THE MAN AND THE LION
A Lion and a Man chanced to travel in company through the forest.
They soon began to quarrel, for each of them boasted that he and his kind were far superior to the other both in strength and mind.
Now they reached a clearing in the forest and there stood a statue. It was a representation of Heracles in the act of tearing the jaws of the Nemean Lion.
"See," said the man, "that"s how strong _we_ are! The King of Beasts is like wax in our hands!"
"Ho!" laughed the Lion, "a Man made that statue. It would have been quite a different scene had a Lion made it!"
_It all depends on the point of view, and who tells the story._
THE a.s.s AND THE LAP DOG
There was once an a.s.s 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 a.s.s 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 a.s.s 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 a.s.s and man rolled over together in the pile of broken dishes from the table.
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The Master was much alarmed at the strange behavior of the a.s.s, 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 a.s.s 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 MILKMAID AND 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 b.u.t.ter 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!"
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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 b.u.t.ter and eggs and chicks and new dress and all the milkmaid"s pride.
_Do not count your chickens before they are hatched._
THE WOLF AND THE SHEPHERD
A Wolf, lurking near the Shepherd"s hut, saw the Shepherd and his family feasting on a roasted lamb.
"Aha!" he muttered. "What a great shouting and running about there would have been, had they caught me at just the very thing they are doing with so much enjoyment!"
_Men often condemn others for what they see no wrong in doing themselves._
THE GOATHERD AND THE GOAT
A Goat strayed away from the flock, tempted by a patch of clover.
The Goatherd tried to call it back, but in vain. It would not obey him. Then he picked up a stone and threw it, breaking the Goat"s horn.
The Goatherd was frightened.
"Do not tell the master," he begged the Goat.
"No," said the Goat, "that broken horn can speak for itself!"
_Wicked deeds will not stay hid._
THE MISER
A Miser had buried his gold in a secret place in his garden.
Every day he went to the spot, dug up the treasure and counted it piece by piece to make sure it was all there. He made so many trips that a Thief, who had been observing him, guessed what it was the Miser had hidden, and one night quietly dug up the treasure and made off with it.
When the Miser discovered his loss, he was overcome with grief and despair. He groaned and cried and tore his hair.
A pa.s.serby heard his cries and asked what had happened.
"My gold! O my gold!" cried the Miser, wildly, "someone has robbed me!"