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his worthless companions. When this, like the rest, was gone, he took another solitary walk in the same place as before. the weather, being severe and frosty, had given every thing an aspect very different from what it had before; the brook was quite frozen over, and the poor swallow lay dead upon the bank; the very sight of which cooled the young man's brains, till, coming to a sense of his misery, he reproached the deceased bird as the author of all his misfortunes:- "Ah! wretch that thou wert; " said he, "thou hast undone both thyself and me, who was so credulous as to depend upon thee."

11.

THE TROUT AND THE GUDGEON.

A fisherman was one day angling on the bank of a river with an artificial fly. He threw his bait with so much art, that a young trout was rushing towards it, when she was suddenly stopped by her mother. "Never," said she, "my child, be too precipitate, where there is a possibility of danger. Take due time to consider, before you risk an action that may be fatal. How do you know whether yon appearance be indeed a fly, or the snare of an enemy' ? Let some one else make the experiment before you. If it be a fly, he will very probably elude the first attack; and the second may be made, if not with success, at least with safety." She had no sooner spoken, than a gudgeon seized the pretended fly, and became an example to the giddy daughter of the importance of her mother's counsel.

12.

THE LION AND OTHER BEASTS HUNTING.

A leopard, a lynx, and a wolf, were ambitious of the honour of hunting with the lion. His majesty acceded to their desire, and it was agreed that they should all have an equal share in whatever might be taken. They scoured the forest, and, after a hot chase, pulled down a noble stag. It was divided with great dexterity by the lynx into four. equal parts, but, just as he was going to secure his share-"Hold," said the lion, "let no one presume to serve himself, till he hath heard our just and reasonable claims. I seize upon the first quarter by virtue of my prerogative; the second I think is due to my superior

conduct and courage; I cannot forego the third on account of the necessities of my den: and if any one is inclined to dispute my right to the fourth, let him speak." Awed by the majesty of his frown, and the terror of his paws, the three companions silently withdrew, resolving never to hunt again, but with their equals.

13.

THE SNAKE AND THE HEDGE-HOG.

By the entreaties of a hedge-hog, half starved with cold, a snake was once persuaded to receive him into her cell. He had no sooner entered than his prickles began to be very uneasy to his companion; upon which, the snake desired he would provide himself another lodging, as she found upon trial, that the apartment was not large enough to accommodate both. "Nay," said the hedge-hog, "let those that are uneasy in their situation exchange it; for my part, I am very well contented where I am: as you are not, you are welcome to remove whenever you think proper."

14.

THE KID AND THE WOLF.

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A she-goat shut up her kid in safety, while she went to feed in the fields, and advised her to keep close at home. A wolf watching their motions, as soon as the dam was gone, hastened to the house, and knocked at the door. Child," said he, counterfeiting the voice of the goat, "I forgot to embrace you; open the door, I beseech you, that I may give you this token of my affection."-"No! no!" replied the kid, (who had taken a survey of the deceiver through the window,) "I cannot possibly give you admission; for though you feign very well the voice of my dam, I perceive in every other respect that

are a wolf."

you

15.

THE OLD HOUND.

An old hound, who had been an excellent hunter in his time, and had given his master great sport and satisfaction in many a chase, at last, by the effect of years, became feeble and unserviceable. However, being in the field one day when the

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stag was almost run down, he happened to be the first that came in with him, and seized him by one of his haunches: but his decayed and broken teeth not being able to keep their hold, the deer escaped and threw him quite out. Upon which, his master being in a great passion and going to strike him, the honest old creature thus remonstrated: Ah! do not strike your poor old servant; it is not my heart and inclination, but my strength and speed that fail me. If what I am now, displeases you, pray, do not forget what I have been."

16.

THE FLY IN ST. PAUL'S CUPOLA.

