THE FROGS AND THEIR KING 76 THE STAG, THE CROW, AND THE WOLF 78 THE FIELD OF CORN 79 THE HAWK, THE ROOKS, AND THE CAT 80 THE COCK AND THE FOX 81 THE WOLF AND THE STORK 82 THE JAY AND THE OWL 83 THE NURSE AND THE SNAKE 83 THE LARK AND THE FINCH 84 THE DOVE AND THE ANT 84 THE MAID AND HER MILK PAIL 85 THE HARE AND HER FRIENDS 86 THE ASS AND THE LAP DOG 87 [Illustration: The Horse and the Ass.--Page 10. _Æsop._] [Illustration] AESOP’S FABLES. THE BOY AND THE WOLF. A boy, who kept watch on a flock of sheep, was heard from time to time to call out, “The Wolf! The Wolf!” in mere sport. Scores of times, in this way, had he drawn the men in the fields from their work. But when they found it was a joke, they made up their minds that, should the boy call “Wolf” once more, they would not stir to help him. The wolf, at last, did come. “The Wolf! The Wolf!” shrieks out the boy, in great fear, but none will now heed his cries, and the wolf kills the boy, that he may feast on the sheep. One knows not how to trust those who speak lies, though they may tell one the truth. [Illustration: The Boy and the Wolf.--Page 9. _Æsop._] BOYS AND FROGS. Some boys were at play at the edge of a pond, and, as their game was “ducks and drakes,” they had to throw stones with as much force as they could, to the great harm of some poor frogs in the pool. At length one of them, who was more brave than the rest, put his head out of the pond and said, “Oh, dear young sirs, stop, I pray you, for what is sport to you is death to us!” THE WAR HORSE AND THE ASS. A fine horse broke loose from his stall, and as he ran down the road with a loud, shrill neigh, he met an ass with a load on his back, to whom he said, in a proud tone, that if he did not make way for him, he would kick him with his heels, and tread him in the dust. The poor ass held his peace, and made room for him as fast as he could. In course of time the horse went to the wars, and was shot in the eye, which so spoilt his good looks, that he was sent to work on the farm. Stript of all his pomp, he was met by the ass, who said to him. “Ha! is it you? Your state is now as low as mine. I thought your pride would have a fall some day!” THE FOX AND THE GRAPES.