A slave named Androcles once escaped from his master and fled to the forest. As he was wandering about there he came upon a Lion lying down moaning and groaning. At first he turned to flee, but finding that the Lion did not pursue him, he turned back and went up to him. As he came near, the Lion put out his paw, which was all swollen and bleeding, and Androcles found that a huge thorn had got into it, and was causing all the pain. He pulled out the thorn and bound up the paw of the Lion, who was soon able to rise and lick the hand of Androcles like a dog. Then the Lion took Androcles to his cave, and every day used to bring him meat. But shortly afterwards both Androcles and the Lion were captured, and ordered to throw Androcles to the Lion, as it had been kept without food for several days. The Emperor and all his Court came to see the spectacle, and Androcles was led out into the middle of the arena. Soon the Lion was let loose from his den, and rushed bounding and roaring towards his victim. But as soon as he came near Androcles he recognised his friend, fawned upon him, and licked his hands like a friendly dog. The Emperor, surprised at this, summoned Androcles to him, who told him the whole story. The slave was pardoned and freed, and the Lion let loose to his native forest.
Love can tame the wildest.2-Avaricious and Envious FableTwo neighbours came before Jupiter and prayed him to grant their hearts' desire. Now the one was full of greediness, and the other eaten up with envy. So to punish them both, Jupiter granted that each might have whatever he wished for himself, but only on condition that his neighbour had twice as much. The Avaricious man prayed to have a room full of gold. No sooner said than done; but all his joy was turned to grief when he found that his neighbour had two rooms full of the precious metal. Then came the turn of the Envious man, who could not bear to think that his neighbour had any joy at all. So he prayed that he might have one of his own eyes put out, which meant that he himself would become totally blind.
Greed destroys the source of good. Those who want too much lose everything.3-Hercules and the Waggoner FableA Waggoner was once driving a heavy load along a very muddy way. At last he came to a part of the road where the wheels sank half-way into the mire, and the more the horses pulled, the deeper sank the wheels. So the Waggoner threw down his whip, and knelt down and prayed to Hercules the Strong."O Hercules, help me in this my hour of distress," he said.But Hercules appeared to him, and said:"Tut, man, don't sprawl there. Get up and put your shoulder to the wheel."
The gods help them that help themselves4-The Ant and the GrasshopperIn a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, carrying an ear of corn he was taking to the nest."Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?""I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same.""Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its work. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew""?.
It is best to prepare for the days of necessity5- The Bundle of SticksAn old man on the point of death asked his sons around him to give them some parting advice. He ordered his servants to bring in a bundle of sticks, and said to his eldest son:"Break it."The son strained and strained, but with all his efforts was unable to break the bundle. The other sons also tried, but none of them was successful."Untie the bundles," said the father, "and each of you take a stick."When they had done so, he called out to them:"Now, break," and each stick was easily broken. "You see my meaning?" said their father.Union gives strength6-The Bat, the Birds, and the BeastsA great conflict was about to come off between the Birds and the Beasts. When the two armies were collected together the Bat hesitated which to join. The Birds that passed his perch said:"Come with us"; but he said: "I am a Beast."Later on, some Beasts who were passing underneath him looked up and said:"Come with us"; but he said: "I am a Bird."Luckily at the last moment peace was made, and no battle took place, so the Bat came to the Birds and wished to join in the rejoicings, but they all turned against him and he had to fly away. He then went to the Beasts, but soon had to beat a retreat, or else they would have torn him to pieces."Ah," said the Bat, "I see now""""
He that is neither one thing nor the other has no friends
7-The Dog and the ShadowA Dog had a piece of meat and was carrying it home in his mouth to eat it in peace. Now on his way home he had to cross a bridge over a river. As he crossed, he looked down and saw his own shadow reflected in the water beneath. Thinking it was another dog with another piece of meat, he wanted to have that also. So he made a snap at the shadow in the water, but as he opened his mouth the piece of meat fell out, dropped into the water and was never seen more.
