ild Goats part of his flock; so he
fed them well. But to his own flock, he gave only just enough
food to keep them alive. When the weather cleared, and the
Shepherd led the Goats out to feed, the Wild Goats scampered off
to the hills.

"Is that the thanks I get for feeding you and treating you so
well?" complained the Shepherd.

"Do not expect us to join your flock," replied one of the Wild
Goats. "We know how you would treat us later on, if some
strangers should come as we did."

_It is unwise to treat old friends badly for the sake of new
ones._

[Illustration]

THE SPENDTHRIFT AND THE SWALLOW

A young fellow, who was very popular among his boon companions as
a good spender, quickly wasted his fortune trying to live up to
his reputation. Then one fine day in early spring he found
himself with not a penny left, and no property save the clothes
he wore.

He was to meet some jolly young men that morning, and he was at
his wits' end how to get enough money to keep up appearances.
Just then a Swallow flew by, twittering merrily, and the young
man, thinking summer had come, hastened off to a clothes dealer,
to whom he sold all the clothes he wore down to his very tunic.

A few days later a change in weather brought a severe frost; and
the poor swallow and that foolish young man in his light tunic,
and with his arms and knees bare, could scarcely keep life in
their shivering bodies.

_One swallow does not make a summer._

THE CAT AND THE BIRDS

A Cat was growing very thin. As you have guessed, he did not get
enough to eat. One day he heard that some Birds in the neighborhood
were ailing and needed a doctor. So he put on a pair of spectacles,
and with a leather box in his hand, knocked at the door of the
Bird's home.

The Birds peeped out, and Dr. Cat, with much solicitude, asked
how they were. He would be very happy to give them some medicine.

"Tweet, tweet," laughed the Birds. "Very smart, aren't you? We
are very well, thank you, and more so, if _you_ only keep away
from here."

_Be wise and shun the quack._

THE DOG AND THE OYSTER

There was once a Dog who was very fond of eggs. He visited the
hen house very often and at last got so greedy that he would
swallow the eggs whole.

One day the Dog wandered down to the seashore. There he spied an
Oyster. In a twinkling the Oyster was resting in the Dog's
stomach, shell and all.

It pained the Dog a good deal, as you can gues