the cheat! Away
with the cheat!" They pulled out all the peacock feathers and many of
his own glossy black ones.

He was glad to get away alive, and flew back to his own family and old
friends. But one of the crows had seen him in the barnyard and told the
others how silly he had been acting.

"Where have you been?" they cried. "We know. We know. We will not have
you in this flock. Away! away!" And they drove him from them.

Even the owls, whom he had always hated, made eyes at him and screamed,
"Ch-ea-t! ch-ea-t!"

He flew into the forest. Here in a tree by a pond he lived a lonely
life.

The tree-toads learned their queer song from him. This is his warning
to them. "Don't, don't-be-cheat! Don't, don't-be-cheat!"

THE HORSE AND THE LOADED DONKEY

A man once owned a beautiful black horse and a very ugly donkey.

The horse always had plenty to eat and was well groomed, but the donkey
was very poorly cared for.

One bright morning both animals were made ready for a long journey. A
saddle was placed upon the horse, and a heavy pack of goods was loaded
upon the donkey.

The donkey was a very patient animal. When well, he never complained of
his hard lot, but this morning he staggered under the weight of his
load. After going a short distance, he looked up at the proud horse and
asked:

"Would you mind helping me to-day? I feel too ill to carry this heavy
load. If you will help me, I shall soon be well and able to carry the
whole load. If you refuse to help me, I shall surely fall by the way;
then you will have to bear the burden alone."

The horse held his head very high while the donkey was talking; then he
replied:

"Go on, you lazy beast! I am not a burden bearer. No, I will not take
one ounce of your load."

The donkey groaned and moved forward a few steps, then fell to the
ground dead.

The load was taken from the dead donkey's back and placed upon the
horse.

At the close of the day the horse reached the end of his journey. Every
bone in his body was aching, and he was so lame that he could hardly
walk.

THE LEAVES AND THE ROOTS

"We cast cool shade upon the green grass," whispered the fluttering
leaves. "We dress the tree in fresh and quiet green. It is bare and
brown without us. The tired traveler and the panting beast are thankful
for our shade. Children love to play under our shelter. At night the
song birds of the woods fly to us for our protection. We hide the nests
of