In the days of yore the frogs met to beg of Jove to send them a king. So he threw them a log, and said, “There’s a king for you--a good, mild one!” Well, King Log came on the pond with such a splash, that the frogs took fright at him. Some sought the mud, and some the reeds; and, for a long time, there was not one that would dare to take a peep. By and by, when they saw that King Log lay quite still, they said, “See, he sleeps!” Some came round him, and up to him, till, one by one they leapt on his back, and at last held him quite in scorn. So, with harsh croaks, they beg of Jove to change him for one with more life; in short, a king that would move. Jove then sent them an eel, and he, too, was too tame for them; and, a third time, they ask of Jove to choose for them a king with more strength of will. This time, he sent them a stork, who, day by day, made the frogs his prey, till there were none left to croak on the lake, save one, and he shook his head, and said, “If we had had the sense to keep well, there would have been no need to mend our state. Now we have found to our loss what we did not seek.” Set not the Fox to keep the Geese. [Illustration: The Frogs and their King--Page 76. _Æsop._] THE STAG, THE CROW, AND THE WOLF. A wolf saw a plump stag, and thought, How can I feast on his flesh? Then he drew near, and said, “All hail be to thee!” and made friends with the stag. “Hey day! whom have you here?” quoth a crow that flew by. The stag told him that he was a good wolf. “Have a care!” said the crow; “trust him not.” Yet the stag took no heed of his words, but let the wolf lead him at night to feed in a field that had a crop of ripe wheat in it. Now, there was a trap in the field, and the poor stag was caught by the feet. “This is well,” thought the wolf; “for when his flesh is cut up, the bones, and what is left, will be for me.” The crow flew to the spot, but could give his friend no aid. The next day the man who set the snare came with a knife in his hand to kill the stag. “If you care for your life,” quoth the crow, “lie quite still, and seem to be dead; but when I give a caw, start up at once, and take to your heels as fast as you can.” So the stag lay down quite stiff, held his breath, and shut his eyes. When the man came up, he thought the stag was dead, and took him from the toils, and went a few steps off to fold up the net, when the crow’s voice was heard, and the stag ran off at full speed. In the mean time the wolf came up to seek for his feast, and was slain by the man. Bad faith is like to fall back on the head of those who make use of it. THE FIELD OF CORN.