A Wolf met a Dog, and,
seeing that he
looked fat and sleek, said
to him, "How
does it happen, my friend, that
you are so
plump, while I, although I run
after game
day and night, am half starved?"
"Why," said the Dog, "I
do not have to
run after my food. I only guard the house
at
night, and all the family pet me, and feed me
with scraps from their own plates. Come and
live with me, and you shall be as well off as
I am."
"That I should like,"
said the Wolf. "I
will at least go with you, and try the life."
As they trotted along the road together,
the
Wolf saw a mark on the Dog's neck, and asked
him what it was.
"Oh, that is nothing," said the Dog; "only
a little mark made by the
fretting of my
chain."
"Do you mean to say that you are ever
tied
up?"
"Why, yes," said the Dog; "they tie me
in
the day time, but at night I
can go where I
please."
"Good by," said the Wolf; "that is
enough
for me. Though I may not be fat, I will at
least be free."
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