Page:Fables of Aesop.pdf/23

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23

THE HUSBANDMAN AND THE STORK.

A Husbandman set not to take the Cranes and Geese which came to feed upon the new-sown corn. He took several, both Cranes and Geese, and with them a Stork, who pleaded hard for his life, alleging that he was neither Goose nor Crane, but a harmless Stork, who performed his duty to his parents, and fed them when they were old. 'All this may be true', replied the farmer, ‘but as I have taken you in bad company, and in the same crime, you must suffer with them.’

MORAL.

If a man be found with knaves, his character is of little use to him.

THE PEACOCK AND THE CRANE

The Peacock and the Crane one day by chance met together in the same place. The haughty Peacock erected his tail, displayed his gaudy plumes, and looked with contempt upon the Crane, as some mean ordinary person. The Crane took occasion to say that Peacocks were very fine birds, indeed; but that be thought it a much nobler thing to be able to rise and soar above the clouds, than to strut about upon the ground, and stand to be gazed at by children.

MORAL

Under a splendid outside, is often found a very worthless fellow.