them both; when the wolf, encumbered with his disguise, and finding it impossible either to resist or escape, yielded himself an easy prey to the shepherd's dog.

Designing hypocrites frequently lay themselves open to discovery, by over-acting their parts.

33.

THE FALCON AND THE HEN.

"Of all the creatures I ever knew," said a falcon to a hen, "6 you are certainly the most ungrateful.". "What instance of ingratitude," replied the hen, "can you justly charge upon me?""The greatest," returned the falcon; "ingratitude to your highest benefactors, men. Do they not feed you every day, and shelter you every night? Nevertheless, when they endeavour to court you to them, you ungratefully forget all their kindness, and fly from them as from an enemy. Now I, you know, am wild by nature, and no way obliged to them; yet, upon the least of their caresses, I suffer myself to be taken, and go or come at their command."-" All this is very true," replied the hen, "but there may be sufficient reason both for my fear and your familiarity: I believe you never saw a single falcon roasting at the fire; whereas, I have seen a hundred hens trussed for that purpose."

34.

THE FOX AND THE BRAMBLES.

A fox, closely pursued by a pack of dogs, took shelter under a bramble bush. He rejoiced in his asylum, and, for a while, was very happy; but he soon found, that if he attempted to stir, he was wounded by thorns and prickles on every side. However, making a virtue of necessity, he forbore to complain, and comforted himself with reflecting, that no bliss is perfect; that good and evil are mixed, and flow from the same fountain. "These

briers, indeed," said he, "will tear my skin a little; yet they keep off the dogs. For the sake of the good, then, let me bear the evil with patience; each bitter has its sweet; and these brambles, though they wound my flesh, preserve my life from danger."

35.

THE OWL AND THE EAGLE.

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An owl once complained of the brightness of the sun. is the use of its beams," said she, "but to dazzle one's eyes, so that one cannot see a mouse? For my part, I am at a loss to conceive for what purpose so glaring an object was created. We had certainly been much better without it."- “ Oh fool ! ” replied an eagle, perched on a branch of the same tree, to rail at excellence which thou canst not appreciate. The fault is not in the sun, but in thyself. All, it is true, have not faculties to understand, nor powers to enjoy the benefit of it; but must the business and convenience of the world be obstructed, in order that an owl may catch mice?"

Narrow minds think that the system of the universe should have been framed only to suit their predilections and prejudices.

36.

THE ASS IN THE LION'S SKIN.

An ass, finding the skin of a lion, put it on, and going into the woods and pastures, threw all the flocks and herds into terrible consternation. At last, meeting his owner, he would have frightened him also; but the good man, seeing his long ears stick out, presently knew him, and with a good cudgel made him sensible that, notwithstanding his being dressed in a lion's skin, he was really no better than an ass.

37.

THE TOWN AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE.

A little mouse lived contentedly in her hole in the corner of a poor cottage. She had a sister who had found her way into a large town, and had settled herself in the house of a very great and rich man. One day the town mouse came to see her sister, who received her very kindly, and did all she could to make her comfortable in her homely dwelling, setting before her the best crumbs of cheese and bread that she could find, and the clearest water from the spring close by. The next morning, when the

town mouse was ready to go to her own home again, she kindly pressed her country sister to go back with her, and took some pains to make her understand the grand and plentiful way of life led by mice in the town.

The country mouse was willing to go, and they set out together. Late in the evening they came to the grand house, and the country mouse could do nothing but admire all she saw. In one of the rooms they found the remains of a splendid feast. There were jellies and sweetmeats, creams and tarts-everything, in short, that was nice; and instead of water, there was wine of the best kind for them to drink. But before they had half finished their feast, they both darted behind the curtain at the sound of a little dog, who was barking and scratching at the door. When all was silent, they ventured out again, though trembling. But now the mewing of a cat almost frightened them to death. They had scarcely recovered this shock, when the door burst open, and a whole train of servants came in. The poor little mice hid behind the curtain once more, and when all was silent, and they could peep forth again, they found the whole of the feast, crumbs and all, had been swept away.

