X AND THE STORK

The Fox one day thought of a plan to amuse himself at the expense
of the Stork, at whose odd appearance he was always laughing.

"You must come and dine with me today," he said to the Stork,
smiling to himself at the trick he was going to play. The Stork
gladly accepted the invitation and arrived in good time and with
a very good appetite.

For dinner the Fox served soup. But it was set out in a very
shallow dish, and all the Stork could do was to wet the very tip
of his bill. Not a drop of soup could he get. But the Fox lapped
it up easily, and, to increase the disappointment of the Stork,
made a great show of enjoyment.

[Illustration]

The hungry Stork was much displeased at the trick, but he was a
calm, even-tempered fellow and saw no good in flying into a rage.
Instead, not long afterward, he invited the Fox to dine with him
in turn. The Fox arrived promptly at the time that had been set,
and the Stork served a fish dinner that had a very appetizing
smell. But it was served in a tall jar with a very narrow neck.
The Stork could easily get at the food with his long bill, but
all the Fox could do was to lick the outside of the jar, and
sniff at the delicious odor. And when the Fox lost his temper,
the Stork said calmly:

_Do not play tricks on your neighbors unless you can stand the
same treatment yourself._

THE TRAVELERS AND THE SEA

Two Travelers were walking along the seashore. Far out they saw
something riding on the waves.

"Look," said one, "a great ship rides in from distant lands,
bearing rich treasures!"

The object they saw came ever nearer the shore.

"No," said the other, "that is not a treasure ship. That is some
fisherman's skiff, with the day's catch of savoury fish."

Still nearer came the object. The waves washed it up on shore.

"It is a chest of gold lost from some wreck," they cried. Both
Travelers rushed to the beach, but there they found nothing but a
water-soaked log.

_Do not let your hopes carry you away from reality._

[Illustration]

THE WOLF AND THE LION

A Wolf had stolen a Lamb and was carrying it off to his lair to
eat it. But his plans were very much changed when he met a Lion,
who, without making any excuses, took the Lamb away from him.

The Wolf made off to a safe distance, and then said in a much
injured tone:

"You have no right to take my property like that!"

The Lion looked back, but as the Wolf was too far away t