English Stories Collection
The Lion and the Mouse
A Lion was awakened from sleep by
a Mouse running over his face. Rising up angrily, he caught him and was about
to kill him, when the Mouse piteously entreated, saying: "If you would
only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness." The Lion
laughed and let him go. It happened shortly after this that the Lion was caught
by some hunters, who bound him by st ropes to the ground. The Mouse,
recognizing his roar, came gnawed the rope with his teeth, and set him free,
exclaim
"You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, expecting to
receive from me any repayment of your favor; I now you know that it is possible
for even a Mouse to con benefits on a Lion."
The Father and His Sons
A father had a family of sons who were perpetually
quarreling among themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his
exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils
of disunion; and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of
sticks. When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of
them in succession, and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all
their strength, and were not able to do it. He next opened the faggot, took the
sticks separately, one by one, and again put them into his sons' hands, upon
which they broke them easily. He then addressed them in these words: "My
sons, if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each other, you will be as
this faggot, uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies; but if you are
divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as these sticks."
