A Wolf had been prowling around a flock of Sheep for a long time,
and the Shepherd watched very anxiously to prevent him from
carrying off a Lamb. But the Wolf did not try to do any harm.
Instead he seemed to be helping the Shepherd take care of the
Sheep. At last the Shepherd got so used to seeing the Wolf about
that he forgot how wicked he could be.
One day he even went so far as to leave his flock in the Wolf's care
while he went on an errand. But when he came back and saw how
many of the flock had been killed and carried off, he knew how
foolish to trust a Wolf as he exclaimed. “I have been rightly
served; why did I trust my sheep to a Wolf?”
No disguise will hide one's true character.
An Ass found a Lion's skin left in the forest by a hunter. He
dressed himself in it, and amused himself by hiding in a
thicket and rushing out suddenly at the animals who passed
that way. All took to their heels the moment they saw him.
The Ass was so pleased to see the animals running away from
him, just as if he were King Lion himself, that he could not
keep from expressing his delight by a loud, harsh bray. A
Fox, who ran with the rest, stopped short as soon as he heard
the voice. Approaching the Ass, he said with a laugh:
"If you had kept your mouth shut you might have frightened
me, too. But you gave yourself away with that silly bray."
A fool may deceive by his dress and appearance, but his words
will soon show what he really is.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Self-help is the best help.
A Lark made her nest in a field of young wheat. As the days
passed, the wheat stalks grew tall and the young birds, too, grew
in strength. Then one day, when the ripe golden grain waved in
the breeze, the Farmer and his son came into the field.
"This wheat is now ready for reaping," said the Farmer. "We
must call in our neighbors and friends to help us harvest it."
The young Larks in their nest close by were much frightened,
for they knew they would be in great danger if they did not leave
the nest before the reapers came. When the Mother Lark
returned with food for them, they told her what they had heard.
"Do not be frightened, children," said the Mother Lark. "If the
Farmer said he would call in his neighbors and friends to help
him do his work, this wheat will not be reaped for a while yet."
A few days later, the wheat was so ripe, that when the wind
shook the stalks, a hail of wheat grains came rustling down on
the young Larks' heads.
"If this wheat is not harvested at once," said the Farmer, "we
shall lose half the crop. We cannot wait any longer for help
from our friends. Tomorrow we must set to work, ourselves."
When the young Larks told their mother what they had heard
that day, she said:
"Then we must be off at once. When a man decides to do his
own work and not depend on any one else, then you may be
sure there will be no more delay."
There was much fluttering and trying out of wings that
afternoon, and at sunrise next day, when the Farmer and his
son cut down the grain, they found an empty nest.
Procrastination is the thief of time.
passed, the wheat stalks grew tall and the young birds, too, grew
in strength. Then one day, when the ripe golden grain waved in
the breeze, the Farmer and his son came into the field.
"This wheat is now ready for reaping," said the Farmer. "We
must call in our neighbors and friends to help us harvest it."
The young Larks in their nest close by were much frightened,
for they knew they would be in great danger if they did not leave
the nest before the reapers came. When the Mother Lark
returned with food for them, they told her what they had heard.
"Do not be frightened, children," said the Mother Lark. "If the
Farmer said he would call in his neighbors and friends to help
him do his work, this wheat will not be reaped for a while yet."
A few days later, the wheat was so ripe, that when the wind
shook the stalks, a hail of wheat grains came rustling down on
the young Larks' heads.
"If this wheat is not harvested at once," said the Farmer, "we
shall lose half the crop. We cannot wait any longer for help
from our friends. Tomorrow we must set to work, ourselves."
When the young Larks told their mother what they had heard
that day, she said:
"Then we must be off at once. When a man decides to do his
own work and not depend on any one else, then you may be
sure there will be no more delay."
There was much fluttering and trying out of wings that
afternoon, and at sunrise next day, when the Farmer and his
son cut down the grain, they found an empty nest.
Procrastination is the thief of time.
Counter old tricks with new ones.
A Merchant, driving his Donkey homeward from the seashore
with a heavy load of salt, came to a river crossed by a shallow
ford. They had crossed this river many times before without
accident, but this time the Donkey slipped and fell when halfway
over. And when the Merchant at last got him to his feet, much
of the salt had melted away. Delighted to find how much lighter
his burden had become, the Donkey finished the journey very
happily.
Next day the Merchant went for another load of salt. On the way
home the Donkey, remembering what had happened at the ford,
purposely let himself fall into the water, and again got rid of
most of his burden.
The angry Merchant immediately turned about and drove the
Donkey back to the seashore, where he loaded him with two great
baskets of sponges. At the ford the Donkey again tumbled over;
but when he had scrambled to his feet, it was a very disconsolate
Donkey that dragged himself homeward under a load ten times
heavier than before.
