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comfort: and he put oats before the Horse, and hay before the Ox, while he fed the Dog with the remains of his own dinner. When the storm abated, and they were about to depart, they determined to show their gratitude in the following way. They divided the life of Man among them, and each endowed one part of it with the qualities which were peculiarly his own. The Horse took youth, and hence young men are highmettled and impatient of restraint; the Ox took middle age, and accordingly men in middle life are steady and hardworking ; while the Dog took old age, which is the reason why old men are so often peevish and illtempered, and, like dogs, attached chiefly to those who look to their comfort, while they are disposed to snap at those who are unfamiliar or distasteful to them. |
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THE WOLVES, THE SHEEP, AND THE RAM
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HE Wolves sent a deputation to the Sheep with proposals for a lasting peace between them, on condition of their giving up the sheepdogs to instant death. The foolish Sheep agreed to the terms ; but an old Ram, whose years had brought him wisdom, interfered and said, " How can we expect to live at peace with you ? Why, even with the dogs at hand to protect us, we are never secure from your murderous attacks!
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