Monthly Archives: September 2013
195.The Jackdaw and the Fox
A HALF-FAMISHED JACKDAW seated himself on a fig-tree, which had produced some fruit entirely out of season, and waited in the hope that the figs would ripen. A fox seeing him sitting so long and learning the reason of his doing so, said to him,
“You are indeed sadly deceiving yourself; you are indulging a hope strong enough to cheat you, but which will never reward you with enjoyment.”
❖ To study the lay of the land before going into hopes and fervent hopes should be a rewarding approach.
194.The Jackdaw and the Doves
A JACKDAW, seeing some doves in a cote abundantly provided with food, painted himself white and joined them in order to share their plentiful maintenance. As long as he was silent the doves supposed him to be one of them and admitted him to their cote. But when one day he forgot himself and began to chatter, they discovered his true character and drove him forth, pecking him with their beaks. Failing to get food among the doves, he returned to the jackdaws. They too, not recognizing him on account of his color, expelled him from living with them. So desiring two ends, he got neither.
❖ Not all adaptations are successful; we should stay with the best ones for us as long as we can.
193.The Goat and the Wolf
A Goat separated from its herd wandering in search of parents, was pursued by a wolf. Seeing he could not escape, he turned round, and said:
“I know, Friend Wolf, that I must be your prey, but before I die I would ask of you one favor. you will sing a song to which I may dance.”
The wolf complied, and while he was singing and the Goat was dancing, some hounds hearing the sound ran up and began chasing the wolf. Turning to the kid, he said,
“It is just what I deserve; for I, who am only a butcher, should not have turned piper to please you.”
$ A butcher should not have turned singer.
192.The Image of God and the Carpenter
A VERY POOR MAN, a carpenter by trade, had a wooden image of the God, before which he made offerings day by day, and begged the idol to make him rich, but in spite of his entreaties he became poorer and poorer. At last, being very angry, he took his image down from its pedestal and dashed it against the wall. When its head was knocked off, out came a stream of gold, which the carpenter quickly picked up and said,
“Well, I think you are altogether contradictory and unreasonable; for when I paid you honor, I reaped no benefits: but now that I maltreat you I am loaded with an abundance of riches.”
