THE GOOSE WITH THE GOLDEN EGGS

ON

NE day a countryman going to the nest of his Goose found there a golden 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

As

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. 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.

"Greed oft o'erreaches itself."

THE LION, THE ASS, AND THE FOX

THE

'HE Lion, the Ass, and the Fox went hunting together, and it was agreed that whatever was taken should be shared between them. They caught a large fat Stag, which the Lion ordered the Ass to divide. The Ass took a deal of pains to divide the Stag into three pieces which should be as nearly equal as possible. The Lion, enraged with him for what he considered a want of proper respect to his quality, flew upon him and tore him to pieces. He then called on the Fox to divide. The Fox, nibbling off a small portion for himself, left the rest for the Lion's share. The Lion, highly pleased

by this mark of respect, asked the Fox where he had learned such politeness and good-breeding. "To tell the truth, Sire," replied the Fox, "I was taught it by the Ass that lies dead there."

"You may share the labors of the great, but you will not share the spoil."

THE VAIN JACKDAW

A JACKDAW, having dressed himself in feathers

which had fallen from some Peacocks, strutted about in the company of these birds, and tried to pass himself off as one of them. They soon found him out, and pulled their feathers from him so roughly, and in other ways so battered him, that when he would have rejoined his fellows they, in their turn, would have nothing to do with him, and drove him from their society, and told him

"It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds."

ΑΝ

N Ass and a Cock, feeding in the same meadow, were one day surprised by a Lion. The Cock crowed loudly, and the Lion (who is said to have a great antipathy to the crowing of a cock) at once turned tail and ran off again. The Ass, believing that it was from fear of him that the Lion fled, pursued him. As soon as they were out of hearing of the Cock, the Lion turned round upon the Ass and tore him in pieces.

A

THE FOX AND THE COUNTRYMAN

FOX, having been hunted hard and chased a long way, saw a Countryman at work in a wood, and begged him to help him to some hiding-place. The man said he might go into his cottage, which was close by. He was no sooner in than the huntsmen came up. "Have you seen a Fox pass this way?" said they. The Countryman said "No," but pointed at the same time toward the place where the Fox lay. The huntsmen did not take the hint, however, and made off again at full speed. The Fox, who had seen all that took place through a chink in the wall, thereupon came out, and was walking away without a word. "Why, how now! said the man; "haven't you the manners to thank your host before you go?" "Yes, yes," said the Fox; "if you had been as honest with your finger as you were with your tongue, I shouldn't have gone without saying good-by."

THE

THE HORSE AND THE STAG

HE Horse, having quarrelled with the Stag, and being unable to revenge himself upon his enemy, came to a Man and begged his help. He allowed the Man to saddle and bridle him, and together they ran down the Stag and killed him. The Horse neighed with joy, and thanking his rider warmly, asked him now to remove his saddle and let him go. No, no," said the