A Farmer walked through his field one cold winter morning. They look more able to carry the poor creature, than he to carry them. So away he hurried to the Crane. When the Mice peeped out and saw him in that position, they thought he had been hung up there in punishment for some misdeed. But to his own flock, he gave only just enough food to keep them alive. Then, though the Tiger, the Bear, the Wolf, and all the savage beasts recited the most wicked deeds, all were excused and made to appear very saint-like and innocent. Then one day the Bullocks had a quarrel, and when the hungry Lion came to look at them and lick his chops as he was accustomed to do, he found them in separate corners of the field But when he came back and saw how many of the flock had been killed and carried off, he knew how foolish to trust a Wolf.
It is unwise to treat old friends badly for the sake of new ones.