The Fox and the Grapes A very hungry fox walked into a vineyard where there was a large supply of delicious looking grapes. Grapes had never looked so good, and the fox was famished. However, the grapes hung higher than the fox could reach. He jumped and stretched and hopped and reached and jumped some more trying to get those yummy grapes. No matter what he tried, he could not reach the grapes. He wore himself out trying to get the grapes. “Those grapes surely must be sour,” he said as he walked away, “I wouldn't eat them if they were served to me on a silver platter.”

Moral: It is easy to hate what you cannot have.

The Lion and the Mouse One day a lion was awakened from his afternoon nap by a group of mice scurrying all about him. Swat! went his huge paw upon one the little creatures. The mouse pleaded for mercy saying, “Please don’t eat me.” The lion took compassion upon the tiny mouse and released him. A few days later, the lion became trapped in a hunter's net. His roars made the whole forest tremble. The little mouse whose life was spared approached the lion in the snare and used his sharp little teeth to gnaw the strong ropes until the lion was free.

Moral: One good turn deserves another.

    Patty the milkmaid was going to market carrying her milk in a pail on her head.  As she went along she began figuring out what she would do with the money she would get for the milk.    “I will buy some chickens from Farmer Brown,” said she, “and they will lay eggs each morning, which I will sell to the parson's wife.  With the money that I get from the sale of these eggs I will buy myself a new beautiful dress and a lovely new hat. When I go to market, all the young men come up and speak to me!  Polly Shaw will be jealous, but I don't care.  I shall just look at her and toss my head like this.”  As she spoke she tossed her head back, the pail fell off it, and all the milk was spilt.  So she had to go home and tell her mother what had happened. ”Ah, my child,” said the mother, “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”   The Milkmaid

Moral: Do not get your hopes up about things you don’t yet have.

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