A Farmer was driving his wagon along a miry country road after a heavy rain. The Ants shrugged their shoulders in disgust. Making music, were you? they cried. Now the Fox made as if to climb a tree, now he fell over and lay still, playing dead, and the next instant he was hopping on all fours, his back in the air, and his bushy tail shaking so that it seemed to throw out silver sparks in the moonlight. But before starting out he made a vow to Jupiter that if he would help him find the thief he would offer a fat Calf as a sacrifice. The Sun's rays grew warmer and warmer. Then when May day comes I will sell them, and with the money I'll buy a lovely new dress to wear to the fair. What, cried the Bat, I, a Bird! At last the Mice kept so closely to their dens, that the Cat saw he would have to use his wits well to catch one. Very timidly at first they stuck out their heads and sniffed about carefully. How much better it would have been, they said, to have shared in a friendly spirit.
Friends in fine weather only, are not worth much.