The Hare and the Tortoise - Page 7

1. The Ant and the Grasshopper
It was summer, hot and sunny, and, instead of working and preparing for winter, a Grasshopper preferred to dance, sing and play his violin at
his leisure, not minding that these wonderful days will soon be over, that cold and rainy days will soon be near. On seeing a hardworking Ant
passing by him, preparing for the hard winter that was to come one day, he invited him to join him and share his fun.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have time for this”, the Ant answered, “I must work hard, so that winter won’t find me without shelter and food.”
“Stop worrying so much, there is still plenty of time to prepare for winter. Let’s sing and dance together, let’s laugh and enjoy life”.
But Ant was very wise and wouldn’t pay attention to the Grasshopper’s words and continued to work hard and store food for the long winter
that was to come.
The winter came sooner than expected, and the Grasshopper found himself without home and without food. He went to the Ant’s house and
begged him for food and shelter.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t help you”, the Ant said. “I only have room and food for me and my family, so go find help somewhere else.”
“I should have followed Ant’s example in the summer”, the Grasshopper thought sadly. “I would have been so happy now…”
Prepare for the hard days to come.

2. The Ass in the Lion's Skin
On his walk through the forest, an Ass found a Lion’s skin and instantly, a wonderful idea crossed his mind that was going to help him be
respected and feared by al the other animals. He was going to pretend to be a Lion! So, he put the skin on and wandered through the forest,
scaring all the small animals around. He felt so strong, he was the king of the forest! What a great feeling! For a moment, he forgot he was not
supposed to open his mouth to give himself away and brayed triumphantly. Right then, a fox that was just on the point to run away scared
thinking it was a real Lion, stopped suddenly and began to mock at him.
“An Ass! You were just an Ass pretending to be a Lion! You gave yourself away with your voice. Had you kept your mouth shut, I would have
been fooled myself, too.”
The real fakers will finally give themselves away. .

3. The Fox and the Crow
One day, a Crow found a piece of meat, took it in her beak and flew away with it in a tree. Right that moment, a Fox passing by, saw the Crow
with the meat and, since he was very hungry, thought of a plan meant to help hime steal the meat. So, he sat in front of the Crow and begain
to exclaim:
“Oh, Crow, you are the most gracious and beautiful bird I have ever seen! Let me admire you, and let me hear your voice, too, it must be
equally beautiful as your appearance, you, Queen of Birds! ”
The Crow was truly delighted by all these compliments, and she was even convinced she had a beautiful voice, so, she opened her mouth to
sing. That moment, she dropped the meat, and the Fox grabbed it right away.
“Look, Crow”, the Fox said, “your voice is ok, but, unfortunately, you have no wits.”
The flatterers are not trustworthy.

4. The Bear and the Two Travelers
One sunny day, two travellers who seemed to be very good friends met a bear in their way when they least expected, so they both tried to
climb a tree that was near to save their life, but one of them hurt himself and didn’t manage to climb. His friend was so concerned to save his
own life, that forgot about him and didn’t offer to help him, so, the only idea that crossed his mind that moment was to play the dead on the
ground. The bear thought he was really dead, so, he soon left, after smelling him for a while.
When they finally seemed to be safe, the traveller in the tree climbed down, asking his friend what the bear whispered in his ear.
“ The bear adviced me not to trust those friends who leave you in a moment of danger”
Real friends help you when you are in trouble..

5. The Stag at the River
One hot day a stag came to a river to quench his thirst, and seeing his reflection in the water, found his horns truly amazing: “They are
magnificent, exquisite, I am so proud of them”, he exclaimed, then, looking at his legs, he became very sad. “My legs are too short, too thin, if
they could be as amazing as my horns… I would be so happy”. But while pondering on all these things, a Lion showed up, and the Stag ran
away, but soon stuck his horns into the branches of the trees. It was very easy for the Lion to capture him this way.
“ I can’t believe that my very horns which were my pride brought my misfortune, while my legs which I was so ashamed of would have served
me so well. Things are not what they seem to be”.
Most often, we despise the most precious things and appreciate the wrong ones.

6. The Lion, the Bear, and the Fox
A poor unfortunate Kid got captured by both a Lion and a Bear and each one wanted it for himself, not willing to give up on i t in favor of the
other one and not even to share it.
Because of this, they started to fight. After they fighted for a long time, they fell down very tired. A cunning Fox who noti ced all this from the
very beginning took advantage of this moment, came quickly, grabbed the Kid and ran away, very happy with his prey.
The Lion and the Bear couldn’t believe they had been so unwise and lost the Kid because of their greed.
“Next time we capture a prey, I promise I’ll share it with you”, said the Lion after he learned his lesson.
You may work hard and still not get the benefit if you’re not wise enough.

