The Old Woman and Her Maids
A certain Old Woman had several Maids, whom she used to call to their work
every morning at the crowing of the Cock.
The Maids, finding it grievous to have their sweet sleep disturbed so early, killed
the Cock, thinking that when he was quiet they might enjoy their warm beds a
little longer.
The Old Woman, however, vexed at the loss of the Cock, and suspecting them to
be concerned in his death, from that time made them rise soon after midnight!
The Dog in the Manger
There was once a Dog who lay all day long in a manger where there was plenty
of hay. It happened one day that a Horse, a Cow, a Sheep, and a Goat came one
by one and wanted to eat the hay. The Dog growled at them and would not let
them have so much as a mouthful. Then an Ox came and looked in, but the Dog
growled at him also.
"You selfish fellow," said the Ox; "you cannot eat the hay. Why do you want to
keep it all to yourself?"
The Old Man and His Sons
An old Man had many Sons, who were always falling out with one another. He
had often exhorted them to live together in harmony, but without result.
One day he called them around him and, producing a bundle of sticks, bade them
each in turn to break it across. Each put forth all his strength, but the bundle still
resisted their efforts.
Then, cutting the cord which bound the sticks together, he told his
Sons to break them separately. This was done with the greatest ease.
"See, my Sons," exclaimed he, "the power of unity! Bound together by brotherly
love, you may defy almost every mortal ill; divided, you will fall a prey to your