THE MICE IN COUNCIL


6. THE MICE IN COUNCIL  Once upon a time all the mice met together in council and discussed the best means of securing themselves against the attacks of the cat. After several suggestions had been debated, a mouse of some standing and experience got up and said, “I think I have hit upon a plan which will ensure our safety in the future, provided you approve and carry it out. It is that we should fasten a bell round the neck of our enemy the cat, which will by its tinkling warn us of her approach.” This proposal was warmly applauded, and it had been already decided to adopt it, when an old mouse got upon his feet and said, “I agree with you all that the plan before us is an admirable one. But may I ask who is going to bell the cat?”


7. THE BAT AND THE WEASELS A bat fell to the ground and was caught by a weasel, and was just going to be killed and eaten when it begged to be let go. The weasel said he couldn’t do that because he was an enemy of all birds on principle. “Oh, but,” said the bat, “I’m not a bird at all. I’m a mouse.” “So you are,” said the weasel, “now I come to look at you.” And he let it go. Some time after this the bat was caught in just the same way by another weasel, and, as before, begged for its life. “No,” said the weasel, “I never let a mouse go by any chance.” “But I’m not a mouse,” said the bat. “I’m a bird.” “Why, so you are,” said the weasel. And he too let the bat go. Look and see which way the wind blows before you commit yourself.


8. THE DOG AND THE SOW    A dog and a sow were arguing, and each claimed that its own young ones were finer than those of any other animal. “Well,” said the sow at last, “mine can see, at any rate, when they come into the world; but yours are born blind.”


9.THE FOX AND THE CROW   A crow was sitting on a branch of a tree with a piece of cheese in her beak when a fox observed her and set his wits to work to discover some way of getting the cheese. Coming and standing under the tree he looked up and said, “What a noble bird I see above me! Her beauty is without equal, the hue of her plumage exquisite. If only her voice is as sweet as her looks are fair, she ought without doubt to be queen of the birds.” The crow was hugely flattered by this, and just to show the fox that she could sing she gave a loud caw. Down came the cheese, of course, and the fox, snatching it up, said, “You have a voice, madam, I see. What you want is wits.


10. THE HORSE AND THE GROOM  There was once a groom who used to spend long hours clipping and combing the horse of which he had charge, but who daily stole a portion of its allowance of oats, and sold it for his own profit. The horse gradually got into worse and worse condition, and at last cried to the groom, “If you really want me to look sleek and well, you must comb me less and feed me more.”


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE WOLF AND THE GOAT

Image
  176. THE WOLF AND THE GOAT  A wolf caught sight of a goat browsing above him on the scanty herbage that grew on the top of a steep rock; and being unable to get at her, tried to induce her to come lower down. “You are risking your life up there, madam, indeed you are,” he called out. “Pray take my advice and come down here, where you will find plenty of better food.” The goat turned a knowing eye upon him. “It’s little you care whether I get good grass or bad,” said she. “What you want is to eat me.” 177. THE SICK STAG  A stag fell sick and lay in a clearing in the forest, too weak to move from the spot. When the news of his illness spread, a number of the other beasts came to inquire after his health, and they one and all nibbled a little of the grass that grew round the invalid till at last there was not a blade within his reach. In a few days he began to mend, but was still too feeble to get up and go in search of fodder; and thus he perished miserably of hunger owin...
Read more

The Legend of Timun Mas (The Golden Cucumber)

Image
  The Legend of Timun Mas (The Golden Cucumber) Long ago, in a small village surrounded by dense forests and rice fields, there lived an old widow named Mbok Sirni. She had no children and often felt lonely. Every day, she prayed to the gods to bless her with a child. One day, while she was working in her garden, a mysterious giant appeared before her. The giant was enormous and intimidating, but he spoke in a deep, booming voice: "Mbok Sirni, I can grant your wish for a child. But in return, you must give the child back to me when she turns 17." Desperate for a child, Mbok Sirni agreed. The giant handed her a magical seed, instructing her to plant it. She buried the seed in her garden, and overnight, a large cucumber grew. Inside the cucumber, she found a beautiful baby girl. Overjoyed, she named her Timun Mas, meaning "Golden Cucumber." Timun Mas grew up to be a kind and hardworking girl, loved by everyone in the village. But as her 17th birthday approached, Mbok ...
Read more

The Story of Perseus and Medusa

Image
  The Story of Perseus and Medusa The Prophecy and Perseus's Birth King Acrisius of Argos received a prophecy from the Oracle of Delphi: his grandson would one day kill him. Terrified, he locked his daughter, Danaë , in a bronze chamber to prevent her from having children. However, Zeus, the king of the gods, fell in love with Danaë. Disguising himself as a golden shower of light, he entered the chamber and fathered a child, Perseus . When Acrisius discovered the baby, he was too afraid to kill him outright, fearing divine punishment. Instead, he placed Danaë and Perseus in a wooden chest and cast them into the sea. The chest drifted to the island of Seriphos , where they were rescued by a kind fisherman named Dictys , who raised Perseus as his own. The Quest for Medusa Years later, the king of Seriphos, Polydectes , desired Danaë and wanted to marry her. Perseus, protective of his mother, opposed the king. Polydectes devised a cunning plan to get rid of Perseus by challenging him ...
Read more