ed with the heat) it began to erect
itself, and fly at his wife and children. The Countryman, hearing an
outcry, and perceiving what the matter was, caught up a mattock, and
soon dispatched him, upbraiding him at the same time in these words: "Is
this, vile wretch, the reward you make to him that saved your life?"

Kindness to the ungrateful and the vicious is thrown away.

The Madman who Sold Wisdom.

A Madman once set himself up in the market place, and with loud cries
announced that he would sell Wisdom. The people at once crowded about
him, and some gave him gold for his wares, but they each got only a blow
on the ear and a bunch of thread, and were well laughed at by their
companions. One of them, however, took it more seriously than the
others, and asked a wise sage what it meant. "It means," said the sage,
"that if one would not be hurt by a Madman, he must put a bunch of
thread over his ears." So the Madman was really selling Wisdom.

The Leopard and the Fox.

[Illustration]

A Leopard, being no longer able, by reason of old age, to pursue his
prey, feigned illness, and gave out that he would confer great favors
upon any animal that would cure him. A cunning Fox heard of the
proclamation, and lost no time in visiting the Leopard, first making
himself look as much like a physician as he could. On seeing him, the
Leopard declared that such a distinguished looking animal could not
fail to cure him. This so flattered the Fox that he came near, and at
once fell a victim to his vanity, being unable to flee because of the
disguise, which fettered his limbs.

Flattery is a dangerous weapon in the hands of an enemy.

The Hare afraid of his Ears.

[Illustration]

The Lion, being badly hurt by the horns of a goat, swore in a great rage
that every animal with horns should be banished from his kingdom. A
silly Hare, seeing the shadow of his ears, was in great fear lest they
should be taken for horns, and scampered away.

The Peacock and the Crane.

[Illustration]

A Peacock, spreading its gorgeous tail, mocked a Crane that passed by,
ridiculing the ashen hue of its plumage, and saying: "I am robed like a
king, in gold and purple, and all the colors of the rainbow; while you
have not a bit of color on your wings." "True," replied the Crane, "but
I soar to the heights of heaven, and lift up my voice to the stars,
while you walk below, like a cock, among the birds of the dunghill.