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THE HAWK, THE KITE, AND THE PIGEONS
THE Pigeons in a certain dovecote were persecuted by a Kite, who every now and then swooped down and carried off one of their number. So they invited a Hawk into the dovecote to defend them against their enemy. But they soon repented of their folly : for the Hawk killed more of them in a day than the Kite had done in a year. |
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THE WOMAN AND THE FARMER
A
WOMAN, who had lately lost her husband, used to go every day to his grave and lament her loss. A Farmer, who was engaged in ploughing not far from the spot, set eyes upon the Woman and desired to have her for his wife : so he left his plough and came and sat by her side, and began to shed tears himself. She asked him why he wept; and he replied,'l I have lately lost my wife, who was very dear to me, and tears ease my grief."
' And I," said she, ' have lost my husband." And so for a while they mourned in silence. Then he said,
' Since you and I are in like case, shall we not do well to marry and live together ? I shall take the place of your dead husband, and you, that of my dead wife." The Woman consented to the plan, which indeed seemed reasonable enough : and they dried their tears. Meanwhile, a thief had come and stolen the oxen which the 220 |
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