
A mischievous chorus of everyday objects and critters takes the stage in this lively collection of short fables, each told in playful verse and bristling with witty banter. From a coat that rebels against its own dust‑covering duties to a hat and a cane that argue over their place in the wardrobe, the stories turn the ordinary into a stage for absurd, yet oddly familiar, disputes.
The opening tales set the tone perfectly. A proud coat, fed up with being beaten and brushed, lashes out at its valet and ends up as a scare‑crow; a cheeky parrot traps a teasing boy in its cage, forcing him to confront his own mischief; and a quick‑thinking hare plots to outwit a pack of hunting dogs, turning fear into clever strategy. Each vignette delivers a gentle moral wrapped in humor, inviting listeners to laugh while reflecting on pride, responsibility, and the art of turning tables.
With its rhythmic language and charming personifications, the book feels like a modern twist on classic folklore, ideal for anyone who enjoys a clever story that both entertains and nudges the imagination toward deeper thought.
Language
en
Duration
~22 minutes (21K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Emmy, Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by the University of Florida Digital Collections.)
Release date
2011-09-13
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1834–1900
Best known for writing lively, carefully researched books on women artists, this Irish-born Victorian author also worked as an illustrator. Her work helped preserve the stories of painters and sculptors who were often overlooked in her own time.
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