The Aesop for Children - The Original Classic Edition. Aesop Aesop

       Jupiter saw what simple and foolish creatures they were, but to keep them quiet and make them think they had a king he threw down a huge log, which fell into the water with a great splash. The Frogs hid themselves among the reeds and grasses, thinking the new king to be some fearful giant. But they soon discovered how tame and peaceable King Log was. In a short time the younger Frogs were using him for a diving platform, while the older Frogs made him a meeting place, where they complained loudly to Jupiter

       about the government.

       To teach the Frogs a lesson the ruler of the gods now sent a Crane to be king of Frogland. The Crane proved to be a very different sort of king from old King Log. He gobbled up the poor Frogs right and left and they soon saw what fools they had been. In mournful croaks they begged Jupiter to take away the cruel tyrant before they should all be destroyed.

       "How now!" cried Jupiter "Are you not yet content? You have what you asked for and so you have only yourselves to blame for your misfortunes."

       Be sure you can better your condition before you seek to change.[Pg 30] THE OWL AND THE GRASSHOPPER

       The Owl always takes her sleep during the day. Then after sundown, when the rosy light fades from the sky and the shadows rise slowly through the wood, out she comes ruffling and blinking from the old hollow tree. Now her weird "hoo-hoo-hoo-oo-oo" ech-oes through the quiet wood, and she begins her hunt for the bugs and beetles, frogs and mice she likes so well to eat.

       Now there was a certain old Owl who had become very cross and hard to please as she grew older, especially if anything disturbed her daily slumbers. One warm summer afternoon as she dozed away in her den in the old oak tree, a Grasshopper nearby began

       a joyous but very raspy song. Out popped the old Owl's head from the opening in the tree that served her both for door and for

       window.

       "Get away from here, sir," she said to the Grasshopper. "Have you no manners? You should at least respect my age and leave me to sleep in quiet!"

       But the Grasshopper answered saucily that he had as much right to his place in the sun as the Owl had to her place in the old oak. Then he struck up a louder and still more rasping tune.

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       The wise old Owl knew quite well that it would do no good to argue with the Grasshopper, nor with anybody else for that matter.

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       Besides, her eyes were not sharp enough by day to permit her to punish the Grasshopper as he deserved. So she laid aside all hard words and spoke very kindly to him.

       "Well sir," she said, "if I must stay awake, I am going to settle right down to enjoy your singing. Now that I think of it, I have a wonderful wine here, sent me from Olympus, of which I am told Apollo drinks before he sings to the high gods. Please come up and taste this delicious drink with me. I know it will make you sing like Apollo himself."

       The foolish Grasshopper was taken in by the Owl's flattering words. Up he jumped to the Owl's den, but as soon as he was near

       enough so the old Owl could see him clearly, she pounced upon him and ate him up. Flattery is not a proof of true admiration.

       Do not let flattery throw you off your guard against an enemy.

       THE WOLF AND HIS SHADOW

       A Wolf left his lair one evening in fine spirits and an excellent appetite. As he ran, the setting sun cast his shadow far out on the

       ground, and it looked as if the wolf were a hundred times bigger than he really was.

       "Why," exclaimed the Wolf proudly, "see how big I am! Fancy me running away from a puny Lion! I'll show him who is fit to be

       king, he or I."

       Just then an immense shadow blotted him out entirely, and the next instant a Lion struck him down with a single blow. Do not let your fancy make you forget realities.[Pg 32]

       THE OAK AND THE REEDS

       A Giant Oak stood near a brook in which grew some slender Reeds. When the wind blew, the great Oak stood proudly upright with its hundred arms uplifted to the sky. But the Reeds bowed low in the wind and sang a sad and mournful song.

       "You have reason to complain," said the Oak. "The slightest breeze that ruffles the surface of the water makes you bow your heads, while I, the mighty Oak, stand upright and firm before the howling tempest."

       "Do not worry about us," replied the Reeds. "The winds do not harm us. We bow before them and so we do not break. You, in all your pride and strength, have so far resisted their blows. But the end is coming."

       As the Reeds spoke a great hurricane rushed out of the north. The Oak stood proudly and fought against the storm, while the yield-ing Reeds bowed low. The wind redoubled in fury, and all at once the great tree fell, torn up by the roots, and lay among the pitying Reeds.

       Better to yield when it is folly to resist, than to resist stubbornly and be destroyed.[Pg 33] THE RAT AND THE ELEPHANT

       A Rat was traveling along the King's highway. He was a very proud Rat, considering his small size and the bad reputation all Rats have. As Mr. Rat walked along--he kept mostly to the ditch--he noticed a great commotion up the road, and soon a grand procession came in view. It was the King and his retinue.

       The King rode on a huge Elephant adorned with the most gorgeous trappings. With the King in his luxurious howdah were the royal

       Dog and Cat. A great crowd of people followed the procession. They were so taken up with admiration of the Elephant, that the

       Rat was not noticed. His pride was hurt.

       "What fools!" he cried. "Look at me, and you will soon forget that clumsy Elephant! Is it his great size that makes your eyes pop

       out? Or is it his wrinkled hide? Why, I have eyes and ears and as many legs as he! I am of just as much importance, and"--

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       But just then the royal Cat spied him, and the next instant, the Rat knew he was not quite so important as an Elephant.