An ox, drinking at a pool, trod on a brood of young frogs, and crushed
one of them to death. The mother coming up, and missing one of her sons,
inquired of his brothers what had become of him.
"He is dead," said they; "for just now a very huge beast with four great
feet came to the pool and crushed him with his cloven heel."
The frog, puffing herself out, inquired, "Was the beast as big as _that_
in size?"
"Cease mother, to puff yourself out," said her son, "and do not be
angry; for you would, I assure you, sooner burst than successfully
imitate the hugeness of that monster."
_To know the limitations of our nature, and act accordingly, is the part
of wisdom._
[Illustration]