Fable
The Monkey and The Cat
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.
Moral
- The flatterer seeks some benefit at your expense.
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