the judge had commanded. The faithful old horse lived in comfort all the
rest of his life, for his master, in caring for him, learned to love him
again, and treated him as only a faithful friend should be treated.

When the king heard the story he said:

"Surely, never will the bell ring in a better cause than in speaking for
a suffering dumb creature who can not speak for himself."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow [Adapted]




THE ANXIOUS LEAF


Once upon a time a little leaf was heard to sigh and cry, as leaves
often do when a gentle wind is about. And the twig said: "What is the
matter, little leaf?" And the leaf said: "The wind just told me that one
day it would pull me off and throw me down to die on the ground!"

The twig told it to the branch on which it grew, and the branch told it
to the tree. And when the tree heard it, it rustled all over, and sent
back word to the leaf: "Do not be afraid. Hold on tightly, and you shall
not go till you want to."

And so the leaf stopped sighing, but went on nestling and singing. Every
time the tree shook itself and stirred up all its leaves, the branches
shook themselves, and the little twig shook itself, and the little leaf