a cock was busily scratching and scraping about to find something to eat for himself and his family, when he happened to turn up a precious jewel that had been lost by its owner.
"aha!" said the cock. "no doubt you are very costly and he who lost you would give a great deal to find you. but as for me, i would choose a single grain of barleycorn before all the jewels in the world."
precious things are without value to those who cannot prize them.
at a great celebration in honor of king lion, the monkey was asked to dance for the company. his dancing was very clever indeed, and the animals were all highly pleased with his grace and lightness.
the praise that was showered on the monkey made the camel envious. he was very sure that he could dance quite as well as the monkey, if not better, so he pushed his way into the crowd that was gathered around the monkey, and rising on his hind legs, began to dance. but the big hulking camel made himself very ridiculous as he kicked out his knotty legs and twisted his long clumsy neck. besides, the animals found it hard to keep their toes from under his heavy hoofs.
at last, when one of his huge feet came within an inch of king lion's nose, the animals were so disgusted that they set upon the camel in a rage and drove him out into the desert.
shortly afterward, refreshments, consisting mostly of camel's hump and ribs, were served to the company.
do not try to ape your betters.
a wild boar was sharpening his tusks busily against the stump of a tree, when a fox happened by. now the fox was always looking for a chance to make fun of his neighbors. so he made a great show of looking anxiously about, as if in fear of some hidden enemy. but the boar kept right on with his work.
"why are you doing that?" asked the fox at last with a grin. "there isn't any danger that i can see."
"true enough," replied the boar, "but when danger does come there will not be time for such work as this. my weapons will have to be ready for use then, or i shall suffer for it."
preparedness for war is the best guarantee of peace.
