But as for learning, that was all 3. In vain his mother's kind advice; And learned to curse and swear. 4. And think you, when he grew a man, 5. Without a shilling in his purse, Poor Thomas grew from bad to worse, 6. And O, it grieves me much to write Then let us leave the dreadful sight, 7. But may we this important truth "All those who're idle in their youth Will suffer when they're old." 1. SOME time since there was a large wolf, who used to live in a cave by the side of a wood. He had laid up a good store of food, and kept himself much at home, lest those who were in search of prey should come and rob him when he was out. 2. A fox, by some means, had learned that the wolf's den was full of good things of all kinds, and, as it is said, he much wished to get rid of the wolf, to have his fill of them. 3. At last he thought of a man who kept sheep in a field hard by; so he went and asked him if he did not know that the wolf had a den near his flock of sheep. The man said that he did not. 4. "O!" said the fox; "why, I met him last night with a fine large sheep on his back, and I dare say it was yours." "So I think," 1 Pronounced thâwt. 2 Pronounced pră. said the man," for when I counted them today, there was one gone." 5. Where is it the wolf lives?" asked the man. "I will tell you," said the fox; “it is down by the side of the wood, in a large cave under the hill. If you get over this gate and go down this path close to the hedge, you will find a large track that he has made, which leads straight to his den." 6. So the man took his dog and gun, and set off down the field, the way which the fox had told him. When he came to the side of the wood, he found the den. He and the dog went in, found the wolf, and killed him; so there was an end of the wolf. 7. In a few days after, the man, by chance, went the same road; and when he came to the den by the side of the wood, he thought he would just look in; and who should be there but the very same fox who had told him of the wolf! 8. "Ah, so you are here, Mr. Fox! Very well, sir; I know your tricks. So you told me of the wolf that I should kill him, that you might have his store and his home. 9. "Well, Mr. Fox, woe be to thee. You shall see day no more. If you do not like shall sheep, I know that you like lamb; so you cheat the world no more, and there is the blow that strikes you dead." He then struck him on the head and killed him. 10. Do not tell tales of others to serve your own ends. 1. A CERTAIN house was much troubled with rats; but soon after, a cat was brought to kill them, who caught some of them every day. 2. The rats, finding that their number grew thin, thought of a plan to keep themselves from the claws of the cat. 3. One of them made a long speech, and said, if they were all of his mind, they would get a cord and put it round the cat's neck, and draw her up high from the ground, make fast the end of the cord to an old beam, and there let her hang until she was dead. 1 Pronounced ser'tin. 4. The scheme, they all said, was a very good one, except an old rat, who had not yet spoken, but who now asked which of them. would put the cord round the cat's neck. 5. As they had not thought of this before, they looked in each other's faces for some time, and as they found no one of such a stout heart as to take this in hand, all their fine plan went off in smoke. 6. "Well," says the old rat, "you see how much more easy it is to plan fine schemes than to perform them. I know of but one way likely to save us, which is this: We must run no more on the ground, but keep high on the shelves, so that the cat shall not come nigh us." 1. A TURKEY, tired of the food she had to eat in the barn at home, took a stroll into the woods, and all her little ones went with her. 1 Pronounced wünz. 2 Pronounced gru. 3 Pronounced a-gènst'. |