Baby's Book of Fables

Baby's Book of Fables was published in 1880. No information is provided about the author or about the illustrator. You can use this link to browse posts from this book, and you will find the table of contents below.

Online source: Internet Children's Digital Library.

Here's a random image from the book:

Table of Contents:

King Log and King Stork.
The Cat, the Cock, and the Mouse.
The Dog and the Shadow.
The Fox and the Crow.
The Fox and the Grapes.
The Fox and the Stork.
The Hare and the Tortoise.
The Horse and the Wolf.
The Lion and the Mouse.
The Obstinate Goats.
The Ox and the Frog.
The Peacock's Complaint.
The Wolf and the Lamb.
The Wolf in Shepherd's Clothing.

Here's a random fable from the book:

The Wolf and the Lamb

THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. A wolf and a lamb came to drink at the same stream. The wolf wanted to quarrel, and asked the lamb why he disturbed the water and made it too muddy to drink. The lamb said that he could not have done that, as the stream flowed from the wolf to him. "You spoke against me six months ago," growled the wolf. "But I was not born then," said the lamb. "Then, if it was not you, it was your father," roared the wolf; and seizing the lamb he ate him all up. Wicked people never want excuses for doing wrong. [more info]

The Peacock's Complaint

THE PEACOCK'S COMPLAINT. The peacock begged Juno to give him a sweet voice like the nightingale's. But the goddess said, "You cannot have everything. Everybody has some gift. Your feathers are very beautiful. Be content with what you have, and you will be happy." Envy no one. [more info]

The Ox and the Frog

THE OX AND THE FROG. Some young frogs told their mother that an ox which had trod on one of them was the largest animal in the world. "I can make myself as big," she said, and the next time she met the ox by the stream she swelled and swelled herself out till her skin burst. Do not be vain and conceited. [more info]

The Lion and the Mouse

THE LION AND THE MOUSE. One day some mice ran over the nose of a sleeping lion. He woke, and caught one; but it begged so hard to be let live that he set it free. Soon after, the lion was caught in a net, and roared loudly. The mouse heard him, ran, and gnawed the net till she had set the lion free. A kind action is generally rewarded. [more info]

The Horse and the Wolf

THE HORSE AND THE WOLF. A wolf, seeing a fine young horse, wished much to eat him; so he gave out that he was a great physician and could cure all illnesses. The horse guessed the trick, and sent for Dr. Wolf to extract a thorn from his foot. The wolf was glad to get hold of the foot; but when he came quite close and pretend to be looking at it, the horse gave him such a kick in the head that he stunned him, and then trotted merrily away. Beware of pretended friends. [more info]

The Hare and the Tortoise

THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE. A hare and a tortoise once agreed to run a race. Everybody said the hare must win, she runs so fast. But very often the hare stopped to chat or to play, for she felt sure that she would win. But the tortoise went steadily on and reached the goal first. Slow and steady wins the race. [more info]

The Fox and the Stork

THE FOX AND THE STORK. A fox invited the stork to dinner; but, as a joke, gave him nothing to eat but soup in a wide, shallow dish. Of course, the stork could only dip the point of his long bill in it. A few days after, he invited the fox to dine with him, but put the fish into a glass vase, the neck of which was too deep for the fox to get at his food. Practical jokes are silly, and often repaid to those who play them. [more info]

The Fox and the Grapes

THE FOX AND THE GRAPES. A hungry fox once saw some fine ripe grapes growing over a cottage door. He longed for them; but they were too high for him to reach them. He leapt up till he was tired, and then said, "Well, I shall not try again; I feel sure that those grapes are sour." He was too proud to tell the truth. [more info]

The Fox and the Crow

THE FOX AND THE CROW. A crow flew up into a tree with a piece of cheese. A fox saw her and meant to get it. So he began admiring her and praising her voice, saying that he should like to hear her sing. The crow foolishly tried, opened her beak to caw, and dropped the cheese, with which the fox at once ran away. Never listen to flattery. [more info]

The Dog and the Shadow

THE DOG AND THE SHADOW. A dog, with a piece of meat in his mouth, was crossing a stream. He saw his shadow in it, and thought that it was another dog carrying a piece of meat larger than his own. He greedily caught at it. Of course he dropped his own piece, which at once sank to the bottom. In trying to get more he had lost his dinner. Greedy people lose more than they gain. [more info]

The Cat, The Cock, and the Mouse

THE CAT, THE COCK, AND THE MOUSE. "Mother," said a little mouse, "I saw just now a soft, white, kind-looking animal creeping along. I meant to go to it and make friends; but a great, fierce bird stood close by, and gave such a dreadful shriek that I was afraid, and ran away." "Ah, child," said the mother, "that kind-looking animal is a cat, who would eat you. The bird is a cock, who would do you no harm." Never judge by appearances. [more info]

King Log and King Stork

KING LOG AND KING STORK. The frogs asked Jupiter to give them a king. He gave them a log. King Log did not trouble them; but they begged Jupiter to give them a more active king. He sent them a stork, who began at once to eat them all up. Let well alone. [more info]

The Wolf in Shepherd's Clothing

THE WOLF IN SHEPHERD'S CLOTHING. A wolf disguised himself in shepherd's clothes so well that he passed unnoticed close to the flock. The shepherd boy and his dog were fast asleep, and the wolf might have then seized his prey; but in his conceit he thought he could imitate the voice in which the shepherd called his flock, and — howled! They awoke at once, and the wolf was hanged for his pains. Deceitful people often betray themselves. [more info]

The Obstinate Goats

THE OBSTINATE GOATS. Two goats met on opposite sides of a torrent. Only one could pass over the pole laid across it at a time; but neither would wait for the other to pass. So they met in the middle, fought to get by, fell into the torrent, and were drowned. We should be kind and courteous to each other. [more info]