A singing bird was confined in a cage which hung outside a window,　　and had a way of singing at night when all other birds were asleep.

　　One night a Bat came and clung to the bars of the cage, and asked　　the Bird why she was silent by day and sang only at night.

"I have a　　very good reason for doing so," said the Bird.

"It was once when I was　　singing in the daytime that a fowler was attracted by my voice, and　　set his nets for me and caught me.

Since then I have never sung except　　by night.

" But the Bat replied, "It is no use your doing that now when　　you are a prisoner: if only you had done so before you were caught,　　you might still have been free.

"　　"Precautions are useless after the crisis.

"【The Cage Bird and the Bat查看网站：[db:时间]】