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The Goat called loudly after him and reminded him of his promise

to help him out: but the Fox merely turned and said, "If you had

as much sense in your head as you have hair in your beard you

wouldn't have got into the well without making certain that you

could get out again."

Look before your leap.

THE FISHERMAN AND THE SPRAT

A Fisherman cast his net into the sea, and when he drew it up

again it contained nothing but a single Sprat that begged to be

put back into the water. "I'm only a little fish now," it said,

"but I shall grow big one day, and then if you come and catch me

again I shall be of some use to you." But the Fisherman replied,

"Oh, no, I shall keep you now I've got you: if I put you back,

should I ever see you again? Not likely!"

THE BOASTING TRAVELLER