red-haired dog, called Cæsar, who was so good-natured that he never hurt any of the fowls; nay, he would often leave them tit-bits out of his own platter, so they all loved him dearly.

One morning Cockscomb was taking an airing by himself, in the large garden behind the house. He strutted on till he came to a dung-hill, that he knew lay at the farther end of the garden, close to some wooden palings. When he reached the top of this delightful mound, he felt proud indeed, as he crowed aloud, and overlooked the wide fields.

While he was busy scratching about and crowing, he perceived Master Reynard lying in wait behind the palings, and stirring neither of his four paws, but gazing intently at the water. Now, Cockscomb had often heard of a wicked robber of chickens, though he had never seen one. Besides, the fox being red-haired, and not unlike a dog, Cockscomb cried out, "I say, you there! are you not a brother of our Cæsar?

The fox, who had been keeping his eye on the dainty young chicken up above, remained quite still, as if he had heard nothing.

“I say, you there! are you not a brother of our Cæsar?" sung out the young chick again, in a still louder voice.

“Why, as I'm alive, there's my darling Cockscomb's own little self!" exclaimed the cunning fox, now raising his head for the first time. "How glad am I to meet with you at last, you sweet little fellow! Yes, sure enough I am Cæsar's brother, and many 's the time he has told me all about you and your brother, and how prettily both of you can crow. You can't think how delighted I should be to hear you, only I have a cold just now, which makes me rather dull of hearing. But I should be pleased if you would fly over the palings, and crow close to my ear.”

"I can't come," said Cockscomb, coyly; for his vanity was very much tickled by the fox's flattery.

"What a pity!" quoth Master Reynard, " for I wanted to beg another favor of you. My doctor has advised me to apply earth-worms to my ears to cure my deafness, and I came here to grub some, only I can't well pick them up. I wish I had your bill."

"Earth-worms!" cried Cockscomb, eagerly; "are there really good fat ones down there?"

"I should think there were!" answered the fox; "why, my chick, there are lots of them, as fat as eels, crawling about by the water's edge. I never in my life saw so many together."

When Cockscomb heard this, he could hold out no longer; he raised his wings to fly over the palings down to the fox, for he thought fat earth-worms the daintiest fare in the world. But his efforts were in vain; for it was but the day before that Cooky had clipped his wings, to keep him from flying about everywhere.

He told his grief to the fox. Reynard was beginning to explain how he might manage some other way, when a huntsman's horn was heard. Master Reynard quickly took himself off; and so Cockscomb just escaped a death which his vanity and greed were quickly preparing for him. Amusing Tales.

HOW BRUIN THE BEAR SPED WITH REYNARD

THE FOX.

ONE morning, away went Bruin the bear in quest of Reynard the fox. Passing through a dark forest where Reynard had a bye-path, to be used when he was hunted,

he crossed a high mountain, which led to his friend's country-seat. Now Reynard had many houses, but this was his chief and most ancient castle, and he lived in it both for safety and ease.

When Bruin arrived, he found the gates shut. Then he knocked and called aloud, "Sir Reynard, are you at home? I am Bruin, your kinsman, whom king Lion hath sent to summon you to court, to answer many grave charges brought against you. His Highness has taken a vow, that if you fail to obey his summons, your life shall answer for your contempt; therefore, kinsman, be advised by your friend, and go with me to court."

Now, Reynard, as was his custom, was lying just inside the gate, for the sake of the sun. Hearing these words, he departed into one of his holes; for his castle is full of curious and secret rooms, through which to escape on the approach of danger. There he mused within himself how he might trick and disgrace the bear, who, he knew, loved him not. At last he came forth, and said, "Dear uncle Bruin, you are exceedingly welcome; pardon my slowness in coming. He that hath sent you this long and weary journey hath done you no good service: your toil and pains far exceed the worth of the object. If you had not come, I should have been at court to-morrow of my own accord. Yet I am not sorry you have come, for at this time advice your I wish for your be useful to me. may sake we were already at court, for I fear I shall be troublesome to you on the journey: since fowls have become scarce, I have taken such strange food that I feel sadly out of sorts."

"My dear cousin," said the bear, "what food is this which so much disagrees with you?" "Uncle," replied the fox, "what good will it do you to know? It was mean and simple food. We poor fellows are not lords, as you

are aware; we eat that from necessity which others eat from choice :- it was honeycomb, large and rich, and good enough, perhaps, to those who like it. Forced by hunger, I ate of it greedily."

"Ah," quoth Bruin, "honeycomb! Do you speak so slightingly of that? Why, it is food for the greatest emperor in the world. Fair nephew, help me to some of that honey, and I will be your slave for ever." "Surely, uncle," said the fox, "you do but jest with me." "I do not jest," replied Bruin, "for I am in serious earnest, that for one lick thereof you shall make me the most faithful of your kindred." 'Nay," said the fox, "if you be in earnest I will show you where there is so much that ten of you shall not be able to devour it." "Not ten of us?" said the bear; "that is impossible; for if I had all the honey in the world, I could in a short time eat it up myself."

"Well then, uncle," quoth the fox, "there dwells near here a countryman named Lanfert, who is the owner of so much honey that you could not eat it in seven years; and this I will put you in possession of."

This promise pleased the bear so well, and made him so merry, that he could not contain himself for joy.

"Well," thought the fox, "this is lucky; I will take care to lead him where he shall dance to another tune." Then said he to Bruin, "Uncle, we must lose no time, and I will do for your sake what I would not do for any other of my kindred." The bear warmly thanked him; and away they went; and at last they reached Lanfert's house.

Now Lanfert was a stout carpenter, and he had brought into his yard, the day before, a large oak, which he had begun to cleave; he had driven two wedges into it, so that the cleft stood wide open. At this the fox was very glad, and with a smiling face he said to the bear, "Behold this

tree, there is so much honey within, that it cannot be measured; try if you can get it. Be careful of yourself, and eat sparingly; for although the combs are good and sweet, yet too much is dangerous."

"No fear of that," said the bear; "I am not such a fool as not to be able to control my appetite." With that he thrust his head into the cleft quite beyond his ears. When the fox saw this, he pulled the wedges out of the tree, so that he locked the bear fast therein. What with his scratching and tearing, roaring and howling, Bruin made such a hubbub that Lanfert, wondering what it could be, came out of his house with a sharp hook in his hand.

The fox seeing the man, scampered off to a safe distance, and shouted mockingly to the bear, "Is the honey good, uncle? I advise you not to gorge yourself. One may have too much of a good thing, you know. However, when Lanfert comes he will give you some drink to wash it down." Having said this, Reynard trotted off to his own castle.

The news being quickly spread over the town, there was no man, woman, or child, but ran to the place; some with pitchforks, some with staves, and others with clubs; in short, with whatever they could lay hands on. Hearing the noise come thundering about him, Bruin dragged and pulled so hard, that he got out his head, but left behind him his ears and skin, so that a more wretched beast was never seen.

While in this sad plight, Lanfert and all the parish fell upon him and cudgelled him without mercy. At last he escaped, and leaping into a river hard by, swam away. Fatigued and starved, he made his way back to the Lion's court, bitterly reviling the honey tree, and the fox that had betrayed him.

From the German.