A Note from John:
Foolishly I came into town today to finalise flyer distribution arrangements through Canada Post, and didn't bring my Aesop book with me.But I found info about the edition online: https://www.amazon.com/Aesops-Fables-Translation-Facsimile-published/dp/B0027VKRXA
And here's the introduction to that edition by no less than G.K. Chesterton: https://fablesofaesop.com/g-k-chesterton-introduction.html
The illustrator is also someone of note: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Rackham#Notable_works
Some of this might make interesting background to the actual content of the 2 fables I've picked. Websites are designed to allow a lot of extra details.
TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE
A TOWN MOUSE and a Country Mouse were acquaintances, and the Country Mouse one day invited his friend to come and see him at his home in the fields. The Town Mouse came, and they sat down to a dinner of barleycorns and roots, the latter of which had a distinctly earthy flavour. The fare was not much to the taste of the guest, and presently he broke out with "My poor dear friend, you live here no better than the ants. Now, you should just see how I fare! My larder is a regular horn of plenty. You must come and stay with me, and I promise you you shall live on the fat of the land." So when he returned to town he took the Country Mouse with him, and showed him into a larder containing flour and oatmeal and figs and honey and dates. The Country Mouse had never seen anything like it, and sat down to enjoy the luxuries his friend provided: but before they had well begun, the door of the larder opened and some one came in. The two Mice scampered off and hid themselves in a narrow and exceedingly uncomfortable hole. Presently, when all was quiet, they ventured out again; but some one else came in, and off they scuttled again. This was too much for the visitor. Good-bye," said he, "I'm off. You live in the lap of luxury, I can see, but you are surrounded by dangers; whereas at home I can enjoy my simple dinner of roots and corn in peace."
THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE ANTS
ONE fine day in winter some Ants were busy drying their store of corn, which had got rather damp during long spell of rain. Presently up came a Grasshopper and begged them to spare her a few grains, " For," she said, "I'm simply starving." The Ants stopped work for a moment, though this was against their principles. "May we ask," said they, "what you were doing with yourself all last summer? Why didn't you collect a store of food for the winter?" the Grasshopper, "I was so busy singing that I hadn't "The fact is," replied the Ants," you can't do better than spend the winter the time." "If you spent the summer singing," replied dancing." And they chuckled and went on with their work.