"The Miser" by Aesop

      A miser, to make sure of his property, sold all that he had and converted it into a great lump of gold, which he hid in a hole in the ground, and went continually to visit and inspect it. This roused the curiosity of one of his workmen, who suspected that there was a treasure, when his master's back was turned, went to the spot, and stole it away. When the Miser returned and found the place empty, he wept and tore his hair. But a neighbour who saw him in this extravagant grief, and learned the cause of it, said, "Fret thyself no longer, but take a stone and put it in the same place, and think that it is your lump of gold; for, as you never meant to use it, the one will do you as much good as the other."

The moral of the story: The worth of money is not in its possession, but in its use.

The fable on the left may be printed freely for classroom use.

"The Sheep And The Pig" by Aesop

This particular fable by Aesop was originally illustrated by Milo Winter. I have restored the print and also attached
 the same original English translation of Aesop's "The sheep and the pig" so that teachers may print the two together
 and pass the fable out in the classroom for study.

      One day a shepherd discovered a fat Pig in the meadow where his Sheep were pastured. He very quickly captured the porker, which squealed at the top of its voice the moment the Shepherd laid his hands on it. You would have thought to hear a the loud squealing, that the Pig was being cruelly hurt. But in spite of its squeals and struggles to escape, the Shepherd tucked his prize under his arm and started off to the butcher's in the market place.

      The Sheep in the pasture were much astonished and amused at the Pig's behavior, and followed the Shepherd and his charge to the pasture gate.

      "what makes you squeal like that?" asked on of the Sheep, "The Shepherd often catches and carries off one of us. But we should feel very much ashamed to make such a terrible fuss about it like you do."

      "That is all very well," replied the Pig, with a squeal and a frantic kick. "When he catches you he is only after your wool. But he wants my bacon! gree-ee-ee!"

      Moral of the story: It is easy to be brave when there is no danger.

The Horse and The Wolf

      As a Wolf was roaming over a farm, he came to a field of oats, but not being able to eat them, he left them and went his way.Presently, meeting with a Horse, he bade him come with him into the field, "For," says he, "I have found some capital oats; and I have not tasted one, but have kept them all for you, for the very sound of your teeth is music to my ear." But the Horse replied, "A pretty fellow! if Wolves were able to eat oats, I suspect you would not have preferred your ears to your appetite."

MORAL. Little thanks are due to him, who only gives away whatever is of no use to himself.

From Favorite Fables in Prose and Verse by Harrison Weir

The Grasshopper and The Ant

The Grasshopper, singing
All summer long,
Now found winter stinging,
And ceased in his song.
Not a morsel or crumb in his cupboard--
So he shivered, and ceased in his song.

Miss Ant was his neighbor;
To her he went:
"O, you're rich from labor,
And I've not a cent.
Lend me food, and I vow I'll return it,
Though at present I have not a cent."

The Ant's not a lender,
I must confess.
Her heart's far from tender
To one in distress.
So she said: "Pray, how passed you the summer,
That in winter you come to distress?"

"I sang through the summer,"
Grasshopper said.
"But now I am glummer
Because I've no bread."
"So you sang!" sneered the Ant. "That relieves me.
Now it's winter--go dance for your bread!"

Fables in Rhyme for Little Folks

Adapted from the French of La Fontaine.

Written by,
W. T. Larned
Illustrated by,
John Rae.