politely after the Lion's health. The Lion replied that
he was very ill indeed, and asked the Fox to step in for a moment. But Master
Fox very wisely stayed outside, thanking the Lion very kindly for the invitation.
"I should be glad to do as you ask," he added, "but I have noticed that there are
many footprints leading into your cave and none coming out. Pray tell me, how
do your visitors find their way out again?"
Take warning from the misfortunes of others.

The Serpent & the Eagle

A Serpent had succeeded in surprising an Eagle and had wrapped himself
around the Eagle's neck. The Eagle could not reach the Serpent, neither with
beak nor claws. Far into the sky he soared trying to shake off his enemy. But the
Serpent's hold only tightened, and slowly the Eagle sank back to earth, gasping
for breath.
A Countryman chanced to see the unequal combat. In pity for the noble Eagle
he rushed up and soon had loosened the coiling Serpent and freed the Eagle.
The Serpent was furious. He had no chance to bite the watchful Countryman.
Instead he struck at the drinking horn, hanging at the Countryman's belt, and
into it let fly the poison of his fangs.
The Countryman now went on toward home. Becoming thirsty on the way, he
filled his horn at a spring, and was about to drink. There was a sudden rush of
great wings. Sweeping down, the Eagle seized the poisoned horn from out his
savior's hands, and flew away with it to hide it where it could never be found.
An act of kindness is well repaid.
 Mercury & the Woodman
A poor Woodman was cutting down a tree near the edge of a deep pool in the
forest. It was late in the day and the Woodman was tired. He had been working
since sunrise and his strokes were not so sure as they had been early that
morning. Thus it happened that the axe slipped and flew out of his hands into
the pool.
The Woodman was in despair. The axe was all he possessed with which to make
a living, and he had not money enough to buy a new one. As he stood wringing
his hands and weeping, the god Mercury suddenly appeared and asked what the
trouble was. The Woodman told what had happened, and straightway the kind
Mercury dived into the pool. When he came up again he held a wonderful
golden axe.
"Is this your axe?" Mercury asked the Woodman.
"No," answered the honest Woodman, "that is not my axe."
Mercury laid the golden axe on the bank and sprang back into the pool. This
time he brought up an axe of silver, but the Woodman declared again that his
axe was just an ordinary one with a wooden handle.
Mercury dived down for the third time, and when he came up again he had the
very axe that had been lost.
The poor Woodman was very glad that his axe had been found and could not
thank the kind god enough. Mercury was greatly pleased with the Woodman's
honesty.
"I admire your honesty," he said, "and as a reward you may have all three axes,
the gold and the silver as well as your own."
The happy Woodman returned to his home with his treasures, and soon the
story of his good fortune was known to everybody in the village. Now there were
several Woodmen in the village who believed that they could easily win the
same good fortune. They hurried out into the woods, one here, one there, and
hiding their axes in the bushes, pretended they had lost them. Then they wept
and wailed and called on Mercury to help them.
And indeed, Mercury did appear, first to this one, then to that. To each one he
showed an axe of gold, and each one eagerly claimed it to be the one he had
lost. But Mercury did not give them the golden axe. Oh no! Instead he gave them
each a hard whack over the head with it and sent them home. And when they
returned next day to look for their own axes, they were nowhere to be found.
Honesty is the best policy.
 Three Bullocks & a lion
A Lion had been watching three Bullocks feeding in an open field. He had tried
to attack them several times, but they had kept together, and helped each other
to drive him off. The Lion had little hope of eating them, for he was no match for
three strong Bullocks with their sharp horns and hoofs. But he could not keep
away from that field, for it is hard to resist watching a good meal, even when
there is little chance of getting it.
Then one day the Bullocks had a quarrel, and when the hungry Lion came to
look at them and lick his chops as he was accustomed to do, he found them in
separate corners of the field, as far away from one another as they could get.
It was now an easy matter for the Lion to attack them one at a time, and this he
proceeded to do with the greatest satisfaction and relish.
In unity is strength.
 The Mouse & the Weasel
A little hungry Mouse found his way one day into a basket of corn. He had to
squeeze himself a good deal to get through the narrow opening between the
strips of the basket. But the corn was tempting and the Mouse was determined
to get in. When at last he had succeeded, he gorged himself to bursting. Indeed
he he became about three times as big around the middle as he was when he
went in.
At last he felt satisfied and dragged himself to the opening to get out again. But
the best he could do was to get his head out. So there he sat groaning and
moaning, both from the discomfort inside him and his anxiety to escape from
the basket.
Just then a Weasel came by. He understood the situation quickly.
"My friend," he said, "I know what you've been doing. You've been stuffing.
That's what you get. You will have to stay there till you feel just like you did
when you went in. Good night, and good enough for you."
And that was all the sympathy the poor Mouse got.
Greediness leads to misfortune.
 The Goose & the Golden Egg

