A Stork of a very simple and trusting nature had been asked by a gay party of Cranes to visit a field that had been newly planted.
But the party ended dismally with all the birds entangled in the meshes of the Farmer"s net.
The Stork begged the Farmer to spare him.
"Please let me go," he pleaded. "I belong to the Stork family who you know are honest and birds of good character. Besides, I did not know the Cranes were going to steal."
"You may be a very good bird," answered the Farmer, "but I caught you with the thieving Cranes and you will have to share the same punishment with them."
_You are judged by the company you keep._
THE SHEEP AND THE PIG
One day a shepherd discovered a fat Pig in the meadow where his Sheep were pastured. He very quickly captured the porker, which squealed at the top of its voice the moment the Shepherd laid his hands on it. You would have thought, to hear the loud squealing, that the Pig was being cruelly hurt. But in spite of its squeals and struggles to escape, the Shepherd tucked his prize under his arm and started off to the butcher"s in the market place.
The Sheep in the pasture were much astonished and amused at the Pig"s behavior, and followed the Shepherd and his charge to the pasture gate.
"What makes you squeal like that?" asked one of the Sheep. "The Shepherd often catches and carries off one of us. But we should feel very much ashamed to make such a terrible fuss about it like you do."
"That is all very well," replied the Pig, with a squeal and a frantic kick. "When he catches you he is only after your wool.
But he wants my bacon! gree-ee-ee!"
_It is easy to be brave when there is no danger._
[Ill.u.s.tration: THE SHEEP AND THE PIG]
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THE TRAVELERS AND THE PURSE
Two men were traveling in company along the road when one of them picked up a well-filled purse.
"How lucky I am!" he said. "I have found a purse. Judging by its weight it must be full of gold."
"Do not say "_I_ have found a purse,"" said his companion. "Say rather "_we_ have found a purse" and "how lucky _we_ are."
Travelers ought to share alike the fortunes or misfortunes of the road."
"No, no," replied the other angrily. "_I_ found it and _I_ am going to keep it."
Just then they heard a shout of "Stop, thief!" and looking around, saw a mob of people armed with clubs coming down the road.
The man who had found the purse fell into a panic.
"We are lost if they find the purse on us," he cried.
"No, no," replied the other, "You would not say "we" before, so now stick to your "I". Say "_I_ am lost.""
_We cannot expect any one to share our misfortunes unless we are willing to share our good fortune also._
THE LION AND THE a.s.s
One day as the Lion walked proudly down a forest aisle, and the animals respectfully made way for him, an a.s.s brayed a scornful remark as he pa.s.sed.
The Lion felt a flash of anger. But when he turned his head and saw who had spoken, he walked quietly on. He would not honor the fool with even so much as a stroke of his claws.
_Do not resent the remarks of a fool. Ignore them._
THE FROGS WHO WISHED FOR A KING
The Frogs were tired of governing themselves. They had so much freedom that it had spoiled them, and they did nothing but sit around croaking in a bored manner and wishing for a government that could entertain them with the pomp and display of royalty, and rule them in a way to make them know they were being ruled.
No milk and water government for them, they declared. So they sent a pet.i.tion to Jupiter asking for a king.
Jupiter saw what simple and foolish creatures they were, but to keep them quiet and make them think they had a king he threw down a huge log, which fell into the water with a great splash. The Frogs hid themselves among the reeds and gra.s.ses, thinking the new king to be some fearful giant. But they soon discovered how tame and peaceable King Log was. In a short time the younger Frogs were using him for a diving platform, while the older Frogs made him a meeting place, where they complained loudly to Jupiter about the government.
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To teach the Frogs a lesson the ruler of the G.o.ds now sent a Crane to be king of Frogland. The Crane proved to be a very different sort of king from old King Log. He gobbled up the poor Frogs right and left and they soon saw what fools they had been.
In mournful croaks they begged Jupiter to take away the cruel tyrant before they should all be destroyed.
"How now!" cried Jupiter "Are you not yet content? You have what you asked for and so you have only yourselves to blame for your misfortunes."
_Be sure you can better your condition before you seek to change._
[Ill.u.s.tration]
THE OWL AND THE GRa.s.sHOPPER
The Owl always takes her sleep during the day. Then after sundown, when the rosy light fades from the sky and the shadows rise slowly through the wood, out she comes ruffling and blinking from the old hollow tree. Now her weird "hoo-hoo-hoo-oo-oo"
echoes through the quiet wood, and she begins her hunt for the bugs and beetles, frogs and mice she likes so well to eat.