A man who sold doves in the East threw down some grains of rice in a wood, and flung a net on the top of them in such a way that it could not be seen in the grass, and then hid close by to watch. Soon the king of the wild doves, “Smooth Neck” by name, flew up to the spot with his train, and said, “Whence can all these grains of rice come? Let it be seen to. Eat them not yet.” But the doves, drawn by greed, set to work to pick them up, and they were all caught in the net. “Ha!” said Smooth Neck, “I thought this might be the work of a foe. You would not wait, as I told you to do, and this has come of it. Hark to the plan which I have in hand. We know that small things may work out great ends, and that huge beasts may be bound with straws made firm in a thick rope. Now, all put out your strength at once, take up the net, and fly off.” This they did, and the man who had set the snare was much struck to see his net borne off in the air by the birds. “This is well,” said one of the doves, “but what are we to do now, with these toils on our feet?” Smooth Neck said, “We are in an ill plight, but Gold Fur, the wise king of the mice, may help us.” So he went in search of Gold Fur’s hole, which had scores of small doors that led to it, deep down in the ground. The good mouse came out to meet them, and when he had heard their tale, he said, “As long as my teeth do not break, I will gnaw the nets for you.” So with his sharp teeth he cut the snare, and set them all free. Then, with great joy, the king of the doves bent low his smooth neck to him, and said, “How much we owe to you! Think of us as your slaves for life; for a friend in need is the best friend of all.” THE COCK AND THE GEM. A cock came down from his roost at break of day, and set up a loud, shrill crow; he then went to work to scratch the ground in search of food for the hens. By and by, what should he turn up but a bright gem. He gave it a kick and said, “Ha! you are a fine thing, no doubt; but, to my mind, one good grain of wheat is worth all the gems in the world.” Do not cast pearls to swine. [Illustration: The Cock and the Gem.--Page 19. _Æsop._] THE OAK AND THE REED. An oak which stood on the side of a brook was torn up by the roots in a storm, and as the wind took it down the stream, its boughs caught on some reeds which grew on the bank. “How strange it is,” said the oak, “that such a slight and frail thing as a reed should face the blast, while my proud front, which till now has stood like an Alp, is torn down, root and branch!” A reed, which caught the sound of these words, said, in soft tones, “If I may be free with you, I think the cause of it lies in your pride of heart. You are stiff and hard, and trust in your own strength, while we yield and bow to the rough blast.” It is worse to break than to bend. THE KID AND THE WOLF.