can run and get out of the cat's way."

   "A very good plan," said Mr. Longtail. "We will ask our leader to say which mouse shall put the bell on the cat's neck."

   At this there was a great outcry. One said, "I am so little that I can not reach high enough to bell the cat." Another said, "I have been very sick and am too weak to lift the bell"; and so the excuses came pouring in.

   At last Mr. Graypate called to the crowd, "Silence! I shall choose no one. Who will offer to bell the cat?"

   It was very quiet in the meeting. One after another of the younger mice went out. None but the older ones were left. At last they too went sadly home. No one would bell the cat.

   One day the door of a cottage stood open. A tame crow flew through the door into the cottage. She stole a piece of meat from the table, and flew to a branch of a tall tree.

   Just as she had settled there to enjoy her meat a fox came along and stopped under the tree. He sniffed something good to eat. Looking about, he saw the meat in the crow's mouth and wanted it.

   How could he get the meat? He could not climb the tree. What good would it do if he could? The crow would fly away when she saw him coming. He could not coax the crow to come down to the ground. She knew what a fox likes to eat.

   At last the fox had a happy thought. He said to himself, "A crow is one of the proudest birds I ever knew. I will flatter her and she will forget about the meat."

   So he called out in his sweetest voice, "Good day, my pretty bird"; but the crow did not reply. She only stepped about proudly on the branch.

   "I wish I had such a beautiful form as you have," said the fox.

   Still no answer, but the crow held up her head and turned it first to one side and then to the other, showing that she was pleased.

   "What a graceful neck and bright eye!" said the fox. "The other birds may well be jealous of you."

   No answer yet. She only raised her wings a little and gazed down upon the fox.

   "If your voice were only as beautiful as your form and your dress, you would be queen of all the birds; but it seems that you can not talk at 

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