A Beetle once begged the Eagle to spare a Hare which had run to her for protection. When at last he had succeeded, he gorged himself to bursting. In the still evening air the Wolf's piping carried far. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in such constant fear of her claws that they hardly dared stir from their dens by night or day. Oh, just a trifle!, But please tell me. The old Frog soon missed the little one and asked his brothers and sisters what had become of him. Is this your axe? Mercury asked the Woodman. The Oak stood proudly and fought against the storm, while the yielding Reeds bowed low. How foolish I should be, he said, to throw you back. No hidden gold did they find; but at harvest time when they had settled their accounts and had pocketed a rich profit far greater than that of any of their neighbors, they understood that the treasure their father had told them about was the wealth of a bountiful crop, and that in their industry had they found the treasure.
Learn from the misfortunes of others.