WORLD OF STORIES

OLD FAIRY TALES

THE CAT, THE MONKEY, AND THE CHESTNUTS

ONE day a cat and a monkey sat watching some chestnuts put into the fire to roast.

"How good they must be!" said the monkey. "I wish we had them. I am sure you can get some out. You paws are so much like hands."

The cat was much pleased at these words. She put out her paw for the chestnuts. She took one out but burned her paw.

"How well you did that!" said the monkey. "I am sure you can get them all."

So the poor cat pulled out the nuts one by one, burning her paw each time.

At last they were all out. Then she turned round, but only in time to see the monkey crack and eat the last of the nuts.

So the poor cat had only her burnt paw for her pains.

Moral: A thief cannot be trusted even by another thief.

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