"It is not easy to see how, with his present appliances, he could obtain anything else." This fable teaches nothing; for those who perceive the meaning of it either knew it before, or will not be taught. XCV. A pious heathen who was currying favour with his wooden deity by sitting for some years motionless in a treeless plain, observed a young ivy putting forth her tender shoots at his feet. He thought he could endure the additional martyrdom of a little shade, and begged her to make herself quite at home. "Exactly," said the plant; "it is my mission to adorn venerable ruins." She lapped her clinging tendrils about his wasted shanks, and in six months had mantled him in green. "It is now time," said the devotee, a year later, "for me to fulfil the remainder of my religious vow. I must put in a few seasons of howling and leaping. You have been very good, but I no longer require your gentle ministrations." "But I require yours," replied the vine; "you have become a second nature to me. Let others indulge in the delights of gymnastic worship; you and I will 'surfer and be strong'--respectively." The devotee muttered something about the division of labour, and his bones are still pointed out to the pilgrim. XCVI. A fox seeing a swan afloat, called out: "What ship is that? I wish to take passage by your line." "Got a ticket?" inquired the fowl. "No; I'll make it all right with the company, though." So the swan moored alongside, and he embarked,--deck passage. When they were well off shore the fox intimated that dinner would be agreeable. "I would advise you not to try the ship's provisions," said the bird; "we have only salt meat on board. Beware the scurvy!" "You are quite right," replied the passenger; "I'll see if I can stay my stomach with the foremast." So saying he bit off her neck, and she immediately capsizing, he was drowned. MORAL--highly so, but not instructive. XCVII. A monkey finding a heap of cocoa-nuts, gnawed into one, then dropped it, gagging hideously. "Now, this is what _I_ call perfectly disgusting!" said he: "I can never leave anything lying about but some one comes along and puts a quantity of nasty milk into it!" A cat just then happening to pass that way began rolling the cocoa-nuts about with her paw. "Yeow!" she exclaimed; "it is enough to vex the soul of a cast-iron dog! Whenever I set out any milk to cool, somebody comes and seals it up tight as a drum!" Then perceiving one another, and each thinking the other the offender, these enraged animals contended, and wrought a mutual extermination. Whereby two worthy consumers were lost to society, and a quantity of excellent food had to be given to the poor. XCVIII. A mouse who had overturned an earthern jar was discovered by a cat, who entered from an adjoining room and began to upbraid him in the harshest and most threatening manner.