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dis'-tant-not friendly; far off.

slum'-ber-sleep; repose.

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

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AESOP'S FABLES

THE LION AND THE MOUSE

A lion was sleeping in his lair, when a mouse, not knowing where she was going, ran over the mighty beast's nose and awakened him. The lion clapped his paw upon the frightened little creature, and was about to make an end of her, when the 5 mouse, in pitiable tone, begged him to let her go. The lion, smiling at his little prisoner's fright, generously let her go. Now, it happened not long after that the lion fell into the trap of the hunters, and, finding himself without hope of escape, set up a roar that filled the whole forest with its echo. The mouse, 10 recognizing the voice, 1an to the spot, and at once set to work to nibble the knot in the cord that bound the lion, and in a short time set the noble beast at liberty; thus convincing him that kindness is seldom thrown away, and that there is no creature so much below another but that he may have it in his power 15 to return a kind act.

THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE

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

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

Soon the hare left the tortoise far behind, and, feeling a little tired, lay down on a tuft of grass that grew by the way. "If that 25 slow-coach passes, I shall see him and easily catch up with him 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 goal first, still slept, and who awoke only to find that the tortoise had 30 reached it before her.

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 toe 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."

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bōast'-ěd-bragged; spoke of herself with too great confidence. pit'-i-a-ble (b'l)-exciting pity; sorrowful.

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He

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

1

PIPING down the valleys wild,

Piping songs of pleasant glee,
On a cloud I saw a child,

And he laughing said to me:

2

"Pipe a song about a lamb:"

So I piped with merry cheer. "Piper, pipe that song again:" So I piped; he wept to hear.

3

"Drop thy pipe, thy happy pipe,
Sing thy songs of happy cheer:"
So I sang the same again,

While he wept with joy to hear.

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

WORDS AND PHRASES:

"rural pen"

"wept with joy"

"Piper''

"vanish'd'

"'hollow reed''

"'pleasant glee"

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