Page 251 of 274

THE CROW AND THE RAVEN

A Crow became very jealous of a Raven, because the latter was

regarded by men as a bird of omen which foretold the future, and

was accordingly held in great respect by them. She was very

anxious to get the same sort of reputation herself; and, one day,

seeing some travellers approaching, she flew on to a branch of a

tree at the roadside and cawed as loud as she could. The

travellers were in some dismay at the sound, for they feared it

might be a bad omen; till one of them, spying the Crow, said to

his companions, "It's all right, my friends, we can go on without

fear, for it's only a crow and that means nothing."

Those who pretend to be something they are not only make

themselves ridiculous.

THE WITCH