A Farmer caught a Wolf, Fox and Hare and heard each story of why they were on the farm. Hare was honest; the other two arrogant. Hare only went free.
The truth may set you free.
JBR Collection
A Wolf, a Fox, and a Hare happened to be foraging, one evening, in different parts of a Farmer’s yard. Their first effort was pretty successful, and they returned in safety to their several quarters; however, not so happy as to be unperceived by the Farmer’s watchful eye, who, placing several kinds of snares, made each of them his prisoner in the next attempt. He first took the Hare to task, who confessed she had eaten a few turnip-tops, merely to satisfy her hunger; besought him piteously to spare her life, and promised never to enter his grounds again. He then accosted the Fox, who, in a fawning, obsequious tone, protested that he came into his premises through no other motive than pure good-nature, to restrain the Hares and other vermin from the plunder of his corn; and that, whatever evil tongues might say, he had too great a regard both for him and for justice to be in the least capable of any dishonest action. He last of all examined the Wolf, what business brought him within the purlieus of a Farmer’s yard. The Wolf very impudently declared that it was with a view of destroying his lambs, to which he had an undoubted right; that the Farmer himself was the only felon, who robbed the community of wolves of what was meant to be their proper food. That this, at least, was his opinion; and whatever fate attended him, he should not scruple to risk his life in the pursuit of his lawful prey. The Farmer, having heard their pleas, determined the cause in the following manner. “The Hare,” said he, “deserves compassion for the penitence she shows, and the humble confession she has made. As for the Fox and the Wolf, let them be hanged together; their crimes themselves alike deserve it, and are equally heightened by the aggravations of hypocrisy and impudence.”