THE CAT, THE WEASEL AND THE YOUNG RABBIT. ONE fine morning, Mrs. Weasel took possession of the fortress of a young rabbit. The master being absent, this was easily effected; and while he had gone to pay his respects to Aurora, she transferred her household gods to his residence. After he had browsed, trotted, and made several calls, Master Rabbit returned to his subterranean dwelling, and perceived the snout of the weasel at the window. "Oh! ye gods, what do I behold ?" exclaimed the animal, excluded from the home of his fathers. 66 'Hallo! Mrs. Weasel, get out of my house without further ado, or I shall at once give notice of your whereabouts to all the rats in the kingdom." The sharp-snouted lady replied, that the earth belonged to the first occupier. It was a fine pretence for war, indeed; a dwelling to which he had only gained access by dint of scratching; and even supposing it to be a kingdom, she would be glad to be informed what law constituted it for ever the heir-loom of John, the son or nephew of Peter or William, in preference to that of Paul, or of herself. Master Rabbit alleged use and custom. "Those, who preceded me," said he, “have rendered me lord and master of this fortress, by transmitting it from father to son, from Peter to Simon, and at length to me. Can there be anything more reasonable, than that it should belong to the original possessor ?" -"Well! well," cried the weasel, no more words about it; let us refer to and abide by the decision of Grimalkin." This was a cat, living like a pious hermit ; a sanctified tabby, well coated with fur, large and fat; an expert arbitrator in all disputes. Master Rabbit consented that he should be the judge, and they soon appeared before his feline majesty. Come nearer my children," said Grimalkin to them, "nearer still; I am very deaf, and borne down by the weight of years." Both approached fearlessly, dreading no harm. As soon as the pious Grimalkin beheld the disputants within his reach, darting his claws on either side at the same moment, he settled their differences by devouring both. This forcibly resembles the justice sometimes dealt out to petty sovereigns, who refer their disputes to more powerful monarchs. THE HORSE AND THE LOADED ASS. AN idle horse, and an ass labouring under a heavy burden, were travelling the road together; they both belonged to a countryman, who trudged on foot by them. The ass, ready to faint under his heavy load, entreated the horse to assist him, and lighten his burden by taking some of it upon his back. The horse was ill-natured, and refused to do it; upon which the poor ass tumbled down in the midst of the highway, and shortly afterwards expired. The countryman ungirt his pack-saddle, and tried several ways to relieve him, but to no purpose: which when he perceived, he took the whole burden and laid it upon the horse, together with the skin of the dead ass; so that the horse, by his moroseness in refusing to do a small kindness, justly brought upon himself a greater inconvenience. Those who are of a litigious or obstinate disposition will be able to supply the application of this fable, from personal experience of the inconveniences to which such absurd humours frequently subject them. THE PEACOCK AND THE MAGPIE. THE birds once met together to choose a king; and the peacock standing candidate, displayed his gaudy plumes, to catch the eyes of the silly multitude with the richness of his feathers. The majority declared for him, and clapped their wings with great applause. But, just as they were going to proclaim him, the magpie stepped into the midst of the assembly, and addressed himself thus to the new king: "May it please your majesty elect to permit one of your unworthy subjects to represent to you his suspicions and apprehensions in the face of this whole congregation. We have chosen you for our king, we have put our lives and fortunes into your hands, and our whole hope and dependance is upon you; if, therefore, the eagle, the vulture, or the kite, should at any time make a descent upon us, as it is highly probable they will, may your majesty be so gracious as to dispel our fears, and clear our doubt on the matter, by letting us know how you intend to defend us against them?" This pithy, unanswerable question, drew the whole audience into so just a reflection, that they soon resolved to proceed to a new choice. But from that time the peacock has been looked upon as a vain, insignificant pretender, and the magpie as eminent a speaker as any among the whole community of birds. Form and outside, in the choice of a ruler, should not be so much regarded as the qualities and endowments of the mind. In choosing heads of corporations, from the king of the land down to the master of a company, upon every new election it should be enquired which of the candidates is most capable of advancing the good and welfare of the community, and upon him the choice should fall. But the eyes of the multitude are so dazzled with pomp and show, noise and ceremony, that they cannot see things really as they are: and hence it comes to pass, that so many absurdities are committed and maintained in the world. People should examine and learn the real weight and merit of the person, and not be imposed upon by false colours and pretences of I know not what. The application of this fable need not be extended in order to apply to elections for parliamentary representatives. THE LION WITH THE ASS As Æsop's lion was going to the forest in company with the ass, who was to assist him with his terrible voice, an impertinent crow called to him from a tree; "A pretty companion! Are you not ashamed of yourself to be walking with an ass?"