A Wild Boar was sharpening his tusks

busily against the stump of a tree,

when a Fox happened by.

Now the Fox was always looking for a

chance to make fun of his neighbors.

So he made a great show of looking

anxiously about, as if in fear of some

hidden enemy. But the Boar kept right

on with his work.

"Why are you doing that?" asked the

Fox at last with a grin. "There isn't any

danger that I can see."

"True enough," replied the Boar, "but

when danger does come there will not

be time for such work as this. 

My weapons will have to be ready for use

then, or I shall suffer for it."

Moral: Preparedness for war is the

best guarantee of peace.