Page:An argosy of fables.djvu/220

 168 won't be enough food for myself that half the time I don't eat sufficient for my own good."

Generosity is wasted on a selfish nature.

(Odo of Sherington.)

THE CAT AND THE STORK

E should do well to imitate the example of the Stork, who was carrying home an eel, as dinner for herself and her children. A Cat, who was fond of fish but hated to wet his feet, seeing the Stork, said to her:

"Most beautiful of all birds, with your brilliant red beak and the whitest of feathers, pray tell me, is your beak as red on the inside as it is on the outside?"

But the Stork would not reply nor even open her mouth, because she did not wish to drop the eel. This made the Cat angry, and he began to abuse the Stork roundly, saying:

"You surely must be deaf or at least dumb! Can't you answer me, you miserable beast? Is it possible that you eat snakes, which are poisonous, unclean creatures? Every clean animal likes clean food, but you evidently prefer yours foul and unclean. You certainly must be the filthiest of all birds!"

But the Stork, never answering a word, kept steadily on her way, holding fast to the eel.

(Odo of Sherington.)

THE BIRD OF SAINT MARTIN

MONG the Birds there is one known as the Bird of Saint Martin, which is no larger than a Wren, and whose legs are long and slender like reeds. It happened once at the festival of Saint Martin,