upon a time, and it would never do to let people know how silly a few of
us have been since then. Of course you won't whisper it to Bunny Rabbit,
or old Mr. Turtle!

"One day a flock of geese, who had never seen a crane, were feeding in
the meadow when two strangers came up, and asked the way to the nearest
pond. They were fine-looking birds, and acted like strangers in our part
of the country; besides, they didn't speak exactly as we do.

"The leader of the flock was an old, bald-headed gander, who believed he
knew more than all the rest of the world put together, so when the
strangers asked the question, some of the geese wanted to know how they
should answer.

[Illustration: The Cranes asking the way to the nearest pond.]

"'They look to be birds of importance,' Mr. Gander said, 'and may think
we are of little account if we show ourselves willing to talk with
strangers, so the best way is to hold our tongues. When the proper time
comes I will show them that we are no fools.'

"So all the geese held their tongues, while Mr. Gander stood back a
little and looked wise. Then the strangers asked the question again,
without paying any attention to the inquisitive geese who were staring
at them from head to foot. This time Mr. Gander thought he might venture
to speak, and he said, talking way down in his throat as he had heard
Mr. Man:

"'The nearest pond is our private property, and we do not care to have
strangers there until we know if they are birds of quality.'