The Baby's Own Aesop   By: Walter Crane (1845-1915)

Being the Fables Condensed in Rhyme with Portable Morals Pictorially Pointed by

WALTER CRANE

Engraved & Printed in Colours by Edmund Evans

London Frederick Warne and Co. and New York

[Illustration: BABY'S OWN ÆSOP]

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PREFACE

For this rhymed version of the Fables I have to thank my early friend and master W.J. LINTON, who kindly placed the MS. at my disposal. I have added a touch here and there, but the credit of this part of the book still belongs to him.

Walter Crane

[Illustration: ENGRAVER EE & PRINTER]

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To the Possessors of "Baby's Opera" & "Baby's Bouquet" with Walter Crane's Compliments

CONTENTS

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Page

9. The Fox and the Grapes.

10. The Cock and the Pearl. The Wolf and the Lamb.

11. The Wind and the Sun.

12. King Log and King Stork.

13. The Frightened Lion.

14. The Mouse and the Lion. The Married Mouse.

15. Hercules and the Waggoner.

16. The Lazy Housemaids.

17. The Snake and the File. The Fox and the Crow.

18. The Dog in the Manger. The Frog and the Bull.

19. The Fox and the Crane.

20. Horse and Man. The Ass and the Enemy.

21. The Fox and the Mosquitoes. The Fox and the Lion.

22. The Miser and his Gold. The Golden Eggs.

23. The Man that pleased None.

24. The Oak and the Reeds. The Fir and the Bramble.

25. The Trees and the Woodman.

26. The Hart and the Vine.

27. The Man and the Snake.

28. The Fox and the Mask.

29. The Ass in the Lion's Skin.

30. The Lion and the Statue.

31. The Boaster.

32. The Vain Jackdaw.

33. The Peacock's Complaint.

34. The Two Jars. The Two Crabs.

35. Brother and Sister.

36. The Fox without a Tail.

37. The Dog and the Shadow.

38. The Crow and the Pitcher. The Eagle and the Crow.

39. The Blind Doe.

40. The Geese and the Cranes.

41. The Trumpeter taken Prisoner.

42. Hot and Cold.

43. Neither Beast nor Bird.

44. The Stag in the Ox stall. The Deer and the Lion.

45. The Lion in Love.

46. The Cat and Venus. Mice in Council.

47. The Hen and the Fox. The Cat and the Fox.

48. The Hare and the Tortoise. The Hares and the Frogs.

49. Porcupine, Snake & Company. The Bear and the Bees.

50. The Bundle of Sticks.

51. The Farmer's Treasure.

52. The Cock, the Ass, and the Lion. The Ass and the Lap Dog.

53. Fortune and the Boy.

54. The Ungrateful Wolf. The Fisherman and the Fish.

55. The Herdsman's Votes. The Horse and the Ass.

56. The Ass and the Sick Lion.

ÆSOP'S FABLES

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THE FOX & THE GRAPES

This Fox has a longing for grapes, He jumps, but the bunch still escapes. So he goes away sour; And, 'tis said, to this hour Declares that he's no taste for grapes.

THE GRAPES OF DISAPPOINTMENT ARE ALWAYS SOUR

THE COCK & THE PEARL

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A rooster, while scratching for grain, Found a Pearl. He just paused to explain That a jewel's no good To a fowl wanting food, And then kicked it aside with disdain.

IF HE ASK BREAD WILL YE GIVE HIM A STONE?

THE WOLF AND THE LAMB

A wolf, wanting lamb for his dinner, Growled out "Lamb you wronged me, you sinner." Bleated Lamb "Nay, not true!" Answered Wolf "Then 'twas Ewe Ewe or lamb, you will serve for my dinner."

FRAUD AND VIOLENCE HAVE NO SCRUPLES

THE WIND & THE SUN

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The Wind and the Sun had a bet, The wayfarers' cloak which should get: Blew the Wind the cloak clung: Shone the Sun the cloak flung Showed the Sun had the best of it yet.

TRUE STRENGTH IS NOT BLUSTER

KING LOG & KING STORK

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