A crow, having secured a Piece of Cheese, flew with its Prize to a
lofty Tree, and was preparing to devour the Luscious Morsel, when a
crafty Fox, halting at the foot of the Tree, began to cast about how he
might obtain it.
"How tasteful is your Dress," he cried, in well-feigned Ecstacy; "it
cannot surely be that your Musical Education has been neglected? Will
you not oblige----?"
"I have a horrid Cold," replied the Crow, "and never sing without my
Music; but since you press me--at the same time, I should add that I
have read Æsop, and been there before."
So saying, she deposited the Cheese in a safe Place on the Limb of the
Tree, and favored him with a Song.
"Thank you," exclaimed the Fox, and trotted away, with the Remark that
Welsh Rabbits never agreed with him, and were far inferior in Quality
to the animate Variety.
_Moral_--The foregoing fable is supported by a whole Gatling Battery
of Morals. We are taught (1) that it Pays to take the Papers; (2) that
Invitation is not Always the Sincerest Flattery; (3) that a Stalled
Rabbit with Contentment is better than No Bread; and (4) that the Aim
of Art is to Conceal Disappointment.