THE ROSE AND THE AMARANTH.

An Amaranth, planted in a garden near a Rosetree, thus addressed it: "What a lovely flower is the Rose, a favorite alike with gods and with men. I envy you your beauty and your perfume."

The Rose replied, "I indeed, dear Amaranth, flourish but for a brief season! If no cruel hand pluck me from my stem, yet I must perish by an early doom. But you are immortal, and never fade, but bloom forever in renewed youth."

Lasting things are best.

THE TRAVELLERS AND THE PLANETREE.

Two Travellers, worn out by the heat of the summer's sun, laid themselves down at noon under the wide-spreading branches of a Plane-tree.

As they rested under its shade, one of the Travellers said to the other, "What a singularly useless tree is the Plane! It bears no fruit, and is not of the least service to man."

The Plane-tree, interrupting him, said, "You ungrateful fellow! Do you, while receiving benefits from me, and resting under my shade, dare to describe me as useless, and unprofitable?"

Some men despise their best blessings.

THE CROW AND THE SHEEP.

A Troublesome Crow seated herself on the back of a Sheep. The Sheep, much against his will, carried her backward and forward for a long time, and at last said,

"If you had treated a Dog in this way, you would have had your deserts from his sharp teeth." To this the Crow replied, "I despise the weak, I know whom I may

and yield to the strong. bully, and whom I must flatter; and I thus prolong my life to a good old age."

The contemptible will ever be imposed upon.

THE DOG AND THE OYSTER.

A Dog, used to eating eggs, saw an Oyster; and opening his mouth to its widest extent, swallowed it down with the utmost relish, supposing it to be an egg.

Soon afterwards suffering great pain in his stomach, he said, "I deserve all this torment, for my folly in thinking that everything round must be an egg."

They who act without sufficient thought, will

often fall into unsuspected danger.

THE FLEA AND THE MAN.

A Man, very much annoyed by a Flea, caught him at last, and said, "Who are you who dare to feed on my limbs, and to cost me so much trouble in catching you?"

The Flea replied, "0 my dear sir, pray spare my life, and destroy me not, for I cannot possibly do you much harm."

The Man, laughing, replied, "Now you shall certainly die by mine own hands, for no evil, whether it be small or large, ought to be tolerated."

Small evils are as bad as large ones.

THE LION AND THE SLAVE.

A Runaway Slave once met up with a Lion who had trod upon a thorn, and who came up towards him wagging his tail, and holding up his lame foot, as if he would say, "I am a suppliant, and seek your aid."

The Slave boldly examined the wound, discovered the thorn, and placing the Lion's foot upon his lap, pulled it out and relieved the animal of his pain. The Lion joyfully returned into the forest.

The

Some time after, the Slave was captured and was condemned "to be cast to the Lion." Lion proved to be the one he had befriended.

On being released from his cage, he recognized the Slave as the man who had healed him, and, instead of attacking him, approached and placed his foot upon the man's lap.

The King, as soon as he had heard the tale, ordered the Lion to be set free again in the forest, and the Slave to be pardoned and given his liberty. One good deed deserves another.

THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE.

The Hare, one day, laughed at the Tortoise for his short feet, slowness and awkwardness.

"Though you may be swift as the wind," replied the Tortoise good-naturedly, "I can beat you in a race."

The Hare looked on the challenge as a great joke, but consented to a trial of speed, and the Fox was selected to act as umpire, and hold the stakes.

The rivals started, and the Hare, of course, soon left the Tortoise far behind. Having reached midway to the goal, she began to play about, nibble the young herbage, and amuse herself in many ways. The day being warm, she even thought she would take a little nap in a shady spot, for she thought that if the Tortoise should pass her while she slept, she could easily overtake him again before he reached the end.

The Tortoise meanwhile plodded on, unwavering and unresting, straight towards the goal.

The Hare, having overslept herself, started up from her nap, and was surprised to find that the Tortoise was nowhere in sight. Off she went at full speed, but on reaching the winning-post, found that the Tortoise was already there, waiting for her arrival.

Slow and steady wins the race.

THE MILLER, HIS SON, AND THEIR

ASS.

A Miller and his Son were driving their Ass to a neighboring fair to sell him. They had not gone far when they met with a troop of women collected round a well, talking and laughing.

"Look there," cried one of them, "did you ever see such fellows, to be trudging along the road on foot when they might ride?"

The Miller hearing this, quickly made his Son mount the Ass, and continued to walk along merrily by his side. Presently they came up to a group of old men in earnest debate.

66 There," ," said one of them, "it proves what I was a-saying. What respect is shown to old age in these days? Do you see that idle lad riding while his old father has to walk?

Get down, you