The Dog and the Cook

: Aesop's Fables

A RICH MAN gave a great feast, to which he invited many friends

and acquaintances. His Dog availed himself of the occasion to

invite a stranger Dog, a friend of his, saying, "My master gives

a feast, and there is always much food remaining; come and sup

with me tonight." The Dog thus invited went at the hour

appointed, and seeing the preparations for so grand an

entertainment, said in the joy of his heart, "How glad am that

I came! I do not often get such a chance as this. I will take

care and eat enough to last me both today and tomorrow." While he

was congratulating himself and wagging his tail to convey his

pleasure to his friend, the Cook saw him moving about among his

dishes and, seizing him by his fore and hind paws, bundled him

without ceremony out of the window. He fell with force upon the

ground and limped away, howling dreadfully. His yelling soon

attracted other street dogs, who came up to him and inquired how

he had enjoyed his supper. He replied, "Why, to tell you the

truth, I drank so much wine that I remember nothing. I do not

know how I got out of the house."



The Travelers and the Plane-Tree



TWO TRAVELERS, worn out by the heat of the summer's sun, laid

themselves down at noon under the widespreading branches of a

Plane-Tree. As they rested under its shade, one of the Travelers

said to the other, "What a singularly useless tree is the Plane!

It bears no fruit, and is not of the least service to man." The

Plane-Tree, interrupting him, said, "You ungrateful fellows! Do

you, while receiving benefits from me and resting under my shade,

dare to describe me as useless, and unprofitable?'



Some men underrate their best blessings.