—"Whoever I can make use of," replied the lion, "I may very well allow to walk by my side." Thus think the great, when they honour a plebeian with their company. THE ASS WITH THE LION. As the ass was going to the forest with Æsop's lion, who made use of him instead of a hunting-bugle, he was met by another ass of his acquaintance, who called to him: "Good morning, brother!"-" Impertinent scoundrel!" was the reply. "And wherefore?" said the former. Because you are walking with a lion, are you any better than I? anything more than an ass ?" THE CAT AND THE RABBITS. A CAT, with affected modesty, once entered into a warren plentifully stocked with rabbits. The whole republic were immediately alarmed, and flew for refuge to their respective burrows. As this foreigner was leering about him, at a small distance from one of their little cells, the deputies of the State, who had observed his tremendous claws, parleyed with him at an avenue of their warren that was extremely narrow, and demanded to know the intention of his visit. He declared, in the most submissive tone, that all he aimed at was to learn the constitution of their republic; as he was a professor of philosophy, travelling over the world to inform himself of the various customs of the brute creation. The thoughtless, credulous deputies returned with a report to their fellow-members, that this venerable stranger, by his modest deportment and majestic fur-gown, appeared, in their opinion, to be a sober, inoffensive, pacific philosopher, who travelled from one country to another, only with the laudable view of improving his judgment; that he had visited several foreign courts, and seen a thousand surprising curiosities; and that it was an inexpressible pleasure to listen to his discourse; that he had no manner of inclination to rabbits' flesh, since, like an orthodox Brahmin, he believed in the Metempsychosis, and never tasted the least morsel of any living creature whatsoever. This fine character of him made a deep impression on the whole assembly. An old statesman of theirs, who had long been their oracle, represented to them, but in vain, how much he suspected this grave philosopher. Notwithstanding all his dissuasions, they ventured in a body to pay their respects to the Brahmin, who, upon the first salutation, strangled seven or eight of the unguarded wretches. The surviving members escaped to their burrows, terrified to the last degree, and perfectly ashamed of their ill-conduct. Then Grimalkin returned to the mouth of the same burrow, protesting, in the most affectionate terms, that he had committed this outrage with the utmost reluctance, in his extreme necessity; that from thenceforward he would live upon other creatures, and would make an eternal alliance with them. The rabbits were again induced to enter upon a treaty with him; but were cautious, this time, of coming within the reach of his claws and they kept him at bay while the negociation was carried on. : In the mean time, one of their nimblest members slipped out backwards, and informed a neighbouring shepherd, who took delight in catching their young ones as they were munching the juniper-berries, of the unhappy state of their case. The shepherd, highly provoked at the cat, for his hostile treatment of so valuable a body, ran to the burrow, armed with his bow and arrows: he soon espied the cat, intent on nothing but his prey; and, wounding him with an arrow, laid Puss gasping for breath, who then made his dying speech as follows: He who has once proved perfidious is never credited again; he is detested, feared, and at last undone, by his own wicked devices.” "Tis folly to the last degree, To hope for peace or amity, Or enter into league with those Whom nature has ordained our foes. THE TREASURE AND THE WISHES. A PRINCE of Babylon the great, O grant I may the whole bestow Till not a penny here remain!" The premier smiles. The Prince exclaims, "Your wish, my Prince, all must admire : I smiled but as a sudden thought, The scene to my remembrance brought. (Half empty then, twelve feet, or more, O grant me only life to fill.'" THE OX AND THE CALF. A POWERFUL Ox tore away the upper part of the door-way with his horns, in pushing himself through the low entrance to his stall. "Look, master!” shouted a young calf; I do not injure you in this manner."—" How gladly do I wish.” said the latter, "that you were able to do so." |