The Boy and the Wolf
A mischievous Lad, who was set to mind some Sheep, often used, in jest, to cry
"Wolf! Wolf!" and when the people at work in the neighbouring fields came
running to the spot he would laugh at them for their pains.
One day the beast came in reality, and the Boy, this time, called "Wolf! Wolf!"
in earnest; but the men, having been so often deceived, disregarded his cries, and
he and his Sheep were left at the mercy of the Wolf.
The Blackamoor
A certain Man who had bought a Blackamoor said he was convinced that it was
all nonsense about black being the natural colour of his skin. "He has been dirty
in his habits," said he, "and neglected by his former masters. Bring me some hot
water, soap, and scrubbing-brushes, and a little sand, and we shall soon see what
his colour is."
So he scrubbed, and his servants scrubbed till they were all tired. They made no
difference in the colour of the Blackamoor; but the end of it all was that the poor
fellow caught cold and died.
The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
A Wolf, wrapping himself in the skin of a Sheep, by that means got admission
into a sheepfold, where he devoured several of the young Lambs. The Shepherd,
however, soon found him out and hung him up to a tree, still in his assumed
disguise.
Some other Shepherds, passing that way, thought it was a sheep hanging and
cried to their friend: "What, brother! is that the way you serve Sheep in this part
of the country?"
"No, friends," cried he, giving at the same time the carcass a swing around, so
that they might see what it was; "but it is the way to serve Wolves, even though
they be dressed in Sheep's clothing."