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The Wolf； perceiving that he was being chaffed； went away and
resumed his duties at the doors of the poor。
Jupiter and the Birds
JUPITER commanded all the birds to appear before him； so that he
might choose the most beautiful to be their king。 The ugly
jackdaw； collecting all the fine feathers which had fallen from the
other birds； attached them to his own body and appeared at the
examination； looking very gay。 The other birds； recognising their
own borrowed plumage； indignantly protested； and began to strip
him。
〃Hold！〃 said Jupiter； 〃this self…made bird has more sense than any
of you。 He is your king。〃
The Lion and the Mouse
A LION who had caught a Mouse was about to kill him； when the Mouse
said：
〃If you will spare my life； I will do as much for you some day。〃
The Lion； good…naturedly let him go。 It happened shortly
afterwards that the Lion was caught by some hunters and bound with
cords。 The Mouse； passing that way； and seeing that his benefactor
was helpless； gnawed off his tail。
The Old Man and His Sons
AN Old Man； afflicted with a family of contentious Sons； brought in
a bundle of sticks and asked the young men to break it。 After
repeated efforts they confessed that it could not be done。
〃Behold；〃 said the Old Man； 〃the advantage of unity； as long as
these sticks are in alliance they are invincible； but observe how
feeble they are individually。〃
Pulling a single stick from the bundle； he broke it easily upon the
head of the eldest Son； and this he repeated until all had been
served。
The Crab and His Son
A LOGICAL Crab said to his Son； 〃Why do you not walk straight
forward？ Your sidelong gait is singularly ungraceful。〃
〃Why don't you walk straight forward yourself；〃 said the Son。
〃Erring youth；〃 replied the Logical Crab； 〃you are introducing new
and irrelevant matter。〃
The North Wind and the Sun
THE Sun and the North Wind disputed which was the more powerful；
and agreed that he should be declared victor who could the sooner
strip a traveller of his clothes。 So they waited until a traveller
came by。 But the traveller had been indiscreet enough to stay over
night at a summer hotel； and had no clothes。
The Mountain and the Mouse
A MOUNTAIN was in labour； and the people of seven cities had
assembled to watch its movements and hear its groans。 While they
waited in breathless expectancy out came a Mouse。
〃Oh； what a baby！〃 they cried in derision。
〃I may be a baby；〃 said the Mouse； gravely； as he passed outward
through the forest of shins； 〃but I know tolerably well how to
diagnose a volcano。〃
The Bellamy and the Members
THE Members of a body of Socialists rose in insurrection against
their Bellamy。
〃Why；〃 said they； 〃should we be all the time tucking you out with
food when you do nothing to tuck us out？〃
So； resolving to take no further action； they went away； and
looking backward had the satisfaction to see the Bellamy compelled
to sell his own book。
OLD SAWS WITH NEW TEETH
CERTAIN ANCIENT FABLES APPLIED TO
THE LIFE OF OUR TIMES
The Wolf and the Crane
A RICH Man wanted to tell a certain lie； but the lie was of such
monstrous size that it stuck in his throat； so he employed an
Editor to write it out and publish it in his paper as an editorial。
But when the Editor presented his bill； the Rich Man said：
〃Be content … is it nothing that I refrained from advising you
about investments？〃
The Lion and the Mouse
A JUDGE was awakened by the noise of a lawyer prosecuting a Thief。
Rising in wrath he was about to sentence the Thief to life
imprisonment when the latter said：
〃I beg that you will set me free； and I will some day requite your
kindness。〃
Pleased and flattered to be bribed； although by nothing but an
empty promise； the Judge let him go。 Soon afterward he found that
it was more than an empty promise； for； having become a Thief； he
was himself set free by the other； who had become a Judge。
The Hares and the Frogs
THE Members of a Legislature； being told that they were the meanest
thieves in the world； resolved to commit suicide。 So they bought
shrouds； and laying them in a convenient place prepared to cut
their throats。 While they were grinding their razors some Tramps
passing that way stole the shrouds。
〃Let us live； my friends；〃 said one of the Legislators to the
others； 〃the world is better than we thought。 It contains meaner
thieves than we。〃
The Belly and the Members
SOME Workingmen employed in a shoe factory went on a strike；
saying： 〃Why should we continue to work to feed and clothe our
employer when we have none too much to eat and wear ourselves？〃
The Manufacturer； seeing that he could get no labour for a long
time and finding the times pretty hard anyhow； burned down his shoe
factory for the insurance； and when the strikers wanted to resume
work there was no work to resume。 So they boycotted a tanner。
The Piping Fisherman
AN Editor who was always vaunting the purity； enterprise； and
fearlessness of his paper was pained to observe that he got no
subscribers。 One day it occurred to him to stop saying that his
paper was pure and enterprising and fearless； and make it so。 〃If
these are not good qualities；〃 he reasoned； 〃it is folly to claim
them。〃
Under the new policy he got so many subscribers that his rivals
endeavoured to discover the secret of his prosperity； but he kept
it； and when he died it died with him。
The Ants and the Grasshopper
SOME Members of a Legislature were making schedules of their wealth
at the end of the session； when an Honest Miner came along and
asked them to divide with him。 The members of the Legislature
inquired：
〃Why did you not acquire property of your own？〃
〃Because；〃 replied the Honest Miner； 〃I was so busy digging out
gold that I had no leisure to lay up something worth while。〃
Then the Members of the Legislature derided him； saying：
〃If you waste your time in profitless amusement； you cannot； of
course； expect to share the rewards of industry。〃
The Dog and His Reflection
A STATE O