THE CAT AND THE TIGER.
A CAT that was a pet in a farmer’s family, understanding from the talk of the children that a show of wild animals had come to the neighboring village, stole off one morning to see it, and, creeping in under the edge of the great canvas tent, proceeded to walk around the ring and look in at the cages.
She had not gone far when she came opposite to the tiger’s cage, and, looking up, saw there a creature of her own species so powerful, so immense, and withal so beautifully marked, that she was lost in admiration and felt almost ready to bow down and worship it.
“Great king of our race,” she cried, “I admire, and am willing to obey you!”
But the tiger, insensible to her praise, replied with contempt:
“You poor little mouse-eating creature, do you come here to claim relationship with one so great and strong as I am?”
At this the cat, quickly regaining her composure, answered:
“If your strength is so great that it must be restrained, and causes you to be shut up where it is only a torment to you as you walk up and down before the bars of your cage, then I would rather be as I am, weak and little, but suited to my place in the farmer’s kitchen.”
The qualities which make men great often make them miserable while they see around them those of lowlier station, and humbler abilities, more happy and useful than themselves.