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 overslept 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 her arrival!

The Old Woman and the Doctor

An old Woman who had bad eyes called in a clever Doctor, who agreed for
a certain sum to cure them. He was a very clever physician, but he was
also a very great rogue; and when he called each day and bound up the
Old Woman's eyes he took advantage of her blindness to carry away with
him some article of her furniture. This went on until he pronounced
his patient cured and her room was nearly bare.

He claimed his reward, but the Old Woman protested that, so far from
being cured, her sight was worse than ever.

"We will soon see about that, my good dame," said he; and she was
shortly after summoned to appear in court.

"May it please Your Honour," said she to the Judge, "before I called in
this Doctor I could see a score of things in my room that now, when he
says I am cured, I cannot see at all."

This opened the eyes of the court to the knavery of the Doctor, who was
forced to give the Old Woman her property back again, and was not
allowed to claim a penny of his fee.

The Boy and the Wolf

A mischievous Lad, who was set to mind some Sheep, often used, in jest,
to cry "Wolf! Wolf!" and when the people at work in the neighbouring
fields came running to the spot he would laugh at them for their pains.

One day the beast came in reality, and the Boy, this time, called
"Wolf! Wolf!" in earnest; but the men, having been so often deceived,
disregarded his cries, and he and his Sheep were left at the mercy of
the Wolf.

The Blackamoor

A certain Man who had bought a Blackamoor said he was convinced that it
was all nonsense about black being the natural colour of his skin. "He
has been dirty in his habits," said he, "and neglected by his former
masters. Bring me some hot water, soap, an