A Man who wanted to buy an Ass went to market, and, coming across a good looking candidate, arranged with the owner that he should be allowed to take him home on trial to see what he was like. When he reached home, he put the Ass into his stable along with the other asses. The newcomer took a look around, and immediately went and chose a place next to the most lazy and greedy beast in the stable.

When the master saw this he put a halter on him at once, and led him off and handed him over to his owner again. The latter was very surprised to see him back so soon, and said, "Why, do you mean to say you have tested him already?" Replied the other: "I don't want to put him through any more tests. I could see what sort of beast he is from the companion he chose for himself."

The moral of the story: A man is known by the company he keeps.

The Charcoal-burner and the Fuller

There was once a Charcoal-burner who lived and worked by himself. A Fuller, however, happened to come and settle in the same neighborhood; and the Charcoal-burner, having made his acquaintance and finding he was an agreeable sort of fellow, asked him if he would come and share his house: "We shall get to know one another better that way" he said, "and, beside, our household expenses will be less."

The Fuller thanked him, but replied, "I couldn't think of it, sir: why, everything I take such pains to whiten would be blackened in no time by your charcoal."

The moral of the story: Birds of a feather flock together.

The Farmer and the Stork

A Farmer set some traps in a field which he had just sown with corn, in order to catch the cranes which came to pick up the seed. When he returned to look at his traps he found several cranes caught, and among them a Stork, which begged to be let go, and said, "You ought not to kill me: I am not a crane, but a Stork, as you can easily see by my feathers, and I am the most honest and harmless of birds."

But the Farmer replied, " I don't care what you are: I find you among these cranes, who ruin my crops, and like them, you shall suffer."

The moral of the story: If you choose bad companions no one will believe that you are anything but bad yourself.