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〃Because； my child；〃 replied the Buck； 〃my temper is so uncertain
that if I permit one of those noisy creatures to come into my
presence I am likely to forget myself and do him an injury。〃
The Kite； the Pigeons； and the Hawk
SOME Pigeons exposed to the attacks of a Kite asked a Hawk to
defend them。 He consented； and being admitted into the cote waited
for the Kite； whom he fell upon and devoured。 When he was so
surfeited that he could scarcely move； the grateful Pigeons
scratched out his eyes。
The Wolf and the Babe
A FAMISHING Wolf； passing the door of a cottage in the forest；
heard a Mother say to her babe：
〃Be quiet； or I will throw you out of the window； and the wolves
will get you。〃
So he waited all day below the window； growing more hungry all the
time。 But at night the Old Man； having returned from the village
club； threw out both Mother and Child。
The Wolf and the Ostrich
A WOLF； who in devouring a man had choked himself with a bunch of
keys； asked an ostrich to put her head down his throat and pull
them out； which she did。
〃I suppose；〃 said the Wolf； 〃you expect payment for that service。〃
〃A kind act；〃 replied the Ostrich； 〃is its own reward； I have eaten
the keys。〃
The Herdsman and the Lion
A HERDSMAN who had lost a bullock entreated the gods to bring him
the thief； and vowed he would sacrifice a goat to them。 Just then
a Lion； his jaws dripping with bullock's blood； approached the
Herdsman。
〃I thank you； good deities；〃 said the Herdsman； continuing his
prayer； 〃for showing me the thief。 And now if you will take him
away； I will stand another goat。〃
The Man and the Viper
A MAN finding a frozen Viper put it into his bosom。
〃The coldness of the human heart；〃 he said； with a grin； 〃will keep
the creature in his present condition until I can reach home and
revive him on the coals。〃
But the pleasures of hope so fired his heart that the Viper thawed；
and sliding to the ground thanked the Man civilly for his
hospitality and glided away。
The Man and the Eagle
AN Eagle was once captured by a Man； who clipped his wings and put
him in the poultry yard； along with the chickens。 The Eagle was
much depressed in spirits by the change。
〃Why should you not rather rejoice？〃 said the Man。 〃You were only
an ordinary fellow as an eagle； but as an old rooster you are a
fowl of incomparable distinction。
The War…horse and the Miller
HAVING heard that the State was about to be invaded by a hostile
army； a War…horse belonging to a Colonel of the Militia offered his
services to a passing Miller。
〃No；〃 said the patriotic Miller； 〃I will employ no one who deserts
his position in the hour of danger。 It is sweet to die for one's
country。〃
Something in the sentiment sounded familiar； and； looking at the
Miller more closely the War…horse recognised his master in
disguise。
The Dog and the Reflection
A DOG passing over a stream on a plank saw his reflection in the
water。
〃You ugly brute！〃 he cried； 〃how dare you look at me in that
insolent way。〃
He made a grab in the water； and； getting hold of what he supposed
was the other dog's lip； lifted out a fine piece of meat which a
butcher's boy had dropped into the stream。
The Man and the Fish…horn
A TRUTHFUL Man； finding a musical instrument in the road； asked the
name of it； and was told that it was a fish…horn。 The next time he
went fishing he set his nets and blew the fish…horn all day to
charm the fish into them； but at nightfall there were not only no
fish in his nets； but none along that part of the coast。 Meeting a
friend while on his way home he was asked what luck he had had。
〃Well；〃 said the Truthful Man； 〃the weather is not right for
fishing； but it's a red…letter day for music。〃
The Hare and the Tortoise
A HARE having ridiculed the slow movements of a Tortoise； was
challenged by the latter to run a race； a Fox to go to the goal and
be the judge。 They got off well together； the hare at the top of
her speed； the Tortoise； who had no other intention than making his
antagonist exert herself； going very leisurely。 After sauntering
along for some time he discovered the Hare by the wayside；
apparently asleep； and seeing a chance to win pushed on as fast as
he could； arriving at the goal hours afterward； suffering from
extreme fatigue and claiming the victory。
〃Not so；〃 said the Fox； 〃the Hare was here long ago； and went back
to cheer you on your way。〃
Hercules and the Carter
A CARTER was driving a waggon loaded with a merchant's goods； when
the wheels stuck in a rut。 Thereupon he began to pray to Hercules；
without other exertion。
〃Indolent fellow！〃 said Hercules； 〃you ask me to help you； but will
not help yourself。〃
So the Carter helped himself to so many of the most valuable goods
that the horses easily ran away with the remainder。
The Lion and the Bull
A LION wishing to lure a Bull to a place where it would be safe to
attack him； said： 〃My friend； I have killed a fine sheep； will you
come with me and partake of the mutton？〃
〃With pleasure；〃 said the Bull； 〃as soon as you have refreshed
yourself a little for the journey。 Pray have some grass。〃
The Man and his Goose
〃SEE these valuable golden eggs；〃 said a Man that owned a Goose。
〃Surely a Goose which can lay such eggs as those must have a gold
mine inside her。〃
So he killed the Goose and cut her open； but found that she was
just like any other goose。 Moreover； on examining the eggs that
she had laid he found they were just like any other eggs。
The Wolf and the Feeding Goat
A WOLF saw a Goat feeding at the summit of a rock； where he could
not get at her。
〃Why do you stay up there in that sterile place and go hungry？〃
said the Wolf。 〃Down here where I am the broken…bottle vine cometh
up as a flower； the celluloid collar blossoms as the rose； and the
tin…can tree brings forth after its kind。〃
〃That is true； no doubt；〃 said the Goat； 〃but how about the circus…
poster crop？ I hear that it failed this year down there。〃
The Wolf； perceiving that he was being chaffed； went away and