but your heart is all bitterness; for to be revenged on an enemy you will destroy your own life, and are so foolish in your rage as to do more mischief to yourselves than to your enemy. Take my word for it, one had better have fewer talents, and use them more wisely."

Well governed communities should make well
governed individuals.

THE ASS AND HIS MASTER.

A Diligent Ass, daily loaded beyond his strength by a severe Master, whom he had long served, and who fed him very sparingly, happened one day in his old age to be laden with a more than ordinary burden of earthenware. His strength being much impaired, and the road deep and uneven, he unfortunately stumbled, and, unable to recover himself, fell down and broke all the vessels to pieces. His Master, transported with rage, began to beat him unmercifully, against which the poor Ass, lifting up his head as he lay on the ground, thus strongly remonstrated:

"Unfeeling wretch! to thine own avaricious cruelty, in first pinching me of food, and then loading me beyond my strength, thou owest the misfortune for which I suffer!"

Lay the blame where it belongs.

THE WILD AND TAME GEESE.

Two Geese strayed from a farmyard, and swam down a stream to a large swamp, which afforded them an extensive range and plenty of food. A flock of Wild Geese frequently resorted to the same place; and though they were at first so shy as not to suffer the Tame ones to join them, by degrees they became well acquainted and associated freely together.

One evening their cackling reached the ears of a Fox that was prowling at no great distance from the swamp. The artful plunderer directed his course through a wood on the borders of it, and was within a few yards of his prey before any of the Geese perceived him. But the alarm was given just as he was springing upon them, and the whole flock instantly ascended into the air, with loud and dissonant cries.

"The Fox! the Fox!" the Wild Geese called as they rose swiftly out of his clutches; and they winged their flight into higher regions and were

seen no more.

"The Fox! the Fox!" replied the two Tame Geese, rising after them; but being heavy, clumsy, and unused to using their wings, they soon dropped down, and became the victims of the Fox.

Those who aspire to a higher station should be able to maintain their position.

THE MASTIFF AND THE GOOSE.

A Goose once upon a time took up her abode by a pond, which she immediately laid claim to. If any other animal, without the least design to offend, happened to pass that way, the Goose immediately flew at it. The pond, she said, was hers, and she would maintain her right to it, and support her honor while she had a bill to hiss, or a wing to flutter. In this manner she drove away Ducks, Pigs, Chickens, nay, even the insidious Cat was seen to scamper.

A Mastiff, however, happened to pass by, and thought it no harm if he should lap a little of the water, as he was thirsty.

"Get away!" hissed our valiant Keeper of the pond, as soon as she saw him approaching. "Get away I tell you! it's mine!" and she flew at him like a Fury, pecked at him with her beak, and slapped him with her feathers.

The Mastiff grew angry, and had twenty times a mind to give her a sly snap, but controlled his wrath, because his master was nigh.

"You fool!" cried he. "Those who have neither strength nor weapons to fight should at least be civil."

So saying, he quenched his thirst in spite of the Goose, and followed his master.

Arrogance inspires contempt.

THE FROGS DESIRING A KING.

The Frogs living an easy, free sort of life among the lakes and ponds, once prayed Jupiter to send them a King. Jupiter, being at that time in a merry mood, threw them a Log, saying as he did so, "There, then, is a King for you."

Awed by the splash, the Frogs watched their King in fear and trembling, till at last, encouraged by his stillness, one more daring than the rest jumped upon the shoulder of his monarch. Soon, many others followed his example, and made merry on the back of their unresisting King.

Speedily tiring of such a torpid ruler, they again petitioned Jupiter, and asked him to send them something more like a King. This time he sent them a Stork, who chased them about and gobbled them up as fast as he could. They lost no time, therefore, in beseeching the god to give them again their former state.

"No, no," replied he; "a King that did you no harm did not please you. Make the best of the one you have, or you may chance to get a worse in his place."

Let well enough alone.

THE LOBSTERS.

It chanced on a time that the shell of a boiled Lobster was thrown on the sea-shore, where it was

quickly espied by one of the same tribe, who, young, ignorant, and vain, viewed it with admiration and delight.

"See," said she, addressing her mother, who was at her side; "behold the beauty of one of our family, thus decked out in noble scarlet, so rich in color that no coral can surpass it in brilliancy! I shall have no rest till I am equally as fine, and have ceased to see myself the dingy object I am at present."

"Vain creature!" replied the mother; "know that this same tawdry finery which you so earnestly covet was only acquired by death. And learn from this terrible example to be humble and content, obscure and safe."

Fine feathers are a sign neither of wealth
nor of happiness.

THE LION AND THE SNAKE.

A Lordly Lion, who was seeking for his prey, by chance saw a Snake basking in the sun, when, being rather sharp-set by hunger, and disappointed in his object, he, with a haughty air, spurned the reptile with his paw, as not being agreeable to his stomach.

But the enraged Snake turned on him, and gave him a mortal sting, and said: "Die, imperious