Beware in case you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.8- The Fisher and the Little FishIt happened that a Fisher, after fishing all day, caught only a little fish."Please, let me go, master," said the Fish. "I am much too small for your eating just now. If you put me back into the river I shall soon grow, then you can make a fine meal off me.""No, no, my little Fish," said the Fisher, "I have you now. I may not catch you hereafter."A little thing in hand is worth more than a great thing in prospect9-The Four Oxen and the LionA Lion used to prowl about a field in which Four Oxen used to live. He tried to attack them many times, but whenever he came near they turned their tails to one another, so that whichever way he approached them he was met by the horns of one of them. At last, however, each went off to pasture alone in a separate corner of the field. Then the Lion attacked them one by one and soon made an end of all four.
Union gives strength10- The Fox and the GrapesOne hot summer's day a Fox was strolling through an orchard till he came to a bunch of Grapes just ripening on a vine which had been trained over a lofty branch. "Just the thing to quench my thirst," quoth he. Drawing back a few paces, he took a run and a jump, and just missed the bunch. Turning round again with a One, Two, Three, he jumped up, but with no greater success. Again and again he tried after the tempting morsel, but at last had to give it up, and walked away with his nose in the air, saying: "I am sure they are sour."It is easy to despise what you cannot get.11-The Fox and the MaskA Fox had by some means got into the store-room of a theatre. Suddenly he observed a face glaring down on him and began to be very frightened; but looking more closely he found it was only a Mask such as actors use to put over their face. "Ah," said the Fox, "you look very fine; it is a pity you have not got any brains."Outside show is a poor substitute for inner worth.22- The Old Man and DeathAn old man, bent double with age and hard work, was gathering sticks in a forest. At last he grew so tired and hopeless that he threw down the bundle of sticks, and cried out:"I cannot bear this life any longer. Ah, I wish Death would only come and take me!"As he spoke, Death, a grisly skeleton, appeared and said to him:"What do you want, Mortal? I heard you call me.""Please, sir," replied the woodcutter, "would you kindly help me to lift this bundle of sticks on to my shoulder?"
We would often be sorry if our wishes were gratified.
12- The Fox and the StorkAt one time the Fox and the Stork were on visiting terms and seemed very good friends. So the Fox invited the Stork to dinner, and for a joke put nothing before her but some soup in a very shallow dish. This the Fox could easily lap up, but the Stork could only wet the end of her long bill in it, and left the meal as hungry as when she began. "I am sorry," said the Fox, "the soup is not to your liking.""Pray do not apologise," said the Stork. "I hope you will return this visit, and come and dine with me soon." So a day was appointed when the Fox should visit the Stork; but when they were seated at table all that was for their dinner was contained in a very long-necked jar with a narrow mouth, in which the Fox could not insert his snout, so all he could manage to do was to lick the outside of the jar."I will not apologise for the dinner," said the Stork.One bad turn deserves another. What goes around comes around.13- The Frog and the Ox ""?"Oh Father," said a little Frog to the big one sitting by the side of a pool, "I have seen such a terrible monster! It was as big as a mountain, with horns on its head, and a long tail, and it had hoofs divided in two.""Tush, child, tush," said the old Frog, "that was only Farmer White's Ox. It isn't so big either; he may be a little bit taller than I, but I could easily make myself quite as broad; just you see." So he blew himself out, and blew himself out, and blew himself out. "Was he as big as that?" asked he."Oh, much bigger than that," said the young Frog.Again the old one blew himself out, and asked the young one if the Ox was as big as that."Bigger, father, bigger," was the reply.So the Frog took a deep breath, and blew and blew and blew, and swelled and swelled and swelled. And then he said: "I'm sure the Ox is not as big as this. But at this moment he burst.
