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me I crumble and crumble； and at last I fall； go to the Rat； little brother。〃
And so； after going all over the world to find the strongest person； the
Rat King had to marry his daughter to a rat； after all； but the princess was
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very glad of it； for she wanted to marry the grey Rat； all the time。
THE FROG AND THE OX
Once a little Frog sat by a big Frog； by the side of a pool。 〃Oh；
father；〃 said he； 〃I have just seen the biggest animal in the world； it was as
big as a mountain； and it had horns on its head； and it had hoofs divided in
two。〃
〃Pooh； child；〃 said the old Frog； 〃that was only Farmer White's Ox。 He
is not so very big。 I could easily make myself as big as he。〃 And he blew；
and he blew； and he blew； and swelled himself out。
〃Was he as big as that？〃 he asked the little Frog。
〃Oh； much bigger；〃 said the little Frog。
The old Frog blew； and blew； and blew again； and swelled himself out；
more than ever。
〃Was he bigger than that？〃 he said。
〃Much； much bigger；〃 said the little Frog。
〃I can make myself as big；〃 said the old Frog。 And once more he blew；
and blew； and blew； and swelled himself out；and he burst！
Self…conceit leads to self…destruction。
THE FIRE…BRINGER＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from The Basket Woman； by Mary Austin。
This is the Indian story of how fire was brought to the tribes。 It was
long； long ago； when men and beasts talked together with understanding；
and the grey Coyote was friend and counsellor of man。
There was a Boy of the tribe who was swift of foot and keen of eye；
and he and the Coyote ranged the wood together。 They saw the men
catching fish in the creeks with their hands； and the women digging roots
with sharp stones。 This was in summer。 But when winter came on； they
saw the people running naked in the snow； or huddled in caves of the
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rocks； and most miserable。 The Boy noticed this； and was very unhappy
for the misery of his people。
〃I do not feel it；〃 said the Coyote。
〃You have a coat of good fur；〃 said the Boy； 〃and my people have not。〃
〃Come to the hunt；〃 said the Coyote。
〃I will hunt no more； till I have found a way to help my people against
the cold；〃 said the Boy。 〃Help me； O Counsellor！〃
Then the Coyote ran away； and came back after a long time； he said he
had found a way； but it was a hard way。
〃No way is too hard；〃 said the Boy。 So the Coyote told him that they
must go to the Burning Mountain and bring fire to the people。
〃What is fire？〃 said the Boy。 And the Coyote told him that fire was red
like a flower； yet not a flower； swift to run in the grass and to destroy； like
a beast； yet no beast； fierce and hurtful； yet a good servant to keep one
warm； if kept among stones and fed with small sticks。
〃We will get this fire；〃 said the Boy。
First the Boy had to persuade the people to give him one hundred swift
runners。 Then he and they and the Coyote started at a good pace for the far
away Burning Mountain。 At the end of the first day's trail they left the
weakest of the runners； to wait； at the end of the second； the next stronger；
at the end of the third； the next； and so for each of the hundred days of the
journey； and the Boy was the strongest runner； and went to the last trail
with the Counsellor。 High mountains they crossed； and great plains； and
giant woods； and at last they came to the Big Water； quaking along the
sand at the foot of the Burning Mountain。
It stood up in a high peaked cone； and smoke rolled out from it
endlessly along the sky。 At night； the Fire Spirits danced； and the glare
reddened the Big Water far out。
There the Counsellor said to the Boy； 〃Stay thou here till I bring thee a
brand from the burning； be ready and right for running； for I shall be far
spent when I come again； and the Fire Spirits will pursue me。〃
Then he went up to the mountain； and the Fire Spirits only laughed
when they saw him； for he looked so slinking； inconsiderable； and mean；
that none of them thought harm from him。 And in the night； when they
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were at their dance about the mountain； the Coyote stole the fire； and ran
with it down the slope of the burning mountain。 When the Fire Spirits saw
what he had done they streamed out after him； red and angry； with a
humming sound like a swarm of bees。 But the Coyote was still ahead； the
sparks of the brand streamed out along his flanks； as he carried it in his
mouth； and he stretched his body to the trail。
The Boy saw him coming； like a failing star against the mountain； he
heard the singing sound of the Fire Spirits close behind； and the labouring
breath of the Counsellor。 And when the good beast panted down beside
him； the Boy caught the brand from his jaws and was off； like an arrow
from a bent bow。 Out he shot on the homeward path； and the Fire Spirits
snapped and sang behind him。 But fast as they pursued he fled faster； till
he saw the next runner standing in his place； his body bent for the running。
To him he passed it； and it was off and away； with the Fire Spirits raging
in chase。
So it passed from hand to hand； and the Fire Spirits tore after it
through the scrub； till they came to the mountains of the snows； these they
could not pass。 Then the dark； sleek runners with the backward streaming
brand bore it forward； shining starlike in the night； glowing red in sultry
noons； violet pale in twilight glooms； until they came in safety to their
own land。
And there they kept it among stones and fed it with small sticks； as the
Counsellor advised； and it kept the people warm。
Ever after the Boy was called the Fire…Bringer； and ever after the
Coyote bore the sign of the bringing； for the fur along his flanks was
singed and yellow from the flames that streamed backward from the
brand。
THE BURNING OF THE RICEFIELDS＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Gleanings in Buddha…Fields； by Lafeadio Hearn。
（Kegan Paul； Trench； Trubner and Co； Ltd。 5s。 net。）
Once there was a good old man who lived up on a mountain； far
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away in Japan。 All round his little house the mountain was flat； and the
ground was rich； and there were the ricefields of all the people who lived
in the village at the mountain's foot。 Mornings and evenings； the old man
and his little grandson； who lived with him； used to look far down on the
people at work in the village； and watch the blue sea which lay all round
the land； so close that there was no room for fields below； only for houses。
The little boy loved the ricefields； dearly； for he knew that all the good
food for all the people came from them； and he often helped his
grandfather to watch over them。
One day； the grandfather