[Illustration: The Fox and The Stork] [Illustrations] A fox one day invited a Stork to dinner, and being disposed to divert himself at the expense of his guest, provided nothing for dinner but some thin soup in a shallow dish. This the Fox lapped up very readily, while the Stork, unable to gain a mouthful with her long narrow bill, was as hungry at the end of dinner as when she began. The Fox, meanwhile, said he was very sorry to see her eat so sparingly, and hoped that the dish was seasoned to her mind. The Stork, seeing that she was played upon, took no notice of it, but pretended to enjoy herself extremely; and at parting begged the Fox to return the visit. So he agreed to dine with her the next day. He arrived in good time, and dinner was ordered forthwith; but when it was served up, he found to his dismay, that it was nothing but minced meat in a tall, narrow-necked jar. Down this the Stork easily thrust her long neck and bill, while the Fox had to content himself with licking the outside of the jar. "I am very glad," said the Stork, "that you seem to have so good an appetite; and I hope you will make as hearty a dinner at my table as I did the other day at yours." At this the Fox hung down his head and showed his teeth--"Nay, nay," said the Stork, "don't pretend to be out of humour about the matter; they that cannot take a jest should never make one." [Illustration] THE ANTS AND THE GRASSHOPPER [Illustration: The Ants and the Grasshopper] [Illustration] On a cold frosty day in winter, the Ants were dragging out some of the corn which they had laid up in summer-time, so as to air it. The Grasshopper, half-starved with hunger, begged the ants to give him a morsel of it to save his life. "Nay," said they, "but you should have worked in the summer, and you would not have wanted in winter." [Illustration] "Well," says the Grasshopper, "but I was not idle either, for I sung out the whole season!" "Nay, then," said the Ants," you'll do well to make a merry year of it, and dance in winter to the tune that you sung in summer. " [Illustration] THE LION AND THE MOUSE [Illustration: The Lion and The Mouse]