Page:An argosy of fables.djvu/405

 Rh

And Master Fox, he must be sharp indeed.

If he don't leave enough of my fine breed

To buy one Pig at least—it may be more.

My Pig will soon get fat, at no expense—

He must be pretty forward when he's bought—

And if I sell him fairly, as I ought,

My gain will be immense.

Then what should hinder me from being able

(Things are so cheap just now)

To put a Cow and Calf into my stable?

Then, when they join the village herd,

How nice to see them skip,—my Calf and Cow!"

And at the word,

She gave three skips herself—the Milk-pail fell—

And so at once farewell

To Cow and Calf and Pig and Chickens that would sell!

The mistress of this visionary store

Cast one sad glance around

To where her ruined fortunes soaked the ground,

Then turned and bore

Her empty Pail back to her Husband's door;

He would meet all excuses with a curse,

And very probably with something worse.

(La Fontaine, Fables, Vol. VII, No. 10. Translated by Rev. Wm. Lucas Collins.)

COBBLER gaily sang from morn till night,

He had a heart so light;

Bent o'er his work, he carolled through its stages,