FAVOURITE FABLES. 85

crease in the Dog’s neck, and having a strange curiosity,
could not forbear asking him what it meant! ‘Pugh!
nothing,’ says the Dog. “ Nay, but pray,’’ says the Wolf.
««Why,”’ says the Dog, ‘if you must know, I am tied up in
the day-time, because I am a little fierce, for fear I should bite
people, and am only let loose at nights. But this is done
with a design to make me sleep by day, more than anything
else, and that I may watch the better in the night time; for,
as soon as ever the twilight appears, out I am turned, and
may go where I please. Then my master brings me plates
of bones from the table with his own hands; and whatever
scraps are left by any of the family, all fall to my share; for,
you must know, I am a favourite with everybody. So you
see how you are to live.-—Come, come along; what is the
matter with you?’’ “No,” replied the Wolf, “I beg your
pardon; keep your happiness all to yourself. Liberty is the
word with me; and I would not be a king upon the terms
you mention.”’

MORAL.

The lowest condition of life, with freedom, is happier
than the greatest without it. The bird of the air, though he
roosts on a bough, has more real joy than the well-fed
captive in a gilded cage.