Tales of Laughter — One's Own Children Always Prettiest

_One’s Own Children Always Prettiest_ Once upon a time a man went out shooting in a forest, and there he met a woodcock.

“Pray, don’t shoot my children,” cried the woodcock.

“What are your children like?

” asked the man.

“Mine are the prettiest children in the forest,” answered the woodcock.

“I suppose I mustn’t shoot them, then,” said the man.

When he came back he carried in his hand a whole string of young woodcocks which he had shot.

“Oh, dear, oh, dear!

Why, you have shot my children after all!

” wept the woodcock.

“Are these yours?

” said the man.

“Why, I shot the ugliest I could find.

”