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1、1. THE WOLF AND THE KIDThere was once a little Kid whose growing horns made him think he was a grown-up Billy Goat and able to take care of himself. So one evening when the flock started home from the pasture and his mother called, the Kid paid no heed and kept right on nibbling the tender grass. A

2、little later when he lifted his head, the flock was gone.He was all alone. The sun was sinking. Long shadows came creeping over the ground. A chilly little wind came creeping with them making scary noises in the grass. The Kid shivered as he thought of the terrible Wolf. Then he started wildly over

3、the field, bleating for his mother. But not half-way, near a clump of trees, there was the Wolf!The Kid knew there was little hope for him."Please, Mr. Wolf," he said trembling, "I know you are going to eat me. But first please pipe me a tune, for I want to dance and be merry as long

4、as I can."The Wolf liked the idea of a little music before eating, so he struck up a merry tune and the Kid leaped and frisked gaily.Meanwhile, the flock was moving slowly homeward. In the still evening air the Wolf's piping carried far. The Shepherd Dogs pricked up their ears. They recogni

5、zed the song the Wolf sings before a feast, and in a moment they were racing back to the pasture. The Wolf's song ended suddenly, and as he ran, with the Dogs at his heels, he called himself a fool for turning piper to please a Kid, when he should have stuck to his butcher's trade.Do not let

6、 anything turn you from your purpose.2. THE TORTOISE AND THE DUCKSThe Tortoise, you know, carries his house on his back. No matter how hard he tries, he cannot leave home. They say that Jupiter punished him so, because he was such a lazy stay-at-home that he would not go to Jupiter's wedding, ev

7、en when especially invited.After many years, Tortoise began to wish he had gone to that wedding. When he saw how gaily the birds flew about and how the Hare and the Chipmunk and all the other animals ran nimbly by, always eager to see everything there was to be seen, the Tortoise felt very sad and d

8、iscontented. He wanted to see the world too, and there he was with a house on his back and little short legs that could hardly drag him along.One day he met a pair of Ducks and told them all his trouble."We can help you to see the world," said the Ducks. "Take hold of this stick with

9、your teeth and we will carry you far up in the air where you can see the whole countryside. But keep quiet or you will be sorry."The Tortoise was very glad indeed. He seized the stick firmly with his teeth, the two Ducks took hold of it one at each end, and away they sailed up toward the clouds

10、.Just then a Crow flew by. He was very much astonished at the strange sight and cried:"This must surely be the King of Tortoises!""Why certainly" began the Tortoise.But as he opened his mouth to say these foolish words he lost his hold on the stick, and down he fell to the ground

11、, where he was dashed to pieces on a rock.Foolish curiosity and vanity often lead to misfortune.3. THE BOY AND THE FILBERTSA Boy was given permission to put his hand into a pitcher to get some filberts. But he took such a great fistful that he could not draw his hand out again. There he stood, unwil

12、ling to give up a single filbert and yet unable to get them all out at once. Vexed and disappointed he began to cry."My boy," said his mother, "be satisfied with half the nuts you have taken and you will easily get your hand out. Then perhaps you may have some more filberts some other

13、 time."Do not attempt too much at once.4. THE YOUNG CRAB AND HIS MOTHER"Why in the world do you walk sideways like that?" said a Mother Crab to her son. "You should always walk straight forward with your toes turned out.""Show me how to walk, mother dear," answered

14、 the little Crab obediently, "I want to learn."So the old Crab tried and tried to walk straight forward. But she could walk sideways only, like her son. And when she wanted to turn her toes out she tripped and fell on her nose.Do not tell others how to act unless you can set a good example

15、.5. THE FROGS AND THE OXAn Ox came down to a reedy pool to drink. As he splashed heavily into the water, he crushed a young Frog into the mud. The old Frog soon missed the little one and asked his brothers and sisters what had become of him."A great big monster," said one of them, "st

16、epped on little brother with one of his huge feet!""Big, was he!" said the old Frog, puffing herself up. "Was he as big as this?""Oh, much bigger!" they cried.The Frog puffed up still more."He could not have been bigger than this," she said. But the littl

17、e Frogs all declared that the monster was much, much bigger and the old Frog kept puffing herself out more and more until, all at once, she burst.Do not attempt the impossible.6. THE DOG, THE COCK, AND THE FOXA Dog and a Cock, who were the best of friends, wished very much to see something of the wo

18、rld. So they decided to leave the farmyard and to set out into the world along the road that led to the woods. The two comrades traveled along in the very best of spirits and without meeting any adventure to speak of.At nightfall the Cock, looking for a place to roost, as was his custom, spied nearb

19、y a hollow tree that he thought would do very nicely for a night's lodging. The Dog could creep inside and the Cock would fly up on one of the branches. So said, so done, and both slept very comfortably.With the first glimmer of dawn the Cock awoke. For the moment he forgot just where he was. He

20、 thought he was still in the farmyard where it had been his duty to arouse the household at daybreak. So standing on tip-toes he flapped his wings and crowed lustily. But instead of awakening the farmer, he awakened a Fox not far off in the wood. The Fox immediately had rosy visions of a very delici

