THE SENSIBLE ASS.

An Old Fellow, in time of war, was allowing his Ass to feed in a green meadow, when he was alarmed by a sudden advance of the enemy. He tried every means in his power to urge the Ass to fly, but in vain.

"The enemy are upon us," said he.

"And what will the enemy do?" asked the Ass. "Will they put two pairs of panniers on my back, instead of one?"

"No," answered the Man, "there is no fear of that."

"Why then," replied the Ass, "I'll not stir an inch. I am born to be a slave, and my greatest enemy is he who gives me most to carry." Conquest has no terror for slaves.

THE WOLVES AND THE SHEEP.

Once upon a time, the Wolves sent an embassy to the Sheep, desiring that there might be a lasting peace between them.

"Why," said the Messengers, "should we be forever at war? These wicked Dogs are the cause of it all; they are always barking at us and making us mad. Now if you will give up your Dogs, we will send you our children as hostages of peace."

The silly Sheep agreed to the proposal and dismissed the Dogs. The Wolves gave up their Whelps. But the young Wolves cried for their mothers, and the Wolves then claimed that the peace had been broken, and set upon the Sheep, who, deprived of their defenders, the Dogs, could make no resistance, but fell an easy prey to their enemies.

Make no truce with a sworn enemy.

THE YOUNG MAN AND HIS CAT.

A Young Man became so fond of his Cat, that he made her his constant companion, and used to declare that if she were a woman he would marry her. Venus at length, seeing how sincere was his affection, gratified his wishes, and changed the Cat into a young and beautiful woman. The Young Man was delighted, and lost no time in marrying her. They lived happily together until one day when the Bride heard a Mouse in the room. Quickly springing up, she caught the Mouse, and killed it. Venus, angry at this behavior, and seeing that under the form of a woman there was still hidden the nature of a Cat, determined that form and nature should no longer disagree, and changed her back again to a Cat.

The true nature, though hidden, will assert itself.

THE MAN AND THE FOX.

A Man whose vines and orchards had suffered greatly from the ravages of Foxes, one day caught one of these animals in a trap. In a great rage he tied up the Fox's tail with tow that had been steeped in turpentine, set a light to it, and let him. run. Mad with pain and fright, the Fox ran through a large field in which, ripe for the harvest, stood corn belonging to his tormentor. The corn

caught fire, and the flames, fanned by the wind, spread over the field and laid it waste. The Man lamented bitterly that he had not chosen some safer and less cruel means of revenge.

Do not let your anger crush your wisdom.

THE HART AND THE VINE.

A Hart, being hard pursued by the hunters, hid himself under the broad leaves of a shady, spreading Vine. When the hunters had gone by, and given him over for lost, he thought himself quite secure, and began to crop and eat the leaves of the Vine. The rustling of the branches drew the eyes of the hunters that way, and they shot their arrows there at a venture, and killed the Hart.

"I am rightly served," gasped he in dying, "for

I ought not to have mistreated the friend who would have saved me."

Be not forgetful of benefits.

THE EAGLE AND THE CROW.

A Crow watched an Eagle swoop with a majestic air from a cliff upon a flock of Sheep, and carry away a Lamb in his talons. The whole thing looked so graceful and so easy, that the Crow at once proceeded to imitate it, and pouncing upon the back of the largest and fattest Eam he could see, he tried to make off with it.

He found that he could not move the Eam; and his claws got so entangled in the animal's fleece, that he could not get away himself. He therefore became an easy prey to the Shepherd, who, coming up at the time, caught him, cut his wings, and gave him to his children for a plaything. They came crowding about their Father and asked him what strange Bird that was.

"Why," said he, "he'll tell you himself that he's an Eagle. But you take my word for it-I know him to be a Crow."

'Tis folly to attempt what you are unable to

perform.

THE MAN THAT LOST HIS MATTOCK.

A Man, busily employed in trenching his vineyard, laid down for awhile the Mattock he was using. When he went to take it up again, it was gone. He called together his hired men, and asked them if they had seen the tool. They all denied any knowledge of it; and the Man, in a great rage, said he knew that one of them must have taken it, and, let it cost him what it might, he would find out the thief. With that view he insisted upon their going with him to the shrine of a famous oracle in a neighboring city.

Arrived within the city gates, they stopped to rest. Just at that moment the town-crier came up, and in a loud voice announced that the sacred shrine had been robbed the night before, and a large reward was offered to any one who could discover the thief. Thereupon the Man at once called upon his men to turn their faces homewards.

"If this god," said he, "cannot tell who has robbed his temple, the chances are that he knows as little who has taken my Mattock."

Physician, heal thyself.

THE GNAT AND THE BULL.

A Sturdy Bull was driven by the heat of the weather to wade up to his knees in a cool and