The same measures will not suit all circumstances.
with a heavy load of salt, came to a river crossed by a shallow
ford. They had crossed this river many times before without
accident, but this time the Donkey slipped and fell when halfway
over. And when the Merchant at last got him to his feet, much
of the salt had melted away. Delighted to find how much lighter
his burden had become, the Donkey finished the journey very
happily.
Next day the Merchant went for another load of salt. On the way
home the Donkey, remembering what had happened at the ford,
purposely let himself fall into the water, and again got rid of
most of his burden.
The angry Merchant immediately turned about and drove the
Donkey back to the seashore, where he loaded him with two great
baskets of sponges. At the ford the Donkey again tumbled over;
but when he had scrambled to his feet, it was a very disconsolate
Donkey that dragged himself homeward under a load ten times
heavier than before.
The same measures will not suit all circumstances.
Adversity creates opportunity.
A farmer owned an old mule. One day, the mule fell into the
farmer's well. The mule brayed loudly and caught the attention
of the farmer. Upon assessing the situation, the farmer ruled out
any possibility of a rescue as it was simply too much trouble to
lift the mule out of the well. Out of sympathy for the animal, he
decided to enlist his neighbors' help to haul dirt into the well to
put the mule out of his misery.
The old mule was hysterical upon learning that his life would
thus end. However, as the farmer and the neighbors shoveled
the dirt into the well, a thought struck the old mule. He realized
that if he could shake off every dirt that landed on his back, the
dirt would hit the floor and he could step on the dirt.
Shovel after shovel, he continued relentlessly to shake off the
dirt and step on top of it. He fought the sense of panic and
distress and just went on shaking off the dirt and climbing
higher up the well.
With much determination and perseverance, the old mule
eventually stepped out the well, battered and exhausted, but
otherwise triumphant that he had survived the ordeal. Through
the way he handled the situation of adversity, the act of burying
him in fact saved his life.
There is a solution to every problem. Never give up.
farmer's well. The mule brayed loudly and caught the attention
of the farmer. Upon assessing the situation, the farmer ruled out
any possibility of a rescue as it was simply too much trouble to
lift the mule out of the well. Out of sympathy for the animal, he
decided to enlist his neighbors' help to haul dirt into the well to
put the mule out of his misery.
The old mule was hysterical upon learning that his life would
thus end. However, as the farmer and the neighbors shoveled
the dirt into the well, a thought struck the old mule. He realized
that if he could shake off every dirt that landed on his back, the
dirt would hit the floor and he could step on the dirt.
Shovel after shovel, he continued relentlessly to shake off the
dirt and step on top of it. He fought the sense of panic and
distress and just went on shaking off the dirt and climbing
higher up the well.
With much determination and perseverance, the old mule
eventually stepped out the well, battered and exhausted, but
otherwise triumphant that he had survived the ordeal. Through
the way he handled the situation of adversity, the act of burying
him in fact saved his life.
There is a solution to every problem. Never give up.
There is nothing worth so much as liberty.
A gaunt Wolf was almost dead with hunger when he happened to
meet a House-dog who was passing by. "Ah, Cousin," said the
Dog.
"I knew how it would be; your irregular life will soon be the ruin
of you. Why do you not work steadily as I do, and get your food
regularly given to you?"
"I would have no objection," said the Wolf, "if I could only get a
place."
"I will easily arrange that for you," said the Dog; "come with me
to my master and you shall share my work."
So the Wolf and the Dog went towards the town together. On the
way there the Wolf noticed that the hair on a certain part of the
Dog's neck was very much worn away, so he asked him how that
had come about.
"Oh, it is nothing," said the Dog. "That is only the place where
the collar is put on at night to keep me chained up; it chafes a bit,
but one soon gets used to it."
"Is that all?" said the Wolf. "Then good-bye to you, Master Dog."
Better starve free than be a fat slave.
meet a House-dog who was passing by. "Ah, Cousin," said the
Dog.
"I knew how it would be; your irregular life will soon be the ruin
of you. Why do you not work steadily as I do, and get your food
regularly given to you?"
"I would have no objection," said the Wolf, "if I could only get a
place."
"I will easily arrange that for you," said the Dog; "come with me
to my master and you shall share my work."
So the Wolf and the Dog went towards the town together. On the
way there the Wolf noticed that the hair on a certain part of the
Dog's neck was very much worn away, so he asked him how that
had come about.
"Oh, it is nothing," said the Dog. "That is only the place where
the collar is put on at night to keep me chained up; it chafes a bit,
but one soon gets used to it."
"Is that all?" said the Wolf. "Then good-bye to you, Master Dog."
