A GROOM used to spend all day, every day in currycombing and rubbing down his Horse, but at the same time stole the horse’s oats and sold them for his own profit.

“Think about it!” said the Horse, “if you really want me to be in good condition, you should groom me less, and feed me more.”

Moral: Spend your time on what will give you the results you want.

Some boys, playing near a pond, saw a number of Frogs in the water and began to throw stones at them.

After the Boys had killed several of the Frogs, one of the Frogs, lifting his head out of the water, cried out: “Please stop, boys: what is sport to you, is death to us.”

Moral: Be aware of the effect of your actions upon others.

The Frogs, grieved at having no established Ruler, sent ambassadors to Zeus, the King of the gods, asking him to give them a King.

Zeus, knowing their simplicity, cast down a huge log into the lake. The Frogs were terrified at the splash that went with the fall of the log and hid themselves in the depths of the pool.

But as soon as they realized that the huge log was motionless, they swam again to the top of the water, got over their fears, climbed up, and began squatting on the log in contempt.

After some time, the Frogs began to think themselves ill-treated in the appointment of so useless a Ruler, and sent a second deputation to Zeus to pray that he would set over them another sovereign.

Zeus then gave the Frogs an Eel to govern them.

When the Frogs discovered that the Eel had an easy good nature, they sent yet a third time to Zeus to beg him to choose for them still another King.

Zeus, displeased with all their complaints, sent a Heron, who attacked and ate the Frogs day by day until there were none left to croak upon the lake.

Moral: Be content with what you’ve got.

A Muleteer (Mule-Driver) set off on a journey, driving before him a Donkey and a Mule, both well laden with goods to trade and money.

The Donkey, as long as he traveled along the flatlands, carried his load easily, but when he began to ascend the steep path of the mountain, he felt his load to be more than he could bear.

The Donkey pleaded with the Mule to relieve him of a small portion of his load, that he might carry home the rest; but the Mule paid no attention to the request.

The Donkey shortly afterwards fell down dead under his burden. Not knowing what else to do in such a wild region, the Muleteer placed upon the Mule the load carried by the Donkey in addition to his own, and at the top of all placed the hide of the Donkey, after he had skinned him.

The Mule, groaning beneath his heavy burden, said to himself: “I am treated according to my deserts. If I had only been willing to assist the Donkey a little in his need, I should not now be bearing, together with his burden, himself as well.”

Moral: Help your friends in their need or you will carry the burden all by yourself.

Once upon a time a Wolf resolved to disguise his appearance in order to secure food more easily.

Encased in the skin of a sheep, the Wolf went out to pasture with the flock, deceiving the shepherd by his costume. In the evening he was shut up by the shepherd in the fold; the gate was closed, and the entrance made thoroughly secure.

When the shepherd, returning to the fold during the night to obtain meat for the next day, he mistakenly caught up the Wolf instead of a sheep, and killed him instantly.

Moral: If you go looking for trouble, trouble will find you.