Fables for the Times.
Illustrated by T.R. Sullivant.
Contents
On the Not-Altogether-Credible Habits of the Ostrich.
The Old Man, His Son and the Ass.
The Baa-Sheep and the Lion.
A baa-sheep was lying under the paw of a black-maned lion. Whatever wasgoing to be done had to be done quickly. A thought flashed upon the sheepand he said:
"Most dread lord and master, I have heard your voice extolled beyond thatof all others. Will you not sing me a little selection from Wagner before Idie?"
The lion, touched in his vanity, immediately started up and roared awayuntil the goose-flesh stood out on the rocks. When he had finished, thesheep was in tears.
"What means this?" growled the lion in a rage. "Do you presume to criticisemy singing?"
"Oh, no!" sobbed the sheep. "That is not it. But I have heard that wool wasthe worst thing in the world for the voice, and when I think of the ruin ofthat beautiful organ of yours, consequent upon eating me, I weep to thinkthat I was not born hairless."
The lion regarded him out of the corner of his eye. Then, in his grandestmanner, said: "Run along home to your ma, little sheep; I was only playingwith you," and walked off through the forest with a great deal of dignity.
The Baa-Sheep and the Lion
The Dog and the Meat.
A dog with a piece of meat in his mouth was crossing a bridge over a placidstream. On looking down he saw another dog with a precisely similar pieceof meat in the water below him. "That's a singular incident," he thought