wave soon upset him, and threw up his carcass on the
shore. The fox made a hearty breakfast on it, saying, "_The fool's ear
was made for the knave's tongue_."

* * * * *

THE BIRDS AND THE LIME

A fowler in the East once went to a wood, scattered some grain on the
ground, spread a net over it with some lime in it, and was watching
from a distance to see what luck would attend his efforts.

A great many birds assembled on the trees around the net, and said,
"What fine corn that is! We can seldom hope to get anything like it."

An owl that was close by said, "How nice that white thing in the net
is!"

"What is it?" said the birds.

"Why, it is our best friend in the world; it is lime. When it holds us
in its embrace, we can never hope to get away."

The birds left the place at once. Said the fowler, "_A clever bird
knows the lime_!"

* * * * *

THE RAVEN AND THE CATTLE

One evening, as some cattle were wending their way home, a raven rode
on the horns of a bull in the herd; and as he approached the cottage,
cried to the farmer, "Friend, my work for the day is over; you may now
take charge of your cattle."

"What was your work?" asked the farmer.

"Why," said the raven, "the arduous task of watching these cattle and
bringing them home."

"Am I to understand you have been doing all the work for me?" said the
farmer.

"Certainly," said the raven, and flew away with a laugh.

Quoth the farmer with surprise, "_How many there are that take credit
for things which they have never done_!"

* * * * *

TINSEL AND LIGHTNING

A piece of tinsel on a rock once said to a pebble, "You see how bright
I am! I am by birth related to the lightning."

"Indeed!" said the pebble; "then accept my humble respects."

Some time after, a flash of lightning struck the rock, and the tinsel
lost all its brilliancy by the scorching effects of the flash.

"Where is your brilliancy now?" said the pebble.

"Oh, it is gone to the skies," said the tinsel, "for I have lent it to
the lightning that came down a moment ago to borrow it of me."

"Dear me!" said the pebble; "_how many fibs doth good bragging need_!"

* * * * *

THE ASS AND THE WATCH-DOG

A watch-dog in a village was barking all night to keep thieves off
from his master's house. An ass, who observed this, thoug