A Stork of a very simple and trusting nature had been asked by a
gay party of Cranes to visit a field that had been newly planted.
But the party ended dismally with all the birds entangled in the
meshes of the Farmer's net.

The Stork begged the Farmer to spare him.

"Please let me go," he pleaded. "I belong to the Stork family who
you know are honest and birds of good character. Besides, I did
not know the Cranes were going to steal."

"You may be a very good bird," answered the Farmer, "but I caught
you with the thieving Cranes and you will have to share the same
punishment with them."

_You are judged by the company you keep._

THE SHEEP AND THE PIG

One day a shepherd discovered a fat Pig in the meadow where his
Sheep were pastured. He very quickly captured the porker, which
squealed at the top of its voice the moment the Shepherd laid his
hands on it. You would have thought, to hear the loud squealing,
that the Pig was being cruelly hurt. But in spite of its squeals
and struggles to escape, the Shepherd tucked his prize under his
arm and started off to the butcher's in the market place.

The Sheep in the pasture were much astonished and amused at the
Pig's behavior, and followed the Shepherd and his charge to the
pasture gate.

"What makes you squeal like that?" asked one of the Sheep. "The
Shepherd often catches and carries off one of us. But we should
feel very much ashamed to make such a terrible fuss about it like
you do."

"That is all very well," replied the Pig, with a squeal and a
frantic kick. "When he catches you he is only after your wool.
But he wants my bacon! gree-ee-ee!"

_It is easy to be brave when there is no danger._

[Illustration: THE SHEEP AND THE PIG]

[Illustration]

THE TRAVELERS AND THE PURSE

Two men were traveling in company along the road when one of them
picked up a well-filled purse.

"How lucky I am!" he said. "I have found a purse. Judging by its
weight it must be full of gold."

"Do not say '_I_ have found a purse,'" said his companion. "Say
rather '_we_ have found a purse' and 'how lucky _we_ are.'
Travelers ought to share alike the fortunes or misfortunes of the
road."

"No, no," replied the other angrily. "_I_ found it and _I_ am
going to keep it."

Just then they heard a shout of "Stop, thief!" and looking
around, saw a mob of people armed with clubs coming down the
road.

The man who had found the purse fell into a panic.

"We are