The Cat, the Monkey, and the Chestnuts
A Cat
and a Monkey were sitting one day by the hearth,
watching some chestnuts which their master had laid
down to roast. The chestnuts had begun to burst with
the heat, and the Monkey said to the Cat:—
"It is plain that your paws were made to pull out those
chestnuts. Your paws are, indeed, exactly like our
master's hands."
The Cat was greatly flattered by this speech, and
reached forward for the tempting chestnuts. Scarcely
had she touched the hot ashes than she drew back with a
cry, for she had burned her paw. She tried again, and
made out to get one
chestnut. Then she pulled another, and a third, though
each time she singed the hair on her paws. When she
could pull no more, she turned, and found the Monkey
had taken this time to crack the chestnuts and eat
them.
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