Page 87 of 274

THE OLIVE-TREE AND THE FIG-TREE

An Olive-tree taunted a Fig-tree with the loss of her leaves at a

certain season of the year. "You," she said, "lose your leaves

every autumn, and are bare till the spring: whereas I, as you

see, remain green and flourishing all the year round." Soon

afterwards there came a heavy fall of snow, which settled on the

leaves of the Olive so that she bent and broke under the weight;

but the flakes fell harmlessly through the bare branches of the

Fig, which survived to bear many another crop.

THE LION AND THE BOAR