7. The Hare and the Tortoise
A Hare and a Tortoise decided one day to compete with each other in a race. That was because the Hare dared to laugh at the Tortoise for
being so slow and heavy and he just couldn’t stand this painful offence. So the Tortoise suggested the race and the Hare agreed, very
confident in himself. “The poor Tortoise will make a fool of himself”, he thought very amused.
So, when the big day arrived, they started together. A long road was to be run, so, after a while, the Hare stopped, being so advanced in
comparison with the slow Tortoise and thought it was a good idea to take a nap for a few minutes. He did so, but when he finally woke up, he
was horified to notice that the Tortoise was just about to arrive at the end of the race.
“No, that’s not possible. I must be dreaming!”, he said. “I will catch up with him, I still have time to win, I can run so fast…”
But he couldn’t make it, though, it was too late, the Tortoise was the winner of the race, as slow as he was!
Be consistent in your effort and you will be successful.

8. The Fox and the Grapes
Searching for food to satisfy his hunger, a Fox suddenly saw a vine full of big grapes and ran towards it greeedishly. But unfortunately, the
grapes were so high that it was impossible for him to reach them. He tried again and again, but couldn’t even touch them. Bitter and frustrated,
he comforted himself by saying: "Anyway they don’t seem ripe, so the taste must be very bad. Surely they are sour”.
You can easily despise what you can't have.

9. The Shepherd’s Boy and the Wolf
There lived a shepherd boy in a small mountain village. He had great imagination, so one day, an idea occured to him to have some fun and
escape from the monotony of his life. So he went very close to the village so that people could hear him and began to yell: "Wolf ! Wolf! Help
me!”
The villagers got scared and wanted to help him, so they came quickly, but instead of wolf, they only found the shepherd boy laughing
ironically.
“Foolish boy!”, they said very angry and left.
The boy was really proud of himself and did his stupid joke once again another day and the villagers believed his lie again and felt sorry they
fell into his trap.
The third time the shepherd boy cried for help, nobody bothered to help him any more and this time the wolf was real, it was not a joke, but the
villagers didn’t believe him any more.

10. Once you lose your credibility, no one will believe you any more, even when you speak the truth.
The Ant and the Dove
One day, an Ant went to the river to drink some water, but unfortunately he fell into the water and was just about to lose his life. That moment,
a Dove saw him and, eager to save his life, threw a bough on the water, so that the Ant should climb on it. Soon, the Ant was out of any
danger. He was very grateful to the Dove for saving his life, so, one day, when the Dove was in danger, too, because a hunter intended to shot
at her, the Ant stung him in the foot. The hunter dropped his gun because of the pain, and the Dove flew away in a moment.
One good deed is rewarded with another good deed.

11. The Dog and His Reflection
A Dog found a piece of meat one day and while walking with it in his mouth near a stream, he saw another dog in the water with another piece
of meat. He was not aware that it was his own reflection and not another dog. So, wishing to have the other meat, too, not satisfied with his
own, he opened his mouth to grab it, but that moment, his meat fell into the water and it was carried away till he couldn’t see it any more. So,
he remained hungry that day, because of his greed.
If you’re not content if what you have, you may lose everything in the end.

12. The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
A Mouse living in the countryside, invited his cousin who lived in a big town to spend some time in her modest home. She agreed and they
spent a great time together, despite the modest conditions they lived in. Nothing ever seemed to trouble their peace and harmony. Before
returning to her home, the Town Mouse asked the Country Mouse to come with her. As the Town Mouse described the city life full of surprises
and luxury, her cousin was very curious to see all that herself, so she said „Yes”. They traveled together to the Town Mouse's house and
everything was indeed as described with lots of food and fun. But, at the same time, many dangers that the Country Mouse wasn’t made
aware of. A cat tried to catch them while they were eating, then a dog barked at them, so the Country Mouse decided immediately to return
home and never come back.
“I’d rather live in poverty, but in peace. What’s the use of having plenty of food and lots of dangers, too?”, she said happy to be back home.
Better a peaceful life in poverty, than luxury at the cost of losing your life.

