A DOG was lying in a Manger full of hay; a Horse, being hungry, offered to eat of the hay; but the envious, ill-natured cur snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it. Upon which the Horse, in the bitterness of his heart, said, "A curse light on thee, for a malicious wretch, who wilt neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do it."

REFLECTION.

Envy is the most unnatural and unaccountable of all the passions. There is scarce any other emotion of the mind, however unreasonable, but may have something said in excuse for it; and there are many of these weaknesses of the soul, which, notwithstanding the wrongness and irregularity of them, swell the heart, while they last,

with pleasure and gladness. But the envious man has no such apology as this to make; the stronger the passion is, the greater torment he endures; and subjects himself to a continual real pain, by only wishing ill to others. Revenge is sweet, though cruel and inhuman; and though it sometimes thirsts even for blood, yet may be glutted and satiated. Avarice is something highly monstrous and absurd; yet, as it is a desire after riches, every little acquisition gives it pleasure; and to behold and feel the hoarded treasure, to a covetous man, is a constant uncloying enjoyment. But envy, which is an anxiety arising in our minds, upon our observing accomplishments in others, which we want ourselves, can never receive any true comfort, unless in a deluge, a conflagration, a plague, or some general calamity that should befal mankind: for, as long as there is a creature living, that enjoys its being happily within the envious man's sphere, it will afford nourishment to his distempered mind: but such nourishment, as will make him pine, and fret, and emaciate himself to nothing.

A VAIN Fellow, who had been abroad in the world, would still be tiring people's ears at his return with stories of his wonderful actions in his travels; and particularly he told of a leap he took at Rhodes, that nobody there could come within six feet of it. "Now this," says he,

"I am able to prove by several witnesses upon the place." "If this be true," says one of the company, "there is no need of going to Rhodes for witness; do you but fancy this to be Rhodes, and then shew us the leap."

REFLECTION.

This request of one of the company was bringing the matter to a demonstration: vain boasters should be cautious of making pretensions to what may be so easily brought to immediate proof. Travellers, they say, may

lie by authority; and yet our Traveller's privilege here was not sufficient to protect him from being made a sport to the company.

A WOLF took a Dog by surprise sleeping, and when he was just about to worry him, "Alas!" "Alas!" says he, "I am as lean at present as carrion; but we are to have a wedding at our house within these two or three days, that will fatten me up with good cheer; and when I am in a little better condition, I will throw myself into the mouth of you." The Wolf took his word, and let him go; but passing some few days after by the same house again, he espied the Dog in the hall, and bade him remember his promise. "Hark ye, my friend," says the Dog, "whenever you catch me asleep again, never trouble your head to wait for a wedding."

REFLECTION.

Past dangers make us wiser for the future: as the