1. A lion, roaring through the forest in search of prey, trod upon a thorn that pierced his foot. Try as he would he could not remove the thorn. 2. Day after day the foot swelled and became more painful. The fierce lion grew tame and humble. One day he came upon a shepherd herding his flock. 3. At first the shepherd was very much frightened. But, as the lion limped slowly toward him, he saw that the beast was wounded. 4. The lion came up and placed his paw in the shepherd's lap. If he could have talked he could not have said more plainly, "Please help me out of my pain." 5. The shepherd looked at the paw very carefully and handled it gently. He found the thorn and drew it out. 6. The lion went away greatly pleased. In a few days his paw was well. 7. Some time after that, some enemies of the shepherd charged him with stealing sheep and he was thrown into prison. 8. At the trial, these enemies swore the lies that they had told, and the court said the poor shepherd was guilty. He was taken by the soldiers and thrown to the lions. 9. The first lion to come up to the shepherd was the one that had been wounded by the thorn in his foot. He had been caught in the forest and was now kept in a great cage. 10. Just before he sprang upon the shepherd, he saw this was his old friend who had helped him in trouble. In place of tearing the shepherd limb from limb, he came up and placed his paw in the shepherd's lap. He would not let the other lions hurt the shepherd. 11. When the king heard this, he had the lion carried back to the forest and set free. He sent a pardon to the shepherd, who went back to his flocks. THE TWO BIRDS There were two birds sat on a stone, The other flew after, and then there was none, And so the poor stone was left all alone. Of these two birds one back again flew, The other came after, and then there were two; Said one to the other, "Pray, how do you do?" Very well, thank you; and, pray how do you?" THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF field cried wolves really crying scâre wolf fright seized work'ing 1. A boy was set to care for some sheep. Some men were working in a field near by. They told him to call them if the wolves came. 2. He thought it would be a great joke to scare them. He cried out at the top of his voice, "Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!" 3. The men came running with clubs in their hands to fight the wolves. "Where are the wolves?" they asked. The boy laughed. "I just wanted to scare you," he said. 4. The men went back to their work. In an hour or so he again cried "Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!' The men came running with clubs in their hands to fight the wolves. "Where are the wolves?" they said. The boy laughed. "I just wanted to scare you," he said. |