The Hare With Many Friends |
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The Hare With Many Friends
The Hare With Many Friends
A Hare was very popular with the other beasts who all claimed to be her
friends. But one day she heard the hounds approaching and hoped to escape them
by the aid of her many Friends. So she went to the horse, and asked him to
carry her away from the hounds on his back. But he declined, stating that he
had important work to do for his master. "He felt sure," he said, "that all
her other friends would come to her assistance." She then applied to the bull,
and hoped that he would repel the hounds with his horns. The bull replied: "I
am very sorry, but I have an appointment with a lady; but I feel sure that our
friend the goat will do what you want." The goat, however, feared that his
back might do her some harm if he took her upon it. The ram, he felt sure, was
the proper friend to apply to. So she went to the ram and told him the case.
The ram replied: "Another time, my dear friend. I do not like to interfere on
the present occasion, as hounds have been known to eat sheep as well as
hares." The Hare then applied, as a last hope, to the calf, who regretted that
he was unable to help her, as he did not like to take the responsibility upon
himself, as so many older persons than himself had declined the task. By this
time the hounds were quite near, and the Hare took to her heels and luckily
escaped.
"He That Has Many Friends, Has No Friends."
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