h was the greatest thief. One day, as they were roaming about
together, they spied some chestnuts roasting in the ashes. "Come," said
the cunning Monkey, "we shall not go without our dinner to-day. Your
claws are better than mine for the purpose; you pull them out of the
hot ashes and you shall have half." Pussy pulled them out one by one,
burning her claws very much in doing so. When she had stolen them all,
she found that the Monkey had eaten every one.

A thief cannot be trusted, even by another thief.

The Two Frogs.

[Illustration]

Two frogs dwelt in the same pool. The pool being dried up under the
summer's heat, they left it and set out together for another home. As
they went along they chanced to pass a deep well, amply supplied with
water, on seeing which, one of the Frogs said to the other: "Let us
descend and make our abode in this well." The other replied with greater
caution: "But suppose the water should fail us, how can we get out again
from so great a depth?"

Do nothing without a regard to the consequences.

The Vine and the Goat.

[Illustration]

A Vine was luxuriant in the time of vintage with leaves and grapes. A
Goat, passing by, nibbled its young tendrils and its leaves. The Vine
said: "Why do you thus injure me and crop my leaves? Is there no young
grass left? But I shall not have to wait long for my just revenge; for
if you now crop my leaves, and cut me down to my root, I shall provide
the wine to pour over you when you are led as a victim to the
sacrifice."

Retribution is certain.

The Mouse and the Boasting Rat.

[Illustration]

A Mouse lived in a granary which became, after a while, the frequent
resort of a Cat. The Mouse was in great fear and did not know what to
do. In her strait, she bethought herself of a Rat who lived not far
away, and who had said in her hearing a hundred times that he was not
afraid of any cat living. She resolved to visit the bold Rat and ask
him to drive the Cat away. She found the Rat in his hole and relating
her story, besought his help. "Pooh!" said the Rat, "You should be bold
as I am; go straight about your affairs, and do not mind the Cat. I will
soon follow you, and drive him away." He thought, now, he must do
something to make good his boast. So he collected all the Rats in the
neighborhood, resolved to frighten the Cat by numbers. But when they all
came to the granary, they found that the Cat had already caught the
f