Do nothing without thinking of the consequences.14- The Goose With the Golden EggsOne day a countryman going to the nest of his Goose found there an egg all yellow and glittering. When he took it up it was as heavy as lead and he was going to throw it away, because he thought a trick had been played upon him. But he took it home on second thoughts, and soon found to his delight that it was an egg of pure gold. Every morning the same thing occurred, and he soon became rich by selling his eggs. As he grew rich he grew greedy; and thinking to get at once all the gold the Goose could give, he killed it and opened it only to find nothing.Gratitude and greed do not go together.15-The Hare and the HoundA Hound having started a Hare from his form, after a long run, gave up the chase. A Goat-herd, seeing him stop, mocked him, saying: "The little one is the best runner of the two." The hound replied; "You do not see the difference between us; I was only running for a dinner, but he for his life."Incentive spurs effort.16- The Hare With Many FriendsA Hare was very popular with the other beasts who all claimed to be her friends. But one day she heard the wolves approaching and hoped to escape them by the aid of her many Friends. So, she went to the horse, and asked him to carry her away from the wolves on his back. But he declined, saying that he had important work to do for his master."He felt sure," he said, "that all her other friends would come to her assistance."She then asked the bull, and hoped that he would prevent the wolves with his horns.The bull replied: "I am very sorry, but I have an appointment with a lady; but I feel sure that our friend the goat will do what you want."The goat, however, feared that his back might do her some harm if he took her upon it. The ram, he felt sure, was the proper friend to apply to. So she went to the ram and told him the case.The ram replied: "Another time, my dear friend. I do not like to interfere on the present occasion, as wolves have been known to eat sheep as well as hares."The Hare then applied, as a last hope, to the calf, who regretted that he was unable to help her, as he did not like to take the responsibility upon himself, as so many older persons than himself had declined the task. By this time the wolves were quite near, and the Hare took to her heels and luckily escaped.
He that has many friends, has no friends17-The Horse, Hunter, and StagA quarrel had arisen between the Horse and the Stag, so the Horse came to a Hunter to ask his help to take revenge on the Stag. The Hunter agreed, but said: "If you desire to conquer the Stag, you must permit me to place this piece of iron between your jaws, so that I may guide you with these reins, and allow this saddle to be placed upon your back so that I may keep steady upon you as we follow after the enemy." The Horse agreed to the conditions, and the Hunter soon saddled and bridled him. Then with the aid of the Hunter the Horse soon overcame the Stag, and said to the Hunter: "Now, get off, and remove those things from my mouth and back.""Not so fast, friend," said the Hunter. "I have now got you under bit and spur, and prefer to keep you as you are at present."
Self-conceit may lead to self-destruction18- The Lion in LoveA Lion once fell in love with a beautiful maiden and proposed marriage to her parents. The old people did not know what to say. They did not like to give their daughter to the Lion, yet they did not wish to enrage the King of Beasts. At last the father said:"We feel highly honoured by your Majesty's proposal, but you see our daughter is a tender young thing, and we fear that in the vehemence of your affection you might possibly do her some injury. Might I venture to suggest that your Majesty should have your claws removed, and your teeth extracted, then we would gladly consider your proposal again."The Lion was so much in love that he had his claws trimmed and his big teeth taken out. But when he came again to the parents of the young girl they simply laughed in his face, and bade him do his worst.Yield to all and you will soon have nothing to yield.20- The Man, the Boy, and the DonkeyA Man and his son were once going with their Donkey to market. As they were walking along by its side a countryman passed them and said: "You fools, what is a Donkey for but to ride upon?"So the Man put the Boy on the Donkey and they went on their way. But soon they passed a group of men, one of whom said: "See that lazy youngster, he lets his father walk while he rides."So the Man ordered his Boy to get off, and got on himself. But they hadn't gone far when they passed two women, one of whom said to the other: "Shame on that lazy lout to let his poor little son trudge along."Well, the Man didn't know what to do, but at last he took his Boy up before him on the Donkey. By this time they had come to the town, and the passers-by began to jeer and point at them. The Man stopped and asked what they were scoffing at. The men said:Aren't you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor