[Illustration: THE WOOD AND THE CLOWN.]
A country Fellow came one day into the Wood, and looked about him with
some concern; upon which the Trees, with a curiosity natural to some
other creatures, asked him what he wanted.--He replied--'That he only
wanted a piece of wood to make a handle to his hatchet.' Since that was
all, it was voted unanimously, that he should have a piece of good,
sound, tough ash. But he had no sooner received and fitted it for his
purpose, than he began to lay about him unmercifully, and to hack and
hew without distinction, felling the noblest trees in all the forest.
Then the Oak is said to have spoke thus to the Beech in a low
whisper,--'Brother, we must take it for our pains.'