"Why," said the raven, "the arduous task of watching these cattle and
bringing them home."
"Am I to understand you have been doing all the work for me?" said the
farmer.
"Certainly," said the raven, and flew away with a laugh.
Quoth the farmer with surprise, "_How many there are that take credit
for things which they have never done_!"
* * * * *
TINSEL AND LIGHTNING
A piece of tinsel on a rock once said to a pebble, "You see how bright
I am! I am by birth related to the lightning."
"Indeed!" said the pebble; "then accept my humble respects."
Some time after, a flash of lightning struck the rock, and the tinsel
lost all its brilliancy by the scorching effects of the flash.
"Where is your brilliancy now?" said the pebble.
"Oh, it is gone to the skies," said the tinsel, "for I have lent it to
the lightning that came down a moment ago to borrow it of me."
"Dear me!" said the pebble; "_how many fibs doth good bragging need_!"
* * * * *
THE ASS AND THE WATCH-DOG
A watch-dog in a village was barking all night to keep thieves off
from his master's house. An ass, who observed this, thought that the
dog amused himself by barking.
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