21、ous breakfast. Hurrying to the tree where the Cock was roosting, he said very politely:"A hearty welcome to our woods, honored sir. I cannot tell you how glad I am to see you here. I am quite sure we shall become the closest of friends.""I feel highly flattered, kind sir," replie

22、d the Cock slyly. "If you will please go around to the door of my house at the foot of the tree, my porter will let you in."The hungry but unsuspecting Fox, went around the tree as he was told, and in a twinkling the Dog had seized him.Those who try to deceive may expect to be paid in thei

23、r own coin.7. BELLING THE CATThe Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves of their enemy, the Cat. At least they wished to find some way of knowing when she was coming, so they might have time to run away. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in such constant fea

24、r of her claws that they hardly dared stir from their dens by night or day.Many plans were discussed, but none of them was thought good enough. At last a very young Mouse got up and said:"I have a plan that seems very simple, but I know it will be successful. All we have to do is to hang a bell

25、 about the Cat's neck. When we hear the bell ringing we will know immediately that our enemy is coming."All the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said:"I will say t

26、hat the plan of the young Mouse is very good. But let me ask one question: Who will bell the Cat?"It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it.8. THE EAGLE AND THE JACKDAWAn Eagle, swooping down on powerful wings, seized a lamb in her talons and ma

27、de off with it to her nest. A Jackdaw saw the deed, and his silly head was filled with the idea that he was big and strong enough to do as the Eagle had done. So with much rustling of feathers and a fierce air, he came down swiftly on the back of a large Ram. But when he tried to rise again he found

28、 that he could not get away, for his claws were tangled in the wool. And so far was he from carrying away the Ram, that the Ram hardly noticed he was there.The Shepherd saw the fluttering Jackdaw and at once guessed what had happened. Running up, he caught the bird and clipped its wings. That evenin

29、g he gave the Jackdaw to his children."What a funny bird this is!" they said laughing, "what do you call it, father?""That is a Jackdaw, my children. But if you should ask him, he would say he is an Eagle."Do not let your vanity make you overestimate your powers.9. HERC

30、ULES AND THE WAGONERA Farmer was driving his wagon along a miry country road after a heavy rain. The horses could hardly drag the load through the deep mud, and at last came to a standstill when one of the wheels sank to the hub in a rut.The farmer climbed down from his seat and stood beside the wag

31、on looking at it but without making the least effort to get it out of the rut. All he did was to curse his bad luck and call loudly on Hercules to come to his aid. Then, it is said, Hercules really did appear, saying:"Put your shoulder to the wheel, man, and urge on your horses. Do you think yo

32、u can move the wagon by simply looking at it and whining about it? Hercules will not help unless you make some effort to help yourself."And when the farmer put his shoulder to the wheel and urged on the horses, the wagon moved very readily, and soon the Farmer was riding along in great content

33、and with a good lesson learned.Self help is the best help.Heaven helps those who help themselves.10. THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSEA Town Mouse once visited a relative who lived in the country. For lunch the Country Mouse served wheat stalks, roots, and acorns, with a dash of cold water for dr

34、ink. The Town Mouse ate very sparingly, nibbling a little of this and a little of that, and by her manner making it very plain that she ate the simple food only to be polite.After the meal the friends had a long talk, or rather the Town Mouse talked about her life in the city while the Country Mouse

35、 listened. They then went to bed in a cozy nest in the hedgerow and slept in quiet and comfort until morning. In her sleep the Country Mouse dreamed she was a Town Mouse with all the luxuries and delights of city life that her friend had described for her. So the next day when the Town Mouse asked t

36、he Country Mouse to go home with her to the city, she gladly said yes.When they reached the mansion in which the Town Mouse lived, they found on the table in the dining room the leavings of a very fine banquet. There were sweetmeats and jellies, pastries, delicious cheeses, indeed, the most tempting

37、 foods that a Mouse can imagine. But just as the Country Mouse was about to nibble a dainty bit of pastry, she heard a Cat mew loudly and scratch at the door. In great fear the Mice scurried to a hiding place, where they lay quite still for a long time, hardly daring to breathe. When at last they ve

38、ntured back to the feast, the door opened suddenly and in came the servants to clear the table, followed by the House Dog.The Country Mouse stopped in the Town Mouse's den only long enough to pick up her carpet bag and umbrella."You may have luxuries and dainties that I have not," she

39、said as she hurried away, "but I prefer my plain food and simple life in the country with the peace and security that go with it."Poverty with security is better than plenty in the midst of fear and uncertainty.11. THE OXEN AND THE WHEELSA pair of Oxen were drawing a heavily loaded wagon a

40、long a miry country road. They had to use all their strength to pull the wagon, but they did not complain.The Wheels of the wagon were of a different sort. Though the task they had to do was very light compared with that of the Oxen, they creaked and groaned at every turn. The poor Oxen, pulling wit

41、h all their might to draw the wagon through the deep mud, had their ears filled with the loud complaining of the Wheels. And this, you may well know, made their work so much the harder to endure."Silence!" the Oxen cried at last, out of patience. "What have you Wheels to complain abou