There was once a Countryman who possessed the most wonderful Goose you
can imagine, for every day when he visited the nest, the Goose had laid a
beautiful, glittering, golden egg.
The Countryman took the eggs to market and soon began to get rich. But it
was not long before he grew impatient with the Goose because she gave him
only a single golden egg a day. He was not getting rich fast enough.
Then one day, after he had finished counting his money, the idea came to him
that he could get all the golden eggs at once by killing the Goose and cutting it
open. But when the deed was done, not a single golden egg did he find, and
his precious Goose was dead.
Those who have plenty want more and so lose all they have
 The Two Pots
Two Pots, one of brass and the other of clay, stood together on the hearthstone.
One day the Brass Pot proposed to the Earthen Pot that they go out into the
world together. But the Earthen Pot excused himself, saying that it would be
wiser for him to stay in the corner by the fire.
"It would take so little to break me," he said. "You know how fragile I am. The
least shock is sure to shatter me!"
"Don't let that keep you at home," urged the Brass Pot. "I shall take very good
care of you. If we should happen to meet anything hard I will step between and
save you."
So the Earthen Pot at last consented, and the two set out side by side, jolting
along on three stubby legs first to this side, then to that, and bumping into each
other at every step.
The Earthen Pot could not survive that sort of companionship very long. They
had not gone ten paces before the Earthen Pot cracked, and at the next jolt he
flew into a thousand pieces.
Equals make the best friends.
 The Farmer & the Cranes
Some Cranes saw a farmer plowing a large field. When the work of plowing was
done, they patiently watched him sow the seed. It was their feast, they thought.
So, as soon as the Farmer had finished planting and had gone home, down they
flew to the field, and began to eat as fast as they could.
The Farmer, of course, knew the Cranes and their ways. He had had experience
with such birds before. He soon returned to the field with a sling. But he did not
bring any stones with him. He expected to scare the Cranes just by swinging the
sling in the air, and shouting loudly at them.
At first the Cranes flew away in great terror. But they soon began to see that
none of them ever got hurt. They did not even hear the noise of stones whizzing
through the air, and as for words, they would kill nobody. At last they paid no
attention whatever to the Farmer.
The Farmer saw that he would have to take other measures. He wanted to save
at least some of his grain. So he loaded his sling with stones and killed several of
the Cranes. This had the effect the Farmer wanted, for from that day the Cranes
visited his field no more.
Bluff and threatening words are of little value with rascals.
Bluff is no proof that hard fists are lacking.
 The Cat, the Cock, and the Young Mouse
A very young Mouse, who had never seen anything of the world, almost came to
grief the very first time he ventured out. And this is the story he told his mother
about his adventures.
"I was strolling along very peaceably when, just as I turned the corner into the
next yard, I saw two strange creatures. One of them had a very kind and
gracious look, but the other was the most fearful monster you can imagine. You
should have seen him.
"On top of his head and in front of his neck hung pieces of raw red meat. He
walked about restlessly, tearing up the ground with his toes, and beating his
arms savagely against his sides. The moment he caught sight of me he opened
his pointed mouth as if to swallow me, and then he let out a piercing roar that
frightened me almost to death."
Can you guess who it was that our young Mouse was trying to describe to his
mother? It was nobody but the Barnyard Cock and the first one the little Mouse
had ever seen.
"If it had not been for that terrible monster," the Mouse went on, "I should have
made the acquaintance of the pretty creature, who looked so good and gentle.
He had thick, velvety fur, a meek face, and a look that was very modest, though
his eyes were bright and shining. As he looked at me he waved his fine long tail
and smiled.
"I am sure he was just about to speak to me when the monster I have told you
about let out a screaming yell, and I ran for my life."
"My son," said the Mother Mouse, "that gentle creature you saw was none
other than the Cat. Under his kindly appearance, he bears a grudge against
every one of us. The other was nothing but a bird who wouldn't harm you in the
least. As for the Cat, he eats us. So be thankful, my child, that you escaped with
your life, and, as long as you live, never judge people by their looks."
Do not trust alone to outward appearances.
 The Monkey & the Cat
Once upon a time a Cat and a Monkey lived as pets in the same house. They
were great friends and were constantly in all sorts of mischief together. What
they seemed to think of more than anything else was to get something to eat,
and it did not matter much to them how they got it.
One day they were sitting by the fire, watching some chestnuts roasting on the
hearth. How to get them was the question.
"I would gladly get them," said the cunning Monkey, "but you are much more
skillful at such things than I am. Pull them out and I'll divide them between us."
Pussy stretched out her paw very carefully, pushed aside some of the cinders,
and drew back her paw very quickly. Then she tried it again, this time pulling a
chestnut half out of the fire. A third time and she drew out the chestnut. This
performance she went through several times, each time singeing her paw
severely. As fast as she pulled the chestnuts out of the fire, the Monkey ate
them up.
Now the master came in, and away scampered the rascals, Mistress Cat with a
burnt paw and no chestnuts. From that time on, they say, she contented herself
with mice and rats and had little to do with Sir Monkey.
The flatterer seeks some benefit at your expense.
 The Wolf & the Ass
An Ass was feeding in a pasture near a wood when he saw a Wolf lurking in the
shadows along the hedge. He easily guessed what the Wolf had in mind, and
thought of a plan to save himself. So he pretended he was lame, and began to
hobble painfully.
When the Wolf came up, he asked the Ass what had made him lame, and the
Ass replied that he had stepped on a sharp thorn.
"Please pull it out," he pleaded, groaning as if in pain. "If you do not, it might
stick in your throat when you eat me."
The Wolf saw the wisdom of the advice, for he wanted to enjoy his meal without
any danger of choking. So the Ass lifted up his foot and the Wolf began to search
very closely and carefully for the thorn.
Just then the Ass kicked out with all his might, tumbling the Wolf a dozen paces
away. And while the Wolf was getting very slowly and painfully to his feet, the
Ass galloped away in safety.
"Serves me right," growled the Wolf as he crept into the bushes. "I'm a butcher
by trade, not a doctor."
Stick to your trade.
 The Monkey & the Dolphin

