a cargo of Dates, and
loaded a vessel, and set sail. He had not gone far when a storm arose;
his ship was wrecked, and his Dates and everything lost, and he himself
with difficulty escaped to land. Not long after, when the Sea was again
calm, and one of his friends came up to him and was admiring its repose,
he said: "Have a care, my good fellow, of that smooth surface, it is
only looking out for your Dates."

The Bees, the Drones, and the Wasp.

Some Bees had built their comb in the hollow trunk of an oak. The Drones
asserted that it was their doing, and belonged to them. The cause was
brought into court before Judge Wasp. Knowing something of the parties,
he thus addressed them: "The plaintiffs and defendants are so much alike
in shape and color as to render the ownership a doubtful matter. Let
each party take a hive to itself, and build up a new comb, that from the
shape of the cells and the taste of the honey, the lawful proprietors of
the property in dispute may appear." The Bees readily assented to the
Wasp's plan. The Drones declined it. Whereupon the Wasp gave judgment:
"It is clear now who made the comb, and who cannot make it; the Court
adjudges the honey to the Bees."

Professions are best tested by deeds.

The Wolf, the Goat and the Kid.

[Illustration]

As an old Goat was going forth to pasture, she carefully latched her
door, and bid her kid not to open it to any one who could not give this
pass-word: "Beware of the Wolf and all his race." A Wolf happened to be
passing, and overheard what the old Goat said. When she was gone, he
went to the door, and, knocking, said: "Beware of the Wolf and all his
race." But the Kid, peeping through a crack, said: "Show me a white paw
and I will open the door." As the Wolf could not do this, he had to
depart, no better than he came.

Two sureties are better than one.

The Fox and the Hedgehog.

[Illustration]

A Fox, while crossing over a river, was driven by the stream into a
narrow gorge, and lay there for a long time unable to get out, covered
with myriads of horse-flies that had fastened themselves upon him. A
Hedgehog, who was wandering in that direction, saw him, and taking
compassion on him, asked him if he should drive away the flies that were
so tormenting him. But the Fox begged him to do nothing of the sort.
"Why not?" asked the Hedgehog. "Because," replied the Fox, "these flies
that are upon me now are already full, and dr