d so little water that he could not possibly get
at it. He tried everything he could think of to reach the water, but
all his efforts were in vain. At last he collected as many stones as he
could carry, and dropped them one by one with his beak into the pitcher,
until he brought the water within his reach, and thus saved his life.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

The Ass Eating Thistles.

An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in time
of harvest, he was carrying into the field for his master and the
reapers to dine upon. By the way he met with a fine large Thistle, and,
being very hungry, began to mumble it; and while he was doing so he
entered into this reflection: "How many greedy epicures would think
themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now
carry! But to me this bitter, prickly Thistle is more savory and
relishing than the most exquisite and sumptuous banquet. Let others
choose what they may for food, but give me, above everything, a fine
juicy thistle like this and I will be content."

Every one to his taste: one man's meat is another man's poison, and one
man's poison is another man's meat; what is rejected by one person may
be valued very highly by another.

The Wolf and the Lion.

[Illustration]

A Wolf, having stolen a lamb from a fold, was carrying him off to his
lair. A Lion met him in the path, and, seizing the lamb, took it from
him. The Wolf, standing at a safe distance, exclaimed: "You have
unrighteously taken from me that which was mine." The Lion jeeringly
replied: "It was righteously yours, eh? Was it the gift of a friend, or
did you get it by purchase? If you did not get it in one way or the
other, how then did you come by it?"

One thief is no better than another.

The King's Son and the Painted Lion.

[Illustration]

A King who had one only son, fond of martial exercises, had a dream in
which he was warned that his son would be killed by a lion. Afraid lest
the dream should prove true, he built for his son a pleasant palace, and
adorned its walls for his amusement with all kinds of animals of the
size of life, among which was the picture of a lion. When the young
Prince saw this, his grief at being thus confined burst out afresh, and
standing near the lion, he thus spoke: "O you most detestable of
animals! through a lying dream of my father's, which he saw in his
sleep, I am shut up on your account in thi