"My dear sir," said the Fox, as he retreated to the wood, "it was last night I had a good meal on your Hens and Chicks, yet you did not know of it. A moment ago they found me lying in the field, and you knew of it at once." _Ill news travels fast!_ THE FROG AND THE SNAKE A Snake and a Frog were friends in a pond. The Snake taught the Frog to hiss, and the Frog taught the Snake to croak. The Snake would hide in the reeds and croak. The Frogs would say, "Why, there is one of us," and come near. The Snake would then dart at them, and eat all he could seize. The Frog would hide in the reeds and hiss. His kin would say, "Why, there is the Snake," and keep off. After some time, the Frogs found out the trick of the Snake, and took care not to come near him. Thus the Snake got no Frogs to eat for a long time; so he seized his friend to gobble him up. The Frog then said, though too late, "By becoming your friend, I lost the company of my kindred, and am now losing my life." _One's neck to fate one has to bend, when one would make so bad a friend!_ THE ASSEMBLY OF ANIMALS Once there was a great assembly of the animals in a wood. The Lion said, "Look how great my valor! 'Tis this that makes me king of the woods." The Fox said, "Look, how deep my cunning! 'Tis this that feeds me so well." The Peacock said, "Look, how bright my feathers! 'Tis this that makes me the wonder and admiration of the wood." The Elephant said, "Look, how long and powerful my tusks! there is nothing that can resist them." A Toad, who lived secure in the heart of a rock, close by, said, "'Tis the Lion's valor that leads him to the herds, and gets him killed by the hunters. 'Tis the Fox's cunning that brings him to the furrier at last. 'Tis the plumes of the Peacock that men covet; hence his ruin. The Elephant is hunted for his tusks, and they are his bane." _In the mark of your vanity is your death!_ THE COCK AND HIS THREE HENS A Cock, named Crimson Crest, was once strutting about with his three hens, Meek Love, Bright Wit, and Fine Feather. The hens, being in very good spirits, said, "Ah, how we love you!" "Why do you love me at all?" said Crimson Crest. "Because," said they, "of the noble qualities that adorn your mind." "Are you sure," said he, "you love me for the qualities that adorn my mind?" "Yes, we are," said the three with one voice. After having gone over some distance, Crimson Crest dropped down like one dead. Meek Love wept, saying, "Ah, how he loved us!" Bright Wit wept, saying, "Ah, how well he crowed!" Fine Feather wept, saying, "Ah, what bright plumes he had!" Crimson Crest some time after showed signs of life. Meek Love cried, "Oh, live and love us again!" Bright Wit cried, "Oh, let us hear your crowing again!" Fine Feather cried, "Oh, let us see your bright plumes again!"