Part 1 (2/2)

THE YOUNG CRAB AND HIS MOTHER

”Why in the world do you walk sideways like that?” said a Mother Crab to her son. ”You should always walk straight forward with your toes turned out.”

”Show me how to walk, mother dear,” answered the little Crab obediently, ”I want to learn.”

So the old Crab tried and _tried_ to walk straight forward. But she could walk sideways only, like her son. And when she wanted to turn her toes out she tripped and fell on her nose.

_Do not tell others how to act unless you can set a good example._

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

THE FROGS AND THE OX

An Ox came down to a reedy pool to drink. As he splashed heavily into the water, he crushed a young Frog into the mud. The old Frog soon missed the little one and asked his brothers and sisters what had become of him.

”A _great big_ monster,” said one of them, ”stepped on little brother with one of his huge feet!”

”Big, was he!” said the old Frog, puffing herself up. ”Was he as big as this?”

”Oh, _much_ bigger!” they cried.

The Frog puffed up still more.

”He could not have been bigger than this,” she said. But the little Frogs all declared that the monster was _much, much_ bigger and the old Frog kept puffing herself out more and more until, all at once, she burst.

_Do not attempt the impossible._

[Ill.u.s.tration:]

THE DOG, THE c.o.c.k, AND THE FOX

A Dog and a c.o.c.k, who were the best of friends, wished very much to see something of the world. So they decided to leave the farmyard and to set out into the world along the road that led to the woods. The two comrades traveled along in the very best of spirits and without meeting any adventure to speak of.

At nightfall the c.o.c.k, looking for a place to roost, as was his custom, spied nearby a hollow tree that he thought would do very nicely for a night's lodging. The Dog could creep inside and the c.o.c.k would fly up on one of the branches. So said, so done, and both slept very comfortably.

With the first glimmer of dawn the c.o.c.k awoke. For the moment he forgot just where he was. He thought he was still in the farmyard where it had been his duty to arouse the household at daybreak.

<script>