nt a Lion struck him down with a single blow.

_Do not let your fancy make you forget realities._

[Illustration]

THE OAK AND THE REEDS

A Giant Oak stood near a brook in which grew some slender Reeds.
When the wind blew, the great Oak stood proudly upright with its
hundred arms uplifted to the sky. But the Reeds bowed low in the
wind and sang a sad and mournful song.

"You have reason to complain," said the Oak. "The slightest
breeze that ruffles the surface of the water makes you bow your
heads, while I, the mighty Oak, stand upright and firm before the
howling tempest."

"Do not worry about us," replied the Reeds. "The winds do not
harm us. We bow before them and so we do not break. You, in all
your pride and strength, have so far resisted their blows. But
the end is coming."

As the Reeds spoke a great hurricane rushed out of the north. The
Oak stood proudly and fought against the storm, while the
yielding Reeds bowed low. The wind redoubled in fury, and all at
once the great tree fell, torn up by the roots, and lay among the
pitying Reeds.

_Better to yield when it is folly to resist, than to resist
stubbornly and be destroyed._

THE RAT AND THE ELEPHANT

A Rat was traveling along the King's highway. He was a very proud
Rat, considering his small size and the bad reputation all Rats
have. As Mr. Rat walked along--he kept mostly to the ditch--he
noticed a great commotion up the road, and soon a grand
procession came in view. It was the King and his retinue.

The King rode on a huge Elephant adorned with the most gorgeous
trappings. With the King in his luxurious howdah were the royal
Dog and Cat. A great crowd of people followed the procession.
They were so taken up with admiration of the Elephant, that the
Rat was not noticed. His pride was hurt.

"What fools!" he cried. "Look at me, and you will soon forget
that clumsy Elephant! Is it his great size that makes your eyes
pop out? Or is it his wrinkled hide? Why, I have eyes and ears
and as many legs as he! I am of just as much importance, and"--

But just then the royal Cat spied him, and the next instant, the
Rat knew he was _not_ quite so important as an Elephant.

_A resemblance to the great in some things does not make us
great._

THE BOYS AND THE FROGS

Some Boys were playing one day at the edge of a pond in which
lived a family of Frogs. The Boys amused themselves by throwing
stones into the pond so as to make