Æsop's fables in words of one syllable

Chapter 21: THE KID AND THE WOLF.

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About This Book

A collection of short, self-contained fables retold in simple monosyllabic language for young readers. Each brief tale stages animal characters in a single situation that leads to a clear outcome and an explicit moral, exploring themes such as honesty, pride, prudence, selfishness, and the consequences of deceit or folly. Lines are spare and direct, often paired with small illustrations, and the arrangement of discrete episodes emphasizes cause-and-effect and memorable aphorisms to make ethical lessons accessible and easy to discuss.

THE KID AND THE WOLF.

A young kid that would stray from the herd saw a wolf, and did her best to get out of his reach; but when she found that all hope was lost, she said, “Sir wolf, I know that I am to die at your hands, so as my life will now be but short, I pray of you to let it be a gay one. Now, do you pipe while I dance.” So the wolf pipes, and the kid jumps and springs to please him. A pack of hounds who heard the sound, ran up to see who was there, and then the wolf set off as fast as his legs would take him, and the kid came home safe. Quoth she, with a hop and a skip:

“He that sticks to chance,

When fools pipe he may dance.”

But the wolf gave a deep sigh, and said:

“He who will not when he may,

When he wills, he shall have nay.”

The Kid and the Wolf.—Page 20.

Æsop.