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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 wherever she appears.

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

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A BEE complained to Jupiter, of the numerous evils to which her condition was exposed. Her body, she said, was weak and feeble, yet was she condemned to get was benumbed by the cold of winter, and relaxed by the heat of summer. Her haunts were infested with poisonous weeds, and her flights obstructed by storms and tempests. In short, what with dangers from without, and diseases from within, her life was rendered one continual scene of anxiety and wretchedness. "Behold now," said Jupiter, "the frowardness and folly of this unthankful race! The flowers of the field I have spread before them as a feast, and have endeavoured to regale them with an endless variety. They now revel on odoriferous beds of thyme and lavender, and now on the still more

her living by perpetual toil; sh

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fragrant banks of violets and roses. The business they complain of is the extraction of honey; and, to alleviate their toil, I have allowed them wings, which readily transport them from one banquet to another. Storms, tempests, and noxious weeds, I have given them sagacity to shun; and if they are misled, it is through the perverseness of their inclinations. But thus it is with Bees, and thus with men; they misconstrue the benevolence of my designs, and then complain that my decrees are rigid; they ungratefully overlook all the advantages, and magnify all the inconveniences of their station. But let my creatures pursue their happiness, through the paths marked out by nature; and they will then feel no pains, which they have not pleasures to compensate."

REFLECTION.

The pleasures of life would be a balance for the pains; did we not increase the latter by our own perverseness.

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A WOLF, ranging over the forest, came within the borders of a sheep-walk; when meeting with a shepherd's Dog, that with a surly sort of a growl demanded his business there, he thought proper to put on as innocent an appearance as he could, and protested upon his honour that he meant not the least offence. 66 "I am afraid," said the Dog, "the pledge of your honour is but a poor deposit for your honesty; you must not take it amiss, if I object to the security." "No slur upon my reputation," replied the Wolf, "I beg of you. My sense of honour is as delicate, as my great achievements are renowned. I would not leave a stain upon my memory for the world." "The fame of what are generally called great achievements is very precious, to be sure," returned the Dog; "almost equal to the character

of an excellent butcher, a gallant highwayman, or an expert assassin." While the Dog was yet speaking, a lamb happened to stray within reach of our hero. The temptation was stronger than he was able to resist; he sprung upon his prey, and was scouring hastily away with it. However, the Dog seized and held him till the arrival of the shepherd, who took measures for his execution. Just as he was going to dispatch him, "I observe," says the Dog, "that one of your noble achievements is the destruction of the innocent.. You are welcome to the renown, as you are also to the reward of it. As for me, I shall prefer the credit of having honestly defended my master's property, to any fame you have acquired by thus heroically invading it."

REFLECTION.

Common honesty is a better principle than that which we often compliment with the name of heroism.

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