And it was so obtained, but by a fresh bear, the other being dead. This narrative exhibits one aspect of the "Fabian policy." XLV. A cat seeing a mouse with a piece of cheese, said: "I would not eat that, if I were you, for I think it is poisoned. However, if you will allow me to examine it, I will tell you certainly whether it is or not." While the mouse was thinking what it was best to do, the cat had fully made up her mind, and was kind enough to examine both the cheese and the mouse in a manner highly satisfactory to herself, but the mouse has never returned to give _his_ opinion. XLVI. An improvident man, who had quarrelled with his wife concerning household expenses, took her and the children out on the lawn, intending to make an example of her. Putting himself in an attitude of aggression, and turning to his offspring, he said: "You will observe, my darlings, that domestic offences are always punished with a loss of blood. Make a note of this and be wise." He had no sooner spoken than a starving mosquito settled upon his nose, and began to assist in enforcing the lesson. "My officious friend," said the man, "when I require illustrations from the fowls of the air, you may command my patronage. The deep interest you take in my affairs is, at present, a trifle annoying." [Illustration] "I do not find it so," the mosquito would have replied had he been at leisure, "and am convinced that our respective points of view are so widely dissimilar as not to afford the faintest hope of reconciling our opinions upon collateral points. Let us be thankful that upon the main question of bloodletting we perfectly agree." When the bird had concluded, the man's convictions were quite unaltered, but he was too weak to resume the discussion; and, although blood is thicker than water, the children were constrained to confess that the stranger had the best of it. This fable teaches. XLVII. "I hate snakes who bestow their caresses with interested partiality or fastidious discrimination," boasted a boa constrictor. "_My_ affection is unbounded; it embraces all animated nature. I am the universal shepherd; I gather all manner of living things into my folds. Entertainment here for man and beast!" "I should be glad of one of your caresses," said a porcupine, meekly; "it has been some time since I got a loving embrace." So saying, he nestled snugly and confidingly against the large-hearted serpent--who fled. A comprehensive philanthropy may be devoid of prejudices, but it has its preferences all the same. XLVIII. During a distressing famine in China a starving man met a fat pig, who, seeing no chance of escape, walked confidently up to the superior animal, and said: "Awful famine! isn't it?" "Quite dreadful!" replied the man, eyeing him with an evident purpose: "almost impossible to obtain meat."