esop's Fables

the swallow and_the other Birds

it happened that a countryman was sowing some hemp seeds in a field where a swallow and some other birds were hopping about picking up their food .` beware of_that man,' quoth the swallow .` why, what_is he doing ? ' said the others .` that_is hemp seed he_is sowing; be careful to pick up every_one_of_the seeds, or else you_will repent it .' the birds paid no heed to_the swallow's words, and by and by_the hemp grew up and was_made into cord, and of_the cords nets were made, and many a bird that had despised the swallow's advice was caught in nets made out of_that very hemp .` what did I tell you ? ' said the swallow .

destroy the seed of evil, or it_will grow up_to your ruin .