Happy Friday POU!
The Fox and the Crane
A FOX invited a Crane to supper and provided nothing for his entertainment but some soup, which was poured out into a broad flat stone dish.
The soup fell out of the long bill of the Crane at every mouthful, and his trouble at not being able to eat gave the Fox much amusement.
The Crane, in his turn, asked the Fox to sup with him, and put some soup in a tall jar with a long narrow neck, so that he could easily insert his bill and enjoy its contents at his leisure.
The Fox, unable even to taste it, met with a fitting treatment, after the fashion of her own hospitality.
MORAL: Do not do play tricks on others that you would not played on you.
The Jackass and the Mule
A MULETEER set forth on a journey, driving before him an Jackass and a Mule, both carrying very heavy loads.
The Jackass, as long as he traveled along the plain, carried his load with ease, but when he began to ascend the steep path of the mountain, felt his load to be more than he could bear. He asked his companion to relieve him of a small portion, that he might carry home the rest; but the Mule paid no attention to the request.
The Jackass shortly afterwards fell down dead under his burden. Not knowing what else to do in so wild a region, the Muleteer placed upon the Mule the load carried by the jackass in addition to his own, and at the top of all placed the hide of the jackass, after he had skinned him.
The Mule, groaning beneath his heavy burden, said to himself:
“I am treated according to my deserts. If I had only been willing to assist the Jackass a little in his need, I should not now be bearing, together with his burden, himself as well.”
MORAL: When the strong helps the weak, both benefit.
The Grasshopper and the Ants
THE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain collected in the summertime. A Grasshopper, starving with hunger, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food.
The Ants asked him, “Why didn’t you store up food during the summer?’ He replied, “I didn’t have enough time for fun. I passed the days in singing and dancing.”
They then said in scorn: “If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, then you must dance hungry in the winter.”
MORAL: There is a time to work and a time to play.
(SOURCE: W.E.B. DuBoise Learning Center)