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A VILLAGER, in a frosty, snowy winter, found a Snake under a hedge, almost dead with cold. could not help having compassion for the poor creature, so brought it home, and laid it upon the hearth, near the fire; but it had not lain there long, before it began to erect itself, and fly at his wife and children, filling the whole cottage with dreadful hissings. The Countryman, hearing an outcry, and perceiving what was the matter, took up a mattock, and soon dispatched him, upbraiding him at the same time in these words: "Is this, vile wretch, the reward you make to him that saved your life? Die, as you deserve; but a single death is too good for you."

REFLECTION.

It is the nature of ungrateful men to return evil for

good; and the moralists in all ages have incessantly declaimed against the enormity of this crime, concluding that they, who are capable of hurting their benefactors, are not fit to live in a community; being such, as the natural ties of parent, friend, or country, are too weak to restrain within the bounds of society. It was not at all unnatural in the Snake to hiss, and brandish his tongue, and fly at the first that came near him, as soon at the person that saved his life as any other; indeed more likely, because nobody else had so much to do with him. Nor is it strange at any time to see a reprobate person throwing his poisonous language about, and committing his extravagancies against those, more especially, who are so inadvertent as to concern themselves with him. The Snake and the reprobate will not appear extraordinary in their malevolence: but the sensible part of mankind cannot help thinking those guilty of great indiscretion, who receive either of them into their protection.

AN Ox, grazing in a meadow, chanced to set his foot among a parcel of young Frogs, and trod one of them to death. The rest informed their mother, when she came home, what had happened; telling her, that the beast which did it was the hugest creature that they ever saw in their lives. "What, was it so big?" says the old Frog, swelling and blowing up her speckled belly to a great degree. "Oh, bigger by a vast deal," "And so big?" says she, straining herself "Indeed, mamma," say they, "if you were to burst yourself, you would never be so big." She strove yet again, and burst herself indeed.

say they.

yet more.

REFLECTION.

Whenever a man endeavours to live equal with one

of a greater fortune than himself, he is sure to share a

S

like fate with the Frog in the fable. How many vain people, of moderate easy circumstances, burst and come to nothing, by vying with those, whose estates are more ample than their own! Sir Changeling Plumbstock was possessed of a very considerable demesne, devolved to him by the death of an old uncle of the city, who had adopted him his heir. He had a false taste of happiness; and, without the least economy, trusting to the sufficiency of his vast revenue, was resolved to be out-done by nobody, in shewing grandeur, and expensive living. He gave five thousand pounds for a piece of ground in the country to set a house upon, the building and furniture of which cost fifty thousand more; and his gardens were proportionably magnificent: besides which, he thought himself under a necessity of buying out two or three tenements which stood in his neighbourhood, that he might have elbow room enough. All this he could very well bear; and still might have been happy, had it not been for an unfortunate view which he one day happened to take of my Lord Castlebuilder's gardens, which consisted of twenty acres, whereas his own were not above twelve. For from that time he grew pensive; and, before the ensuing winter, gave five and thirty years purchase for a dozen acres more to enlarge his gardens, built a couple of extravagant green houses, and a large pavilion at the farther end of a terrace walk, the bare repairs of which called for the whole of the remaining part of his income.

A TORTOISE, weary of passing her days in the same obscure corner, conceived a wonderful inclination to visit foreign countries. Two Crows, whom the simple Tortoise acquainted with her intention, undertook to oblige her upon the occasion. Accordingly they told her, that if she would fasten her mouth to the middle of a pole, they would take the two ends, and transport her whithersoever she chose to be conveyed. The Tortoise approved of the expedient; and every thing being prepared, the Crows began their flight with her. They had not travelled long in the air, when they were met by a Magpie, who enquiring what they were bearing along, they replied the queen of the Tortoises. The Tortoise, vain of the new and unmerited appellation, was going to confirm the title, when opening her mouth