FABLES. 



251 



THE HARES AND THE FROGS. 



The Hares in a certain park having met to con- 

 sult upon some plan to preserve themselves from 

 their numerous enemies, all agreed that life was 

 full of care and misery, and that they saw no 

 prospect of things changing for the better. Full of 

 these desponding thoughts, and just as it had been 

 proposed that they should put an end to their exist- 

 ence, a storm arose, which tore the branches from 

 the trees, and whirled the leaves about their ears. 

 Panic-struck, they ran like mad creatures, until 

 they were stopped by a lake, into which they has- 

 tily resolved to throw themselves headlong, rather 

 than lead a life so full of dangers and crosses ; but 

 upon their approaching its margin, a number of 

 Frogs, which were sitting there, frightened at their 

 sudden approach, in the greatest confusion leapt 

 into the water, and dived to the bottom; which an 



