A Cavalry officer took the greatest of pains
with his charger. As long as the war
lasted, the Horse was looked upon as a com-
panion and fellow-helper. He was carefully
groomed every day, and fed with hay and
oats.
But when the war was over, the allowance
of grain and hay ceased, and the Horse was
fed with chaff, and whatever he might find by
the wayside. He was made a drudge, too,
and often forced to carry loads much too
heavy for his strength.
When, in course of time, war was again
proclaimed, the soldier brought his military
trappings, and put them on his charger; and,
after having arrayed his own person with his
heavy coat of mail, he mounted to ride to
battle.
But the Horse, no longer
equal to the
burden, fell down straightway
under the
weight.
"You must go to the war on foot," he said
to his master, "for you have transformed me
from horse into an ass."
He who slights his friends when he does
not need their best offices must not expect
them to serve him when he needs them again.
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