13. The Peacock and the Crane
There was once a very conceited Peacock who had a gorgeous tail like no other bird. So, when he met a Crane one day, the Peacock scoffed
at the Crane’s colorless and dull feathers, and immediately spread his own colorful tail for the Crane to see and admire.
“Look at my feathers,” he boasted, how they shine in all the colors of the rainbow, while yours are so pale! I am dressed like a king!”
“That’s true,” the Crane answered, “but I can fly high above, among the clouds and the stars and I can see all the beauty of the earth in all its
glory, while you live down here just like any other cock.”
Fine feathers don’t make fine birds.

14. The Hares and the Frogs
The Hares, persecuted by the other beasts and afraid even of their own shadows, had a council to
decide what to do. The conclusion they came to was to die rather than live on with this shame. So, they
went to a pond, determined to drown themselves.
But when they were just about to jump, some Frogs who had been sitting on a water lily, startled by the
noise they made, rushed to the deep water for safety.
“Look,” cried a Hare, “there are creatures who are even afraid of us, so things are not so bad, after all.
We don’t need to die any more.”
However unfortunate we may think we are, there is always someone worse off than ourselves.

15. Aesop Fables 2
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The Lion and the Mouse
Once when a Lion was asleep a little Mouse began running up and down upon him; this soon wakened the Lion, who placed his
huge paw upon him, and opened his big jaws to swallow him. "Pardon, O King," cried the little Mouse: "forgive me this time, I shall
never forget it: who knows but what I may be able to do you a turn some of these days?" The Lion was so tickled at the idea of the
Mouse being able to help him, that he lifted up his paw and let him go. Some time after the Lion was caught in a trap, and the
hunters who desired to carry him alive to the King, tied him to a tree while they went in search of a waggon to carry him on. Just then
the little Mouse happened to pass by, and seeing the sad plight in which the Lion was, went up to him and soon gnawed away the
ropes that bound the King of the Beasts. "Was I not right?" said the little Mouse.
Little friends may prove great friends.

16. The Wind and the Sun
The Wind and the Sun were disputing which was the stronger. Suddenly they saw a traveller coming down the road, and the Sun
said: "I see a way to decide our dispute. Whichever of us can cause that traveller to take off his cloak shall be regarded as the
stronger. You begin." So the Sun retired behind a cloud, and the Wind began to blow as hard as it could upon the traveller. But the
harder he blew the more closely did the traveller wrap his cloak round him, till at last the Wind had to give up in despair. Then the
Sun came out and shone in all his glory upon the traveller, who soon found it too hot to walk with his cloak on.
Kindness effects more than severity.

17. The Fox and the Goat
By an unlucky chance a Fox fell into a deep well from which he could not get out. A Goat passed by shortly afterwards, and asked
the Fox what he was doing down there. "Oh, have you not heard?" said the Fox; "there is going to be a great drought, so I jumped
down here in order to be sure to have water by me. Why don't you come down too?" The Goat thought well of this advice, and
jumped down into the well. But the Fox immediately jumped on her back, and by putting his foot on her long horns managed to jump
up to the edge of the well. "Good-bye, friend," said the Fox, "remember next time,
"Never trust the advice of a man in difficulties."

18. The Miser and His Gold
Once upon a time there was a Miser who used to hide his gold at the foot of a tree in his garden; but every week he used to go and
dig it up and gloat over his gains. A robber, who had noticed this, went and dug up the gold and decamped with it. When the Miser
next came to gloat over his treasures, he found nothing but the empty hole. He tore his hair, and raised such an outcry that all the
neighbours came around him, and he told them how he used to come and visit his gold. "Did you ever take any of it out?" asked one
of them.
"Nay," said he, "I only came to look at it."
"Then come again and look at the hole," said a neighbour; "it will do you just as much good."
Wealth unused might as well not exist.

19. The Fox, the Cock, and the Dog
One moonlight night a Fox was prowling about a farmer's hen-coop, and saw a Cock roosting high up beyond his reach. "Good
news, good news!" he cried.
"Why, what is that?" said the Cock.
"King Lion has declared a universal truce. No beast may hurt a bird henceforth, but all shall dwell together in brotherly friendship."
"Why, that is good news," said the Cock; "and there I see some one coming, with whom we can share the good tidings." And so
saying he craned his neck forward and looked afar off.
"What is it you see?" said the Fox.
"It is only my master's Dog that is coming towards us. What, going so soon?" he continued, as the Fox began to turn away as soon
as he had heard the news. "Will you not stop and congratulate the Dog on the reign of universal peace?"
"I would gladly do so," said the Fox, "but I fear he may not have heard of King Lion's decree."
Cunning often outwits itself.

