Monthly Archives: September 2013
171.The Hares and the Frogs
THE HARES, oppressed by their own exceeding timidity and weary of the perpetual alarm to which they were exposed, with one accord determined to put an end to themselves and their troubles by jumping from a lofty precipice into a deep lake below. As they scampered off in large numbers to carry out their resolve, the frogs lying on the banks of the lake heard the noise of their feet and rushed helter-skelter to the deep water for safety.
On seeing the rapid disappearance of the frogs, one of the hares cried out to his companions:
“Stay, my friends, do not do as you intended; for you now see that there are creatures who are still more timid than ourselves.”
$ There are poorer people than ourselves.
170.The Hares and the Foxes
THE HARES waged war with the eagles, and called on the foxes to help them. They replied,
“We would willingly have helped you, if we had not known who you were, and with whom you were fighting.”
❖ Count the cost before you commit yourselves.
169.The Hare With Many Friends
A HARE was very popular with the other beasts who all claimed to be her friends. But one day she heard the hounds approaching and hoped to escape them by the aid of her many Friends. So she went to the horse, and asked him to carry her away from the hounds on his back. But he declined, stating that he had important work to do for his master. “He felt sure,” he said, “that all her other friends would come to her assistance.” She then applied to the bull, and hoped that he would repel the hounds with his horns. The bull replied: “I am very sorry, but I have an appointment with a lady; but I feel sure that our friend the goat will do what you want.” The goat, however, feared that his back might do her some harm if he took her upon it. The ram, he felt sure, was the proper friend to apply to. So she went to the ram and told him the case. The ram replied: “Another time, my dear friend. I do not like to interfere on the present occasion, as hounds have been known to eat sheep as well as hares.” The Hare then applied, as a last hope, to the calf, who regretted that he was unable to help her, as he did not like to take the responsibility upon himself, as so many older persons than himself had declined the task. By this time the hounds were quite near, and the Hare took to her heels and luckily escaped.
“HE THAT HAS MANY FRIENDS, HAS NO FRIENDS.”
168.The Hare and the Tortoise
A HARE one day ridiculed the short feet and slow pace of the tortoise, who replied, laughing:
“Though you be swift as the wind, I will beat you in a race.”
The hare, believing her assertion to be simply impossible, assented to the proposal; and they agreed that the fox should choose the course and fix the goal.
On the day appointed for the race the two started together. The tortoise never for a moment stopped, but went on with a slow but steady pace straight to the end of the course. The hare, lying down by the wayside, fell fast asleep. At last waking up, and moving as fast as he could, he saw the tortoise had reached the goal, and was comfortably dozing after her fatigue.
❖ Slow but steady wins the race.
