Fable
The Rat and The Elephant
A Rat was traveling along the King's highway.
He was a very proud Rat, considering his small size and the bad reputation all
Rats have. As Mr. Rat walked along—he kept mostly to the ditch—he noticed a
great commotion up the road, and soon a grand procession came in view. It was
the King and his retinue.
The
King rode on a huge Elephant adorned with the most gorgeous trappings. With the
King in his luxurious howdah were the royal Dog and Cat. A great crowd of
people followed the procession. They were so taken up with admiration of the
Elephant, that the Rat was not noticed. His pride was hurt.
"What
fools!" he cried. "Look at me, and you will soon forget that clumsy
Elephant! Is it his great size that makes your eyes pop out? Or is it his
wrinkled hide? Why, I have eyes and ears and as many legs as he! I am of just
as much importance, and"—
But
just then the royal Cat spied him, and the next instant, the Rat knew he was
not quite so important as an Elephant.
Moral
- A resemblance to the great in some things does not make
us great.
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