The Hedge and the Vineyard

A foolish young heir, who had just come into possession of his wise father's estate, caused all the hedges about his vineyard to be grubbed up, because they bore no grapes. The throwing down of the fences laid his grounds open to man and beast, and all his vines were presently destroyed. So the simple fellow learned, when it was too late, that he ought not to expect to gather grapes from brambles, and that it was quite as important to protect his vineyard as to possess it.