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A Man once caught a Weasel, which was always sneaking about the

house, and was just going to drown it in a tub of water, when it

begged hard for its life, and said to him, "Surely you haven't

the heart to put me to death? Think how useful I have been in

clearing your house of the mice and lizards which used to infest

it, and show your gratitude by sparing my life." "You have not

been altogether useless, I grant you," said the Man: "but who

killed the fowls? Who stole the meat? No, no! You do much more

harm than good, and die you shall."

THE PLOUGHMAN, THE ASS, AND THE OX