dismal, dead-and-alive kind of place. You see here no life, no gayety, no society in short, but go on and on, in a dull, humdrum sort of way, from one year's end to another. Come now, with me, this very night, and see with your own eyes what a life I lead."

The Country Mouse consented, and as soon as it was dark, off they started for the city, where they arrived just at the end of a splendid supper given by the master of the house where our town friend lived. The City Mouse soon got together a heap of dainties on a corner of the handsome carpet. The Country Mouse, who had never even heard the names of half the meats set before him, was hesitating where he should begin, when the roomdoor creaked, opened, and in entered a servant with a light. Off ran the Mice; but everything soon being quiet again, they returned to their repast, when once more the door opened, and the son of the master of the house came running in, followed by his little Terrier, who ran sniffing to the very spot where our friends had just been. The City Mouse was by that time safe in his hole which, by the way, he had not been thoughtful enough to

show to his friend, who

could find no better shelter than that afforded by a sofa, behind which he waited in fear and trembling till quiet was again restored.

The City Mouse then called upon him to resume

his supper, but the Country Mouse said, "No, no; I shall be off as fast as I can. I would rather have my wheat-stalk with peace and security, than all your fine things in the midst of such alarms and frights as these."

A crust with quietness is better than a feast
eaten in fear.

THE PEACOCK AND THE MAGPIE.

The Birds once met together to choose a king, and among others the Peacock was a candidate. Spreading his showy tail, and stalking up and down with affected grandeur, he caught the eyes of the silly multitude by his brilliant appearance, and was elected by acclamation.

Just as they were going to proclaim him, the Magpie stepped forth into the midst of the assembly, and thus addressed the new king:

"May it please your majesty-elect to permit a humble admirer to propose a question. As our king, we put our lives and fortunes in your hands. If, therefore, the Eagle, the Vulture, and the Kite should in the future, as they have in times past, make a descent upon us, what means would you take for our defence?"

This pithy question opened the eyes of the Birds to the weakness of their choice. They cancelled

the election, and have ever since regarded the Peacock as a vain pretender, and considered the Magpie to be as good a speaker as any of their number.

The crowd is caught by display.

THE SOW AND THE WOLF.

A Sow lay one day in the sty with her whole litter of pigs about her. A Wolf who longed for a small porker, but knew not how to get it, tried to worm himself into the good opinion of the mother.

"How do you find yourself to-day, Mrs. Sow?" said he. "A little fresh air would certainly do you great good. Now, do go abroad and air yourself a little, and I will gladly mind your children till you return."

"Many thanks for your offer," replied the Sow. "I know very well what kind of care you would take of my little ones, but if you really wish to be as obliging as you pretend to be, you will not show me your face again."

Services from strangers are to be suspected.

THE FARMER AND THE STORK.

A Farmer set a net in his fields, to take the Cranes and Geese which came to feed upon

the newly-springing corn. He took several, and with them a Stork, who pleaded hard for his life, on the ground that he was neither a Goose nor a Crane, but a poor, harmless Stork.

"That may be very true," replied the Man; "but as I have taken you in bad company, you must expect to suffer the same punishment."

Evil company proves more than fair professions.

THE THRUSH AND THE SWALLOW.

A Young Thrush, who lived in an orchard, once became acquainted with a Swallow. A friendship sprang up between them, and the Swallow, after skimming the orchard and the neighboring meadow, would every now and then come to visit the Thrush. The Thrush, hopping from branch to branch, would welcome him with his most cheerful note.

"Oh, mother!" said he to his parent, one day, "never did any creature have such a friend as I have in this same Swallow."

"Nor did any mother," replied the parent Bird, "ever have such a silly son as I have in this same Thrush. Long before the approach of winter, your friend will have left you, and while you sit shivering on a leafless bough, he will be sporting under sunny skies hundreds of miles away."

Unequal friendships do not last.

THE ARCHER AND THE DOVE.

An Archer, seeing a Dove among the branches of an oak, raised his bow and aimed at the Bird. Just then an Adder, on which unknowingly he had trodden, bit him in the leg.

Feeling the poison spreading in his veins, he threw down his bow, and exclaimed, "Fate has justly brought destruction on me while I was contriving the death of another!"

He that mischief hateheth, mischief always
catcheth.

THE LION, AND THE ASSES AND HARES.

Upon the breaking out of a war between the Birds and the Beasts, the Lion summoned all his subjects to appear in arms at a certain time and place, upon pain of his high displeasure. A number of Hares and Asses made their appearance on the field. Several of the commanders were for turning them off as creatures utterly unfit for service.

"Do not be too hasty," said the Lion; "the Asses will do very well for trumpeters, and the Hares will make excellent messengers."

Everything has its use.