THE WOLF, THE MOTHER, AND HER CHILD


111. THE RICH MAN AND THE TANNER  A rich man took up his residence next door to a tanner, and found the smell of the tan yard so extremely unpleasant that he told him he must go. The tanner delayed his departure, and the rich man had to speak to him several times about it; and every time the tanner said he was making arrangements to move very shortly. This went on for some time, till at last the rich man got so used to the smell that he ceased to mind it, and troubled the tanner with his objections no more.


112. THE WOLF, THE MOTHER, AND HER CHILD  A hungry wolf was prowling about in search of food. By and by, attracted by the cries of a child, he came to a cottage. As he crouched beneath the window, he heard the mother say to the child, “Stop crying, do, or I’ll throw you to the wolf!” Thinking she really meant what she said, he waited there a long time in the expectation of satisfying his hunger. In the evening he heard the mother fondling her child and saying, “If the naughty wolf comes, he shan’t get my little one. Daddy will kill him.” The wolf got up in much disgust and walked away. “As for the people in that house,” said he to himself, “you can’t believe a word they say. ”


113. THE OLD WOMAN AND THE WINE JAR  An old woman picked up an empty wine jar which had once contained a rare and costly wine, and which still retained some traces of its exquisite bouquet. She raised it to her nose and sniffed at it again and again. “Ah,” she cried, “how delicious must have been the liquid which has left behind so ravishing a smell.”


114. THE LIONESS AND THE VIXEN  A lioness and a vixen were talking together about their young, as mothers will, and saying how healthy and well grown they were, and what beautiful coats they had, and how they were the image of their parents. “My litter of cubs is a joy to see,” said the fox. And then she added, rather maliciously, “But I notice you never have more than one.” “No,” said the lioness grimly, “but that one is a lion.” Quality, not quantity.


115. THE VIPER AND THE FILE  A viper entered a carpenter’s shop, and went from one to another of the tools, begging for something to eat. Among the . rest, he addressed himself to the file, and asked for the favor of a meal. The file replied in a tone of pitying contempt, “What a simpleton you must be if you imagine you will get anything from me, for I invariably take from everyone and never give anything in return.” The covetous are poor givers.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE PARROT AND THE CAT

Image
  241. THE WILY LION  A lion watched a fat bull feeding in a meadow, and his mouth watered when he thought of the royal feast he would make, but he did not dare to attack him, for he was afraid of his sharp horns. Hunger, however, presently compelled him to do something; and as the use of force did not promise success, he determined to resort to artifice. Going up to the bull in friendly fashion, he said to him, “I cannot help saying how much I admire your magnificent figure. What a fine head! What powerful shoulders and thighs! But, my dear friend, what in the world makes you wear those ugly horns? You must find them as awkward as they are unsightly. Believe me, you would do much better without them.” The bull was foolish enough to be persuaded by this flattery to have his horns cut off; and, having now lost his only means of defense, fell an easy prey to the lion. 242. THE PARROT AND THE CAT  A man once bought a parrot and gave it the run of his house. It reveled in its...
Read more

THE SHEPHERD’S BOY AND THE WOLF

Image
  46. THE SHEPHERD’S BOY AND THE WOLF   A shepherd’s boy was tending his flock near a village and thought it would be great fun to hoax the villagers by pretending that a wolf was attacking the sheep; so he shouted out, “Wolf! Wolf!” and when the people came running up he laughed at them for their pains. He did this more than once, and every time the villagers found they had been hoaxed, for there was no wolf at all. At last, a wolf really did come, and the boy cried, “Wolf! Wolf?” as loud as he could. But the people were so used to hearing him call that they took no notice of his cries for help. And so the wolf had it all his own way and killed off sheep after sheep at his leisure. You cannot believe a liar even when he tells the truth. 47. THE FOX AND THE GOAT  A fox fell into a well and was unable to get out again. By and by a thirsty Goat came by, and seeing the fox in the well asked him if the water was good. “Good?” said the fox. “It’s the best water I ever tas...
Read more

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