42、t so loudly? We are drawing all the weight, not you, and we are keeping still about it besides."They complain most who suffer least.12. THE KID AND THE WOLFA frisky young Kid had been left by the herdsman on the thatched roof of a sheep shelter to keep him out of harm's way. The Kid was bro

43、wsing near the edge of the roof, when he spied a Wolf and began to jeer at him, making faces and abusing him to his heart's content."I hear you," said the Wolf, "and I haven't the least grudge against you for what you say or do. When you are up there it is the roof that's

44、talking, not you."Do not say anything at any time that you would not say at all times.13. THE FOX AND THE GRAPESA Fox one day spied a beautiful bunch of ripe grapes hanging from a vine trained along the branches of a tree. The grapes seemed ready to burst with juice, and the Fox's mouth wat

45、ered as he gazed longingly at them.The bunch hung from a high branch, and the Fox had to jump for it. The first time he jumped he missed it by a long way. So he walked off a short distance and took a running leap at it, only to fall short once more. Again and again he tried, but in vain.Now he sat d

46、own and looked at the grapes in disgust."What a fool I am," he said. "Here I am wearing myself out to get a bunch of sour grapes that are not worth gaping for."And off he walked very, very scornfully.There are many who pretend to despise and belittle that which is beyond their re

47、ach.14. THE WOLF AND THE CRANEA Wolf had been feasting too greedily, and a bone had stuck crosswise in his throat. He could get it neither up nor down, and of course he could not eat a thing. Naturally that was an awful state of affairs for a greedy Wolf.So away he hurried to the Crane. He was sure

48、that she, with her long neck and bill, would easily be able to reach the bone and pull it out."I will reward you very handsomely," said the Wolf, "if you pull that bone out for me."The Crane, as you can imagine, was very uneasy about putting her head in a Wolf's throat. But s

49、he was grasping in nature, so she did what the Wolf asked her to do.When the Wolf felt that the bone was gone, he started to walk away."But what about my reward!" called the Crane anxiously."What!" snarled the Wolf, whirling around. "Haven't you got it? Isn't it enou

50、gh that I let you take your head out of my mouth without snapping it off?"Expect no reward for serving the wicked.15. THE ASS AND HIS DRIVERAn Ass was being driven along a road leading down the mountain side, when he suddenly took it into his silly head to choose his own path. He could see his

51、stall at the foot of the mountain, and to him the quickest way down seemed to be over the edge of the nearest cliff. Just as he was about to leap over, his master caught him by the tail and tried to pull him back, but the stubborn Ass would not yield and pulled with all his might."Very well,&qu

52、ot; said his master, "go your way, you willful beast, and see where it leads you."With that he let go, and the foolish Ass tumbled head over heels down the mountain side.They who will not listen to reason but stubbornly go their own way against the friendly advice of those who are wiser th

53、an they, are on the road to misfortune.16. THE GNAT AND THE BULLA Gnat flew over the meadow with much buzzing for so small a creature and settled on the tip of one of the horns of a Bull. After he had rested a short time, he made ready to fly away. But before he left he begged the Bull's pardon

54、for having used his horn for a resting place."You must be very glad to have me go now," he said."It's all the same to me," replied the Bull. "I did not even know you were there."We are often of greater importance in our own eyes than in the eyes of our neighbor.The

55、smaller the mind the greater the conceit.17. THE LION AND THE MOUSE A Lion lay asleep in the forest, his great head resting on his paws. A timid little Mouse came upon him unexpectedly, and in her fright and haste to get away, ran across the Lion's nose. Roused from his nap, the Lion laid h

56、is huge paw angrily on the tiny creature to kill her."Spare me!" begged the poor Mouse. "Please let me go and some day I will surely repay you."The Lion was much amused to think that a Mouse could ever help him. But he was generous and finally let the Mouse go.Some days later, wh

57、ile stalking his prey in the forest, the Lion was caught in the toils of a hunter's net. Unable to free himself, he filled the forest with his angry roaring. The Mouse knew the voice and quickly found the Lion struggling in the net. Running to one of the great ropes that bound him, she gnawed it

58、 until it parted, and soon the Lion was free."You laughed when I said I would repay you," said the Mouse. "Now you see that even a Mouse can help a Lion."A kindness is never wasted.18. THE SHEPHERD BOY AND THE WOLFA Shepherd Boy tended his master's Sheep near a dark forest no

59、t far from the village. Soon he found life in the pasture very dull. All he could do to amuse himself was to talk to his dog or play on his shepherd's pipe.One day as he sat watching the Sheep and the quiet forest, and thinking what he would do should he see a Wolf, he thought of a plan to amuse

60、 himself.His Master had told him to call for help should a Wolf attack the flock, and the Villagers would drive it away. So now, though he had not seen anything that even looked like a Wolf, he ran toward the village shouting at the top of his voice, "Wolf! Wolf!"As he expected, the Villag

61、ers who heard the cry dropped their work and ran in great excitement to the pasture. But when they got there they found the Boy doubled up with laughter at the trick he had played on them.A few days later the Shepherd Boy again shouted, "Wolf! Wolf!" Again the Villagers ran to help him, on