Journeys Through Bookland, Volume 2 | Page 4

it.
There is another, which teaches us to be self-reliant and resourceful. A
crow, whose throat was parched and dry with thirst, saw a pitcher in the

distance. In great joy he flew to it, but found that it held only a little
water, and even that was too near the bottom to be reached, for all his
stooping and straining.
Next he tried to overturn the pitcher, thinking that he would at least be
able to catch some of the water as it trickled out. But this he was not
strong enough to do. In the end he found some pebbles lying near, and
by dropping them one by one into the pitcher, he managed at last to
raise the water up to the very brim, and thus was able to quench his
thirst.

THE FALCON AND THE PARTRIDGE
From The Arabian Nights
Once upon a time a Falcon stooped from its flight and seized a
Partridge; but the latter freed himself from the seizer, and entering his
nest, hid himself there. The Falcon followed apace and called out to
him, saying:
"O imbecile, I saw you hungry in the field and took pity on you; so I
picked up for you some grain and took hold of you that you might eat;
but you fled from me, and I know not the cause of your flight, except it
were to put upon me a slight. Come out, then, and take the grain I have
brought you to eat, and much good may it do you, and with your health
agree."
When the Partridge heard these words he believed, and came out to the
Falcon, who thereupon struck his talons into him and seized him.
Cried the Partridge, "Is this that which you told me you had brought me
from the field, and whereof you told me to eat, saying, 'Much good may
it do you, and with your health agree?' Thou hast lied to me, and may
God cause what you eat of my flesh to be a killing poison in your
maw!"
When the Falcon had eaten the Partridge his feathers fell off, his
strength failed, and he died on the spot. Know that he who digs for his
brother a pit, himself soon falls into it.

MINERVA AND THE OWL
"My most solemn and wise bird," said Minerva one day to her Owl, "I
have hitherto admired you for your profound silence; but I have now a

mind to have you show your ability in discourse, for silence is only
admirable in one who can, when he pleases, triumph by his eloquence
and charm with graceful conversation."
The Owl replied by solemn grimaces, and made dumb signs. Minerva
bade him lay aside that affectation and begin; but he only shook his
wise head and remained silent. Thereupon Minerva commanded him to
speak immediately, on pain of her displeasure.
The Owl, seeing no remedy, drew up close to Minerva, and whispered
very softly in her ear this sage remark: "Since the world is grown so
depraved, they ought to be esteemed most wise who have eyes to see
and wit to hold their tongues."

THE SPARROW AND THE EAGLE
From The Arabian Nights
Once a Sparrow, flitting over a flock of sheep, saw a great Eagle swoop
down upon a newly weaned lamb and carry it up in his claws and fly
away. Thereupon the Sparrow clapped his wings and said, "I will do
even as this Eagle did."
So he waxed proud in his own conceit, and, mimicking one greater than
he, flew down forthright and lighted on the back of a fat ram with a
thick fleece, that was matted by his lying till it was like woolen felt. As
soon as the Sparrow pounced upon the sheep's back he flopped his
wings to fly away, but his feet became tangled in the wool, and,
however hard he tried, he could not set himself free.
While all this was passing, the shepherd was looking on, having seen
what happened first with the Eagle and afterward with the Sparrow. So
in a great rage he came up to the wee birdie and seized him. He plucked
out his wing feathers and carried him to his children.
"What is this?" asked one of them.
"This," he answered, "is he that aped a greater than himself and came to
grief."
The Old Man and Death
A poor and toil-worn peasant, bent with years and groaning beneath the
weight of a heavy fagot of firewood which he carried, sought, weary
and sore-footed, to gain his distant cottage. Unable to bear the weight
of his burden longer, he let it fall by the roadside, and lamented his
hard fate.

"What pleasure have I known since I first drew breath in