them skip on top of the water.

The stones were flying thick and fast and the Boys were enjoying
themselves very much; but the poor Frogs in the pond were
trembling with fear.

At last one of the Frogs, the oldest and bravest, put his head
out of the water, and said, "Oh, please, dear children, stop your
cruel play! Though it may be fun for you, it means death to us!"

_Always stop to think whether your fun may not be the cause of
another's unhappiness._

[Illustration]

THE CROW AND THE PITCHER

In a spell of dry weather, when the Birds could find very little
to drink, a thirsty Crow found a pitcher with a little water in
it. But the pitcher was high and had a narrow neck, and no matter
how he tried, the Crow could not reach the water. The poor thing
felt as if he must die of thirst.

Then an idea came to him. Picking up some small pebbles, he
dropped them into the pitcher one by one. With each pebble the
water rose a little higher until at last it was near enough so he
could drink.

_In a pinch a good use of our wits may help us out._

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

THE ANTS AND THE GRASSHOPPER

One bright day in late autumn a family of Ants were bustling
about in the warm sunshine, drying out the grain they had stored
up during the summer, when a starving Grasshopper, his fiddle
under his arm, came up and humbly begged for a bite to eat.

"What!" cried the Ants in surprise, "haven't you stored anything
away for the winter? What in the world were you doing all last
summer?"

"I didn't have time to store up any food," whined the
Grasshopper; "I was so busy making music that before I knew it
the summer was gone."

The Ants shrugged their shoulders in disgust.

"Making music, were you?" they cried. "Very well; now dance!" And
they turned their backs on the Grasshopper and went on with their
work.

_There's a time for work and a time for play._

THE ASS CARRYING THE IMAGE

A sacred Image was being carried to the temple. It was mounted on
an Ass adorned with garlands and gorgeous trappings, and a grand
procession of priests and pages followed it through the streets.
As the Ass walked along, the people bowed their heads reverently
or fell on their knees, and the Ass thought the honor was being
paid to himself.

With his head full of this foolish idea, he became so puffed up
with pride and vanity that he halted and started to bray loudly.
But in the midst of his song, h