A LION, having surfeited himself with feasting too luxuriously on the carcase of a wild boar, was seized with a violent and dangerous disorder. The beasts of the forest flocked in great numbers to pay their respects to him upon the occasion, and scarce one was absent except the Fox. The Wolf, an ill-natured and malicious beast, seized this opportunity to accuse the Fox of pride, ingratitude, and disaffection to his Majesty. In the midst of his invective, the Fox entered; who, having heard part of the Wolf's accusation, and observing the Lion's countenance to be kindled into wrath, thus adroitly excused himself, and retorted upon his accuser. I see many here, who with mere lip service have pretended to shew you their loyalty; but for my part, from the moment I heard of your Majesty's illness, neglecting

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useless compliments, I employed myself day and night to enquire among the most learned physicians, an infallible remedy for your disease, and have at length happily been informed of one. It is a plaster made of part of a Wolf's skin, taken warm from his back, and laid to your majesty's stomach. This remedy was no sooner proposed, than it was determined that the experiment should be tried: and whilst the operation was performing, the Fox, with a sarcastic smile, whispered this useful maxim in the Wolf's ear-If you would be safe from harm yourself, learn for the future not to meditate mischief against others........

REFLECTION.

Men, who meditate mischief, suggest the same to others; and generally pay dear for their froward grati

AN Eagle and an Owl having entered into a league of mutual amity, one of the articles of their treaty was, that the former should not prey upon the younglings of the latter. "But tell me," said the Owl, "should you know my little ones, if you were to see them ?" "Indeed I should not," replied the Eagle; "but if you describe them to me, it will be sufficient." "You are to observe then," returned the Owl, "in the first place, that the charming creatures are perfectly well shaped; in the next, that there is a remarkable sweetness and vivacity in their countenances; and then there is something in their voices so peculiarly melodious."-""Tis enough," interrupted the Eagle; "by these marks I cannot fail of distinguishing them and you may depend upon their never receiving any injury from me." It happened not long afterwards, as the Eagle was upon the wing in quest of his prey,

that he discovered amidst the ruins of an old castle, a nest of grim-faced ugly birds, with gloomy countenances, and a voice like that of the Furies. "These undoubtedly," said he, "cannot be the offspring of my friend, and so I shall venture to make free with them." He had scarce finished his repast and departed, when the Owl returned; who, finding nothing of her brood remaining but some fragments of the mangled carcases, broke out into the most bitter exclamations against the cruel and perfidious author of her calamity. A neighbouring Bat, who over-heard her lamentations, and had been witness to what had passed between her and the Eagle, very gravely told her, that she had nobody to blame for this misfortune but herself: whose blind prejudices in favour of her children, had prompted her to give such a description of them, as did not resemble them in any one single feature or quality.

REFLECTION.

The partiality of parents often makes themselves ridiculous, and their children unhappy.

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A SHEPHERD took a Wolf's sucking whelp, and trained it up with his dogs. The whelp fed with them, grew up with them, and whensoever they went out upon the chase of a wolf, the whelp would be sure to make It happened sometimes that the wolf escaped; but this domestic Wolf would be still hunting on, after the dogs had given over the chase, till he came up to his true brethren, where he took part of the prey with them, and then went back again to his master. And when he could come in for no snacks with the wolves, he would now and then make free, by the bye, with a straggling sheep out of the flock. He carried on this trade for a while; but at last he was caught in the fact, and hanged by his injured master.