The Mineral argus., 1883-12-13
THE OLD WOLF.
A Story In Seven Fables from the Ger
man OF Losing.

on a friendly footing with the shepherds.
He, therefore, betook himself 10 the
shepherd whose hocks we're nearest TO
his den.
shepherd" said he, thou callest
me the bloodthirsty robber, which l
really am not. or course / must keep
myself alive with thy sheep, i'll Inn hun
cry, for hunger causes suffering. Pro-
tect me from hunger, only satisfy me,
and thou shall be we'll pleased with me,
for l am really the tamest, gentlest ami
NAL when l am satisfied"
when thou art satisfied That may
be-" replied the shepherd. "But when
art thou satisfied? Thou and covetous-
ness never are. Go thy wayI'
II.
The wolf, thus repulsed, came to a
second shepherd.
Thou knowest, shepherd" said he,
addressing him, that could kill many
sheep of thine during the year. But II
thou wilt give me six sheep every year
safely sleep and dismiss ;hy eogs with
out hesitation"
'Six sheep" replied The shepherd.
"Why, .hat's a whole fiockl'
"Well, since Ii is, then, | will content
myself with FIVE" said the wolf.
Thou art joking; FIVE sheepl 1
scarcely sacrifice more than five sheep
yearly to Pan"
"Nor for?" asked the wolf, further;
and the shepherd shook his head scorn-
fully. 'Three? Two?"
"Not a single onel" was the final re-
ply. "For il would be foolish, indeed,
for me TO put myself under tribute to an
enemy from whom | can protect myself
by my watchfulness."
III.
Three is a lucky number thought the
wolf, and came to a third shepherd.
at touches me very deeply he said,
''that | am decried among you shep-
herds as the most cruel and the most
uncOnscientious creature. l will nov
show thee what wrong is done me. Give
ne one sheep a year and thy flock may
pasture free and unframed in that for
est, which no one but myself makes in
secure. One sheep! What a trihel
Could l act more generously, more I'M
sel6shly? Thou art laughing. shepherd,
What art thou laughing about?
"Oh about nothing. But how old art
thou, good friend?" said the shepherd.
"What concern is my age to thee2 L
am always old enough to kill thy choic-
est lambs"
Don't get angry old growler. 1 am
sorry that thou contest a few years too
late with thy proposition. Thy worn
out teeth betray the Thou art playing
the part of an unselfsh Yellow 50 as to
be supported more comfortably and
with less danger
The wolf was out of humor, but
Gained down end went on to the fourth
shepherd, whose faithful dog had Just
died, and the wolf profited by the cir
cumstance.
shepherd" said be, Il have fallen
out with my brethren in the forest 80
badly indeed that l sh all never be rec
onciled with them. Tnou knOwest how
much thou hast to fear theml II thou
wilt take me into thy service in place OF
thy dead dog, I will guarantee that they
will % eve squint at thy sheep"
Then thou wilt. replied the shep-
herd, protect them against thy brethren
in the forest?"
'Of counsel What else could I
mean"
That wouldn't be bad. But if l took
thee into my iocks, tell me, who would
then protect my o sheep against
thee? To take a thief in o our houses
in order 10 make US safe against thieves
outside the bouse. we men consider"
II hear enough" said the wolf, "thou
beginest to mOralize. Fare thee welll"
"IfI we're not 50 oldP' said the wolf,
grinding his teeth. But 1 must, IN
fortunately, adapt myself to h times"
And then he came to the ilth shepherd.
"Dost thou know me, shePherdf"
asked the WOu.
at least l know thy kind" replied
the shepherd.
MY kind? [ doubt it greatly. I am
so singular a wolf that am quite worthy
of thy friendship and of all shepherds )"
And how singular art thOui"
81 would not kill and eat a live sheep,
even If It should cost me my life. l on
ly feed on dead sheep. Is not that
praisewOrthy2 Permit me, therefore,
to stop now aud then with thy flock and
TO inquire"
Spare thy words" said the shepherd.
Thou must not devour any sheep. not
even dead ones, il thou wouldst not
have me for an enemy. An animal that
gets far enough 10 eat my dead sheep
easily learns, when hungry, to consider
sick sheep as dead ones and healthy
ones as sick. Do not, then, therefore,
count upon my friendship, but g1l"
VI.
81 must now do my very best to acOm-
plish my purpOsel' thought the wolf,
and came 10 the sixth shepherd.
shepherd, how does my rsuit thee?"
Thy fur?" asked the shepard. Let
me sesl II is handsome; the dogs could
not often have got the better Of thee
well, listen, shepherd; l arnold. and
will not run about much longer. Feed
me until my death and I will will thee
my skin"
Indeed, said the shepherd. Thou
art as cunning rs any old miser. No, no,
thy skin would at last cost me seven
times more thar IL would be worth.