The Frog And The Snake
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FABLES FROM INDIA
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Boys And Girls Bookshelf
A Snake and a Frog were friends in a pond. The Snake taught the Frog to
hiss, and the Frog taught the Snake to croak. The Snake would hide in
the reeds and croak. The Frogs would say, "Why, there is one of us," and
come near. The Snake would then dart at them, and eat all he could
seize. The Frog would hide in the reeds and hiss. His kin would say,
"Why, there is the Snake," and keep off.
After some time, the Frogs found out the trick of the Snake, and took
care not to come near him. Thus the Snake got no Frogs to eat for a long
time; so he seized his friend to gobble him up.
The Frog then said, though too late, "By becoming your friend, I lost
the company of my kindred, and am now losing my life." One's neck to
fate one has to bend, when one would make so bad a friend!