1. Cry "Wolf"

  Once upon a time the hills and woods were as full of wolves as now they are full of foxes; and in some places, a good deal fuller.  In the summer time the wolves stayed among the trees and caves and brought up their families.  But in the winter, when the snow was on the ground, the wolves used to get very hungry-- so hungry that they took to stealing from the hill sheep-folds.

    The great beasts did not go thieving singly, but banded themselves in packs.

    So all the shepherds in the district agreed to help each other.  If anyone among them saw a wolf, he was immediately to jump on to a rock or a high mound, and shout "Wolf! Wolf!" with all his might.  Then his friends and neighbors would instantly seize their sticks and clubs, and rushing to the spot, help to drive away the thief and his companions.

    Well, this plan answered extremely well, and now the shepherds hardly ever lost any of their sheep.  They had only to shout "Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!" at any hour of the night, and all the other shepherds came running one after another along the mountain paths and through the deep gullies of rock and furze bushes.  As fast as the shepherds ran into the sheep-fold the wolves ran out!  They were frightened of such a lot of strong men with even stronger sticks.

    Then, one day, one of the older shepherds had to go to the town for a few days, and leave his son in charge of the sheep.  He was a dreadful coward, and horribly frightened at the thought of the wolves that came into the folds after the sheep.

    The sun set, and the moon rose, and the unhappy shepherd boy sat nervously clutching his club.  All at once he was quite sure he heard a growl, and saw a long lean shape slip out from among the pines.  He sprang to his feet in great excitement.

   "Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!" he shrieked at the top of his voice, brandishing his club wildly.  And over the hill-top, and up through the gullies, ran the shepherds, quite ready for the fight.

    They found the silly youth racing up and down among the sheep, which were frightened to death.  But it was their own shepherd who was scaring them, for there was not a wolf within miles.

    Warning the foolish boy not to call them from their warm beds for nothing, the shepherds returned home.  But they had no sooner settled down in their own huts again than a still more frenzied call of "Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!" brought them all out a second time.  And, a second time, they discovered that there was no wolf at all-- nothing but a frightened lad clubbing shadows thrown by the moon.

    They scolded him severely, and told him that, if he wanted to club shadows, he could club them by himself; and that, if he really saw a wolf, he would know very well what it was like.  Then they walked off by twos and threes, extremely cold and sleepy and cross.

    This time they had not even reached their homes before "Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!" sounded after them, in a perfect shriek of terror.  But the shepherds shook their wise gray heads and grunted into their wise gray beards.

    "Not so!" said they to each other.  "We know better by this time.  It's just moon-shadows again!"  And they all went home to bed.

    But it really had been a wolf at last!  And following the wolf, came all the pack, running and leaping and jostling among the sheep.  They ate up as many as they wanted, and last of all, they ate the foolish shepherd boy himself.  So his father, when he came home, put up a little tombstone to his memory among the hills, and there to the best of my belief, it stands to this day.

    What do you think is written on it?

    Well, it does not take much guessing.  I am quite sure all of you have often heard the silly shepherd's epitaph.

    "If folks cry 'Wolf' for shadows, nobody will hurry to their rescue when a real wolf comes along with teeth and claws."