FABLES (A good deal after the style of the Persian.)

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1568, 22 July 1882, Page 6

FABLES (A good deal after the style of the Persian.)

THE WOLF AXJD THE FOX. A vox who was making a journey acros3 the country to see his grandmother once more before she died, discovered a wolf burying something beside the highway. He slipped into a fence-corner, and waited until the wolf had passed on, and then crept forward and unearthed the object, which proved to be a dead cliicken. "Ah, ha !" chuckled Reynard, "this comes from keeping one's eyes open as one travels. The hare would not have seen the wolf at all, and the oppossum would not have had the patience to wait for him to move on. Its a big joke on the wolf and here goes for a square meal. " The fox devoured his dinner with much smacking of lips, but had scarcely finished when terrible pains began to rack his frame, and he fell down in the greatest torment, and was soon breathing his last. When the wolf returned and saw the dead body of Rpynard and the feathers of the chicken scattered around, he scratched his car and wrote in his dairy : "Moral : Came to his death by being too smart."

THE HAKE AND THE FISH. Tub hare .and the fish, having borrowed tobacco of each other for several months, and agreeing perfectly well on polities, set out to make a journey together, and see the sights of the world. They had not proceeded many miles when a wolf was discovered in pursuit. The liare at once started off at the top of his speed, but the fish called out : '' Do not leave me thus —l cannot iixn !"' " A fish who cannot run lias no business to make a journey," replied the hare, and away lie Hew to save his bacon. The fish hurried after as fast an possible, and both found themselves on the bank of a river, while the wolf was yet a furlong away. The fish ,at once rolled into the water and darted ciway, but the hare shouted after him : "Do not leave me—l cannot swim?" " A hare who cannot swim has no business to make a journey," said the fish, and he left the hare to be eaten on the half shell. < Moral : An oul who had overheard the affair from his perch in a persimmon tree drew down his left eye and softly said : "You don't know a man until you have travelled with him."

THE WOW A>"7> TUB PEASANT. One day a peasant who was laboring in his field, was surprised at receiving a visit from the wolf, and he was about to rush for his gun when the wolf called out : " Hold on, my friend, my visit is one of peace. I have come to have a serious talk with you." " But you killed one of my sheep only last week," retorted the peasant. " So I did ; nnd that is the very matter I have come to talk about. I have felt conseience-Btricken ever f-ince that event, and have firmly decided to kill no more sheep." "Well, I am glad to hear it, and hope you will stick to your resolution." " Oh, I certainly shall, and I hope you will give me oredit for the future." ! The wolf took his departure with a sweet bow, nnd a melting smile, and the peasant softly scratched the back of his neck, and did a heap of thinking. Thnfc night he placed a large trap at the' weak point of his calf-pen, and next morning ' he found the wolf held firm and fast. " Exoii«e my embarrassment," begnn the wolf, as the peasant approached, ' 'but why did you move this trap from the sheep-fold ?" < > "Because," replied the peasant, rts he hunted aroand for a <club, "experience haa tauprht me that a wolf who ia tired of mutton'is simply working up-an appetite for- veal.'' '< ' >- <, ■ -'* -, - ' ' Moral: Don't put your tovjt in it.*

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