e

fâre-food; provisions for the table; a journey; the price of a

A lion was sleeping in his lair, when a mouse, not kno where she was going, ran over the mighty beast's nose awakened him. The lion clapped his paw upon the fright little creature, and was about to make an end of her, when The 5 mouse, in pitiable tone, begged him to let her go.

smiling at his little prisoner's fright, generously let her Now, it happened not long after that the lion fell into the of the hunters, and, finding himself without hope of escape, up a roar that filled the whole forest with its echo. The mo 10 recognizing the voice, ran to the spot, and at once set to w to nibble the knot in the cord that bound the ound the lion, and in a sl time set the noble beast at liberty; thus convincing him t ing him kindness is seldom thrown away, and that there is no creat so much below another but that he may have it in his po 15 to return a kind act.

A hare boasted loudly to a tortoise of her speed in runni at the same time giving him a look of scorn because of slowness.

"Let us have a race," answered the tortoise. "I will r 20 with you five miles, and the fox over yonder shall be the judge The hare with a scornful smile agreed, and away they start together.

Soon the hare left the tortoise far behind, and, feeling a litt tired, lay down on a tuft of grass that grew by the way. "If tha 25 slow-coach passes, I shall see him and easily catch up with hi again," she said to herself, and fell asleep.

In the meantime the tortoise plodded on, slowly but surely After a time, he passed the hare, who, sure of reaching the goa first, still slept, and who awoke only to find that the tortoise ha 30 reached it before her.

1. One

Aesop's Fables

43

THE WIND AND THE SUN

A dispute once arose between the Wind and the Sun, as to which of the two was the stronger.

To decide the matter, they agreed to try their power on a traveler, and the one who should first strip him of his cloak, was 5 to win the wager.

The Wind began. He blew a strong blast, which tone up the oaks by their roots, and made the whole forest look like a wreck. But the traveler, though at first he could scarcely keep his cloak on his back, drew it about him more closely 10 than ever.

The Wind, having thus tried his utmost power in vain, the Sun began.

Bursting through a thick cloud, he sent down his sultry rays so forcibly upon the traveler, that the poor fellow was almost 15 melted.

So he quickly threw off his cloak, and went happily on his way.

Gentle means will often succeed, where force will fail.

HELPS TO STUDY

Historical: Aesop, the great story-teller, was a Greek slave who is supposed to have lived in Athens more than two thousand years ago. His fables, a large number of which were about animals, were intended to make the people better. In these fables he made the animals talk so as to show the difference between good deeds and bad deeds. After Aesop's death these stories were remembered and written down in different languages, so that every one could read them the world over. They teach us useful lessons.

Notes and Questions

Which of these fables do you like
best? Why?

What lesson may we learn from
each?

Which lesson do you think most
useful to you?

What other fables have you read? To which fable does each of the following apply:

"The race is not alone to the swift."

"Kind means are the best."

William Blake (1757-1827) was an English poet and artist. was born in London. His "Piping Down the Valleys Wild" v written as an introduction to his "Songs of Innocence.".

Words and Phrases for Study

ru'-ral (roo'-rǎl)

ru'-ral of the country or belonging to the country.