there was
plenty of hay. It happened one day that a Horse, a Cow, a Sheep, and a
Goat came one by one and wanted to eat the hay. The Dog growled at
them and would not let them have so much as a mouthful. Then an Ox
came and looked in, but the Dog growled at him also.

"You selfish fellow," said the Ox; "you cannot eat the hay. Why do you
want to keep it all to yourself?"

The Old Man and His Sons

An old Man had many Sons, who were always falling out with one another.
He had often exhorted them to live together in harmony, but without
result.

One day he called them around him and, producing a bundle of sticks,
bade them each in turn to break it across. Each put forth all his
strength, but the bundle still resisted their efforts.

Then, cutting the cord which bound the sticks together, he told his
Sons to break them separately. This was done with the greatest ease.

"See, my Sons," exclaimed he, "the power of unity! Bound together by
brotherly love, you may defy almost every mortal ill; divided, you will
fall a prey to your enemies."

Hercules and the Wagoner

As a Wagoner was driving his wain through a miry lane, the wheels stuck
fast in the clay and the Horses could get on no farther. The Man
immediately dropped on his knees and began crying and praying with all
his might to Hercules to come and help him.

"Lazy fellow!" cried Hercules, "get up and stir yourself. Whip your
Horses stoutly, and put your shoulder to the wheel. If you want my
help then, you shall have it."

The Goose with the Golden Eggs

One day a poor countryman going to the nest of his Goose found there a
golden egg all yellow and glittering. When he took it up it felt as
heavy as lead and he was minded to throw it away, because he thought a
trick had been played on him.

On second thoughts, he took it home, however, and soon found to his
delight that it was an egg of pure gold. Every morning the same thing
occurred, and he soon became prosperous by selling his eggs.

As he grew rich he grew greedy; and thinking to get at once all the
gold the Goose could give, he killed it and opened it only to
find--nothing!

The Frogs Desiring a King

The Frogs, living an easy, free sort of life among the lakes and ponds,
once prayed Jupiter to send them a King.

Jove, being at that time in a merry mood, threw them a Log, saying, as
he did so, "There, then, is a King for you."

Awed by the splash, the Frogs watched