instance to be all in the right, but, pray, for the future allow others to have eyesight as well as yourselves; nor wonder if everyone prefers the testimony of his own senses to those of another." Have respect for the opinions of others.

THE LYNX AND THE MOLE.

Under the covert of a thick wood, at the foot of a tree, as a Lynx lay whetting his teeth and waiting for his prey, he espied a Mole half buried under a hillock of her own raising.

"Alas, poor creature," said the Lynx, "how much I pity you! Surely, Jupiter has been very unkind, to debar you from the light of day which rejoices the whole creation. You are certainly not above half alive, and it would be doing you a service to make an end of you."

"I thank you for your kindness," replied the Mole, "but I think I have fully as much vivacity as my state and circumstances require. For the rest, I am perfectly well contented with the faculties which Jupiter has given me, who, I am sure, wants not our direction in distributing his gifts. I have not, 'tis true, your piercing eyes, but I have ears which answer all my purposes. Hark! for example, I am warned by a noise which I hear behind you, to flee from danger."

So saying, he crept into the earth, while a javelin from the arm of a hunter pierced the quick-sighted Lynx to the heart.

Let none criticise Nature.

THE APE AND THE CARPENTER.

An Ape sat looking at a Carpenter who was cleaving a piece of wood with two wedges, which he put into the cleft one after another as the split opened. The Carpenter leaving his work half done, the Ape must needs try his hand at logsplitting, and coming to the piece of wood, pulled out the wedge that was in it without knocking in the other. The wood closing again held the poor Monkey by his fore paws so fast that he was not able to get away. The surly Carpenter, when he returned, knocked the prisoner's brains out for meddling with his work.

It is easier to get into mischief than to get out

again.

THE FROG AND THE HEN.

"Dear me!" said the Frog to himself one day as he heard a Hen cackling near his bog; "what a very noisy creature that Hen is to be sure! Mrs.

Hen," he called out, "do be quiet; you'll alarm the whole neighborhood. Really, one would think you had made a grand discovery. What is the cause or the meaning of all this uproar ?"

"My dear sir, have patience with me; I've laid an egg."

"Upon my word you make a great fuss over one egg."

"Well, well, I am sorry to see you so illtempered at my little song of joy, when I've endured without a murmur your croaking all day and night long. But I claim to have done some good, though that may be small. You, on the contrary, should hold your tongue, for you certainly do no good whatever."

Croakers seldom become doers.

THE TROOPER AND HIS HORSE.

As a Trooper was currying his Horse, he noticed that one of the shoe-nails had dropped out, yet he postponed for the present striking in another nail. Soon after he was summoned by sound of trumpet to join his corps, which was commanded to advance rapidly and charge the enemy. In the heat of the action the loose shoe fell off, his horse became lame, stumbled, and threw his rider to the

ground. The Trooper was immediately slain by

the enemy.

Small duties neglected become great perils.

THE LAMB AND THE WOLF.

A FLOCK of Sheep were feeding in a meadow while their Dogs were asleep, and their Shepherd at a distance, playing on his pipe beneath the shade of a spreading elm. A young, inexperienced Lamb, observing a half-starved Wolf peering through the pales of the enclosure, entered into conversation with him.

"Pray, what are you seeking for here?" said the Lamb.

"I am looking," replied the Wolf, "for some tender grass; for nothing, you know, is more pleasant than to feed in a fresh pasture, and to slake one's thirst at a crystal stream, both of which I perceive you enjoy here. Happy creature," continued he, "how much I envy your lot, who are in full possession of the utmost I desire; for philosophy has long taught me to be satisfied with a little !"

"It seems, then," returned the Lamb, "that those who say you feed on flesh accuse you falsely, since a little grass will easily content you. If

this be true, let us for the future live like brethren, and feed together."

So saying, the simple Lamb crept through the fence, and at once became a prey to the pretended philosopher, and a sacrifice to his own inexperience and credulity.

Experience is a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.

THE MICE AND THE TRAP.

Once upon a time some Mice saw a bit of toasted bacon hanging up in a very little room, the door of which, being open, enticed them to fall to work on the dainty morsel with greedy appetites. But two or three of them took particular notice that there was but one way into the room, and, therefore, but one way to get out of it; so that if the door by misfortune or art should chance to be shut, they would all inevitably be taken. They could not, therefore, bring themselves to enter, but said that they would rather content themselves with homely fare in plenty, than for the sake of a dainty bit run the risk of being taken and lost for ever.

The other Mice, however, declared that they saw no danger, and ran into the room and began to eat the bacon with great delight. But they soon