Identifier: aesopsfables00aeso (find matches)
Title: Aesop's fables
Year: 1912 (1910s)
Authors: Aesop Vernon Jones, V. S. (Vernon Stanley) Rackham, Arthur, 1867-1939, ill
Subjects: Fables
Publisher: London : Heinemann New York : Doubleday, Page
Contributing Library: New York Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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other. MERCURY AND THE WOODMAN A WOODMAN was felling a tree on the bank of a-^^^ river, when his axe, glancing off the trunk, flewout of his hands and fell into the water. As he stood bythe waters edge lamenting his loss. Mercury appearedand asked him the reason for his grief ; and on learningwhat had happened, out of pity for his distress he divedinto the river and, bringing up a golden axe, asked himif that was the one he had lost. The Woodman repliedthat it was not, and Mercury then dived a second time,and, bringing up a silver axe, asked if that was his. No, that is not mine either, said the Woodman.Once more Mercury dived into the river, and broughtup the missing axe. The Woodman was overjoyed atrecovering his property, and thanked his benefactorwarmly ; and the latter was so pleased with his honestythat he made him a present of the other two axes. Whenthe Woodman told the story to his companions, one ofthese was filled with envy of his good fortune and14 THE MOON AND HER MOTHER
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determined to try his luck for himself. So he went andbegan to fell a tree at the edge of the river, and presentlycontrived to let his axe drop into the v^^ater. Mercuryappeared as before, and, on learning that his axe hadfallen in, he dived and brought up a golden axe, ashe had done on the previous occasion. Without waitmgto be asked whether it was his or not the fellow cried, Thats mine, thats mine, and stretched out his handeagerly for the prize : but Mercury was so disgusted athis dishonesty that he not only declined to give him thegolden axe, but also refused to recover for him the onehe had let fall into the stream. Honesty is the best policy. THE ASS, THE FOX, AND THE LION AN Ass and a Fox went into partnership and salliedout to forage for food together. They hadntgone far before they saw a Lion coming their way, atwhich they were both dreadfully frightened. But theFox thought he saw a way of saving his own skm, andwent boldly up to the Lion and whispered in his ear,Ill manage

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