THE SPORTSMAN AND THE SPANIEL.

As a Sportsman ranged the fields with his gun, attended by an experienced old Spaniel, he happened to spring a Snipe, and, almost at the same instant, a covey of Partridges. Surprised at the accident, and divided in his aim, he fired too indiscriminately, and by this means missed them both. "Oh, my good master," said the Spaniel, “you should never have two aims at once. Had you not been dazzled and seduced by the extravagant hope of bringing down a Partridge, you would probably have secured your snipe."

THE ECLIPSE.

ONE day, when the Moon was under an Eclipse, she complained to the Sun thus of the discontinuance of his favours: "My dearest friend," said she, "why do you not shine upon me as you used to do?" "Do I not shine upon thee?" said the Sun, "I am very sure that I intend it.

""

Oh, no," replied the Moon; "but now I perceive the reason. I see that that dirty planet, the Earth, has got between us." The good influences of the great world would perhaps be more diffusive, were it not for their mischievous dependants, who are so frequently suffered to interpose.

THE PIECE OF WOOD.

A PIECE OF WOOD floating on the sea appeared at a distance to be of some value; but when driven on shore, it was considered insignificant and of no use.

THE SHIP AND THE SAILORS.

SOME Sailors, whose ship made but little progress towards the port whither she was bound, through want of wind, besought the captain to allow them to throw out the ballast which was on board, in the hope that when the ship was lightened she would move faster through the water. No sooner was this done than a breeze sprang up, which in a few hours became a furious gale of wind, and the ship, deprived of the ballast which would have kept her steady, heeled over, and all on board perished.

PAGE

66

215

84

396

386

311

23

151

360

232

128

319

56

399

48

178

292
113

169

104

65

170

116

47

346

171

60

180

34

100

192

185

51

41

33

59

143

138

171

44

307