OUR HUMBLE HELPERS 



der grass of the best pasture it prefers hard turf, 

 yellowed in the sun, dried and trodden, and espe- 

 cially the young woody sprouts of the shrub and 

 bush. Thus far all is for the best, since such tastes 

 enable us to gain profit from the most sterile soil and 

 even from the bare rock. Where the sheep would 

 die of want, the goat finds the wherewithal to fill its 

 udder with milk. Unfortunately its passion for the 

 bitter bark of the shrub has evil consequences. Cul- 

 tivated grounds, gardens, orchards, quickset hedges, 

 copses, and woods have no more terrible enemy than 

 the goat. The young shoots are eagerly browsed, 

 the bark is gnawed, and all shrubbery within reach is 

 destroyed. Accordingly, to prevent these ravages, 

 severe laws forbid flocks of goats access to all 

 wooded tracts." 



"I should n't like such gnawers of branches and 

 bark among the pear trees in the garden, " remarked 

 Jules. "If any goats got in there, it would be good- 

 by forever to those delicious juicy pears. ' ' 



"I have told you the goat's bad qualities; now let 

 us look at its good ones. The goat is much more 

 intelligent than the sheep. It comes to us of its own 

 accord, makes friends with us readily, is responsive 

 to caresses and capable of attachment. In house- 

 holds where it furnishes the milk supply it is the 

 companion of the children, who know how to win its 

 friendship by a few handfuls of choice grass. It 

 takes part in their games and amuses them with its 

 frolicsome gambols." 



"It also runs with lowered head at its playmates 