Better starve free than be a fat slave.
Precious things are without value to those who cannot prize them.
A Cock was busily scratching and scraping about to find
something to eat for himself and his family, when he happened
to turn up a precious jewel that had been lost by its owner.
"Aha!" said the Cock. "No doubt you are very costly and he who
lost you would give a great deal to find you. But as for me, I
would choose a single grain of barleycorn before all the jewels
in the world."
something to eat for himself and his family, when he happened
to turn up a precious jewel that had been lost by its owner.
"Aha!" said the Cock. "No doubt you are very costly and he who
lost you would give a great deal to find you. But as for me, I
would choose a single grain of barleycorn before all the jewels
in the world."
The weak are made to suffer for the misdeeds of the powerful.
Once upon a time a severe plague raged among the animals.
Many died, and those who lived were so ill, that they cared for
neither food nor drink, and dragged themselves about listlessly.
No longer could a fat young hen tempt Master Fox to dinner,
nor a tender lamb rouse greedy Sir Wolf's appetite.
At last the Lion decided to call a council. When all the animals
were gathered together he arose and said:
"Dear friends, I believe the gods have sent this plague upon us
as a punishment for our sins. Therefore, the most guilty one of
us must be offered in sacrifice. Perhaps we may thus obtain
forgiveness and cure for all.
"I will confess all my sins first. I admit that I have been very
greedy and have devoured many sheep. They had done me no
harm. I have eaten goats and bulls and stags. To tell the truth,
I even ate up a shepherd now and then.
"Now, if I am the most guilty, I am ready to be sacrificed. But I
think it best that each one confess his sins as I have done. Then
we can decide in all justice who is the most guilty."
"Your majesty," said the Fox, "you are too good. Can it be a
crime to eat sheep, such stupid mutton heads? No, no, your
majesty. You have done them great honor by eating them up.
"And so far as shepherds are concerned, we all know they
belong to that puny race that pretends to be our masters."
All the animals applauded the Fox loudly. Then, though the
Tiger, the Bear, the Wolf, and all the savage beasts recited the
most wicked deeds, all were excused and made to appear very
saint-like and innocent.
It was now the Ass's turn to confess.
"I remember," he said guiltily, "that one day as I was passing a
field belonging to some priests, I was so tempted by the tender
grass and my hunger, that I could not resist nibbling a bit of it.
I had no right to do it, I admit—"
A great uproar among the beasts interrupted him. Here was the
culprit who had brought misfortune on all of them! What a
horrible crime it was to eat grass that belonged to someone else!
It was enough to hang anyone for, much more an Ass.
Immediately they all fell upon him, the Wolf in the lead, and
soon had made an end to him, sacrificing him to the gods then
and there, and without the formality of an altar.
Many died, and those who lived were so ill, that they cared for
neither food nor drink, and dragged themselves about listlessly.
No longer could a fat young hen tempt Master Fox to dinner,
nor a tender lamb rouse greedy Sir Wolf's appetite.
At last the Lion decided to call a council. When all the animals
were gathered together he arose and said:
"Dear friends, I believe the gods have sent this plague upon us
as a punishment for our sins. Therefore, the most guilty one of
us must be offered in sacrifice. Perhaps we may thus obtain
forgiveness and cure for all.
"I will confess all my sins first. I admit that I have been very
greedy and have devoured many sheep. They had done me no
harm. I have eaten goats and bulls and stags. To tell the truth,
I even ate up a shepherd now and then.
"Now, if I am the most guilty, I am ready to be sacrificed. But I
think it best that each one confess his sins as I have done. Then
we can decide in all justice who is the most guilty."
"Your majesty," said the Fox, "you are too good. Can it be a
crime to eat sheep, such stupid mutton heads? No, no, your
majesty. You have done them great honor by eating them up.
"And so far as shepherds are concerned, we all know they
belong to that puny race that pretends to be our masters."
All the animals applauded the Fox loudly. Then, though the
Tiger, the Bear, the Wolf, and all the savage beasts recited the
most wicked deeds, all were excused and made to appear very
saint-like and innocent.
It was now the Ass's turn to confess.
"I remember," he said guiltily, "that one day as I was passing a
field belonging to some priests, I was so tempted by the tender
grass and my hunger, that I could not resist nibbling a bit of it.
I had no right to do it, I admit—"
A great uproar among the beasts interrupted him. Here was the
culprit who had brought misfortune on all of them! What a
horrible crime it was to eat grass that belonged to someone else!
It was enough to hang anyone for, much more an Ass.
Immediately they all fell upon him, the Wolf in the lead, and
soon had made an end to him, sacrificing him to the gods then
and there, and without the formality of an altar.
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