The scheme that puss had in her head was to steal out at night for her prey, and peep all day at her hole, that the sow and the kite might think she was in great dread. This plan put them both in such a fright, that the kite did not dare to stir out in search of food, for fear of the sow, nor the sow for fear of the kite; and the end of it was that they and their young ones were all kept in their homes to starve, and so were made a prey of by the cat. THE MAN AND THE PERCH. A man went to fish in a fresh stream, and caught a small perch, who said, “I pray of you to save my life, and put me in the stream once more, for as I am but young and small now, it is not so well worth your while to take me as it will be some time hence, when I am grown a large fish.” “So you think,” said the man; “but I am not one of those who give up that which is at hand for that which is far off; nor do I make sure of fish, flesh, or fowl till I have got it, for one bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” [Illustration] All is fish that comes to the net. THE ROSE AND THE CLAY. A man in the East by chance took up a piece of clay which lay in his path, and was much struck to find it smell so sweet. “It is but a poor piece of clay,” said he, “a mean clod of earth, yet how sweet is it! How fresh! But whence has it this scent?” The clay said, “I have dwelt with the rose.” Make friends with the good if you wish to be like them. THE OX AND THE CALF. In days of old, a calf that ran wild in some fields near Rome, and had not yet felt the yoke, said to an old ox, “Dull slave! How can you drudge on in this way from day to day with a plough at your tail? Look at me, see how I skip and play!” The ox said not a word, but went on with his work. The next day there was a great feast held at Rome, so the ox did not go to the plough; but his friend the calf, was led off in great pomp to be slain, with a wreath round his neck. “If this is the last scene of your gay life,” said the ox, “let me drudge on at the plough, for the yoke is more to my mind than the ax.” Of two ills, choose the least. [Illustration: The Ox and the Calf.--Page 44. _Æsop._] THE WOLVES AND THE SHEEP. The wolves and the sheep had been for a long time at war. At last the wolves said, “It is the dogs that are the cause of it all; they bark if we do but come near you. Now, if you will but send them off from your heels, we, on our part, will give up our young ones to you.” The poor sheep thought it a fair thing; but as soon as the change was made, the young cubs set up a howl for want of their dams. On this the old wolves gave out that the peace was at an end; so they fell on the sheep, who, as they had lost their best friends, the dogs, had none now to help them, and were torn to death by the wolves.