A lean，hungry wolf met with a plump，well－fed house dog on amoonshiny night．“How is it that you look so sleek？”asked the wolf．“Your food obviously agrees with you，while I can hardly keep myself from starving however hard I try．”
“Well，if you want to eat as I do，you have only to do my job，”said the dog．“What is that？” asked the wolf eagerly，thinking of marrowbones．“Just guard my master's house and keep the thieves away at night．”
“When can I start？”asked the wolf．“I've had enough of living in the woods in all weathers．I wouldn't mind exchanging it for a warm roof over my head and a plateful of food whenever I need it．”
“Follow me，then，”said the dog and they trotted off towards the house．As they were going along the wolf noticed a mark on the dog's neck．“What is that on your neck？”the wolf asked curiously．“There's apatch of your fur quite rubbed away．”
“It's nothing．”said the dog sharply．“Oh，just tell me，”said the wolf．“It's nothing，I told you，”said the dog．“It's probably just be－cause of the collar my chain is fastened to．It rubs a bit sometimes．”
“Chain？”cried the wolf in surprise．“Do you mean that you are not free to come and go as you please？”
“Perhaps not exactly as I please，”said the dog．“You see they think I am rather fierce so they tie me up during the day．But of course at night I am quite free．Besides，the master feeds me from his own plate，and the servants all scrape me and I am such a favourite andwhat is the matter? where are you going？”
“I'm off to the woods，”said the wolf over his shoulder，“You can keep your dainty food and your warm roof．I'd rather have a dry crust and be free than have all the marrow bones in the world at the end of a chain．”
Freedom is more important than comfort．Exercises：
回答下列问题：
①Whose life do you think is better， the house dog's or the wolf's？ Why？
② Why did the wolf prefer to live in the woods？ |