donkey of yours and your hulking son?"The Man and Boy got off and tried to think what to do. They thought and they thought, till at last they cut down a pole, tied the donkey's feet to it, and raised the pole and the donkey to their shoulders. They went along amid the laughter of all who met them till they came to Market Bridge, when the Donkey, getting one of his feet loose, kicked out and caused the Boy to drop his end of the pole. In the struggle the Donkey fell over the bridge, and his fore-feet being tied together he was drowned."That will teach you," said an old man who had followed them.Please all and you will please none.21- The Milkmaid and Her BucketPatty the Milkmaid was going to market carrying her milk in a Bucket on her head. As she went along she began thinking what she would do with the money she would get for the milk."I'll buy some chickens from Farmer Brown," she said, "and they will lay eggs each morning, which I will sell to the parson's wife. With the money that I get from the sale of these eggs I'll buy myself a new dress and a hat; and when I go to market, all the young men will come up and speak to me! Polly Shaw will be that jealous; but I don't care. I shall just look at her and toss my head like this. As she spoke she tossed her head back, the Bucket fell off it, and all the milk was spilt. So she had to go home and tell her mother what had happened. "Ah, my child," said the mother""?.Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.23- The Two CrabsOne fine day two Crabs came out from their home to take a stroll on the sand."Child," said the mother, "you are walking very ungracefully. You should accustom yourself, to walking straight forward without twisting from side to side.""Pray, mother," said the young one, "do but set the example yourself, and I will follow you."Example is the best instruction.25-The Wolf and the CraneA Wolf had been gorging on an animal he had killed, when suddenly a small bone in the meat stuck in his throat and he could not swallow it. He soon felt terrible pain in his throat, and ran up and down groaning and groaning and seeking for something to relieve the pain. He tried to persuade every one he met to remove the bone. "I would give anything," he said, "if you would take it out." At last the Crane agreed to try, and told the Wolf to lie on his side and open his jaws as wide as he could. Then the Crane put its long neck down the Wolf's throat, and with its beak loosened the bone, till at last it got it out."Will you kindly give me the reward you promised?" said the Crane.The Wolf grinned and showed his teeth and said: "Be content. You have put your head inside a Wolf's mouth and taken it out again in safety; that ought to be reward enough for you."No gratitude from the wicked.26- The Wolf in Sheep's ClothingA Wolf found great difficulty in getting at the sheep owing to the vigilance of the shepherd and his dogs. But one day it found the skin of a sheep that had been flayed and thrown aside, so it put it on over its own pelt and strolled down among the sheep. The Lamb that belonged to the sheep, whose skin the Wolf was wearing, began to follow the Wolf in the Sheep's clothing; so, leading the Lamb a little apart, he soon made a meal off her, and for some time he succeeded in deceiving the sheep, and enjoying hearty meals.If you allow people to use you for your own purposes, they will use you for theirs.27- The Woodman and the SerpentOne wintry day a Woodman was tramping home from his work when he saw something black lying on the snow. When he came closer he saw it was a dead Snake. But he took it up and put it in his bosom to warm while he hurried home. As soon as he got indoors he put the Snake down on the hearth before the fire. The children watched it and saw it slowly come to life again. Then one of them stooped down to stroke it, but the Snake raised its head and put out its fangs and was about to sting the child to death. So the Woodman seized his axe, and with one stroke cut the Snake in two. "Ah," he said.Appearances are deceptive. First impressions are not always accurate.28- The Young Thief and His MotherA young Man had been caught in a daring act of theft and had been condemned to be executed for it. He expressed his desire to see his Mother, and to speak with her before he was led to execution, and of course this was granted. When his Mother came to him he said: "I want to whisper to you," and when she brought her ear near him, he nearly bit it off. All the bystanders were horrified, and asked him what he could mean by such brutal and inhuman conduct. "It is to punish her," he said. "When I was young I began with stealing little things, and brought them home to Mother. Instead of rebuking and punishing me, she laughed and said: "It will not be noticed." It is because of her that I am here to-day."
Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart therefrom.Gratitude is the sign of noble soulsVices are their own punishmentUnited we stand, divided we fall.
