THE FARMER AND THE BADGERLong, long ago, there lived an old farmer and his wife who had
made their home in the mountains, far from any town. Their only
neighbor was a bad and malicious badger. This badger used to come
out every night and run across to the farmer's field and spoil the
vegetables and the rice which the farmer spent his time in
carefully cultivating. The badger at last grew so ruthless in his
mischievous work, and did so much harm everywhere on the farm, that
the good-natured farmer could not stand it any longer, and
determined to put a stop to it. So he lay in wait day after day and
night after night, with a big club, hoping to catch the badger, but
all in vain. Then he laid traps for the wicked animal.
The farmer's trouble and patience was rewarded, for one fine