"Oh, my dear sister, "said the country mouse, as soon as she was able to speak, "let me go back, at once to my poor cottage, and my plain food! How could I enjoy all your fine things, while living in such constant fear? and what is the use of plenty, with an aching heart?"

38.

THE SPIDER AND THE SILK-WORM.

A spider, busied in spreading his web from one side of a room to the other, was asked by an industrious silk-worm, to what end he spent so much time and labour, in making such a number of lines and circles? The spider angrily replied, "Do not disturb me, thou ignorant thing. I transmit my ingenuity to posterity; and fame is the object of my wishes." Just as he had spoken, a chambermaid coming into the room to feed her silk-worms, saw the spider at his work, and with one stroke of her broom swept him away, destroying at once his labours and his hopes of fame.

How vainly do some people flatter themselves that their flimsy productions will be rewarded with immortal honour!

39.

THE MISER AND THE MAGPIE.

As a miser sat at his desk, counting over his heaps of gold, a magpie eloping from his cage, picked up a guinea, and hopped away with it. The miser, who never failed to count his money a second time, immediately missed a piece, and rising up from his seat in the utmost consternation, observed the bird hiding it in a crevice of the floor. "And art thou," cried he, "that worst of thieves, who hast robbed me of my gold, without the plea of necessity, and without regard to its proper use? But thy life shall atone for so preposterous a villany."-"Softly, good master," said the magpie. "Have I then injured you in any other sense than you defraud the public? and am I not using your money in the same manner you do yourself? If I must lose my life for hiding a single guinea, what do you deserve, who secrete so many thousands?"

40.'

THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE.

A grave solemn owl had many years made his habitation in a grove, among the ruins of an old monastery, and had pored so often over some mouldy manuscripts, the relics of an ancient library, that mistaking gravity for wisdom, he would sit whole days with his eyes half shut, fancying himself profoundly learned. It happened, as he sat one evening, half buried in meditation, that a nightingale, perching near him, began her melodious lays. He started from his reverie, and with a horrid screech interrupted her song: "Begone," cried he, "thou impertinent minstrel, nor distract with thy noisy strains my sublime contemplations. Know, vain songster, that harmony consists in truth alone, which is gained by laborious study; and not in the languishing notes in which thou foolishly delightest." Conceited pedant!" returned the nightingale," whose wisdom lies only in the feathers that muffle thy face; music is a natural and rational entertainment, and though it may not be adapted to the ears of an owl, has ever been relished and admired by all who are possessed of true taste and feeling."

41.

THE HERMIT AND THE BEAR.

A certain hermit having done a good office to a bear, the grateful creature was so sensible of his obligation, that he begged to be admitted as the guardian and companion of his solitude. The hermit willingly accepted his offer and conducted him to his cell, where they passed their time together, in an amicable manner. One very hot day, the hermit having laid him down to sleep, the officious bear employed himself in driving away the flies from his patron's face. But in spite of all his care, one of the flies perpetually returned to the attack, and at last settled on the hermit's nose. "Now I shall have you, most certainly," said the bear; and, with the best intentions imaginable, inflicted a violent blow, which very effectually, indeed, demolished the fly, but at the same time most terribly bruised the face of his benefactor.

An imprudent friend often does as much mischief by his too great zeal, as the worst enemy could effect by his malice.

42.

THE DISCONTENTED ASS.

In the middle of a cold winter, a poor ass wished heartily for the spring, that he might enjoy warm weather and a mouthful of fresh grass, instead of his cold shed, and the straw, which was his only food.

In a short time, according to his wish, spring weather and the fresh grass came on. But then, he had such hard work in carrying out manure to the field, that he was as tired of spring as of winter; and now he longed for summer to come.

Summer came indeed, but then came hay-cart and harvestwork, and more toiling and drudging than ever. So he began to think that autumn would bring him ease and happiness.

But autumn was still worse, for there were potatoes to be carried home, and apples to be taken to market; and last of all, turf and peat to be brought in for fuel; so that there was more work for him than ever.

Then he considered that if every season had its troubles, it might have its comforts too. And he learnt to enjoy the rest and quiet of the winter, as well as the sweet grass of spring.