t was such a joyful song that his pleasure-loving
heart was filled with a wish to sing as they did.

"What is it?" he asked very respectfully, "that has given you
such beautiful voices? Is there any special food you eat, or is
it some divine nectar that makes you sing so wonderfully?"

"Yes," said the Grasshoppers, who were very fond of a joke; "it
is the dew we drink! Try some and see."

So thereafter the Ass would eat nothing and drink nothing but
dew.

Naturally, the poor foolish Ass soon died.

_The laws of nature are unchangeable._

THE MULE

A Mule had had a long rest and much good feeding. He was feeling
very vigorous indeed, and pranced around loftily, holding his
head high.

"My father certainly was a full-blooded racer," he said. "I can
feel that distinctly."

Next day he was put into harness again and that evening he was
very downhearted indeed.

"I was mistaken," he said. "My father was an Ass after all."

_Be sure of your pedigree before you boast of it._

THE FOX AND THE GOAT

A Fox fell into a well, and though it was not very deep, he found
that he could not get out again. After he had been in the well a
long time, a thirsty Goat came by. The Goat thought the Fox had
gone down to drink, and so he asked if the water was good.

"The finest in the whole country," said the crafty Fox, "jump in
and try it. There is more than enough for both of us."

The thirsty Goat immediately jumped in and began to drink. The
Fox just as quickly jumped on the Goat's back and leaped from the
tip of the Goat's horns out of the well.

The foolish Goat now saw what a plight he had got into, and
begged the Fox to help him out. But the Fox was already on his
way to the woods.

"If you had as much sense as you have beard, old fellow," he said
as he ran, "you would have been more cautious about finding a way
to get out again before you jumped in."

_Look before you leap._

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

THE CAT, THE COCK, AND THE YOUNG MOUSE

A very young Mouse, who had never seen anything of the world,
almost came to grief the very first time he ventured out. And
this is the story he told his mother about his adventures.

"I was strolling along very peaceably when, just as I turned the
corner into the next yard, I saw two strange creatures. One of
them had a very kind and gracious look, but the other was the
most fearful monster you can imagine. You should have seen him.