swift-running stream. He had not long been there when a Gnat, that had been disporting itself in the air, pitched upon one of his horns.

"My dear fellow," said the Gnat, with as great a buzz as he could manage, "pray excuse the liberty I take. If I am too heavy, only say so, and I will go at once and rest upon the poplar which grows hard by at the edge of the stream."

Stay or go, it makes no difference to me," replied the Bull. "Had it not been for your buzz, I should not even have known you were there."

Some men are more important in their own eyes than in those of their neighbor's.

THE FOWLER AND THE BLACKBIRD.

A Fowler, setting his nets in order, was curiously watched by a Blackbird, who could not forbear coming and asking the Man civilly what he was about.

"I am making a nice little house for such as you," answered the Fowler, "and putting into it food and all manner of useful things."

He then departed and hid himself. The Blackbird, believing his words, came into the nets and was taken.

"If your house is built for treachery," said he to the Man, "I hope it will have few inhabitants." Dishonest rulers overthrow the state.

THE TRUMPETER TAKEN PRISONER.

Upon the defeat of an army in battle, a Trumpeter was taken prisoner.

The soldiers were about to put him to death, when he cried, "Nay, gentlemen, why should you kill me? This haud of mine is guiltless of a single life."

"Yes," replied the soldiers; "but with that braying instrument of yours you incite others, and you must share the same fate as they."

Those who aid are as guilty as those who do evil.

THE ASS LADEN WITH SALT AND WITH SPONGES.

A Man drove his Ass to the sea-side, and having purchased there a load of Salt, proceeded on his way home. In crossing a stream the Ass stumbled and fell. It was some time before he regained his feet, and by that time the Salt had all melted away, and he was delighted to find that he had lost his burden.

A little while after that, the Ass, when laden with Sponges, had occasion to cross the same stream. Remembering his former good luck, he stumbled this time on purpose, and was surprised

to find that his load, so far from disappearing, became many times heavier than before.

The same game does not often succeed twice.

THE FOX AND THE BOAR.

A Hoar stood whetting his tusks against an old tree. A Fox happened to pass by, and asked him what he meant by such warlike preparation, there being, as far as he knew, no enemy in sight.

"That may be," answered the Boar; "but when the enemy is in sight it is time to think about something else."

In time of peace prepare for war.

THE SICK STAG.

A Stag, whose joints had become stiff with old age, was at great pains to get together a large heap of fodder enough, as he thought, to last him for the remainder of his days. He stretched himself out upon it, and, now dozing, now nibbling, made up his mind to wait quietly for the end.

Ho had always been of a gay and lively turn, and had made in his time many friends. These now came in great numbers to see him, and wish him farewell. While engaged in friendly talk

over past adventures and old times, what more natural than that they should help themselves to a little of the food which seemed so plentifully stored around? The end of the matter was, that the poor Stag died not so much of sickness or of old age as for sheer want of the food which his friends had eaten for him.

Thoughtless friends bring more hurt than profit.

THE ASS EATING THISTLES.

An Ass laden with very choice provisions, which he was carrying in harvest-time to the field, for his master and the reapers, stopped by the way to eat a large and strong Thistle that grew by the roadside.

"Many people would wonder," said he, "that with such delicate viands within reach, I do not touch them; but to me this bitter and prickly Thistle is more savory and relishing than anything else in the world."

What is one man's meat is another man's poison.

THE HORSE AND THE LADEN ASS.

A Full-fed, lazy Horse was travelling along in company with a heavily-ladeu Ass, belonging to

the same master. The Ass, whose back was nearly breaking with his load, besought the Horse, for the sake of common kindness, to take a portion of it. The Horse, in his pride and ill-nature, refused; and the poor Ass, after staggering on a little further, fell down and died. The master thereupon laid the whole of the burden upon the Horse's back, and the skin of the Ass besides.

Selfishness brings its own reward.

THE FOX AND THE STORK.

A Fox one day invited a Stork to dine with him, and, wishing to be amused at his expense, put the soup which he had for dinner in a large fiat dish, so that, while he himself could lap it up quite easily, the Stork could only dip in the tips of his long bill.

Some time after, the Stork, bearing his treatment in mind, invited the Fox to take dinner with him. He, in his turn, put some minced meat in a long and narrow-necked vessel, into which he could easily put his bill, while Master Fox was forced to be content with licking what ran down the sides of the vessel.

The Fox then remembered his old trick, and could not but admit that the Stork had well paid him out.

A joke is often returned with interest.