“Certainly,” said the Fox, “but you must get a long rope, that I may come up and let you down.”

So the Wolf got a rope.  Up came the Fox, and down went the Wolf; when the former observed, with a laugh, “My dear sir, you may remain there till doomsday, or till the owner of the well throws up your carcass,” and left the place.

“Alas!” said the Wolf, when it was too late, “greed hath its meed!”

The Fawn and the Little Tiger

A Fawn met a little Tiger, and said:  “What fine stripes you have!”

The little Tiger said:  “What fine spots you have!”

Then the Fawn said:  “It would be such a nice thing if you and I were to live together as friends.  We might then roam through the woods as we like, and be so happy!”

“I think so too,” said the Tiger.

The two joined hands, and went out for a long walk.  It was breakfast time.  The Fawn saw some fine grass in the lawn, and said to himself:  “One should first see his friend fed and then feed.”  So he turned to the Tiger and said, “Will you have some of this fine grass for your breakfast?”

The Tiger put his nose to the grass but could not bring himself to feed upon it, because it was against his nature; so he replied, “I am so sorry, I cannot eat it!”

Then the Fawn said:  “Allow me to go home for one moment and ask mamma for something that would suit you for breakfast.”

So the Fawn went home and told the Hind of the happy friendship he had formed, and of all that had happened since.

The Hind replied, “Child, how lucky it is that you have come away!  You must know the Tiger is the most deadly enemy we have in the woods.”

At these words the Fawn drew near to his dam and trembled.

The Hind said:  “It is indeed lucky to get away from the wicked at the first hint!”

The Fox and the Villagers

A Fox that had long been the dread of the village poultry yard was one day found lying breathless in a field.  The report went abroad that, after all, he had been caught and killed by some one.  In a moment, everybody in the village came out to see the dead Fox.  The village Cock, with all his hens and chicks, was also there, to enjoy the sight.

The Fox then got up, and, shaking off his drowsiness, said:  “I ate a number of hens and chicks last night; hence I must have slumbered longer than usual.”

The Cock counted his hens and chicks, and found a number wanting.  “Alas!” said he, “how is it I did not know of it?”

“My dear sir,” said the Fox, as he retreated to the wood, “it was last night I had a good meal on your hens and chicks, yet you did not know of it.  A moment ago they found me lying in the field, and you knew of it at once. Ill news travels fast!”

Tinsel and Lightning