

The Laborer and the Snake.A Snake, having made his hole close to the porch of a cottage, inflicteda severe bite on the Cottager's infant son, of which he died, to thegreat grief of his parents. The father resolved to kill the Snake, andthe next day, on its coming out of its hole for food, took up his axe;but, making too much haste to hit him as he wriggled away, missed hishead, and cut off only the end of his tail. After some time, theCottager, afraid lest the Snake should bite him also, endeavored to makepeace, and placed some bread and salt in his hole. The Snake said:"There can henceforth be no peace between us; for whenever I see you Ishall remember the loss of my tail, and whenever you see me you will bethinking of the death of your son." It is hard to forget injuries in the presence of him who caused theinjury. From Aesop's Fables |