A man who had traveled in foreign lands boasted very much, on returning to his own country, of the many wonderful and heroic feats he had performed in the different places he had visited.

Among other things, he said that when he was at Rhodes he had leaped to such a distance that no man of his day could leap anywhere near him. He said that there were in Rhodes many people who saw him do it and whom he could call as witnesses.

One of the bystanders interrupted him, saying: “Now, my good man, if this be all true there is no need of witnesses. Pretend this to be Rhodes, and leap for us.”

Moral: Don’t let your mouth write cheques your body can’t cash.

A Groom used to spend whole days in currycombing and rubbing down his Horse, but at the same time stole his oats and sold them for his own profit.

“Alas!” said the Horse, “if you really wish me to be in good condition, you should groom me less, and feed me more.”

Moral: Don’t try to cheat your way to excellence.

A Miser sold all that he had and bought a lump of gold, which he buried in a hole in the ground by the side of an old wall and went to look at daily.

One of his workmen observed his frequent visits to the spot and decided to watch his movements. The workman soon discovered the secret of the hidden treasure, and digging down, came to the lump of gold, and stole it.

The Miser, on his next visit, found the hole empty and began to tear his hair and to cry loudly. A neighbor, seeing him overcome with grief and learning the cause, said,

“Pray do not grieve so; but go and take a stone, and place it in the hole, and pretend that the gold is still lying there. It will have the same result; for when the gold was there, you didn’t really have it, because you did not make the slightest use of it.”

Moral: Use it or lose it.

A Goatherd had sought to bring back a stray goat to his flock. He whistled and sounded his horn in vain; the straggler paid no attention to the summons.

At last the Goatherd threw a stone, and breaking its horn, begged the Goat not to tell his master.

The Goat replied, “Why, you silly fellow, the horn will speak even though I be silent.”

Moral: Do not attempt to hide things which cannot be hid.

Two men were traveling together, when a Bear suddenly met them on their path.

One of them climbed up quickly into a tree and concealed himself in the branches. The other, seeing that he would be attacked, fell flat on the ground. When the Bear came up and felt him with his snout, and smelt him all over, the Traveler held his breath, and pretended to be dead.

The Bear soon left the “dead” Traveler, for it is said a bear will not touch a dead body.

When the Bear was gone, the other Traveler descended from the tree, and asked his friend what it was the Bear had whispered in his ear.

“He gave me this advice,” his companion replied. “Never travel with a friend who deserts you at the approach of danger.”

Moral: Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.