me.

came the next day, and finding his relations as backward as his neighbors, said to his son, "Now, George, listen to Get a couple of good sickles ready against to-morrow morning, for it seems we must reap the corn by ourselves." The Young Ones told this to their mother. 'Then, my dears," said she, "it is time for us to go indeed, for when a man undertakes to do his business himself, it is not so likely that he will be disappointed." She removed her Young Ones immediately, and the corn was reaped the next day by the old man and his son.

THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE

THE

'HE Hare, one day, laughing at the Tortoise for his slowness and general unwieldiness, was challenged by the latter to run a race. The Hare, looking on the whole affair as a great joke, consented, and the Fox was selected to act as umpire and hold the stakes. The rivals started, and the Hare, of course, soon left the Tortoise far behind. Having come midway to the goal, she began to play about, nibble the young herbage, and amuse herself in many ways. The day being warm, she even thought she would take a little nap in a shady spot, as, if the Tortoise should pass her while she slept, she could easily overtake him again before he reached the end. The Tortoise meanwhile plodded on, unwavering and unresting, straight toward the goal. The Hare, having over

1

slept herself, started up from her nap, and was surprised to find that the Tortoise was nowhere in sight. Off she went at full speed, but on reaching the winning-post found that the Tortoise was already there, waiting for

THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY

A

MOUSE

COUNTRY MOUSE, a plain, sensible sort of fellow, was once visited by a former companion of his who lived in a neighboring city. The Country Mouse put before his friend some fine peas, some choice bacon, and a bit of rare old Stilton, and called upon him to eat heartily of the good cheer. The City Mouse nibbled a little here and there in a dainty manner, wondering at the pleasure his host took in such coarse and ordinary fare. In the after-dinner chat the Town Mouse said to the Country Mouse: "Really, my good friend, that you can keep in such spirits in this dismal, deadand-alive kind of place surprises me altogether. You see here no life, no gayety-no society, in short-but go on and on, in a dull, humdrum sort of way, from one year's end to another. Come now with me, this very night, and see with your own eyes what a life I lead." The Country Mouse consented, and as soon as it fell dark, off they started for the city, where they arrived just as a splendid supper, given by the master of the house where our town friend lived, was over and the guests had departed. The City Mouse soon got together a heap of dainties on a corner of the handsome Turkey carpet. The Country Mouse, who had never even heard the names of half the meats set before him, was hesitating where he should begin, when the room-door creaked, opened, and in entered a servant with a light.

16

Vol. I

The companions ran off, but everything soon being quiet again, they returned to their repast, when once more the door opened, and the son of the master of the house came in with a great bounce, followed by his little Terrier, who ran sniffing to the very spot where our friends had just been. The City Mouse was by that time safe in his hole-which, by the way, he had not been thoughtful enough to show to his friend, who could find no better shelter than that afforded by a sofa, behind which he waited in fear and trembling till quiet

was again restored. The City Mouse then called upon him to resume his supper, but the Country Mouse said: "No, no; No, no; I shall be off as fast as I can. I would rather have a crust with peace and quietness than all your fine things in the midst of such alarm and frights as these."

"Better beans and bacon in peace, than cakes and ale in fear."

THE WOLVES AND THE SHEEP

THE Wolves and the Sheep once made a treaty of peace. The Sheep were to give up their Dogs, and the Wolves their young ones, as hostages or security for its due observance. The young Wolves cried for their dams, and the Wolves thereupon alleged that the peace had been broken, and set upon the Sheep, who, deprived of their defenders, the Dogs, could make no resistance.

THE FOX AND THE

A

GRAPES

HUNGRY Fox one day saw some tempting Grapes hanging at a good height from the ground. He made many attempts to reach them, but all in vain. Tired out by his failures, he walked off, grumbling to himself, "Nasty, sour things, I know you are, and not at all fit for a gentleman's eating."

"It is easy to despise what

you cannot get."