of
fish.

The fox jumped upon the wagon while the men were not looking.

He threw off some of the best fish until he had enough for his dinner.

Then Mr. Fox jumped from the wagon and began to eat the fish.

While he was eating the fish, Mr. Bear came along.

"Good morning," said Mr. Bear, "you have had good luck fishing to-day.
Those are very fine fish. How did you catch them?"

"They are fine fish," said Mr. Fox.

"If you will go fishing with me to-night, I will show you how to catch
even better fish than these."

"I will go with you gladly," said the bear. "I will bring my hook and
line too."

"You don't need a hook and line," said the fox.

"I always catch fish with my tail. You have a much longer tail than I,
and can fish so much the better."

At sunset the bear met the fox.

They went across the frozen river until they came to a small hole in
the ice.

"Now, Mr. Bear," said the fox, "sit down here on the ice and put your
tail through the hole. You must keep still for a long while. That is the
best way to catch fish.

Wait until a great many fish take hold of your tail. Then pull with all
your might."

The bear sat very still for a long time.

At last he began to feel cold and he moved a little.

"Ow!" he cried, for his tail had begun freeze in the ice.

"Is it not time to pull out the fish?" said the bear.

"No, no," cried the fox.

"Wait until more fish have taken hold of your tail. You are very strong.
You can wait a little longer."

So the poor bear waited until it was almost morning.

[Illustration]

Just then some dogs began to bark on the bank of the river.

The bear was so afraid that he jumped up quickly and pulled with all his
might, but his tail was frozen fast in the ice.

He pulled and pulled until at length the tail was broken short off.

Mr. Fox ran away laughing and laughing at the trick he had played upon
Mr. Bear.

Bears' tails have been short ever since.

_German Folk Tale_

[Illustration]

RUMPELSTILTSKIN--I

glistened guess mourn chamber

Once upon a time there lived a miller who had a beautiful daughter.

Now the miller had to visit the king's castle and, while there, he
happened to meet the king face to face.

The king stopped and spoke to the miller. The miller, wishing the king
to think that he was very rich, told him that he had a daughter who
could spin straw into gold.

"Ah," said the king, "that is indeed a wonderful gift. To-mo