Part 9 (2/2)

The a.s.s then cried out in astonishment, ”Why, I saw the monkey do this very thing yesterday, and you all laughed heartily, as if it afforded you great amus.e.m.e.nt!”

The Boys and the Frogs

Some idle boys, playing near a pond, saw a number of Frogs in the water, and began to pelt them with stones. They had killed several of them, when one of the Frogs, lifting his head out of the water, cried out: ”Pray stop, my Boys: you forget that what is sport to you is death to us!”

The Camel and His Master

One night a Camel looked into the tent where his Master was lying and said: ”Kind Master, will you not let me put my head inside of the door?

The wind blows very cold to-night.”

”Oh, yes,” said the Man. ”There is plenty of room.”

So the Camel moved forward and stretched his head into the tent. ”Ah!”

he said, ”this is what I call comfort.”

In a little while he called to his Master again. ”Now if I could only warm my neck also,” he said.

”Then put your neck inside,” said his Master, kindly. ”You will not be in my way.”

The Camel did so, and for a time was very well contented. Then, looking around, he said: ”If I could only put my forelegs inside I should feel a great deal better.”

His Master moved a little and said: ”You may put your forelegs and shoulders inside, for I know that the wind blows cold to-night.”

The Camel had hardly planted his forefeet within the tent when he spoke again:

”Master,” he said, ”I keep the tent open by standing here. I think I ought to go wholly within.”

”Yes, come in,” said the Man. ”There is hardly room for us both, but I do not want to keep you out in the cold.”

So the Camel crowded into the tent, but he was no sooner inside than he said: ”You were right when you said that there was hardly room for us both. I think it would be better for you to stand outside and so give me a chance to turn around and lie down.”

Then, without more ado, he rudely pushed the Man out at the door, and took the whole tent for himself.

The Flies and the Honey-pot

A jar of Honey having been upset in a housekeeper's room, a number of Flies were attracted by its sweetness, and placing their feet in it ate it greedily.

Their feet, however, became so smeared with the Honey that they could not use their wings, nor release themselves, and so were suffocated.

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