low me if you can," he said. But the Peacock stood where he
was among the birds of the barnyard, while the Crane soared in
freedom far up into the blue sky.

_The useful is of much more importance and value, than the
ornamental._

THE FARMER AND THE CRANES

Some Cranes saw a farmer plowing a large field. When the work of
plowing was done, they patiently watched him sow the seed. It was
their feast, they thought.

So, as soon as the Farmer had finished planting and had gone
home, down they flew to the field, and began to eat as fast as
they could.

The Farmer, of course, knew the Cranes and their ways. He had had
experience with such birds before. He soon returned to the field
with a sling. But he did not bring any stones with him. He
expected to scare the Cranes just by swinging the sling in the
air, and shouting loudly at them.

At first the Cranes flew away in great terror. But they soon
began to see that none of them ever got hurt. They did not even
hear the noise of stones whizzing through the air, and as for
words, they would kill nobody. At last they paid no attention
whatever to the Farmer.

The Farmer saw that he would have to take other measures. He
wanted to save at least some of his grain. So he loaded his sling
with stones and killed several of the Cranes. This had the effect
the Farmer wanted, for from that day the Cranes visited his field
no more.

_Bluff and threatening words are of little value with rascals._

_Bluff is no proof that hard fists are lacking._

THE FARMER AND HIS SONS

A rich old farmer, who felt that he had not many more days to
live, called his sons to his bedside.

"My sons," he said, "heed what I have to say to you. Do not on
any account part with the estate that has belonged to our family
for so many generations. Somewhere on it is hidden a rich
treasure. I do not know the exact spot, but it is there, and you
will surely find it. Spare no energy and leave no spot unturned
in your search."

The father died, and no sooner was he in his grave than the sons
set to work digging with all their might, turning up every foot
of ground with their spades, and going over the whole farm two or
three times.

[Illustration]

No hidden gold did they find; but at harvest time when they had
settled their accounts and had pocketed a rich profit far greater
than that of any of their neighbors, they understood that the
treasure their father had told them about was t