22. THE BIRDS, THE BEASTS, AND THE BAT
23. THE BEES, THE DRONES, AND THE WASP
24. THE WOODMAN AND HIS AXE
25. THE FOX WITH HIS TAIL CUT OFF
26. THE BLACKBIRD AND THE DOVE

RESULTS OF GREEDINESS

27. THE GREEDY DOG
28. THE GOOSE THAT LAID GOLD EGGS

DESIRABILITY OF CONTENTMENT

29. THE DONKEY AND HIS MASTERS
30. THE COBBLER AND THE RICH MAN

VALUE OF THINKING FOR ONESELF

31. THE ICE KING
32. THE WOLF, THE GOAT, AND THE KID
33. THE WISE GOAT
34. THE SHEPHERD AND THE DOGS
35. THE BOY AND THE NUTS
36. THE CROW AND THE PITCHER
37. THE GROCER AND HIS DONKEY
38. THE THREE FISH

WISDOM OF SELF-RELIANCE

39. THE WAGONER
40. THE LARK AND THE FARMER

KINDNESS AND ITS RESULTS

41. THE LION AND THE MOUSE
42. THE ANT AND THE DOVE
43. THE HAPPY FAMILY
44. THE TYRANT WHO BECAME A JUST RULER

MISCELLANEOUS

WISDOM OF PERSEVERANCE

45. THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE

FOLLY OF TRYING TO PLEASE EVERYBODY

46. THE MILLER, HIS SON, AND THEIR DONKEY

APPEARANCES SOMETIMES DECEITFUL

47. THE PUG DOG AND HIS SHADOW

PUNISHMENT OF TREACHERY

48. THE PARTRIDGE IN THE NET

GENTLENESS BETTER THAN HARSHNESS

49. THE NORTH WIND AND THE SUN

MEANNESS OF SELFISHNESS

50. THE CAMEL AND HIS MASTER

FIFTY FAMOUS FABLES

THE TORTOISE AND THE DUCKS

"Take me with you, please," called a tortoise to a gray duck and a
white duck that were flying over.

The ducks heard the tortoise and flew down toward him.

"Do you really wish to go with us?" asked the ducks as they came to the
ground near the tortoise.

"I surely do," replied the tortoise. "Will you please take me?"

"Why, yes, I think we can do so," said the white duck slowly.

The two ducks talked together in low tones for a few minutes. Then they
flew to the woods. They soon brought back a strong twig and dropped it
in front of the tortoise.

"Now," said the ducks, "if we take you off to see the world, you must
promise us one thing."

"What is that?" asked the tortoise. "I will promise almost anything if
you will let me go."

"You must promise not to say one word while you are in the air, NOT ONE
WORD," replied the ducks.

"All right, I promise," said the tortoise. "Sometimes I do not say a
word for a whole day because there is no one to listen to me."

"Well, take firm hold of the middle of the twig; we are ready to
start," said the gray duck.

"If you value your life, you mu