parents, who, by indulging and humouring their favourite children, spoil and ruin them; while those of whom they have been the least fond, have done very well. The child that knows it can command its parents' affections, will hardly be brought to know how to obey. The fondness of indiscreet parents to favourite children, is blind as love itself; they are so far from seeing any blemishes or imperfections in them, that their very deformity is beauty, and all their ugly tricks graces. Thus, without ever being checked and corrected for their faults, but rather applauded and caressed for them, when they come abroad upon the theatre of the world, what rock will they not split upon? While the child who is so happy as to escape these very tender regards, these pernicious indulgences, is obliged to be good and honest in its own defence. The parent looks upon it with an eye clear from the mists of fondness. He has no regard to its dislike or approbation; but for his own credit, puts it into such a way of education as reason dictates; and forces it to be accomplished, as its capacity will admit.

A Goose was bragging to a Monkey how fruitful she was. "Never.value yourself," says the Monkey, "upon that vanity; for as you bring up your young, principally for the pye, or the spit, I should think, that the more children you have the more should be your sorrow."

REFLECTION.

The care, charge, and hazard of many children, in the education and proof of them, does in a great measure counterbalance the blessing; especially where they are born in a state of slavery, and their good depends upon the arbitrary pleasure of a tyrant. tyrant. The fable The fable may be taken in another sense, to shew us the hazard of having a numerous stock of children, which must of necessity, whether they live or die, furnish matter of great anxiety

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to the parents. The loss of them is grievous to us. The miscarriage of them by falling into lewd and vicious courses, is much worse; and one such disappointment is sufficient to blast the comfort given us by all the rest. Nay, the very possibility, or rather the likelihood and odds, that some out of such a number will prove ungracious, makes our beds uneasy to us, fills our heads and our hearts with racking thoughts, and keeps us in anxiety night and day.

A ROYAL Eagle having resolved to prefer such of his subjects as he found most agreeable for person and address, ordered every bird to bring its young ones to court. They came accordingly, and every one in its turn was for advancing its own; till at last the Owl fell a mopping and twinkling, and told his Majesty, "that if a graceful mien and countenance might entitle any of his subjects to a preference, she doubted not but her brood would be looked upon in the first place; for," says she, "they are all as like me as they can stare."

REFLECTION.

The moral here before us extends to the fruits and productions of the brain, as well as of the body; and to deformities as well of understanding, as of shape. We

are taught here principally two things: first, how ridiculous it is for a man to dote upon the undeserving issue of his own brains or loins; and yet, secondly, how prone we are to indulge our own errors, follies, and miscarriages, in thought, word, and deed. The world has abundance of these Owls in it: so that whoever looks about him, will find not a few living illustrations of this emblem.