20. The Dog and the Wolf
A gaunt Wolf was almost dead with hunger when he happened to meet a House-dog who was passing by. "Ah, Cousin," said the
Dog. "I knew how it would be; your irregular life will soon be the ruin of you. Why do you not work steadily as I do, and get your food
regularly given to you?"
"I would have no objection," said the Wolf, "if I could only get a place."
"I will easily arrange that for you," said the Dog; "come with me to my master and you shall share my work."
So the Wolf and the Dog went towards the town together. On the way there the Wolf noticed that the hair on a certain part of the
Dog's neck was very much worn away, so he asked him how that had come about.
"Oh, it is nothing," said the Dog. "That is only the place where the collar is put on at night to keep me chained up; it chafes a bit, but
one soon gets used to it."
"Is that all?" said the Wolf. "Then good-bye to you, Master Dog."
Better starve free than be a fat slave.

21. The Fox and the Stork
At one time the Fox and the Stork were on visiting terms and seemed very good friends. So the Fox invited the Stork to dinner, and
for a joke put nothing before her but some soup in a very shallow dish. This the Fox could easily lap up, but the Stork could only wet
the end of her long bill in it, and left the meal as hungry as when she began. "I am sorry," said the Fox, "the soup is not to your
liking."
"Pray do not apologise," said the Stork. "I hope you will return this visit, and come and dine with me soon." So a day was appointed
when the Fox should visit the Stork; but when they were seated at table all that was for their dinner was contained in a very long-
necked jar with a narrow mouth, in which the Fox could not insert his snout, so all he could manage to do was to lick the outside of
the jar.
"I will not apologise for the dinner," said the Stork:
"One bad turn deserves another."

22. The Milkmaid and Her Pail
Patty the Milkmaid was going to market carrying her milk in a Pail on her head. As she went along she began calculating what she
would do with the money she would get for the milk. "I'll buy some fowls from Farmer Brown," said she, "and they will lay eggs each
morning, which I will sell to the parson's wife. With the money that I get from the sale of these eggs I'll buy myself a new dimity frock
and a chip hat; and when I go to market, won't all the young men come up and speak to me! Polly Shaw will be that jealous; but I
don't care. I shall just look at her and toss my head like this. As she spoke she tossed her head back, the Pail fell off it, and all the
milk was spilt. So she had to go home and tell her mother what had occurred.
"Ah, my child," said the mother,
"Do not count your chickens before they are hatched."

23. The Goose With the Golden Eggs
One day a countryman going to the nest of his Goose found there an egg all yellow and glittering. When he took it up it was as
heavy as lead and he was going to throw it away, because he thought a trick had been played upon him. But he took it home on
second thoughts, and soon found to his delight that it was an egg of pure gold. Every morning the same thing occurred, and he soon
became rich by selling his eggs. As he grew rich he grew greedy; and thinking to get at once all the gold the Goose could give, he
killed it and opened it only to find nothing.
Greed oft o'er reaches itself..

24. The Crow and the Pitcher
A Crow, half-dead with thirst, came upon a Pitcher
which had once been full of water; but when the
Crow put its beak into the mouth of the Pitcher he
found that only very little water was left in it, and
that he could not reach far enough down to get at it.
He tried, and he tried, but at last had to give up in
despair. Then a thought came to him, and he took
a pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher. Then he
took another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher.
Then he took another pebble and dropped that into
the Pitcher. Then he took another pebble and
dropped that into the Pitcher. Then he took another
pebble and dropped that into the Pitcher. Then he
took another pebble and dropped that into the
Pitcher. At last, at last, he saw the water mount up
near him, and after casting in a few more pebbles
he was able to quench his thirst and save his life.
Little by little does the trick.

25. The Peacock's Complaint
A peacock was very unhappy with his ugly voice, and he spent most of his days complaining about it.
"It is true that you cannot sing," said the fox, "But look how beautiful you are!"
"Oh, but what good is all this beauty," moaned the dishearten bird, "with such an unpleasant voice!"
"Oh hear," said the fox, "Each one has it's special gift. You have such beauty, the nightingale has his song,
the owl has his eyes, and the eagle his strength. Even if you had a eloquent voice, you would still complain
about another thing."
Do not envy the gifts of others. Make the most of your own.