A CAVALRY officer took the greatest of pains with his charger. As long
as the war lasted, the Horse was looked upon as a companion 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 was 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 a 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.