[Illustration: THE HARES AND FROGS IN A STORM.]
Upon a great storm of wind that blew among the trees and bushes, and
made a rustling with the leaves, the Hares (in a certain park where
there happened to be plenty of them) were so terribly frighted, that
they ran like mad all over the place, resolving to seek out some retreat
of more security, or to end their unhappy days by doing violence to
themselves. With this resolution they found an outlet where a pale had
been broken down, and, bolting forth upon an adjoining common, had not
run far before their course was stopped by that of a gentle brook which
glided across the way they intended to take. This was so grievous a
disappointment, that they were not able to bear it; and they determined
rather to throw themselves headlong into the water, let what would
become of it, than lead a life so full of dangers and crosses. But, upon
their coming to the brink of the river, a parcel of Frogs, which were
sitting there, frighted at their approach, leaped into the stream in
great confusion, and dived to the very bottom for fear: which a cunning
old Puss observing, called to the rest and said, 'Hold, have a care what
ye do: here are other creatures, I perceive, which have their fears as
well as us: don't then let us fancy ourselves the most miserable of any
upon earth; but rather, by their example, learn to bear patiently those
inconveniences which our nature has thrown upon us.'