A man and his son drove their ass to a fair to sell him. They had not gone far, when one of a group of girls, who stood round a well, said, with a laugh, “Look at those two fools--they let their ass walk at his ease, while they trudge on foot by his side.” The man heard this, and set his son on the beast. They had not gone more than half a mile, when they came up to some old men who sat in grave talk. “There,” said one of them, “that just proves what I say; now a days the young take no care of the old; see, that young rogue rides, while the old man has to walk by his side. Get down, and let your sire rest his limbs.” At this the man made his son jump off the ass, that he might ride him. Thus they went on for a space, when they met three kind dames, each with a child on her arm. “Why, you old sloth,” said one of them, “what a shame to sit at ease while that poor slight lad can scarce keep pace by the side of you!” The man then took his son on the croup of the ass by his side, and so they rode till they got near the town. “Pray, good friend,” said a young man who met them, “is that ass your own?” “Yes,” said he. “One would not have thought so by the way you load him. Why, it seems to me more fit that you two should take him to the fair, than that he should take you.” “Well, be it so,” said the old man; “we can but try.” So they got off, and made fast the legs of the ass to a pole, which each took hold of at one end, and so went on their way, till they came to a bridge. This was a rare sight, and so the boys and girls thought, for they ran in crowds to laugh at the farce, till the ass--which took fright at the noise--gave a kick which broke the cords that bound him; so he fell in the stream, and sank. The old man then made the best of his way home, and said, “If we try to please all, we please none.” [Illustration: THE MAN, HIS SON, AND HIS ASS.] THE FOX AND THE CRANE. A fox that had been out to poach, had got hurt in a trap, and lay at the point of death. For a long time he sought in vain for aid, but at last he saw a crane, and said to her, “I beg of you to bring me some drink to quench my thirst, for I might then gain strength to go in search of food.” “Not far in search, I think,” said the crane, “for were I to bring you drink, I make no doubt that the food would come with me.” Play not with edge tools. THE OLD HEN AND HER YOUNG ONES. [Illustration]