The Mother And The Wolf

by Aesop

　　Early one morning a hungry Wolf was prowling around a cottage atthe edge of a village, when he heard a child crying in the house.Then he heard the Mother's voice say:

　　"Hush, child, hush! Stop your crying, or I will give you to theWolf!"

　　Surprised but delighted at the prospect of so delicious a meal,the Wolf settled down under an open window, expecting everymoment to have the child handed out to him. But though the littleone continued to fret, the Wolf waited all day in vain. Then,toward nightfall, he heard the Mother's voice again as she satdown near the window to sing and rock her baby to sleep.

　　"There, child, there! The Wolf shall not get you. No, no! Daddyis watching and Daddy will kill him if he should come near!"

　　Just then the Father came within sight of the home, and the Wolfwas barely able to save himself from the Dogs by a clever bit ofrunning.

　　Do not believe everything you hear.