THE OAK AND THE REED.

An oak, which hung over the bank of a river, was blown down by a violent storm of wind; and, as it was carried along by the stream, some of its boughs brushed against a reed which grew near the shore. This struck the oak with a thought of admiration, and he could not forbear asking the reed how he came to stand so secure and unhurt in a tempest, which had been furious enough to tear an oak up by the roots?" Why," said the reed, "I secure myself by putting on a behaviour quite contrary to what you do? instead of being stubborn and stiff, and confiding in my strength, I yield and bend to the blast and let it go over me, knowing how vain and fruitless it would be to resist."

Though a tame submission to injuries which it is in our power to redress, be generally esteemed a base and dishonourable thing, yet to resist where there is no probability or even hope of our doing so effectively, may be looked upon as the effect of a blind temerity, if not of a weak understanding. The strokes of fortune are often as irresistible as they are severe; and he who, with an impatient, reluctant spirit, fights against her, instead of alleviating, does but double her blows upon himself. A person of a quiet, still temper, whether given him by nature, or acquired by art, calmly composes himself in the midst of a storm, so as to elude the shock, or receive it with the least detriment, like a prudent experienced sailor, who swimming to shore from a wrecked vessel in a swelling sea, does not oppose the fury of the waves, but stoops and gives way, that they may roll over his head without obstruction. The doctrine of absolute submission in all cases, is an absurd, dogmatical precept, with nothing but ignorance and superstition to support it: but upon particular occasions, and where it is impossible for us to overcome, to submit patiently is one of the most reasonable maxims in life.

THE TRAVELLERS AND THE BEAR.

Two men being to travel through a forest together, mutually promised to stand by each other in any danger they should meet upon the way. They had not gone far before a bear came rushing towards them out of a thicket; upon which, one, being a light nimble fellow, got up into a tree; the other falling flat upon his face, and holding his breath, lay still, while the bear came up and smelled at him; but that creature, supposing him to be a dead carcase, went back again into the wood without doing him the least harm. When all was over, the spark who had climbed up the tree came, down to his companion, and with a pleasant smile asked him what the bear had said to him, "For," said he, "I took notice that he had clapt his mouth very close to your ear." "-" Why," replied the other, "he charged me to take care for the future not to put any confidence in such cowardly rascals as you are."

Though nothing is more common than to hear people profess services of friendship, where there is no occasion for them, yet scarcely anything is so hard to be found as a true friend, who will assist us in time of danger and difficulty. All the declarations of kindness which are made to an experienced man, though accompanied by a squeeze of the hand, and a solemn asseveration, should leave no greater impression upon his mind, than the whistling of the hollow breeze which brushes one's ear with an unmeaning salute, and is presently gone. He that succours our necessity by well-timed assistance, though it were not ushered in by previous compliments, will ever after be looked upon as our friend and protector; and in so much greater a degree, as the favour was unasked and unpromised; as it was not extorted by importunities on the one side, nor led in by a numerous attendance of promises on the other. Words are nothing till they be fulfilled by actions; and therefore we should not suffer ourselves to be deluded by a vain hope and reliance upon them.

JUPITER AND THE CAMEL.

THE camel presented a petition to Jupiter, complaining of the hardships of his case, in not having horns like bulls, or any weapons of defence to protect himself from the attacks of his enemies, and prayed that relief might be given him in such manner as should be thought most expedient. Jupiter could not help smiling at the impertinent address of the silly beast; he, however, rejected the petition, and told him, that so far from granting his unreasonable request, henceforward he would take care his ears should be shortened, as a punishment for his presumptuous importunity.

THE BALD KNIGHT.

A CERTAIN knight growing old, his hair fell off and he became bald, to hide which imperfection he wore a periwig: but, as he was riding out with some others hunting, a sudden gust of wind blew off the periwig and exposed his bald pate. The company could not forbear laughing at the accident, and he himself laughed as loud as anybody, saying: 'How was it to be expected that I should keep strange hair upon my head, when my own would not stay there?"

To be captious is not more uneasy to ourselves than it is disagreeable to others. As no man is entirely without faults, a few defects surrounded with a guard of good qualities, may pass muster well enough; but he whose attention is always upon the watch for something to take exception at, if he had no other bad quality, can never be acceptable. A captious temper, like a little leaven, sours a whole lump of virtues, and make us disrelish that which might otherwise be the most grateful conversation. If we would live easily to ourselves, and agreeably to others, we should be so far from seeking occasions of being angry, that sometimes we should let them pass unregarded when they came in our way; or, if they are so palpable that we cannot help taking notice of them, we should do well to rally them off with a jest, or dissolve them in good humour. Some people take a secret pleasure in nettling and fretting others; and the more practicable they find it to exercise this quality upon any one, the more does it whet and prompt their inclination to do it. But as this talent savours something of ill-nature, it deserves to be baffled and defeated; which one cannot do better, than by receiving all that is uttered at such a time with a cheerful aspect, and an ingenuous, pleasant, unaffected reply. Nor is the expedient of the bald knight unworthy of our imitation; for if, by any word or action, we happen to raise the laughter of those about us, we cannot stifle it sooner or better, than by a brisk presence of mind to join in mirth with the company, and if possible, to anticipate the jest which another is ready to throw out upon the occasion.

THE COCK AND THE JEWEL.

A BRISK young cock, in company with two or three pullets, his mistresses, raking upon a dunghill for something to entertain them with, happened to scratch up a jewel; he knew well enough what it was, for it sparkled with exceeding lustre ; but not knowing what to do with it, endeavoured to cover his ignorance under assumed contempt. So, shrugging up his wings, shaking his head, and putting on a grimace, he expressed himself to this purpose: Indeed, you are a very fine thing; but I know not any business you have here. I make no scruple of declaring that my taste lies quite another way; and I had rather have one grain of delicious barley, then all the jewels under the sun."