The Dog and the Wolf

One warm day a Dog lay down under a tree in a field, and was soon fast asleep. In a little while a Wolf came out of the woods and was about to seize him and eat him up.

"Cousin Wolf," cried the Dog, "don't you see how thin I am? I am not fit for you to eat now. If you will only wait a few days, you will find that I shall make you a better meal. Master is going to have a big dinner next week, and then there will be so much to eat that I shall grow plump and fat."

"Well, if that is the case," said the Wolf, "I think I will wait a little while. You may go now, and live till after the dinner."

In two weeks the Wolf came back, but the Dog was not in the field. He was asleep on the house top.

"Come down, and let me see how fat you are," said the Wolf.

The Dog woke up and said: "Cousin Wolf, if you ever find me asleep in the field again, you may eat me. But if you are wise, you will not wait till after the master has had that big dinner."