THE HARE was once boasting of his speed before the other animals. "I have never yet been beaten," said he, "when I put forth my full speed. I challenge any one here to race with me."The Tortoise said quietly, "I accept your challenge."

"That is a good joke," said the Hare; "I could dance round you all the way." to which the Tortoise answered, "Keep your boasting till you're beaten. Shall we race?"

So a course was fixed and a start was made. The Hare darted almost out of sight at once, but soon stopped and, to show his contempt for the Tortoise, lay down to have a nap. The Tortoise went on step by step, and when the Hare awoke from his nap, he saw the Tortoise just near the winning-post and could not run up in time to save the race.

The moral of the story: Sure and steady wins the race.

The Crow and the Pitcher

A CROW, half-dead with thirst, found a pitcher with some water in it, but so little was there that she could not reach it with her beak. It seemed as though she would die of thirst within sight of salvation.

At last she hit upon a clever plan. She began dropping pebbles in the pitcher which displaced the water at the bottom of the pitcher. She saw the water mount up near her, and after casting in enough pebbles she was able to quench her thirst and save her life.

The moral of the story: Necessity is the mother of invention.

The Farmer and His Sons

A farmer at death's door, to teach his Sons an important lesson, called them round him and said, "My sons, I am shortly about to die; I would have you know, therefore, that in my vineyard there lies a hidden treasure. Dig, and you will find it."

As soon as their father was dead, the Sons took spade and fork and dug up the soil of the vineyard over and over again, in their search for the treasure which they supposed to lie buried there. They found none, however: but the vines, after so thorough a digging, produced a crop such as had never before been seen.

The moral of the story: Treasure awaits those who work for it.