"Thank you," said the goat. "You may have all of that good grass
yourself, but you shall not eat me."





THE SHEPHERD AND THE DOGS


"Hero is a wonderful dog," said a shepherd, "I have not lost a
sheep since I owned him, not one. Some foolish wolves tried to
kill him when he was a puppy, but he treated them so badly that
they have since been careful to keep out of his way."

"He is certainly a brave dog," said a neighbor, "but I think you
are foolish to keep him. He eats as much meat as a dozen small
dogs, and smaller dogs would take as good care of your sheep as
he."

"There may be something in what you say," said the shepherd. "I
have often wished that Hero ate less meat, but I should hate to
part from him."

The next day the mayor of the town rode by. "What will you take
for that dog of yours?" he asked.

"I can not spare him," said the shepherd; "he is too good a friend
to part from. His only fault is a liking for meat."