Golden Grain Garnered from the World's Great Harvest-field of Knowledge

THE FOX AND THE GEESE.

Reading edition

A fox came suddenly into a meadow, where a flock of beautiful, fat geese were reposing; this amused him, so he laughed, and said,"It is just as if I had been called; I am just arrived at the right moment; you sit all there so comfortably together, that I can eat you up one after the other, without disturbing you much." The geese cackled with apprehension, and began to lament their impending fate, and entreat for their lives. The fox, however, would

listen to nothing, and said, "There is no mercy for you; you must die!" At last one took courage, and said, "If we poor geese must lose our young, fresh lives, grant us at least this small favor—that we may repeat one prayer, and not die in our sins; after that we will place ourselves in a row, that you may be able to choose the fattest." "Well," said the fox, "perhaps that is only just, it is certainly proper, begin your prayer, and I will wait." The first began with a remarkably long prayer, nothing but "ga, ga," and as it did not seem inclined to leave off, the second would not wait until her turn came, but began likewise, "ga, ga," the third and fourth followed, and they soon all cackled together. (When the prayer is finished you shall have the rest of the story; but as far as I know, they are all still going on.)

Illustration from Golden Grain Garnered from the World's Great Harvest-field of Knowledge Comprising Selections from the Ablest Modern Writers of Prose, Poetry, and Legendary Lore

"Count that day lost whose low-descending sun, Views from thy hand no worthy action done."