STORY ONE
The Ant and the
Grasshopper
In a
field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to
its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil 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
toil.
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 days of need.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
A
shepherd-boy, who watched a flock of sheep near a village, brought out the
villagers three or four times by crying out, "Wolf! Wolf!" and when
his neighbors came to help him, laughed at them for their pains.
The Wolf, however, did truly come at last. The Shepherd-boy, now really
alarmed, shouted in an agony of terror: "Pray, do come and help me; the
Wolf is killing the sheep"; but no one paid any heed to his cries, nor
rendered any assistance. The Wolf, having no cause of fear, at his leisure
lacerated or destroyed the whole flock.
There is no believing a liar, even when he speaks the truth.
STORY THREE
The Fox and The Crow
A Fox
once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its beak and settle on a
branch of a tree.
"That's for me, as I am a Fox," said Master Reynard, and he walked up
to the foot of the tree.
"Good day, Mistress Crow," he cried. "How well you are looking
today: how glossy your feathers; how bright your eye. I feel sure your voice
must surpass that of other birds, just as your figure does; let me hear but one
song from you that I may greet you as the Queen of Birds."
The Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best, but the moment she
opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground, only to be snapped up
by Master Fox.
"That will do," said he. "That was all I wanted. In exchange for
your cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the future: "Do not
trust flatterers."
