The Wolf and the Lamb

As a wolf was lapping at the head of a running brook, he spied a stray lamb paddling, at some distance, down the stream. Having made up his mind to seize her, he thought to himself how he might justify his violence.

"Villain!" said he, running up to her; "how dare you muddle the water that I am drinking!"

"Indeed," said the lamb humbly, "I do not see how I can disturb the water, since it runs from you to me, not from me to you."

"Be that as it may," replied the wolf, "it was but a year ago that you called me many ill names."

"Oh, sir!" said the lamb, trembling, "a year ago I was not born."

"Well," replied the wolf, "if it was not you, it was your father, and that is all the same. But it is no use trying to argue me out of my supper." And without another word he fell upon the poor helpless lamb a