> hg Se
Cn SIS SII

 

\q.N E evening, in times long ago, old Philemon and
j| lus old wife Baucis sat at their cottage-door,
enjoying the calm and beautiful sunset. They
had already eaten their frugal supper, and intended now
to spend a quiet hour or two before bedtime. So they
talked together about their garden, and their cow, and
their bees, and their grapevine, which clambered over
the cottage-wall, and on which the grapes were begin-
ning to turn purple. But the rude shouts of children
and the fierce barking of dogs, in the village near at
hand, grew louder and louder, until, at last, it was hardly
possible for Baucis and Philemon to hear each other
speak. |
“ Ah, wife,” cried Philemon, ‘I fear some poor travel-
ler is seeking hospitality among our neighbors yonder,
and, instead of giving him food and lodging, they have
set their dogs at him, as their custom is!”

“‘ Well-a-day !” answered old Baucis, “I do wish our
neighbors felt a little more kindness for their fellow-crea-