A man once caught a weasel that was always sneaking about the house. Just as he was about to drown it in a tub of water, the weasel begged hard for its life.
"Surely you haven't the heart to put me to death?" it pleaded. "Think how useful I have been in clearing your house of the mice and lizards which used to infest it. Show your gratitude by sparing my life."
"You have not been altogether useless, I grant you," said the man. "But who killed the fowls? Who stole the meat? No, no! You do much more harm than good, and die you shall."