But the Bishop felt very rueful indeed. All his pains and trouble lost, and nothing to show for it! He shook his head and went away, singing to himself a little chant he made up on the spot, all out of his own head—

"I kept my Crow in a lovely cage,
And taught him wisdom's holy page;
But still 'tis true, whate'er he may know,
A dirty Crow is a dirty Crow."

The Grateful Goat

[Notes]

NCE upon a time a Butcher bought a Goat; but as he was going to kill the Goat, and make him into meat for the table, the Goat opened his mouth, and said—

"If you kill me, Butcher, you will be a few shillings the richer; but if you spare my life, I will repay you for your kindness."