"Peace, I pray you, noisy bird," said the Sheep. "You are wearing my life out. If I were a dog, you would not think of serving me so."

"That is true," replied the Jackdaw; "you are right. I never meddle with the surly and revengeful; but I love to plague gentle, helpless creatures like you, that can not do me any harm in return."

"I wonder if all cowards are not like the Jackdaw," mused the Sheep, as it went on contentedly browsing on the hillside.