Contents ▼▲
Front Matter The Wolf and the Kid The Tortoise and the Ducks Young Crab and His Mother The Frogs and the Ox The Dog, Cock, and Fox Belling the Cat The Eagle and the Jackdaw The Boy and the Filberts Hercules and the Wagoner The Kid and the Wolf Town Mouse, Country Mouse The Fox and the Grapes The Bundle of Sticks The Wolf and the Crane The Ass and His Driver The Oxen and the Wheels The Lion and the Mouse Shepherd Boy and the Wolf The Gnat and the Bull The Plane Tree The Farmer and the Stork The Sheep and the Pig The Travelers and the Purse The Lion and the Ass Frogs Who Wished for a King The Owl and the Grasshopper The Wolf and His Shadow The Oak and the Reeds The Rat and the Elephant The Boys and the Frogs The Crow and the Pitcher Ants and the Grasshopper The Ass Carrying the Image A Raven and a Swan The Two Goats The Ass and the Load of Salt The Lion and the Gnat The Leap at Rhodes The Cock and the Jewel The Monkey and the Camel The Wild Boar and the Fox The Ass, Fox, and Lion The Birds, Beasts and Bat The Lion, the Bear and the Fox The Wolf and the Lamb The Wolf and the Sheep The Hares and the Frogs The Fox and the Stork The Travelers and the Sea The Wolf and the Lion The Stag and His Reflection The Peacock The Mice and the Weasels The Wolf and the Lean Dog The Fox and the Lion The Lion and the Ass The Dog and His Master's Dinner The Vain Jackdaw The Monkey and the Dolphin The Wolf and the Ass The Monkey and the Cat The Dogs and the Fox The Dogs and the Hides The Rabbit, Weasel, and Cat The Bear and the Bees The Fox and the Leopard The Heron The Cock and the Fox The Dog in the Manger The Wolf and the Goat The Ass and the Grasshoppers The Mule The Fox and the Goat The Cat, Cock, and Mouse The Wolf and the Shepherd The Peacock and the Crane The Farmer and the Cranes The Farmer and His Sons The Two Pots The Goose and the Golden Egg The Fighting Bulls and Frog The Mouse and the Weasel The Farmer and the Snake The Sick Stag The Goatherd and Wild Goats The Spendthrift and Swallow The Cat and the Birds The Dog and the Oyster The Astrologer Three Bullocks and a Lion Mercury and the Woodman The Frog and the Mouse The Fox and the Crab The Serpent and the Eagle The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing The Bull and the Goat The Eagle and the Beetle The Old Lion and the Fox The Man and the Lion The Ass and the Lap Dog The Milkmaid and Her Pail The Wolf and the Shepherd The Goatherd and the Goat The Miser The Wolf and the House Dog The Fox and the Hedgehog The Bat and the Weasels The Quack Toad The Fox Without a Tail The Mischievous Dog The Rose and the Butterfly The Cat and the Fox The Boy and the Nettle The Old Lion The Fox and the Pheasants Two Travelers and a Bear The Porcupine and the Snakes The Fox and the Monkey The Mother and the Wolf The Flies and the Honey The Eagle and the Kite The Stag, Sheep and Wolf The Animals and the Plague The Shepherd and the Lion The Dog and His Reflection The Hare and the Tortoise The Bees, Wasps, and Hornet The Lark and Her Young Ones The Cat and the Old Rat The Fox and the Crow The Ass and His Shadow The Miller, His Son, and the Ass The Ant and the Dove The Man and the Satyr The Wolf, Kid, and Goat The Swallow and the Crow Jupiter and the Monkey The Lion, Ass, and Fox The Lion's Share The Mole and His Mother The North Wind and the Sun The Hare and His Ears The Wolves and the Sheep The Cock and the Fox The Ass in the Lion's Skin The Fisherman and the Fish The Fighting Cocks and Eagle

Aesop for Children - Milo Winter




The Owl and the Grasshopper

The Owl always takes her sleep during the day. Then after sundown, when the rosy light fades from the sky and the shadows rise slowly through the wood, out she comes ruffling and blinking from the old hollow tree. Now her weird "hoo-hoo-hoo-oo-oo" echoes through the quiet wood, and she begins her hunt for the bugs and beetles, frogs and mice she likes so well to eat.

Now there was a certain old Owl who had become very cross and hard to please as she grew older, especially if anything disturbed her daily slumbers. One warm summer afternoon as she dozed away in her den in the old oak tree, a Grasshopper nearby began a joyous but very raspy song. Out popped the old Owl's head from the opening in the tree that served her both for door and for window.

[Illustration] from Aesop for Children by Milo Winter

"Get away from here, sir," she said to the Grasshopper. "Have you no manners? You should at least respect my age and leave me to sleep in quiet!"

But the Grasshopper answered saucily that he had as much right to his place in the sun as the Owl had to her place in the old oak. Then he struck up a louder and still more rasping tune.

[Illustration] from Aesop for Children by Milo Winter

The wise old Owl knew quite well that it would do no good to argue with the Grasshopper, nor with anybody else for that matter. Besides, her eyes were not sharp enough by day to permit her to punish the Grasshopper as he deserved. So she laid aside all hard words and spoke very kindly to him.

"Well sir," she said, "if I must stay awake, I am going to settle right down to enjoy your singing. Now that I think of it, I have a wonderful wine here, sent me from Olympus, of which I am told Apollo drinks before he sings to the high gods. Please come up and taste this delicious drink with me. I know it will make you sing like Apollo himself."

The foolish Grasshopper was taken in by the Owl's flattering words. Up he jumped to the Owl's den, but as soon as he was near enough so the old Owl could see him clearly, she pounced upon him and ate him up.

Flattery is not a proof of true admiration.

Do not let flattery throw you off your guard against an enemy.