A traveller who had visited Asia,Africa and Europe,at length,in making his tour through America,was overcome by heat,and lay tore pose under a tree.He had scarcely begun to doze when he was roused by a loud noise,of which he could not d...
The pure white feathers of a goose put even the newly-fallen snow to blush.Proud of this dazzling gift of nature,she considered herself intended for a swan,rather than for that which she was.Accordingly,separating herself from her companion...
A wasp had severely stung a horse,and the latter kicked and pranced about,with the intention of destroying its tormentor.Your exertion is in vain,said the wasp,for I am in such a secure place on your flank,that you cannot hurt me.The ho...
A shepherd lost the whole of his flock because of a dreadful illness.A wolf,hearing of it,came to console him.My shepherd,said he,is it true that thou hast met with so severe a misfortune,and art deprived of thy whole flock?So amiable,...
A bear,with which a piedmontese earned his living,was trying out on two feet a dance which he had not learned very well.Wishing to act like a man,he said to a monkey,How is it?The monkey,who was a connoisseur,answered,Very bad. I...
A swarm of bees settled and built hive in the hollow trunk of a wild apple-tree.They soon filled it with the treasures of honey,andthe tree became so proud in consequence,that it despised all its neighbours.Hereupon a rose-bush thus addre...
A certain cook,rather more educated than his fellows,went from his kitchen one day to a neighbouring tavernhe was of a serious turn of mind,and on that day he celebrated the anniversary of a friend's death-leaving a cat at home,to guard his...
A philosophical mouse spoke loudly in praise of nature's goodness for having made mice such particular objects of her regard and preservation.For,she said,one half of us are provided by her with wings;so that if all here below were extirpated...
An elephant was once appointed ruler of the forest.Now,it is well known that the race of elephants is endowed with great intelligence;but every family has its unworthy scion.Our Governor was as stout as the rest of his race are,but as fooli...
A bear who had for a long time earned his living by dancing,at length escaped from his master,and returned to his former companions in the woods.His brethren welcomed him with their most friendly growls.The traveller then related what he had...
A kite,which had been taken by the wind to soar above the clouds,called out to a butterfly down below in the valley.I can assure you that I can scarcely make you out.Confess now that you feel envious when you watch my so lofty flight. Envio...
Many years ago in a small territory,there was not one of the in-habitants who did not stutter when he spoke,or halt in walking;both these defects,moreover,were considered accomplishments A stranger saw the evil,and thinking how they would...
A pig once made its way into the courtyard of a lordly mansion,where he sauntered at its will around the stables and the kitchen,wallowed in filth,and bathed in slops.Then he returned home from his visit looking every bit of a pig.Well,Ka...
A man visited his friend's house and saw that his kitchen range had a very straight chimney by the side of which was stacked a lot of firewood.The visitor said to his host,You ought to make the chimney crooked and move the firewood far away from...
A bear,a fox,and an opossum were attacked by an inundation.Death loves a coward,said the bear,and he went forward to fight the flood.What a fool!said the fox.I know a trick worth two of that.And he slipped into a hollow stump.Ther...