It happened once upon a time that a certain Greek ship bound for Athens was
wrecked off the coast close to Piraeus, the port of Athens. Had it not been for the
Dolphins, who at that time were very friendly toward mankind and especially
toward Athenians, all would have perished. But the Dolphins took the
shipwrecked people on their backs and swam with them to shore.
Now it was the custom among the Greeks to take their pet monkeys and dogs
with them whenever they went on a voyage. So when one of the Dolphins saw a
Monkey struggling in the water, he thought it was a man, and made the Monkey
climb up on his back. Then off he swam with him toward the shore.
The Monkey sat up, grave and dignified, on the Dolphin's back.
"You are a citizen of illustrious Athens, are you not?" asked the Dolphin politely.
"Yes," answered the Monkey, proudly. "My family is one of the noblest in the
city."
"Indeed," said the Dolphin. "Then of course you often visit Piraeus."
"Yes, yes," replied the Monkey. "Indeed, I do. I am with him constantly. Piraeus is
my very best friend."
This answer took the Dolphin by surprise, and, turning his head, he now saw
what it was he was carrying. Without more ado, he dived and left the foolish
Monkey to take care of himself, while he swam off in search of some human
being to save.
One falsehood leads to another.
 The Vain Jackdaw & his Borrowed Feathers
A Jackdaw chanced to fly over the garden of the King's palace. There he saw
with much wonder and envy a flock of royal Peacocks in all the glory of their
splendid plumage.
Now the black Jackdaw was not a very handsome bird, nor very refined in
manner. Yet he imagined that all he needed to make himself fit for the society of
the Peacocks was a dress like theirs. So he picked up some castoff feathers of the
Peacocks and stuck them among his own black plumes.
Dressed in his borrowed finery he strutted loftily among the birds of his own
kind. Then he flew down into the garden among the Peacocks. But they soon
saw who he was. Angry at the cheat, they flew at him, plucking away the
borrowed feathers and also some of his own.
The poor Jackdaw returned sadly to his former companions. There another
unpleasant surprise awaited him. They had not forgotten his superior airs
toward them, and, to punish him, they drove him away with a rain of pecks and
jeers.
Borrowed feathers do not make fine birds.
 The Mice & the Weasels

The Weasels and the Mice were always up in arms against each other. In every
battle the Weasels carried off the victory, as well as a large number of the Mice,
which they ate for dinner next day. In despair the Mice called a council, and
there it was decided that the Mouse army was always beaten because it had no
leaders. So a large number of generals and commanders were appointed from
among the most eminent Mice.
To distinguish themselves from the soldiers in the ranks, the new leaders proudly
bound on their heads lofty crests and ornaments of feathers or straw. Then after
long preparation of the Mouse army in all the arts of war, they sent a challenge
to the Weasels.
The Weasels accepted the challenge with eagerness, for they were always ready
for a fight when a meal was in sight. They immediately attacked the Mouse
army in large numbers. Soon the Mouse line gave way before the attack and the
whole army fled for cover. The privates easily slipped into their holes, but the
Mouse leaders could not squeeze through the narrow openings because of their
head-dresses. Not one escaped the teeth of the hungry Weasels.
Greatness has its penalties.