“There is no comfort in the house,” said Brown-back. “If I but step into the pantry to pick up a few crumbs, down comes the Cat, and I have hardly time to run to my nest again.” “What can we do?” asked Gray-ear. “Shall we all run at her at once and bite her, and frighten her away?” “No,” said White-whisker; “she is so bold we could not frighten her. I have thought of something better than that. Let us hang a bell round her neck. Then, if she moves, the bell will ring, and we shall hear it, and have time to run away.” “O yes! yes!” cried all the Mice. “That is a capital idea. We will bell the Cat! Hurrah! hurrah! No more fear of the Cat!” and they danced in glee. When their glee had subsided a little, Brown-back asked, “But who will hang the bell round her neck?” No one answered. “Will you?” he asked of White-whisker. “I don’t think I can,” replied White-whisker; “I am lame, you know. It needs some one who can move quickly.” “Will you, Gray-ear?” said Brown-back. “Excuse me,” answered Gray-ear; “I have not been well since that time when I was almost caught in the trap.” “Who will bell the Cat, then?” said Brown-back. “If it is to be done, some one must do it.” Not a sound was heard, and one by one the little Mice stole away to their holes, no better off than they were before. When there is trouble there is need of some one to act, as well as some one to advise. THE KID AND THE WOLF A KID coming home alone one night met a big Wolf. “Oh, oh, I know you will kill me,” said the little Kid; “but please play me a tune, so that I may have one more dance before I die; I am so fond of dancing.” “Very well,” said the Wolf, “I will try, for I should like to see you dance before I eat you.” Then the Wolf took up the shepherd’s pipe that was lying near, and began to play. But while he was playing, and the Kid was dancing a jig, the Dogs heard the sound, and came running up. “It is my own fault,” said the Wolf, as the Dogs caught him. “My business is to kill Kids and eat them, and not to play for them to dance. Why did I try to be a Piper, when I am really only a Butcher?” “You didn’t play very well, either,” said the Kid. THE HAWK AND THE NIGHTINGALE A NIGHTINGALE sitting on the top of an oak, singing her evening song, was spied by a hungry Hawk, who swooped down and seized her. The frightened Nightingale prayed the Hawk to let her go. “If you are hungry,” said she, “why not catch some large bird? I am not big enough for even a luncheon.” “Do you happen to see many large birds flying about?” said the Hawk. “You are the only bird I have seen to-day, and I should be foolish indeed to let you go for the sake of larger birds that are not in sight. A morsel is better than nothing.” THE CROW AND THE PITCHER A THIRSTY Crow once spied a pitcher, and flew to it to see if by chance there was any water in it.