A Goose that was once cackling with great pride thought that a Mushroom was gazing at it, and said, "You contemptible thing, why do you stare at me like that? You can never hope to meet me on terms of equality, can you?" "Certainly, madam," said the Mushroom "and that very soon." This enraged the Goose more, so she said, "I would cut you up in pieces with my bill but for the people who are close by, and who are so silly as to care for you," and went strutting away. Soon after the Goose and Mushroom were served up in separate dishes, very near each other. "Ah," said the Mushroom, "you see we have met after all, and so closely." _Those who have a common fate in the end had better be friends._ THE FABLES OF PILPAY THE HINDU Pilpay is thought to have been a Hindu who lived many centuries before Jesus was born, and who wrote fables that have been translated into almost every language. His fables are older than those of Æsop. THE FOX AND THE HEN A hungry Fox, spying a fine fat Hen, made up his mind to eat her. But as he was about to spring upon her he heard a great noise, and looking up, saw a drum hanging upon a tree. As the wind blew, the branches beat upon the drum. "Ah!" said he. "A thing that can make so much noise must certainly have more flesh upon it than a miserable hen." So, allowing the Hen to escape, he sprang upon the drum; but when he tore the parchment head open he found that there was nothing inside. "Wretched being that I am," said he. "I have missed a dainty meal for nothing at all." _By being too greedy we may miss everything that is worth having._ THE THREE FISHES Three Fishes lived in a pond. The first was wise, the second had a little sense, and the third was foolish. A fisherman saw the fish, and went home for his net in order that he might catch them. "I must get out of this pond at once," said the Wise Fish. And he threw himself into a little channel that led to a river. The others did not trouble at all. Presently the Fisherman returned with his net, and stopped up the channel leading to the river. The Second Fish wished he had followed the example of the Wise Fish; but he soon thought of a plan to escape. He floated upside down on the surface of the water, and the fisherman, thinking he was dead, did not trouble about him any more. But the Foolish Fish was caught, and taken home to be eaten. _We should all endeavor to be wise._ THE FALCON AND THE HEN "How ungrateful you must be!" said a Falcon to a Hen. "You are fed with the best of food, you have a snug bed provided for you at night, you are protected from foxes, and yet, when the men who do all this for you want to take hold of you, you run away and do not return their caresses. Now, I do not receive anything like so many benefits, and yet I allow the men to hold me, and I serve them when they go hunting in the field."