Look inside ... Indian Fables by P. V. Ramaswami Raju An appealing collection of more than a hundred Indian fables that are delightful as well as short, pithy, and ingenious. Each fable has its separate moral in prose or rhyme; these are often epigrams of the shrewdest kind, full of wit and subtlety. Most of these fables are likely to be new to the majority of readers. In the characters of animals the same rules are observed as in Western fables. As the symbol of strength, the lion (or, in one or two instances, the tiger) is king, the fox is the symbol of cunning, the bear of inert power, the wolf of ferocity, the owl of assumed wisdom, and so forth.  Ages 7-10 160 pages $9.95

THE LION AND THE CUB

A YOUNG lion, fond of applause, shunned the company of the lions, and sought that of vulgar and ignoble beasts. He passed all his time with asses. He presided at their meetings; he copied their airs and their manners—in a word, he was an ass in everything except the ears. Elated with vanity, he betook himself to his father's retreat, to display his rare qualities there. He could not but have some that were very ridiculous. He brays, the lion starts.

"Puppy," said he to him, "this disagreeable noise shows what sort of company you have been keeping. Puppies always betray their stupidity."

"Why are you so severe?" asked the young lion. "Our assembly has always admired me."

[38] "How ill-grounded your pride is," replied the father. "You may be sure that lions despise what asses admire."

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