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Pail on her head. As she went along she began calculating what
she would do with the money she would get for the milk. "I'll buy
some fowls from Farmer Brown," said she, "and they will lay eggs
each morning, which I will sell to the parson's wife. With the
money that I get from the sale of these eggs I'll buy myself a new
dimity frock and a chip hat; and when I go to market, won't all
the young men come up and speak to me! Polly Shaw will be that
jealous; but I don't care. I shall just look at her and toss my
head like this. As she spoke she tossed her head back, the Pail
fell off it, and all the milk was spilt. So she had to go home
and tell her mother what had occurred.

"Ah, my child," said the mother,

"Do not count your chickens before they are hatched."



The Cat-Maiden


The gods were once disputing whether it was possible for a
living being to change its nature. Jupiter said "Yes," but Venus
said "No." So, to try the question, Jupiter turned a Cat into a
Maiden, and gave her to a young man for a wife. The wedding was
duly performed and the young couple sat down to the wedding-feast.
"See," said Jupiter, to Venus, "how becomingly she behaves. Who
could tell that yesterday she was but a Cat? Surely her nature is
changed?"

"Wait a minute," replied Venus, and let loose a mouse into the
room. No sooner did the bride see this than she jumped up from
her seat and tried to pounce upon the mouse. "Ah, you see," said
Venus,

"Nature will out."



The Horse and the Ass


A Horse and an Ass were travelling together, the Horse
prancing along in its fine trappings, the Ass carrying with
difficulty the heavy weight in its panniers. "I wish I were you,"
sighed the Ass; "nothing to do and well fed, and all that fine
harness upon you." Next day, however, there was a great battle,
and the Horse was wounded to death in the final charge of the day.
His friend, the Ass, happened to pass by shortly afterwards and
found him on the point of death. "I was wrong," said the Ass:

"Better humble security than gilded danger."



The Trumpeter Taken Prisoner


A Trumpeter during a battle ventured too near the enemy and
was captured by them. They were about to proceed to put him to
death when he begged them to hear his plea for mercy. "I do not
fight," said he, "and indeed carry no weapon; I only blow this
trumpet, and surely that cannot harm you; then why should you kill
me?"

"You may not fight yourself," said the others, "but you
encourage and guide your men to the fight."

Words may be deeds.



The Buffoon and the Countryman

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