Aesop Fables For Children
The Rose & the Butterfly
A butterfly once fell in love with a beautiful Rose. The Rose was
not indifferent, for the Butterfly's wings were powdered in a
charming pattern of gold and silver. And so, when he fluttered near
and told how he loved her, she blushed rosily and said yes. After
much pretty love-making and many whispered vows of constancy, the
Butterfly took a tender leave of his sweetheart.
But alas! It was a long time before he came back to her.
"Is this your constancy?" she exclaimed tearfully. "It is ages since
you went away, and all the time, you have been carrying on with all
sorts of flowers. I saw you kiss Miss Geranium, and you fluttered
around Miss Mignonette until Honey Bee chased you away. I wish he
had stung you!"
"Constancy!" laughed the Butterfly. "I had no sooner left you than I
saw Zephyr kissing you. You carried on scandalously with Mr. Bumble
Bee and you made eyes at every single Bug you could see. You can't
expect any constancy from me!"
Do not expect constancy in others if you have none yourself.
The Young Crab & His Mother
"Why in the world do you walk sideways like that?" said a Mother
Crab to her son. "You should always walk straight forward with your
toes turned out."
"Show me how to walk, mother dear," answered the little Crab
obediently, "I want to learn."
So the old Crab tried and tried to walk straight forward. But she
could walk sideways only, like her son. And when she wanted to turn
her toes out she tripped and fell on her nose.
Do not tell others how to act unless you can set a good
example.
Belling the Cat
The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free
themselves of their enemy, the Cat. At least they wished to find
some way of knowing when she was coming, so they might have time to
run away. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in such
constant fear of her claws that they hardly dared stir from their
dens by night or day.
Many plans were discussed, but none of them was thought good enough.
At last a very young Mouse got up and said: "I have a plan that
seems very simple, but I know it will be successful. All we have to
do is to hang a bell about the Cat's neck. When we hear the bell
ringing we will know immediately that our enemy is coming."
All the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of such a
plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their good
fortune, an old Mouse arose and said: "I will say that the plan of
the young Mouse is very good. But let me ask one question: Who will
bell the Cat?"
It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a
different matter to do it.
EMLYON Designing With Web