THE ASS AND THE LITTLE DOG.

The Ass observing how great a favorite a Little Dog was with his Master, how much caressed and fondled, and fed with choice bits at every meal and for no other reason, that he could see, but skipping and frisking about and wagging his tail

resolved to imitate him, and see whether the same behavior would not bring him similar favors.

Accordingly, the Master was no sooner come home from walking, and seated in his easy-chair, than the Ass came into the room, and danced around him with many an awkward gambol. The Man could not help laughing aloud at the odd sight.

The joke, however, became serious, when the Ass, rising on his hind-legs, laid his fore-feet upon his Master's shoulders, and braying in his face in the most fascinating manner, would fain have jumped into his lap. The Man cried out for help, and one of his servants running in with a good stick, laid it unmercifully on the bones of the poor Ass, who was glad to get back to his stable.

A place for every one, and every one in his place.

THE SHEEP-BITER.

A Certain Shepherd had a Dog in whom he placed such great trust, that he would often leave

the flock to his sole care. As soon, however, as his Master's back was turned, the Cur, although well fed and kindly treated, used to worry the Sheep, and would sometimes kill one and devour a portion.

The Man at last found out how much his confidence had been abused, and resolved to hang the Dog without mercy. When the rope was put around his neck, he pleaded hard for his life, and begged his Master rather to hang the Wolf, who had done ten times as much harm to the flock as he had.

"That may be," replied the Man sternly; "but you are ten times the greater villain for all that. Nothing shall save you from the fate which your treachery deserves."

The most dangerous enemy is that one within.

THE TWO POTS.

A Eiveb having overflowed its banks, two Pots were carried along in the stream, one made of Earthenware and the other of Brass.

"Well, brother, since we share the same fate, let us go along together," cried the Brazen Pot (who before that had been haughty enough) to the Earthen one.

"No, no!" replied the latter in a great fright;

"keep off, whatever you do, for if you knock against me, or I against you, it will be all over with me to the bottom I shall go."

Equals make the best friends.

THE TORTOISE AND THE EAGLE.

A Tortoise, weary of crawling about on the ground at a snail's pace, desired to fly in the air like the Birds, and gave out that if any Bird would take him up in the clouds and show him the world, he would tell him in return where to find treasures hid in the earth. The Eagle thereupon did as he wished, but finding that the Tortoise could not keep his word, carried him up once more, and let him fall on a hard rock, where he was dashed to pieces. Never make rash promises.

THE TWO CRABS.

"Mx dear," called out an old Crab to her daughter one day, "why do you sidle along in that awkward manner? Why don't you go forward like other people?"

"Well, mother," answered the young Crab, "it seems to me that I go exactly like you do. Go first and show me how, and I will gladly follow." Example is better than precept.

THE VIPER AND THE FILE.

A Viper entered a smith's shop, and looked up and down for something to eat. He settled at last upon a File, and began to gnaw it greedily.

"Bite away," said the File gruffly, "you'll get little from me. It is my business to take from all and give to none."

Attempt no impossibilities.

THE FOX AND THE BEAMBLE.

A Fox, hotly pursued by the Hounds, jumped through a hedge, and his feet were sadly torn by a Bramble that grew in the midst. He fell to licking his paws, with many a curse against the Bramble for its unkind treatment.

"Softly, softly, good words if you please, Master Eeynard," said the Bramble. "I thought you knew better than to lay hold of one whose nature it is to lay hold of others."

Never trust the untrustworthy.

FORTUNE AND THE BOY.

A Little Boy, quite tired out with play, stretched out, and fell sound asleep close to the edge of a deep well.

Fortune came by, and gently waking him said, "My dear Boy, believe me, I have saved your life. If you had fallen in, everybody would have laid the blame on me; but tell me truly, now, would the fault have been yours or mine?"

Lay the blame where it belongs.

THE GOOSE WITH THE GOLDEN EGGS.

A Certain Man had a Goose that laid him a golden egg every day. Being of a covetous turn, he thought if he killed his Goose he should come at once to the source of his treasure. So he killed her, and cut her open, when great was his dismay to find that her inside was in no way different to that of any other Goose.

Greediness overreaches itself.

THE PEACOCK AND THE CRANE.

The Peacock, spreading his gorgeous tail, stalked up and down in his most stately manner before a Crane, and ridiculed him for the plainness of his plumage.

"I am robed like a king," said he, "in gold and purple and all the colors of the rainbow, while, just look at your plain coat!"