THE LION AND THE MOUSE

Vocabulary:

• (to) happen upon - to meet by accident
• spine – the bone(s) in the back of person or animal
• (to) tickle - kitzeln

One day while a mouse was creeping through the tall grass, she happened upon a great lion asleep in the sun. "I might see for quite a long distance from the top of that beast's back," she thought. Boldly the mouse crept up the lion's flank and scampered along his spine.
The tickling of the mouse's tiny feet woke the lion. With one swipe he snatched her in his claws and dangled her by her tail in front of his nose. "For daring to interrupt my nap," the lion growled, "you'll be my next meal!"
"Oh, please," the terrified mouse gasped, "let me go, and I promise one day I'll help you in return." The lion shook with laughter. "Impossible! " he roared. But the proud animal was so amused by the idea that he allowed the mouse to go.
Not long after, the lion was caught in a trap set by some clever hunters. No matter how the powerful beast thrashed and fought, he could not free himself from the strong net that raised him from the ground. No other animal dared come near to help for fear of the hunters. But when the brave little mouse heard his cries, she remembered her promise and hurried to his side. Quickly she gnawed through the sturdy ropes with her sharp teeth until the lion could escape to freedom.
"You see," she said, "there are times when even a tiny mouse can help a lion. And the moral is even the strongest can sometimes use the help of the smallest.

The Fox and the Grapes  

Vocabulary:

• orchard – garden with fruit trees
• vine – Weinstock
• (to) be trained over sth. – über etw. gezüchtet warden
• (to) quench one's thirst – to get rid of one's thirst
• (to) despise - verachten

One hot summer's day a Fox was strolling through an orchard till he came to a bunch of Grapes just ripening on a vine which had been trained over a lofty branch. "Just the thing to quench my thirst," quoth he.
Drawing back a few paces, he took a run and a jump, and just missed the bunch. Turning round again with a One, Two, Three, he jumped up, but with no greater success. Again and again he tried after the tempting fruit, but at last had to give it up, and walked away with his nose in the air, saying: "I am sure they are sour."  
  It is easy to despise what you cannot get.   nach oben

The Crow and the Pitcher  

Vocabulary:

• beak – a bird's mouth
• pitcher – a container for drinks
• pebble – small, round stone
•  

A thirsty Crow came upon a Pitcher which had once been full of water; but when the Crow put its beak into the mouth of the Pitcher he found that it was only half full, and that he could not reach far enough down to get at the remaining water. He tried, and he tried, but at last had to give up in despair. Then a thought came to him, and he took a pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher.
Then he took another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher.
Then he took another pebble and dropped that into the Pitcher.
At last, after many pebbles, he saw the water mount up near him, and after casting in a few more pebbles he was able to quench his thirst.
Little by little does the trick. nach oben

The Frogs Desiring a King  

Vocabulary:

• swamp – area of wet land
• constitution – Verfassung
• commotion – Aufruhr, Getöse
• Jove – Jupiter
• (to) gobble – eat hastily  

The Frogs were living as happy as could be in a marshy swamp that just suited them; they went splashing about caring for nobody and nobody troubling with them. But some of them thought that this was not right, that they should have a king and a proper constitution, so they determined to send up a petition to Jove to give them what they wanted. "Mighty Jove," they cried, "send unto us a king that will rule over us and keep us in order." Jove laughed at their croaking, and threw down into the swamp a huge Log, which came down splash to the swamp. The Frogs were frightened to death by the commotion made in their midst, and all rushed to the bank to look at the horrible monster; but after a time, seeing that it did not move, one or two of the boldest of them went slowly towards the Log, and even dared to touch it; still it did not move. Then the greatest hero of the Frogs jumped upon the Log and danced up and down upon it, thereupon all the Frogs came and did the same; and for some time the Frogs went about their business every day without taking the slightest notice of their new King Log lying in their midst. But this did not suit them, so they sent another petition to Jove, and said to him, "We want a real king; one that will really rule over us." Now this made Jove angry, so he sent among them a big Stork that soon set to work gobbling them all up. Then the Frogs repented when too late. Better no rule than cruel rule. nach oben

The Cat and the Mice

  Vocabulary: (to) perceive – to see (to) tempt s.o. forth – jmd. hervorlocken device – heir: trick peg – hier: post A certain house was overrun with Mice. A Cat, discovering this, made her way into it and began to catch and eat them one by one. Fearing for their lives, the Mice kept themselves close in their holes. The Cat was no longer able to get at them and perceived that she must tempt them forth by some device. For this purpose she jumped upon a peg, and suspending herself from it, pretended to be dead. One of the Mice, peeping stealthily out, saw her and said, "Ah, my good madam, even though you should turn into a meal-bag, we will not come near you." nach oben

Vocabulary:

Vocabulary:

Now you must know that a Town Mouse once upon a time went on a visit to his cousin in the country. He was rough and ready, this cousin, but he loved his town friend and made him heartily welcome. Beans and bacon, cheese and bread, were all he had to offer, but he offered them freely. The Town Mouse rather turned up his long nose at this country fare, and said: "I cannot understand, Cousin, how you can put up with such poor food as this, but of course you cannot expect anything better in the country; come you with me anouse's residence late at night. "You will want some refreshment after our long journey," said the polite Town Mouse, and took his friend into the grand dining-room. There they found the remains of a fine feast, and soon the two mice were eating up jellies and cakes and all that was nice. Suddenly they heard growling and barking. "What is that?" said the Country Mouse. "It is only the dogs of the house," answered the other. "Only!" said the Country Mouse. "I do not like that music at my dinner." Just at that moment the door flew open, in came two huge mastiffs, and the two mice had to scamper down and run off. "Good-bye, Cousin," said the Country Mouse, "What! going so soon?" said the other. "Yes," he replied;

"Better beans and bacon in peace than cakes and ale in fear."