"Thanks!" said the owl, chuckling at the fool's simplicity; and, having plenty of time to indulge his facetious humour, he gravely installed himself upon the perch indicated, and shutting his eyes, counterfeited a profound slumber. He was aroused soon after by a sharp constriction of the throat. "I omitted to tell you," said the cock, "that the seat you happen by the merest chance to occupy is a contested one, and has been fruitful of hens to this vexatious weasel. I don't know _how_ often I have been partially widowed by the sneaking villain." For obvious reasons there was no audible reply. This narrative is intended to teach the folly--the worse than sin!--of trumping your partner's ace. LXIV. A fat cow who saw herself detected by an approaching horse while perpetrating stiff and ungainly gambols in the spring sunshine, suddenly assumed a severe gravity of gait, and a sedate solemnity of expression that would have been creditable to a Brahmin. "Fine morning!" said the horse, who, fired by her example, was curvetting lithely and tossing his head. "That rather uninteresting fact," replied the cow, attending strictly to her business as a ruminant, "does not impress me as justifying your execution of all manner of unseemly contortions, as a preliminary to accosting an entire stranger." "Well, n--no," stammered the horse; "I--I suppose not. Fact is I--I--no offence, I hope." And the unhappy charger walked soberly away, dazed by the preternatural effrontery of that placid cow. When overcome by the dignity of any one you chance to meet, try to have this fable about you. LXV. "What have you there on your back?" said a zebra, jeeringly, to a "ship of the desert" in ballast. "Only a bale of gridirons," was the meek reply. "And what, pray, may you design doing with them?" was the incredulous rejoinder. "What am I to do with gridirons?" repeated the camel, contemptuously. "Nice question for _you_, who have evidently just come off one!" People who wish to throw stones should not live in glass houses; but there ought to be a few in their vicinity. LXVI. A cat, waking out of a sound sleep, saw a mouse sitting just out of reach, observing her. Perceiving that at the slightest movement of hers the mouse would recollect an engagement, she put on a look of extreme amiability, and said: "Oh! it's you, is it? Do you know, I thought at first you were a frightful great rat; and I am _so_ afraid of rats! I feel so much relieved--you don't know! Of course you have heard that I am a great friend to the dear little mice?" [Illustration] "Yes," was the answer, "I have heard that you love us indifferently well, and my mission here was to bless you while you slept. But as you will wish to go and get your breakfast, I won't bore you. Fine morning--isn't it? _Au revoir!"_