fantastic fables-第17章
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afterwards that the Lion was caught by some hunters and bound with
cords。 The Mouse； passing that way； and seeing that his benefactor
was helpless； gnawed off his tail。
The Old Man and His Sons
AN Old Man； afflicted with a family of contentious Sons； brought in
a bundle of sticks and asked the young men to break it。 After
repeated efforts they confessed that it could not be done。
〃Behold；〃 said the Old Man； 〃the advantage of unity； as long as
these sticks are in alliance they are invincible； but observe how
feeble they are individually。〃
Pulling a single stick from the bundle； he broke it easily upon the
head of the eldest Son； and this he repeated until all had been
served。
The Crab and His Son
A LOGICAL Crab said to his Son； 〃Why do you not walk straight
forward？ Your sidelong gait is singularly ungraceful。〃
〃Why don't you walk straight forward yourself；〃 said the Son。
〃Erring youth；〃 replied the Logical Crab； 〃you are introducing new
and irrelevant matter。〃
The North Wind and the Sun
THE Sun and the North Wind disputed which was the more powerful；
and agreed that he should be declared victor who could the sooner
strip a traveller of his clothes。 So they waited until a traveller
came by。 But the traveller had been indiscreet enough to stay over
night at a summer hotel； and had no clothes。
The Mountain and the Mouse
A MOUNTAIN was in labour； and the people of seven cities had
assembled to watch its movements and hear its groans。 While they
waited in breathless expectancy out came a Mouse。
〃Oh； what a baby！〃 they cried in derision。
〃I may be a baby；〃 said the Mouse； gravely； as he passed outward
through the forest of shins； 〃but I know tolerably well how to
diagnose a volcano。〃
The Bellamy and the Members
THE Members of a body of Socialists rose in insurrection against
their Bellamy。
〃Why；〃 said they； 〃should we be all the time tucking you out with
food when you do nothing to tuck us out？〃
So； resolving to take no further action； they went away； and
looking backward had the satisfaction to see the Bellamy compelled
to sell his own book。
OLD SAWS WITH NEW TEETH
CERTAIN ANCIENT FABLES APPLIED TO
THE LIFE OF OUR TIMES
The Wolf and the Crane
A RICH Man wanted to tell a certain lie； but the lie was of such
monstrous size that it stuck in his throat； so he employed an
Editor to write it out and publish it in his paper as an editorial。
But when the Editor presented his bill； the Rich Man said：
〃Be content … is it nothing that I refrained from advising you
about investments？〃
The Lion and the Mouse
A JUDGE was awakened by the noise of a lawyer prosecuting a Thief。
Rising in wrath he was about to sentence the Thief to life
imprisonment when the latter said：
〃I beg that you will set me free； and I will some day requite your
kindness。〃
Pleased and flattered to be bribed； although by nothing but an
empty promise； the Judge let him go。 Soon afterward he found that
it was more than an empty promise； for； having become a Thief； he
was himself set free by the other； who had become a Judge。
The Hares and the Frogs
THE Members of a Legislature； being told that they were the meanest
thieves in the world； resolved to commit suicide。 So they bought
shrouds； and laying them in a convenient place prepared to cut
their throats。 While they were grinding their razors some Tramps
passing that way stole the shrouds。
〃Let us live； my friends；〃 said one of the Legislators to the
others； 〃the world is better than we thought。 It contains meaner
thieves than we。〃
The Belly and the Members
SOME Workingmen employed in a shoe factory went on a strike；
saying： 〃Why should we continue to work to feed and clothe our
employer when we have none too much to eat and wear ourselves？〃
The Manufacturer； seeing that he could get no labour for a long
time and finding the times pretty hard anyhow； burned down his shoe
factory for the insurance； and when the strikers wanted to resume
work there was no work to resume。 So they boycotted a tanner。
The Piping Fisherman
AN Editor who was always vaunting the purity； enterprise； and
fearlessness of his paper was pained to observe that he got no
subscribers。 One day it occurred to him to stop saying that his
paper was pure and enterprising and fearless； and make it so。 〃If
these are not good qualities；〃 he reasoned； 〃it is folly to claim
them。〃
Under the new policy he got so many subscribers that his rivals
endeavoured to discover the secret of his prosperity； but he kept
it； and when he died it died with him。
The Ants and the Grasshopper
SOME Members of a Legislature were making schedules of their wealth
at the end of the session； when an Honest Miner came along and
