Once upon a time a Cat and a Monkey lived as pets in the same
house. They were great friends and were constantly in all sorts
of mischief together. What they seemed to think of more than
anything else was to get something to eat, and it did not matter
much to them how they got it.
One day they were sitting by the fire, watching some chestnuts
roasting on the hearth. How to get them was the question.
"I would gladly get them," said the cunning Monkey, "but you are
much more skillful at such things than I am. Pull them out and
I'll divide them between us."
Pussy stretched out her paw very carefully, pushed aside some of
the cinders, and drew back her paw very quickly. Then she tried
it again, this time pulling a chestnut half out of the fire. A
third time and she drew out the chestnut. This performance she
went through several times, each time singeing her paw severely.
As fast as she pulled the chestnuts out of the fire, the Monkey
ate them up.
Now the master came in, and away scampered the rascals, Mistress
Cat with a burnt paw and no chestnuts. From that time on, they
say, she contented herself with mice and rats and had little to
do with Sir Monkey.
_The flatterer seeks some benefit at your expense._