There was one a Wolf who got very little to eat because the Dogs of the village were so wide awake and watchful. He was really nothing but skin and bons, and it made him very downhearted to think of it.

One night this Wolf happened to fall in with a fine fat House Dog who had wandered a little too far from home. The Wolf would gladly have eaten him then and there, but the House Dog looked strong enough to leave his marks should he try it.

So the Wolf spoke very humbly to the Dog, complimenting him on his fine appearance.

"You can be as well-fed as I am if you want to", replied the Dog. "Leave the woods; there you live miserably. Why, you have to fight hard for every bite you get. Follow my example and you will get along beautifully."

"What must I do?" asked the Wolf.

"Hardly anything," answered the House Dog. "Chase people who carry canes, bark at beggars and fawn on the people of the house. In return you will get tidbits of every kind, chicken bones, choice bits of meat, sugar, cake, and much more beside, not to speak of kind words and caresses."

The Wolf had such a beautiful vision of his coming happiness that he almost wept. But just then he noticed that the hair on the Dog's neck was worn and the skin was chafed.

"What is that on your neck"
"Nothing at all", replied the Dog.
"What! Nothing!"
"Oh, just a trifle!"
"But please tell me"
"Perhaps you see the mark of the collar to which my chain is fastened."
"What! A chain!" cried the Wolf."Don't you go wherever you please?"
"Not always! But what's the difference?" replied the Dog.

"All the difference in the world! I don't care a rap for you feasts and I wouldn't take all the gender young lambs in the world at that price." And away ran the Wolf to the woods.

THERE IS NOTHING WORTH SO MUCH AS LIBERTY.

A Fox one day spied a beautiful bunch of ripe grapes from a vine trained along the branches of a tree. The grapes seemed ready to burst with juice, and the Fox's mouth watered as he gazed longingly at them.

The brunch hung from a high branch, and the Fox had to jump for it.

The first time he jumped he missed it by a long way. So he walked off a short distance and took a running leap at it, only to fall short once more. Again and again he tried, but in vain.

Now he sat down and looked at the grapes in disgust.

"What a fool I am", he said. "Here I am wearing myself out to get a bunch of sour grapes that are not worth gaping for."

And off he walked very, very scornfully.

THERE ARE MANY WHO PRETEND TO DESPISE AND BELITTLE THAT WHICH IS BEYOND THEIR REACH.

A Butterfly once fell in love with a beautiful Rose. The Rose was not indifferent, for the Butterfly's wings were powdered in a charming pattern of gold and silver. And so, when he fluttered near and told how he loved her, she blushed rosily and said yes. After much pretty love-making and many whispered vows of constancy, the Butterfly took a tender leave of his sweetheart.

But alas! It was a long time before he came back to her.

"Is this your constancy?" she exclaimed tearfully. "It is ages since you went away, and all the time, you have been carrying on with all sorts of flowers.

I was you kiss Miss Geranium, and you fluttered around Miss Mignonette until Honey Bee chased you away. I wish he had stung you!"

"Constancy! laughed the Butterfly. "I had no sooner left you than I saw Zephyr kissing you. You carried on scandalously with Mr. Bumble Bee and you made eyes at every single Bug you could see. You can't expect any constancy from me!"

DO NOT EXPECT CONSTANCY IN OTHERS IF YOU HAVE NONE YOURSELF.