Produced by Robert Rowe Charles Franks and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team HTML version by Al HainesFIFTY FAMOUS FABLESBY LIDA BROWN McMURRYPRIMARY CRITIC TEACHER STATE NORMAL SCHOOL DE KALB ILLINOISB F JOHNSON PUBLISHING COMPANYPREFACEThe fifty fables in this book have been selected for second gradereading because they are easily comprehended by pupils of that gradeand because they teach lessons which every child should learnIt is not wise to tell the class the moral application of the fablesIt is better to have each pupil make his own application without anysuggestion from the teacherIn adapting the stories the conversational form has been largely usedthis form not only gives much pleasure to the children but it alsoaffords excellent opportunities for voice cultureMost of the stories have been successfully used for several years withclasses of children in the State Normal School at DeKalbCONTENTSDESIRABILITY OF SELFCONTROL  1 THE TORTOISE AND THE DUCKSRESULTS OF A MEAN JOKE  2 THE MOUSE AND THE FROG  3 THE BOYS AND THE FROGS  4 THE SHEPHERD BOY AND THE WOLFFOLLY OF QUARRELING  5 THE TWO GOATS  6 THE STRIKE OF THE MILL FEEDERS  7 THE FARMER AND HIS SONS  8 THE FOUR OXEN AND THE LIONDEEDS BETTER THAN WORDS  9  THE HUNTER AND THE FARMER  10 THE FOX IN THE WELL  11 THE MICE IN COUNCILFOLLY OF PRIDE  12 THE FOX AND THE CROW  13 THE VAIN CROW  14 THE HORSE AND THE LOADED DONKEY  15 THE LEAVES AND THE ROOTS  16 THE BULL AND THE GNATWISDOM OF HEEDING GOOD ADVICE  17 THE FARMER AND HIS THREE SONS  18 THE YOUNG FOX  19 VISIT OF THE MOUSE TO THE COUNTRY  20 THE TWO DOVESBASENESS OF DECEIT  21 THE HORSE AND THE WOLF  22 THE BIRDS THE BEASTS AND THE BAT  23 THE BEES THE DRONES AND THE WASP  24 THE WOODMAN AND HIS AXE  25 THE FOX WITH HIS TAIL CUT OFF  26 THE BLACKBIRD AND THE DOVERESULTS OF GREEDINESS  27 THE GREEDY DOG  28 THE GOOSE THAT LAID GOLD EGGSDESIRABILITY OF CONTENTMENT  29 THE DONKEY AND HIS MASTERS  30 THE COBBLER AND THE RICH MANVALUE OF THINKING FOR ONESELF  31 THE ICE KING  32 THE WOLF THE GOAT AND THE KID  33 THE WISE GOAT  34 THE SHEPHERD AND THE DOGS  35 THE BOY AND THE NUTS  36 THE CROW AND THE PITCHER  37 THE GROCER AND HIS DONKEY  38 THE THREE FISHWISDOM OF SELFRELIANCE  39 THE WAGONER  40 THE LARK AND THE FARMERKINDNESS AND ITS RESULTS  41 THE LION AND THE MOUSE  42 THE ANT AND THE DOVE  43 THE HAPPY FAMILY  44 THE TYRANT WHO BECAME A JUST RULERMISCELLANEOUSWISDOM OF PERSEVERANCE  45 THE HARE AND THE TORTOISEFOLLY OF TRYING TO PLEASE EVERYBODY  46 THE MILLER HIS SON AND THEIR DONKEYAPPEARANCES SOMETIMES DECEITFUL  47 THE PUG DOG AND HIS SHADOWPUNISHMENT OF TREACHERY  48 THE PARTRIDGE IN THE NETGENTLENESS BETTER THAN HARSHNESS  49 THE NORTH WIND AND THE SUNMEANNESS OF SELFISHNESS  50 THE CAMEL AND HIS MASTERFIFTY FAMOUS FABLESTHE TORTOISE AND THE DUCKSTake me with you please called a tortoise to a gray duck and awhite duck that were flying overThe ducks heard the tortoise and flew down toward himDo you really wish to go with us asked the ducks as they came to theground near the tortoiseI surely do replied the tortoise Will you please take meWhy yes I think we can do so said the white duck slowlyThe two ducks talked together in low tones for a few minutes Then theyflew to the woods They soon brought back a strong twig and dropped itin front of the tortoiseNow said the ducks if we take you off to see the world you mustpromise us one thingWhat is that asked the tortoise I will promise almost anything ifyou will let me goYou must promise not to say one word while you are in the air NOT ONEWORD replied the ducksAll right I promise said the tortoise Sometimes I do not say aword for a whole day because there is no one to listen to meWell take firm hold of the middle of the twig we are ready tostart said the gray duckIf you value your life you must hold on tightly said the white duckThe tortoise took hold of the middle of the twig and each duck tookhold of one endThen they flew up up up while the tortoise swung from the middle ofthe twig How he enjoyed it He had never had such a rideThey had gone a long way safely when they came to a hayfield Thehaymakers looked up and saw the ducks and the tortoiseHo ho the tortoise has stolen some wings called one of thehaymakersWhat a queer carriage he has laughed another in a loud voiceI pity his horses said anotherThis made the tortoise so angry that he cried out You but no oneknows what he was going to say for he fell to the ground and waskilledFootnote Adapted from The Tortoise and the Geese in a book of thesame name published by Houghton Mifflin CoTHE MOUSE AND THE FROGA frog while out walking one day saw a mouse coming toward himThere is that foolish mouse said he I will play a good joke onhim and he grinned as he thought how much fun he would haveAs they met the frog said Good morning Sir Mouse I hope I find youwell todayVery well replied the mouse How are youMy health is not very good so I have taken a holiday If you are notbusy what do you say to our spending the day togetherGood answered the mouse I have little to do and nothing would suitme better So they started off togetherThey had not gone far when the frog said Let me tie one of