THE FOOLISH PUPPIES
The biggest puppy said one day to the little puppies, “Let us jump up on the table and enjoy ourselves. There are plenty of bread-crumbs on it. Our mistress has gone out to pay some visits.”
The little dogs said, “No, no, no, we will not go. If our mistress should hear of it she would beat us.”
“She will know nothing about it,” said the other; “come on, the crumbs are fresh and sweet.”
“Nay, nay, we must let them alone. We must not go,” said the little pups again.
But the big one gave them no peace until at last they went, and got up on the table, and ate up the bread-crumbs with all their might.
While they were at it a shadow of someone passing the window fell on the table. The big pup knew what it meant. He jumped down and made off. But the little pups were caught. Their mistress seized a stick and whipped them out of the room.
Outside the little pups said to the big pup, “Dost, dost, dost, dost thou see?”
But the mean cur gave them no satisfaction. “Didn’t, didn’t, didn’t you expect it?” said he.