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 your
feasts and I wouldn't take all the tender young lambs in the
world at that price." And away ran the Wolf to the woods.

_There is nothing worth so much as liberty._

[Illustration]

THE FOX AND THE HEDGEHOG

A Fox, swimming across a river, was barely able to reach the
bank, where he lay bruised and exhausted from his struggle with
the swift current. Soon a swarm of blood-sucking flies settled on
him; but he lay quietly, still too weak to run away from them.

A Hedgehog happened by. "Let me drive the flies away," he said
kindly.

"No, no!" exclaimed the Fox, "do not disturb them! They have
taken all they can hold. If you drive them away, another greedy
swarm will come and take the little blood I have left."

_Better to bear a lesser evil than to risk a greater in removing
it._

[Illustration]

THE BAT AND THE WEASELS

A Bat blundered into the nest of a Weasel, who ran up to catch
and eat him. The Bat begged for his life, but the Weasel would
not listen.

"You are a Mouse," he said, "and I am a sworn enemy of Mice.
Every Mouse I catch, I am going to eat!"

"But I am not a Mouse!" cried the Bat. "Look at my wings. Can
Mice fly? Why, I am only a Bird! Please let me go!"

The Weasel had to admit that the Bat was not a Mouse, so he let
him go. But a few days later, the foolish Bat went blindly into
the nest of another Weasel. This Weasel happened to be a bitter
enemy of Birds, and he soon had the Bat under his claws, ready to
eat him.

"You are a Bird," he said, "and I am going to eat you!"

"What," cried the Bat, "I, a Bird! Why, all Birds have feathers!
I am nothing but a Mouse. 'Down with all Cats,' is _my_ motto!"

And so the Bat escaped with his life a second time.

_Set your sails with the wind._

THE QUACK TOAD

An old Toad once informed all his neighbors that he was a learned
doctor. In fact he could cure anything. The Fox heard the news
and hurried to see the Toad. He looked the Toad over very
carefully.

"Mr. Toad," he said, "I've been told