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A Spendthrift, who had wasted his fortune, and had nothing left

but the clothes in which he stood, saw a Swallow one fine day in

early spring. Thinking that summer had come, and that he could

now do without his coat, he went and sold it for what it would

fetch. A change, however, took place in the weather, and there

came a sharp frost which killed the unfortunate Swallow. When the

Spendthrift saw its dead body he cried, "Miserable bird! Thanks

to you I am perishing of cold myself."

One swallow does not make summer.

THE OLD WOMAN AND THE DOCTOR