the two sheets to your grandfather?” he asked of his son.
“When my father becomes old and goes to the hospital, I said to myself, I shall need this sheet to send to him.”
Your child will behave toward you as you behaved toward your parents.
The Bird-catcher and the Blackbird
A Bird-catcher was setting his snares; a Blackbird, as he flew by, caught sight of him.
“For the love of God,” he said to him, “do tell me what you are building there?”
“I am founding a complete city.”
The Blackbird believed this deceitful answer, and alighted on the net. Scarcely had he touched it, before he found himself caught.
When the Bird-catcher came up the Blackbird said to him: “If this is the way you build your city, you won’t attract many inhabitants.”
All men shun tyrannical magistrates and oppressors, who, by their violence, scatter ruin around them.
The Hens and the Eagles
The Hens were at war with the Eagles.
When the day of battle came near, the Hens went and asked the foxes to help them.
“We would willingly help you,” replied the foxes, “if we could forget what you are, and what Eagles are.”
He who enters upon a quarrel with one more powerful than himself runs a great risk, and is certain to meet with disaster.
The Pigeon and the Painting
A Pigeon in its simplicity took for real water the stream represented in a Painting.
He flew down toward it with a sudden swoop, fell to the ground, and was quickly caught.
How many stupid and ignorant people ignore the real condition of things, follow entirely their own silly notions, and at last find themselves in serious trouble!
The Lion and the Man
A Lion and a Man were journeying together as friends; they took turns in boasting each of his own merits. As they advanced on their way, they saw a mausoleum on which was carved in marble a man trampling a lion under his feet.
The Man called the attention of the Lion to this sculpture.
“I need say no more,” he remarked, “this is sufficient to show that man surpasses the Lion in strength and vigor.”
“The chisel is in the hands of men,” replied the beast, “so they represent in sculpture whatever they like. If we could handle it as you do, you would see what would be the subjects of our works.”
Artists do not base their creations upon the realities of life, but follow the ideas which pass through their heads.
The Compliment to the Vezir
A Vezir had just received his appointment; those who had supported him came to compliment him on his promotion to a post of honor.
He was so inflated by the homage he received, that he came at last to pass by his former friends without noticing them.
“Who are you?” he asked one of them.
“My God,” exclaimed the other, who was a wit: “I feel sorry for you indeed, for your Excellency, like most of those who have reached an eminent position, has suddenly lost sight, hearing, and memory, so that you no longer know your former friends.”
It generally happens that those who attain to high station feel contempt for their friends.
The Ass and the Frogs
An Ass was walking along loaded with wood; as he journeyed he fell into a pond, and lamented because he could not get out.
The Frogs, dwellers in the pond, heard his cries and came up to him.
“Pray tell us,” they said to him, “how is it that you, who have been but a moment in this pond, cry out so vehemently. What would you do, if like us, you had been here for an infinite time?”
Such were the sarcastic consolations they addressed to him.
Young people full of vigor, and capable of enduring all sorts of hardship, too often deride the feebleness of the old.
The Tortoise and the King of Animals
The quadrupeds and birds assembled one day at an entertainment given by the King of Beasts. Both those who go on foot and those who fly were there.
The Tortoise arrived late because of his slow motion, and asked pardon for his want of punctuality.
“I have such a pleasant home,” said he, “that I never leave it without regret.”
“At some future time,” cried the Lion in a rage, “you will have a house of stone which you can never leave.”
This fable is addressed to those who, instead of keeping to their own vocation, are anxious to attend the entertainments of the great.
The Fox and the Lion
A Fox who had never seen a lion in his life met one of the greatest size. In his terror and surprise, he thought that his last hour had come. At the second meeting, he was still somewhat alarmed, but less so than at first. At the third sight of the Lion, he felt no fear at all, but walked up to the Lion and began to converse with him.
By force of habit we become enabled to confront, unmoved, things the most terrible and dangerous.
