a fox was caught in a trap one fine morning, because he had got too near the farmer's hen house. no doubt he was hungry, but that was not an excuse for stealing. a cock, rising early, discovered what had happened. he knew the fox could not get at him, so he went a little closer to get a good look at his enemy.
the fox saw a slender chance of escape.
"dear friend," he said, "i was just on my way to visit a sick relative, when i stumbled into this string and got all tangled up. but please do not tell anybody about it. i dislike causing sorrow to anybody, and i am sure i can soon gnaw this string to pieces."
but the cock was not to be so easily fooled. he soon roused the whole hen yard, and when the farmer came running out, that was the end of mr. fox.
the wicked deserve no aid.
an ass found a lion's skin left in the forest by a hunter. he dressed himself in it, and amused himself by hiding in a thicket and rushing out suddenly at the animals who passed that way. all took to their heels the moment they saw him.
the ass was so pleased to see the animals running away from him, just as if he were king lion himself, that he could not keep from expressing his delight by a loud, harsh bray. a fox, who ran with the rest, stopped short as soon as he heard the voice. approaching the ass, he said with a laugh:
"if you had kept your mouth shut you might have frightened me, too. but you gave yourself away with that silly bray."
a fool may deceive by his dress and appearance, but his words will soon show what he really is.
a poor fisherman, who lived on the fish he caught, had bad luck one day and caught nothing but a very small fry. the fisherman was about to put it in his basket when the little fish said:
"please spare me, mr. fisherman! i am so small it is not worth while to carry me home. when i am bigger, i shall make you a much better meal."
but the fisherman quickly put the fish into his basket.
"how foolish i should be," he said, "to throw you back. however small you may be, you are better than nothing at all."
a small gain is worth more than a large promise.
once there were two cocks living in the same farmyard who could not bear the sight of each other. at last one day they flew up to fight it out, beak and claw. they fought until one of them was beaten and crawled off to a corner to hide.
the cock that had won the battle flew to the top of the hen-house, and, proudly flapping his wings, crowed with all his might to tell the world about his victory. but an eagle, circling overhead, heard the boasting chanticleer and, swooping down, carried him off to his nest.
his rival saw the deed, and coming out of his corner, took his place as master of the farmyard.
pride goes before a fall.
the end
