"My dear sir," said the Fox, as he retreated to the wood, "it was last night I had a good meal on your hens and chicks, yet you did not know of it. A moment ago they found me lying in the field, and you knew of it at once. Ill news travels fast!"
Tinsel and Lightning
A piece of Tinsel on a rock once said to a Pebble: "You see how bright
I am! I am by birth related to the lightning."
"Indeed!" said the Pebble; "then accept my humble respects."
Some time after, a flash of lightning struck the rock, and the Tinsel lost all its brilliancy by the scorching effects of the flash.
"Where is your brilliancy now?" said the Pebble.
"Oh, it is gone to the skies," said the Tinsel, "for I have lent it to the lightning that came down a moment ago to borrow it of me."
"Dear me!" said the Pebble; "how many fibs doth good bragging need!"
The Glow-worm and the Daw
A Jackdaw once ran up to a Glow-worm and was about to seize him. "Wait a moment, good friend," said the Worm; "and you shall hear of something to your advantage."