asked them to divide with him。 The members of the Legislature
inquired：
〃Why did you not acquire property of your own？〃
〃Because；〃 replied the Honest Miner； 〃I was so busy digging out
gold that I had no leisure to lay up something worth while。〃
Then the Members of the Legislature derided him； saying：
〃If you waste your time in profitless amusement； you cannot； of
course； expect to share the rewards of industry。〃
The Dog and His Reflection
A STATE Official carrying off the Dome of the Capitol met the Ghost
of his predecessor； who had come out of his political grave to warn
him that God saw him。 As the place of meeting was lonely and the
time midnight； the State Official set down the Dome of the Capitol；
and commanded the supposed traveller to throw up his hands。 The
Ghost replied that he had not eaten them； and while he was
explaining the situation another State Official silently added the
dome to his own collection。
The Lion； the Bear； and the Fox
Two Thieves having stolen a Piano and being unable to divide it
fairly without a remainder went to law about it and continued the
contest as long as either one could steal a dollar to bribe the
judge。 When they could give no more an Honest Man came along and
by a single small payment obtained a judgment and took the Piano
home； where his daughter used it to develop her biceps muscles；
becoming a famous pugiliste。
The Ass and the Lion's Skin
A MEMBER of the State Militia stood at a street corner； scowling
stormily； and the people passing that way went a long way around
him； thinking of the horrors of war。 But presently； in order to
terrify them still more； he strode toward them； when； his sword
entangling his legs； he fell upon the field of glory； and the
people passed over him singing their sweetest songs。
The Ass and the Grasshoppers
A STATESMAN heard some Labourers singing at their work； and wishing
to be happy too； asked them what made them so。
〃Honesty；〃 replied the Labourers。
So the Statesman resolved that he too would be honest； and the
result was that he died of want。
The Wolf and the Lion
AN Indian who had been driven out of a fertile valley by a White
Settler； said：
〃Now that you have robbed me of my land； there is nothing for me to
do but issue invitations to a war…dance。〃
〃I don't so much mind your dancing；〃 said the White Settler；
putting a fresh cartridge into his rifle； 〃but if you attempt to
make me dance you will become a good Indian lamented by all who
didn't know you。 How did YOU get this land； anyhow？〃
The Indian's claim was compromised for a plug hat and a tin horn。
The Hare and the Tortoise
OF two Writers one was brilliant but indolent； the other though
dull； industrious。 They set out for the goal of fame with equal
opportunities。 Before they died the brilliant one was detected in
seventy languages as the author of but two or three books of
fiction and poetry； while the other was honoured in the Bureau of
Statistics of his native land as the compiler of sixteen volumes of
tabulated information relating to the domestic hog。
The Milkmaid and Her Bucket
A SENATOR fell to musing as follows： 〃With the money which I shall
get for my vote in favour of the bill to subsidise cat…ranches； I
can buy a kit of burglar's tools and open a bank。 The profit of
that enterprise will enable me to obtain a long； low； black
schooner； raise a death's…head flag and engage in commerce on the
high seas。 From my gains in that business I can pay for the
Presidency； which at 50；000 a year will give me in four years … 〃
but it took him so long to make the calculation that the bill to
subsidise cat…ranches passed without his vote； and he was compelled
to return to his constituents an honest man； tormented with a clean
conscience。
King Log and King Stork
THE People being dissatisfied with a Democratic Legislature； which
stole no more than they had； elected a Republican one； which not
only stole all they had but exacted a promissory note for the
balance due； secured by a mortgage upon their hope of death。
The Wolf Who Would Be a Lion
A FOOLISH Fellow who had been told that he was a great man believed
it； and got himself appointed a Commissioner to the Interasylum
Exposition of Preserved Idiots。 At the first meeting of the Board
he was mistaken for one of the exhibits； and the janitor was
ordered to remove him to his appropriate glass case。
〃Alas！〃 he exclaimed as he was carried out； 〃why was I not content
to remain where the cut of my forehead is so common as to be known
as the Pacific Slope？〃
The Monkey and the Nuts
A CERTAIN City desiring to purchase a site for a public Deformatory
procured an appropriation from the Government of the country。
Deeming this insufficient for purchase of the site and payment of
reasonable commissions to themselve
