Linton and Crane (2)

Here are some more fables from The Baby's Own Aesop, which features fables-as-limericks by W. J. Linton and beautiful illustrations by Thomas Crane; you can click here for more fables from this book here at the blog.

THE FRIGHTENED LION.

A Bull-Frog, according to rule,

Sat a-croak in his usual pool:

And he laughed in his heart

As a Lion did start,

In a fright from the brink like a fool.

IMAGINARY FEARS ARE THE WORST

THE MOUSE AND THE LION.

A poor thing the Mouse was, and yet,

When the Lion got caught in a net,

All his strength was no use.

'Twas the poor little Mouse

Who nibbled him out of the net.

SMALL CAUSES MAY PRODUCE GREAT RESULTS

THE MARRIED MOUSE.

So the Mouse had Miss Lion for bride;

Very great was his joy and his pride:

But it chanced that she put

On her husband her foot,

And the weight was too much so he died.

ONE MAY BE TOO AMBITIOUS

HERCULES AND THE WAGGONER.

When the God saw the Waggoner kneel,

Crying, "Hercules! Lift me my wheel

From the mud, where 'tis stuck!"

He laughed — "No such luck;

Set your shoulder yourself to the wheel."

THE GODS HELP THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES

THE LAZY HOUSEMAIDS.

Two Maids killed the Rooster whose warning

Awoke them too soon every morning:

But small were their gains,

For their Mistress took pains

To rouse them herself without warning.

LAZINESS IS ITS OWN PUNISHMENT