ng the Dog had seized him.

_Those who try to deceive may expect to be paid in their own
coin._

[Illustration]

BELLING THE CAT

The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free
themselves of their enemy, the Cat. At least they wished to find
some way of knowing when she was coming, so they might have time
to run away. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in
such constant fear of her claws that they hardly dared stir from
their dens by night or day.

Many plans were discussed, but none of them was thought good
enough. At last a very young Mouse got up and said:

"I have a plan that seems very simple, but I know it will be
successful. All we have to do is to hang a bell about the Cat's
neck. When we hear the bell ringing we will know immediately that
our enemy is coming."

All the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of
such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their
good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said:

"I will say that the plan of the young Mouse is very good. But
let me ask one question: Who will bell the Cat?"

_It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite
a different matter to do it._

THE EAGLE AND THE JACKDAW

An Eagle, swooping down on powerful wings, seized a lamb in her
talons and made off with it to her nest. A Jackdaw saw the deed,
and his silly head was filled with the idea that he was big and
strong enough to do as the Eagle had done. So with much rustling
of feathers and a fierce air, he came down swiftly on the back of
a large Ram. But when he tried to rise again he found that he
could not get away, for his claws were tangled in the wool. And
so far was he from carrying away the Ram, that the Ram hardly
noticed he was there.

[Illustration]

The Shepherd saw the fluttering Jackdaw and at once guessed what
had happened. Running up, he caught the bird and clipped its
wings. That evening he gave the Jackdaw to his children.

"What a funny bird this is!" they said laughing, "what do you
call it, father?"

"That is a Jackdaw, my children. But if you should ask him, _he_
would say he is an Eagle."

_Do not let your vanity make you overestimate your powers._

THE BOY AND THE FILBERTS

A Boy was given permission to put his hand into a pitcher to get
some filberts. But he took such a great fistful that he could not
draw his hand out again. There he stood, unwilling to give up a
single