A Hare was very popular with the other beasts who all claimed
to be her friends. But one day she heard the hounds approaching
and hoped to escape them by the aid of her many Friends. So, she
went to the horse, and asked him to carry her away from the hounds
on his back. But he declined, stating that he had important work
to do for his master. "He felt sure," he said, "that all her
other friends would come to her assistance." She then applied1 to
the bull, and hoped that he would repel2 the hounds with his horns.
The bull replied: "I am very sorry, but I have an appointment with
a lady; but I feel sure that our friend the goat will do what you
want." The goat, however, feared that his back might do her some
harm if he took her upon it. The ram3, he felt sure, was the
proper friend to apply to. So she went to the ram and told him
the case. The ram replied: "Another time, my dear friend. I do
not like to interfere4 on the present occasion, as hounds have been
known to eat sheep as well as hares." The Hare then applied, as a
last hope, to the calf5, who regretted that he was unable to help
her, as he did not like to take the responsibility upon himself,
as so many older persons than himself had declined the task. By
this time the hounds were quite near, and the Hare took to her
heels and luckily escaped.
He that has many friends, has no friends.
