g.

[Illustration]

A Rat in an evil day made acquaintance with a Frog, and they set off on
their travels together. The Frog, on pretense of great affection, and of
keeping his companion out of harm's way, tied the Rat's foot to his own
hind-leg, and thus they proceeded for some distance by land. Presently
they came to some water, and the Frog, bidding the Rat have good
courage, began to swim across. They had scarcely, however, arrived
midway, when the Frog took a sudden plunge to the bottom, dragging the
unfortunate Rat after him. But the struggling and floundering of the Rat
made so great a commotion in the water that it attracted the attention
of a Kite, who, pouncing down and bearing off the Rat, carried away the
Frog at the same time in his train.

Inconsiderate and ill-matched alliances generally end in ruin; and the
man who compasses the destruction of his neighbor, is often caught in
his own snare.

The Widow and the Sheep.

There was a certain Widow who had an only Sheep, and, wishing to make
the most of his wool, she sheared him so closely that she cut his skin
as well as his fleece. The Sheep, smarting under this treatment, cried
out: "Why do you torture me thus? What will my blood add to the weight
of the wool? If you want my flesh, Dame, send for the Butcher, who will
put me out of my misery at once; but if you want my fleece, send for the
Shearer, who will clip my wool without drawing my blood."

Economy may be carried too far.

The Man Bitten by a Dog.

A Man who had been bitten by a Dog was going about asking who could cure
him. One that met him said: "Sir, if you would be cured, take a bit of
bread and dip it in the blood of the wound, and give it to the dog that
bit you." The Man smiled, and said: "If I were to follow your advice, I
should be bitten by all the dogs in the city."

He who proclaims himself ready to buy up his enemies will never want a
supply of them.

The Horse and the Wolf.

[Illustration]

A Wolf saw a Horse grazing in a field. Putting on a grave air, he
approached him and said: "Sir, you must be very ill; I have some skill
as a physician, and if you will tell me where your ailment is, I shall
be glad to be of service." Said the horse: "If you will examine my foot,
you will find what ails me." But as the wily Wolf approached him, with a
kick he sent him flying into the air.

The Goatherd and the Goats.

It was a stormy day, and the s