THE WOLF AND THE SHEEP.

A Wolf, that had been sorely worried and left for dead by the Dogs, lay not far from a running stream. Parched with thirst, the babble of the brook sounded most temptingly in his ears, and he felt that one cool, delicious draught might yet restore to him some hope of life. Just then a Sheep passed near.

"Pray, sister, bring me some water from yon stream," said he. "Water is all I want; I do not

ask for meat."

"Yes," replied the Sheep, "but I know very well that when I have brought you water, my body I will serve for meat."

Hypocritical speeches are easily seen through.

THE ASS'S SHADOW.

A Man, one hot day, hired an Ass, with his Driver, to carry some merchandise across a desert. The sun's rays were intensely hot, and, unable to advance farther without a temporary rest, he called upon the Driver to stop, and proceeded to sit down in the Shadow of the Ass. The Driver, however, a lusty fellow, rudely pushed him away and sat down on the spot himself.

"Nay, friend," said the Driver, "when you

hired this Ass of me you said nothing about the Shadow. If now you want that too, you must pay for it."

"But the Shadow goes with the Ass," replied the Man, "and both are my property."

This the other disputed, and the quarrel waxing fiercer came to blows. While the men fought, the Ass sprang to its feet and galloped away. Be sure of your bargains.

THE DEER AND THE LION.

A Deer, being hard pressed by the Hounds, found a cave, into which he rushed for safety. An immense Lion, couched at the farther end of the cave, sprang upon him in an instant.

"Unhappy creature that I am!" exclaimed the Stag, in his dying moments. "I entered this cave to escape the pursuit of Men and Dogs, and I have fallen into the jaws of the most terrible of wild Beasts."

In avoiding one evil, plunge not into a worse.

THE SHEEP AND THE DOG.

The Sheep one day complained to the Shepherd that while they were shorn of their fleece, and

their young ones often taken and killed for food, they received nothing in return but the green herbage of the earth, which grew of itself, and cost him no pains to procure.

"On the other hand, your Dog," said they, "which gives no wool, and is of no use for food, is petted and fed with as good meat as his master."

"Peace, bleating simpletons!" replied the Dog, who overheard them; "were it not that I look after and watch you, and keep off Wolves and thieves, small good would be to you your herbage or anything else."

Each has his allotted labor.

THE HORSE AND THE LION.

A Lion, who had got old and infirm, saw a fine plump Nag, and longed for a bit of him. Knowing that the animal would prove too fleet for him in the chase, he had recourse to artifice. He gave out to all the Beasts that, having spent many years in studying physic, he was now prepared to heal any malady or distemper with which they might be afflicted. He hoped by that means to get admittance among them, and so find a chance of satisfying his appetite.

The Horse, who had doubts of the Lion's honesty, came up limping, pretending that he had run

a thorn into one of his hind feet, which gave him great pain. The Lion asked that the foot might be shown to him, and pored over it with a mock earnest air. The Horse, slyly looking round, saw that he was preparing to spring, and vigorously sending out both his heels at once, gave the Lion such a kick in the face, that it laid him stunned and sprawling upon the ground. Then laughing at the success of his trick, he trotted merrily away.

Over-craftiness defeats itself.

THE WOLF AND THE KID.

A Wolf spied a Kid that had strayed to a distance from the herd, and pursued him.

The Kid, finding that he could not escape, waited till the Wolf came up, and then assuming a cheerful tone, said, "I see clearly enough that I must be eaten, but I would fain die as pleasantly as I can. Give me, therefore, a few notes of the pipe you play so well, before I go to destruction."

It seems that the Wolf was of a musical turn, and always carried his pipe with him. Flattered by the Kid's compliment, the Wolf played and the Kid danced, until the noise of the pipe brought the Dogs to the spot.

The Wolf hastily fled, saying, "This is what

comes when people will go meddling out of their profession. My business was to play the butcher, not the piper."

Shoemaker, stick to your last.

THE FOX AND THE GRAPES.

A Hungry Fox one day chanced to come into a vineyard where he saw some fine ripe grapes hanging at a good height from the ground. He jumped at them, and made many other vain attempts to reach them.

Finally he walked off grumbling to himself, "If those grapes had been good I would be disappointed. But they are green and sour."

It is easy to despise what you cannot get.

THE GARDENER AND HIS DOG.

A Gardener's Dog, frisking about the brink of a well in the garden, happened to fall in. The Gardener very readily ran to his assistance; but as he was trying to help him out, the Cur bit him on the hand. The Man, annoyed at what he considered such ungrateful behavior towards one whose only aim was to save his life, came away and left the Dog to drown.

Kindness should merit kindness.