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THE Gods, say the heathen mythologists, have each of them their favourite tree. Jupiter preferred the Oak, Venus the Myrtle, and Phoebus the Laurel; Cybele the Pine, and Hercules the Poplar. Minerva, surprised that they should choose barren trees, asked Jupiter the reason. "It is," said he, "to prevent any suspicion that we confer the honour we do them, from an interested motive." "Let folly suspect what it pleases," returned Minerva; "I shall not scruple to acknowledge, that I make choice of the Olive for the usefulness of its fruit." "O daughter," replied the father of the Gods, "it is with justice that men esteem thee wise; for nothing is truly valuable that is not useful."

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REFLECTION.

Whatever fancy may determine, the standing value of

all things is in proportion to their use.

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THE BUTTERFLY, THE SNAIL, AND THE BEE.

A BUTTERFLY, proudly perched on the gaudy leaves of a Rose, was boasting the vast extent and variety of his travels. "I have ranged," said he, "over graceful and majestic scenes; I have wandered through regions of eglantine and honeysuckle; I have revelled in kisses on beds of violets and cowslips, and have enjoyed the delicious fragrance of roses and carnations. In short, my fancy unbounded, and my flight unrestrained, I have visited with perfect freedom all the flowers of the field or garden, and must be allowed to know the world in a superlative degree." A Snail, who lay attentive to his wonders, on the grass, was struck with admiration; and concluded him, from all his experience, to be the wisest of animal creatures. It happened, that a Bee pursued

her occupation on a neighbouring bed of marjorum ; and, having heard our ostentatious vagrant, reprimanded him in this manner: "Vain, empty flutterer," said she, "whom instruction cannot improve, nor experience itself enlighten! thou hast rambled over the world; wherein does thy knowledge of it consist? Thou hast seen variety of objects; what conclusions hast thou drawn from them? Thou hast tasted of every amusement; hast thou extracted any thing for use? I too am a traveller: go and look into my hive; and let my treasures intimate to thee, that the end of travelling is to collect materials either for the use and emolument of private life, or for the advantage of the community."

REFLECTION.

Fops may boast of their extensive travels, but it is only a few discerning persons that make a proper use of them.

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A ROSE Tree grew beside an Oak; and being not a little elevated by the first warm days in spring, began to shoot forth his leaves apace, and to despise the naked Oak for insensibility and want of spirit. The Oak, conscious of his superior nature, made this philosophical reply: "Be not, my friend, so much delighted with the first precarious address of every fickle zephyr: consider, the frosts may yet return; and if thou covetest an equal share with me in all the glories of the rising year, do not afford them an opportunity to nip thy beauties in their bud. As for myself, I only wait to see this genial warmth a little confirmed: and, whenever that is the case, I shall perhaps display a majesty that will not easily be shaken. But the tree which appears too forward to exult in the

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