you afraid of a lion? I am not. There is nothing that I should like better than to meet one," said a man to his neighbor whose calf the lion had killed. "To-morrow morning I will go out and hunt for this fierce lion, which is doing so much harm. If he is anywhere about, I shall find him and kill him, and thus rid the village of fear."

   The next morning the man started out alone to hunt the lion. He had, a gun and a sword. He looked so brave as he started off that the people in the village said, "What a blessing it is to have so fearless a man in our village! He will keep us from harm."

   He walked several miles. At last he came near a jungle. He thought that the lion might have his home there. He asked a farmer whom he met if he had seen the tracks of a lion.

   "Yes," said the farmer, "and I will show you where you can find him."

   When the man heard this, he turned pale and trembled with fright.

   "I do not care to see the lion," he cried. "I only wanted to see his tracks."

   The farmer turned away in disgust, saying, "It is easy to be brave when you are out of danger."

   Once upon a time a fox fell into a well. He was not hurt by his fall. As there was little water in the well, he was in no danger of drowning; but he could not get out.

   He cried, "Help! help! help! help!" but no one heard him.

   By and by a wolf passed by the well. He heard the call. He looked into the well and asked, "Who is down there?"

   "It is I," cried the fox. "I am glad that you have come to help me out."

   "How did you get down there?" asked the wolf. "Have you been there long? Is the water very deep? Poor fellow, I do pity you! That is no place for you. You have a very bad cold, I see. I wish you were out."

   "Please don't talk to me," cried the fox. "It is help I need. Do get me out and then I shall know that you are sorry for me."

   What a queer meeting that was down in the cellar! There were big mice, little mice, old mice, young mice, gray mice, and brown mice, all very sober and thoughtful.

   At last an old mouse spoke up and said, "Shall we have Mr. Graypate for our chairman? All those who wish Mr. Graypate to be chairman 

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