Tuesday, February 14, 2006

good old aesop


There was once a house that was overrun with Mice. A Cat heard ofthis, and said to herself, "That's the place for me," and off she wentand took up her quarters in the house, and caught the Mice one by oneand ate them. At last the Mice could stand it no longer, and they determined to take to their holes and stay there.

"That's awkward,"said the Cat to herself: "the only thing to do is to coax them out bya trick." So she considered a while, and then climbed up the wall and let herself hang down by her hind legs from a peg, and pretended tobe dead.

By and by a Mouse peeped out and saw the Cat hanging there."Aha!" it cried, "you're very clever, madam, no doubt: but you may turn yourself into a bag of meal hanging there, if you like, yet youwon't catch us coming anywhere near you."

If you are wise you won't be deceived by the innocent airs of those whom you have once found to be dangerous.

THE MISCHIEVOUS DOG
There was once a Dog who used to snap at people and bite them without
any provocation, and who was a great nuisance to every one who came to
his master's house. So his master fastened a bell round his neck towarn people of his presence. The Dog was very proud of the bell, and strutted about tinkling it with immense satisfaction. But an old dogcame up to him and said, "The fewer airs you give yourself the better,my friend. You don't think, do you, that your bell was given you as areward of merit? On the contrary, it is a badge of disgrace."

Notoriety is often mistaken for fame.