GO FIFTY EVENING.

become inhabitants of towns and villages, while the
wolves have retained their ancient mode of life. As to
my ancestors, the foxes, they were a branch of the
same family, who settled farther northwards, where
they became stinted in growth, and adopted the custom
of living in holes under-ground. The cold has sharpened
our noses, and given us a thicker fur and bushy taus
to keep us warm. But we have all a family likeness
which it 1s impossible to mistake ; and I am sure it is
' our interest to be good friends with each other.”

The wolf was of the same opinion; and Keeper,
looking narrowly at them, could not help acknowledg-
ing their relationship. As he had a generous heart,
he readily entered into friendship with them. They
took a ramble together ; but Keeper was rather sur-
prised at observing the suspicious shyness with which
some of the weaker sort of animals surveyed them, and
wondered at the hasty flight of a flock of sheep as soon
as they came within view. However, he gaye his
cousins a cordial invitation to come and see him at his
yard, and then took his leave.

They did not fail to come the next day, about dusk.
Keeper received them kindly, and treated them with
part of his own supper. They staid with him till after
dark, and then marched off with many compliments.
he next morning, word was brought to the farm that
a goose and three goslings were missing, and that two
jambs were found almost devoured in the Home Field.
i<eeper was too honest himself readily to suspect
others, so he never thought of hig kinsmen on the
occasion. Soon after, they paid him a second evening
visit, and next day another loss appeared, of a hen and
her chickens, and a fat sheep. Now Keeper could
not help mistrusting a little, and blamed hinself for
admitting strangers without his master’s knowledge.
However, he still did not love to think ill of his own
relations.

They came a third time. Keeper reecived them
rather coldly, and hinted that he should like better to