第26页 / 共274页

There was once a Groom who used to spend long hours clipping and

combing the Horse of which he had charge, but who daily stole a

portion of his allowance of oats, and sold it for his own profit.

The Horse gradually got into worse and worse condition, and at

last cried to the Groom, "If you really want me to look sleek and

well, you must comb me less and feed me more."

THE WOLF AND THE LAMB

A Wolf came upon a Lamb straying from the flock, and felt some

compunction about taking the life of so helpless a creature

without some plausible excuse; so he cast about for a grievance

and said at last, "Last year, sirrah, you grossly insulted me."

"That is impossible, sir," bleated the Lamb, "for I wasn't born

then." "Well," retorted the Wolf, "you feed in my pastures."

"That cannot be," replied the Lamb, "for I have never yet tasted

grass." "You drink from my spring, then," continued the Wolf.

"Indeed, sir," said the poor Lamb, "I have never yet drunk

anything but my mother's milk." "Well, anyhow," said the Wolf,

"I'm not going without my dinner": and he sprang upon the Lamb

and devoured it without more ado.