"How queer!" said the little dog. "That is the pug's mother. I did not see her before. It would be too cold for me down in that water. Why do they live there?"
"You foolish child," replied the mother. "It is our shadows that you see there. See, they are just like us."
"I am not a baby. I know what dogs are, mother. Those are real dogs."
"Watch, my son, and see what happens," and the mother dropped a stone on the two shadows. They were gone.
The little pug stood surprised. He dropped his ears and went slowly home without saying another word.
THE PARTRIDGE IN THE NET
"I have caught one at last," said a hunter, "and this is as fine a partridge as one often sees. It is a young one, too, I do believe," and he reached his hand into the net to take it out.
This frightened the partridge. It fluttered and cackled, pecking at the hunter's hand.
At last it cried out, "Let me go! Do let me go! I am but one little bird. If you will set me free, I will lead a large flock of partridges to your net, and will coax them to go into it."