THE WOLF AND THE SHEEP

 


136. THE WOLF AND THE SHEEP  A wolf was worried and badly bitten by dogs, and lay a long time for dead. By and by he began to revive, and, feeling very hungry, called out to a passing sheep and said, “Would you kindly bring me some water from the stream close by? I can manage about meat, if only I could get something to drink.” But this sheep was no fool. “I can quite understand,” said he, “that if I brought you the water, you would have no difficulty about the meat. Good morning.”


137. THE TUNA FISH AND THE DOLPHIN  A tuna fish was chased by a dolphin and splashed through the water at a great rate, but the dolphin gradually gained upon him, and was just about to seize him when the force of his flight carried the tuna onto a sandbank. In the heat of the chase the dolphin followed him, and there they both lay out of the water, gasping for dear life. 6 When the tuna saw that his enemy was doomed like himself, he said, “I don’t mind having to die now, for I see that he who is the cause of my death is about to share the same fate.”


138. THE THREE TRADESMEN  The citizens of a certain city were debating about the best material to use in the fortifications which were about to be erected for the greater security of the town. A carpenter got up and advised the use of wood, which he said was readily procurable and easily worked. A stone mason objected to wood on the ground that it was so inflammable, and recommended stones instead. Then a tanner got on his legs and said, “In my opinion there’s nothing like leather.” Every man for himself.


139. THE MOUSE AND THE BULL  A bull gave chase to a mouse which had bitten him in the nose, but the mouse was too quick for him and slipped into a hole in a wall. The bull charged furiously into the wall again and again until he was tired out, and sank down on the ground exhausted with his efforts. When all was quiet, the mouse darted out and bit him again. Beside himself with rage, the bull started to his feet, but by that time the mouse was back in his hole again, and he could do nothing but bellow and fume in helpless anger. Presently he heard a shrill little voice say from inside the wall, “You big fellows don’t always have it your own way. You see, sometimes we little ones come off best.” The battle is not always to the strong.


140. THE HARE AND THE HOUND  A hound started a hare from her form, and pursued her for some distance; but as she gradually gained upon him, he gave up the chase. A rustic who had seen the race met the hound as he was returning, and taunted him with his defeat. “The little one was too much for you,” said he. “Ah, well,” said the hound, “don’t forget it’s one thing to be running for your dinner, but quite another to be running for your life.”

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