o be
taught a lesson without too much inconvenience, he said:

"Your property? Did you buy it, or did the Shepherd make you a
gift of it? Pray tell me, how did you get it?"

_What is evil won is evil lost._

[Illustration]

THE STAG AND HIS REFLECTION

A Stag, drinking from a crystal spring, saw himself mirrored in
the clear water. He greatly admired the graceful arch of his
antlers, but he was very much ashamed of his spindling legs.

"How can it be," he sighed, "that I should be cursed with such
legs when I have so magnificent a crown."

At that moment he scented a panther and in an instant was bounding
away through the forest. But as he ran his wide-spreading antlers
caught in the branches of the trees, and soon the Panther overtook
him. Then the Stag perceived that the legs of which he was so
ashamed would have saved him had it not been for the useless
ornaments on his head.

_We often make much of the ornamental and despise the useful._

THE PEACOCK

The Peacock, they say, did not at first have the beautiful
feathers in which he now takes so much pride. These, Juno, whose
favorite he was, granted to him one day when he begged her for a
train of feathers to distinguish him from the other birds. Then,
decked in his finery, gleaming with emerald, gold, purple, and
azure, he strutted proudly among the birds. All regarded him with
envy. Even the most beautiful pheasant could see that his beauty
was surpassed.

Presently the Peacock saw an Eagle soaring high up in the blue
sky and felt a desire to fly, as he had been accustomed to do.
Lifting his wings he tried to rise from the ground. But the
weight of his magnificent train held him down. Instead of flying
up to greet the first rays of the morning sun or to bathe in the
rosy light among the floating clouds at sunset, he would have to
walk the ground more encumbered and oppressed than any common
barnyard fowl.

_Do not sacrifice your freedom for the sake of pomp and show._

[Illustration: THE PEACOCK]

[Illustration]

THE MICE AND THE WEASELS

The Weasels and the Mice were always up in arms against each
other. In every battle the Weasels carried off the victory, as
well as a large number of the Mice, which they ate for dinner
next day. In despair the Mice called a council, and there it was
decided that the Mouse army was always beaten because it had no
leaders. So a large number of generals and commanders were
appointed fr