As they fell groaning and crashing to the ground, they said mournfully one to another, “Our kindness was misplaced. We suffer for our own foolishness.” THE JACKDAW AND THE SHEEP A JACKDAW sat chattering upon the back of a Sheep. “Peace, I pray you, noisy bird,” said the Sheep. “You are wearing my life out If I were a dog, you would not think of serving me so.” “That is true,” replied the Jackdaw; “you are right. I never meddle with the surly and revengeful; but I love to plague gentle, helpless creatures like you, that can not do me any harm in return.” “I wonder if all cowards are not like the Jackdaw,” mused the Sheep, as it went on contentedly browsing on the hillside. THE CAT AND THE COCK A HUNGRY Cat, who had tried in vain to find a Mouse for her supper, at last caught a young Cock. “You are a noisy creature,” she said to him, “and have lived long enough. You disturb every one in the house by your loud crowing in the morning.” “You are mistaken,” answered the Cock; “I disturb no one. I crow to wake the family. They would not know when to get up but for me.” “Never mind,” said the Cat; “don’t trouble yourself to make excuses; I have had no breakfast and no dinner; I shall eat you for my supper.” THE WOLF AND THE GOAT A WOLF saw a Goat feeding at the top of a steep precipice, where he could not reach her. “My dear friend,” said the Wolf, “be careful! I am afraid you will fall and break your neck. Do come down to the meadow, where the grass is fresh and green.” “Are you very hungry?” said the Goat. “And is it your dinner time? And would you like to eat me? I think I will not go down to the meadow to-day, thank you.” And she capered contentedly about on the edge of the rock, as safe from falling as she was from the greedy Wolf with his false care for her. [Illustration] THE HEN AND THE SWALLOW A HEN who had no nest of her own found some eggs, and, in the kindness of her heart, thought she would take care of them, and keep them warm. But they were the eggs of a viper; and by and by the little snakes began to come out of the shell. A Swallow, who was passing, stopped to look at them. “What a foolish creature you were, to hatch those eggs!” said the Swallow. “Don’t you know that as soon as the little snakes grow big enough, they will bite some one—probably _you_ first of all?” “Then,” said the Hen, as she stood on one leg and looked at the ugly little snakes, first with one eye and then with the other, “you think I have done more harm than good?” “I certainly do,” said the Swallow, as she flew away. “Good judgment is better than thoughtless kindness.” STONE BROTH ONE very stormy day a Poor Man came to a rich man’s house to beg. “Away with you!” said the servants; “do not come here troubling us.” Then said the Man, “Only let me come in and dry my clothes at your fire.” This, the servants thought, would not cost them anything; so they let him come in.