there, you are sensible it will be very easy for me to pull you out by the horns." The simple Goat liked the proposal well; and immediately placed himself as directed by means of which the Fox, without much difficulty, gained the top. "And now," said the Goat, "give me the assistance you promised." "Thou old fool," replied the Fox, "hadst thou but half as much brains as head, thou wouldst never have believed, that I would hazard my own life to save thine. However, I will leave with thee a piece of advice, which may be of service to thee hereafter, if thou shouldst have the good fortune to make thy escape :-" never venture into a pit again, before thou hast well considered how to get out of it."

REFLECTION.

When we are going to encounter difficulties, we should depend more upon our own strength than the assistance of our neighbour.

Two Foxes formed a stratagem to enter a hen-roost: which having successfully executed, and killed the cock, the hens, and the chickens, they began to feed upon them with singular satisfaction. One of the Foxes, who was young and inconsiderate, was for devouring them all upon the spot: the other, who was old and covetous, proposed to reserve some of them for another time. "For experience, child," said he, " has made me wise, and I have seen many unexpected events since I came into the world. Let us provide, therefore, against what may happen, and not consume all our store at one meal." "All this is wonderous wise," replied the young Fox; "but for my part, I am resolved not to stir till I have eaten as much as will serve me a whole week: for who would be mad enough to return hither, when it is certain the owner of these fowls will watch for us, and if he Hh

should catch us, would certainly put us to death?" After this short discourse, each pursued his own scheme: the young Fox ate till he burst himself, and had scarcely strength to reach his hole before he died. The old one, who thought it much better to deny his appetite for the present, and lay up provision for the future, returned the next day, and was killed by the farmer. Thus every age has its peculiar vice: the young suffer by their insatiable thirst after pleasure; and the old, by their incorrigible and inordinate avarice.

REFLECTION.

We should ever guard against those vices that are chiefly incident to our times of life; excess and riot, while we are young; and egregious parsimony, as we grow in years.

THE PLAGUE AMONG THE BEASTS.

A MORTAL distemper once raged among the Beasts, and swept away prodigious numbers. After it had continued some time without abatement, it was concluded in an assembly of the brute creation to be a judgment inflicted upon them for their sins, and a day was appointed for a general confession; when it was agreed, that he, who appeared to be the greatest sinner, should suffer death, as an atonement for the rest. The Fox was appointed father confessor upon the occasion; and the Lion, with great generosity, condescended to be the first in making public confession. "For my part," said he, "I must own I have been an enormous offender; I have killed many innocent sheep in my time, nay once, but it was a case of necessity, I made a meal of the shepherd." The Fox, with much gravity, acknowledged that these in any other than the king would have been inexpiable crimes;

but that his majesty had certainly a right to a few silly sheep, nay and to the shepherd too, in a case of necessity. The judgment of the Fox was applauded by all the superior savages; and the Tiger, the Bear, and the Wolf, made confession of many enormities of the like nature: all of which were excused with the same lenity and mercy. At last, a poor penitent Ass, with great contrition, acknowledged, that once going through the parson's meadow, being very hungry, and tempted by the sweetness of the grass, he had cropt a little of it, not more however in quantity than the tip of his tongue: he was very sorry for the misdemeanour, and hoped— "hope!" exclaimed the Fox with singular zeal, "what canst thou hope for, after the commission of so heinous a crime? what! eat the parson's grass? O sacrilege! this, this is the flagrant wickedness, my brethren, which has drawn the wrath of heaven upon our heads, and this the notorious offender, whose death must make atonement for all our transgressions." So saying, he ordered his entrails for sacrifice, and the rest of the Beasts went to dinner upon his carcase.

REFLECTION.

The poor and helpless undergo those punishments for small and trivial offences, which the rich and powerful escape, for crimes of a much blacker nature,