Page:Stories and story-telling (1915).djvu/258

 and was nearly drowned. A dove perched on a tree overhanging the river saw her and quickly dropped down a leaf to her. The ant climbed up on the leaf and it floated to the bank. She went ashore, safe and sound.

Not long after this, a bird catcher stepped softly up to the tree to set a snare to catch the dove. The ant saw him and quickly stung him in the foot. The bird catcher's cry at the pain startled the dove. Away she flew, safe and sound.

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THE BOY AND THE NUTS

A boy put his hand into a jar to take some nuts. He grasped so many that there was no room for his hand to come out. In a great fright he burst into tears.

"Be satisfied with half as many," said a man who was watching him, "and your hand will come out easily."

The greedy boy dropped half, and at once out came his hand.

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DID SHE CATCH HIM?

One day a little girl said to her wisest aunt, "I wish I could catch that sparrow."

"The next time he comes," said her wisest aunt,