The Wolves and the Sheep

One still evening, the wolves came to the edge of the field and called across the grass. "Dear sheep! Why must we always fight? Why must you always run?" The sheep stopped chewing, and their ears went up.

"It is those dogs," said the wolves, shaking their heads. "They bark the moment we come near, and they bite before we have done a thing. How can we be friends with all that noise?"

The wolves came a little closer. "Send the dogs away, and we will make peace. No more fear. No more running. Only sweet grass and quiet."

The sheep, poor silly creatures, put their heads together. "No more fear," said one. "No more running," said another. "Only sweet grass and quiet," said a third.

So they sent the dogs away, and off went the dogs over the hill, looking back, with their tails down.

That night the field was very quiet. Then the wolves came through the gate and took all they wanted. This time, nobody barked.