A Bull was striving with all his might to squeeze himself through a narrow passage which led to his stall. A young Calf came up, and offered to go before and show him the way by which he could manage to pass. “Save yourself the trouble,” said the Bull; “I knew that way long before you were born.”
Long ago the mice held a council to consider what measures they could take to outwit their common enemy., the cat. Many plans were discussed and rejected when, at last , a young mouse stood up and said, “I think I have a plan that will ensure our safety. You will all agree that the chief danger is the sly, quiet manner in which the cat approaches us. I therefore propose that a small bell be attached around the cat’s neck. This way we will always know when the cat is approaching.” This plan was warmly applauded, until a wise old mouse stood up and said, “I agree with everyone that the plan is very clever, but who is going to put the bell on the cat?
Moral: It is easy to propose the impossible solutions.
A Bee from Mount Hymettus, the queen of the hive, ascended to Olympus to present Jupiter some honey fresh from her combs. Jupiter, delighted with the offering of honey, promised to give whatever she should ask. She therefore besought him, saying, “Give me, I pray thee, a sting, that if any mortal shall approach to take my honey, I may kill him.” Jupiter was much displeased, for he loved the race of man, but could not refuse the request because of his promise. He thus answered the Bee: “You shall have your request, but it will be at the peril of your own life. For if you use your sting, it shall remain in the wound you make, and then you will die from the loss of it.” Evil wishes, like chickens, come home to roost.
On very warm summer, the animals learned that the sun was going to get married. All the birds and the beasts were delighted to hear the news. The frogs, more that anyone else, were determined to celebrate the occasion with a festival of singing and dancing. But a wise old frog put a stop to the festivities by pointing out that it was an occasion for sorrow, rather than for joy. “If the sun dries up our beloved marshes now, ” said the frog, “what will happen when he has children?”
Moral: It is possible to have too much of a good thing.
A Bear boasted very much of his philanthropy, saying that of all animals he was the most tender in his regard for man, for he had such respect for him that he would not even touch his dead body. A Fox hearing these words said with a smile to the Bear, “Oh! that you would eat the dead and not the living.”
A mighty Lion was sleeping in his lair when he was awakened by a tiny Mouse running across his body. The Lion grabbed the frightened creature with his huge paws and opened his mouth to swallow him. “Please, O King,” cried the Mouse, “spare me this time and I shall never forget your kindness. Someday I may be able to repay you.” The Lion was so amused by this idea that he let the poor creature go.
Sometime later the Lion was caught in a net laid by some clever hunters. Despite his great strength, the Lion could not break free. Soon the forest echoed with angry roars.
The little Mouse heard the Lion and ran to see what was wrong. As soon as he saw Lion, he began to gnaw away the ropes, and before long he set the Lion free. “There!” said the Mouse proudly, “You laughed at me when I promised to repay your kindness, but now you know that even a tiny Mouse can help a mighty Lion.”
Moral: Little friends may prove to be great friends.
A great conflict was about to come off between the Birds and the Beasts. When the two armies were collected together the Bat hesitated which to join. The Birds that passed his perch said: “Come with us”; but he said: “I am a Beast.” Later on, some Beasts who were passing underneath him looked up and said: “Come with us”; but he said: “I am a Bird.” Luckily at the last moment peace was made, and no battle took place, so the Bat came to the Birds and wished to join in the rejoicing, but they all turned against him and he had to fly away. He then went to the Beasts, but soon had to beat a retreat, or else they would have torn him to pieces. “Ah,” said the Bat, “I see now, “He that is neither one thing nor the other has no friends.”
One day a quick footed Hare was making fun of a slow moving Tortoise. Much to Hare’s surprise, the Tortoise began to laugh. “I challenge you to a race” said the Tortoise, ” and I bet that I will win.” “Very well,” said the hare, “I will dance dings around you all the way.” It was soon agreed that the fox would set the course and be the judge. The race began and the Hare ran so quickly that he soon left the Tortoise for behind. Once he reached the middle of the course, the Hare decided to take a nap. While the hare slept, the Tortoise plodded on and on, straight toward the finish line. When the Hare awoke from his nap, he was surprised that the Tortoise was nowhere in sight. Racing to the finish line as fast as he could, the Hare was shocked to find the Tortoise waiting for him with a smile on his face.
Moral: Slow and steady wins the race.
A Bald Knight, who wore a wig, went out to hunt. A sudden puff of wind blew off his hat and wig, at which a loud laugh rang forth from his companions. He pulled up his horse, and with great glee joined in the joke by saying, “What a marvel it is that hairs which are not mine should fly from me, when they have forsaken even the man on whose head they grew.”
Moral: Thy pride is but the prologue of thy shame.
One hot summer’s day a Fox was strolling through an orchard, when he saw a bunch of ripe grapes hanging on a vine trained over a lofty branch. “Just the thing to quench my thirst,” said the Fox. Stepping back a few paces, the Fox jumped high in the air, but just missed the grapes. Turning around he jumped up with all his strength, but once again missed. Again and again he tried to reach the luscious grapes. Finally, he became so hot and so tired that he gave up. Walking away with his nose in the air, the Fox said, “I don’t want those grapes, I am sure they are sour.”
Moral: It is easy to despise what you cannot obtain.