Do not trust alone to outward appearances.
The Æsop For Children
A very young Mouse, who had never seen anything of the world, almost
came to grief the very first time he ventured out. And this is the story
he told his mother about his adventures. "I was strolling along very
peaceably when, just as I turned the corner into the next yard, I saw
two strange creatures. One of them had a very kind and gracious look,
but the other was the most fearful monster you can imagine. You should
have seen him.
"On top of his head and in front of his neck hung pieces of raw red
meat. He walked about restlessly, tearing up the ground with his toes,
and beating his arms savagely against his sides. The moment he caught
sight of me he opened his pointed mouth as if to swallow me, and then he
let out a piercing roar that frightened me almost to death."
Can you guess who it was that our young Mouse was trying to describe to
his mother? It was nobody but the Barnyard Cock and the first one the
little Mouse had ever seen. "If it had not been for that terrible
monster," the Mouse went on, "I should have made the acquaintance of the
pretty creature, who looked so good and gentle. He had thick, velvety
fur, a meek face, and a look that was very modest, though his eyes were
bright and shining. As he looked at me he waved his fine long tail and
smiled.
"I am sure he was just about to speak to me when the monster I have told
you about let out a screaming yell, and I ran for my life."
My son," said the Mother Mouse, "that gentle creature you saw was none
other than the Cat. Under his kindly appearance, he bears a grudge
against every one of us. The other was nothing but a bird who wouldn't
harm you in the least. As for the Cat, he eats us. So be thankful, my
child, that you escaped with your life, and, as long as you live, never
judge people by their looks."
Just as a great Bear rushed to seize a stray kid, a Lion leaped from
another direction upon the same prey. The two fought furiously for
the prize until they had received so many wounds that both sank down
unable to continue the battle.
Just then a Fox dashed up, and seizing the kid, made off with it as
fast as he could go, while the Lion and the Bear looked on in
helpless rage.
"How much better it would have been," they said, "to have shared in
a friendly spirit."
A Hare was making fun of the Tortoise one day for being so slow. "Do you
ever get anywhere?" he asked with a mocking laugh.
"Yes," replied the Tortoise, "and I get there sooner than you think.
I'll run you a race and prove it."
The Hare was much amused at the idea of running a race with the
Tortoise, but for the fun of the thing he agreed. So the Fox, who had
consented to act as judge, marked the distance and started the runners
off.
The Hare was soon far out of sight, and to make the Tortoise feel very
deeply how ridiculous it was for him to try a race with a Hare, he lay
down beside the course to take a nap until the Tortoise should catch up.
The Tortoise meanwhile kept going slowly but steadily, and, after a
time, passed the place where the Hare was sleeping. But the Hare slept
on very peacefully; and when at last he did wake up, the Tortoise was
near the goal. The Hare now ran his swiftest, but he could not overtake
the Tortoise in time.