As a fly was crawling leisurely up one of the columns of St. Paul's cupola, he often stopped to examine it, and, at last, broke forth into the following exclamation: "Strange! that any one who pretends to be an artist, should ever leave so superb a structure in so rough and unfinished a state." "Ah, my friend!" said that learned architect, the spider, who hung in his web under one of the capitals, " you should never judge of things beyond the extent of your capacity. This lofty building was not erected for such diminutive animals as you or I; but for a class of creatures who are, at least, ten thousand times as large: to their eyes, it is very possible, these columns may seem as smooth, as to you they appear rough and unpolished."

Thus narrow-minded persons take upon themselves to censure things, of which they cannot comprehend the design.

17.

THE DOG IN THE MANGER.

A dog was lying in a manger full of hay. An ox, being hungry, came near, and offered to eat of the hay; but the illnatured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer him to touch it. Upon which, the ox, in the bitterness of his heart, exclaimed: "Malicious wretch! thou wilt neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do it!"

18.

THE STARS AND THE SKY-ROCKET.

As a rocket on a night of rejoicing ascended through the air, and observed the stream of light that distinguished his passage, he could not forbear exulting in his elevation and calling upon the stars to do him reverence. "Behold," said he, what gazing multitudes admire the lustre of my train, whilst all your feeble sparks of light pass unobserved, or disregarded!" One of the stars, hearing this empty boast, replied: "How weak are they, who value themselves on the voice of popular applause! It is true, the novelty of thy appearance may procure to thee more admiration from vulgar minds than our daily splendours can attract, although indeed a lasting miracle. But do not estimate thy importance by the capricious fancy of ill-judging mortals. Know thyself to be but the pageant of a few moments, the transient gaze of a giddy multitude. Even now thy blaze is half extinguished, and thou must presently sink into perpetual oblivion. Whereas our fires are lighted up by the Almighty Ruler of the world, for the admiration and advantage of his creatures, and our glory shall be lasting as the universe itself!"

19.

ECHO AND THE OWL.

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A solemn owl, puffed up with vanity, sat repeating her screams at midnight from the hollow of a blasted oak. And whence," cried she, "proceeds this awful silence, unless it be to favour my superior melody? Surely the groves are hushed in expectation of my voice, and when I sing all nature listens." An echo, resounding from an adjacent rock, replied immediately: "All nature listens." "The nightingale," resumed she, has usurped the sovereignty of the night: her note indeed is musical, but mine is sweeter far." The voice, confirming her opinion, replied again, "Is sweeter far.". "Why then am I diffident," continued she, "why do I fear to join the tuneful choir?" The echo, still flattering her vanity, repeated: "Join the tuneful choir." Roused by this empty phantom of encouragement, she, on the morrow, mingled her hootings with the harmony of the groves. But the tuneful songsters, disgusted

with her noise, and affronted by her impudence, unanimously drove her from their society, and still continue to pursue her whenever she appears.

The vain hear the flatteries of their own imagination, and fancy them to be the voice of fame.

20.

THE OAK AND THE REED.

An oak, which hung over the bank of a river, was blown down by a violent tempest of wind; and, as it was carried along by the stream, some of its boughs brushed against a reed which grew near the shore. The oak was surprised to find so fragile a plant remain unhurt, after so severe a storm; and he could not forbear asking the reed how he came to stand so secure and unhurt in a tempest, which had been furious enough to tear an oak up by the roots? Why," said the reed, "I secure myself by acting in quite an opposite way to what you do. Instead of being stubborn and stiff, and confiding in my strength, I yield and bend to the blast and let it go over me, knowing how vain and fruitless it would be to resist."

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21.

THE OLD MAN AND DEATH.

A feeble old man, quite spent with carrying a burthen of sticks, which, with much labour, he had gathered in a neighbouring wood, called upon Death to release him from the fatigues he endured. Death, hearing the invocation, was immediately at his elbow, and asked him what he wanted. Frightened and trembling at the unexpected appearance: "O good sir!" said he, "my burthen had like to have slipped from me, and being unable to recover it myself, I only implored your assistance to replace it on my shoulders."

22.

THE ASS AND HIS MASTER.

A diligent ass, daily loaded beyond his strength by a severe master whom he had long served, and who kept him on very short allowance, happened one day in his old age to be oppressed with a more than ordinary burthen of earthenware. His strength