Fables in Rhyme for Little Folks

<h2><SPAN name="f13" id="f13"></SPAN><i>The Fox And The Stork.</i></h2> <ANTIMG src="images/13,1.jpg" alt="13,1"><br/> <br/> Old Father Fox, who was known to be mean,<br/> Invited Dame Stork in to dinner.<br/> There was nothing but soup that could scarcely be seen:--<br/> Soup <i>never</i> was served any thinner.<br/> And the worst of it was, as I'm bound to relate,<br/> Father Fox dished it up on a <i>flat</i> china plate.<br/> <ANTIMG src="images/13,2.jpg" alt="13,2"><br/> Dame Stork, as you know, has a very long beak:<br/> Not a crumb or drop could she gather<br/> Had she pecked at the plate every day in the week.<br/> But as for the Fox--sly old Father:<br/> With his tongue lapping soup at a scandalous rate,<br/> He licked up the last bit and polished the plate.<br/> <br/> Pretty soon Mistress Stork spread a feast of her own;<br/> Father Fox was invited to share it.<br/> He came, and he saw, and he gave a great groan:<br/> The stork had known how to prepare it.<br/> She had meant to get even, and now was <i>her</i> turn:<br/> Father Fox was invited <i>to eat from an urn.</i><br/> <ANTIMG src="images/13,3.jpg" alt="Father Fox was invited to eat from an urn."><br/> The urn's mouth was small, and it had a long neck;<br/> The food in it smelled most delightful.<br/> Dame Stork, with her beak in, proceeded to peck;<br/> But the Fox found that fasting is frightful.<br/> Home he sneaked. On his way there he felt his ears burn<br/> When he thought of the Stork and her tall, tricky urn.<br/> <ANTIMG src="images/13,4.jpg" alt="13,4"> <br/> <br/> <br/> <br/> <hr class="narrow"> &nbsp; <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />