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'
"Then, also, thou art such a gad-about," objected the King.
"Maybe," answered Light o' Leap; "but I am bent on winning thy
friendship, and I will die at thy door of fasting if thou grantest it
not. Let us be friends! for
'Noble hearts are golden vases--close the bond true metals make;
Easily the smith may weld them, harder far it is to break.
Evil hearts are earthen vessels--at a touch they crack a-twain,
And what craftsman's ready cunning can unite the shards again?'
And then, too,
'Good men's friendships may be broken, yet abide they friends at heart;
Snap the stem of Luxmee's lotus, and its fibres will not part.'
"Good sir," said the King of the Mice, "your conversation is as pleasing
as pearl necklets or oil of sandal-wood in hot weather. Be it as you
will"--and thereon King Golden-skin made a treaty with the Crow, and
after gratifying him with the best of his store reentered his hole. The
Crow returned to his accustomed perch:--and thenceforward the time
passed in mutual presents of food, in polite inquiries, and the most
unrestrained talk.


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