THE CAT, THE COCK AND THE YOUNG MOUSE.

A YOUNG mouse, who had seen very little of the world, came running one day to his mother in great haste-"O mother," said he, "I am frightened almost to death! I have seen a most extraordinary creature. He has a fierce angry look, and struts about upon two legs. A strange piece of flesh grows on his head, and another under his throat, as red as blood. He flapped his arms against his sides, as if he intended to rise into the air; and stretching out his head, he opened a sharp pointed mouth so wide, that I thought he was preparing to swallow me up: then he roared at me so horribly, that I trembled in every joint, and was glad to run home as fast as I could. If I had not been frightened away by this terrible monster I was just going to commence an acquaintance with the prettiest creature you ever saw. She had a soft fur skin thicker than ours; and all beautifully streaked with black and grey; with a modest look, and a demeanour so humble and courteous, that methought I could have fallen in love with her. Then she had a fine long tail, which she waved about so prettily, and looked so earnestly at me, that I do believe she was just going to speak to me, when the horrid monster frightened me away."-"Ah! my dear child," said the mother, "you have escaped being devoured, but not by that monster you were so much afraid of: which in truth was only a bird, and would have done you no manner of harm. Whereas, the sweet creature, of whom you seem so fond, was no other than a cat; who, under that hypocritical countenance, conceals the most inveterate hatred to all our race, and subsists entirely by devouring mice. Learn from this incident my dear, never while you live to rely on outward appearances.

THE CAT AND THE SPANIEL.

TOM Puss was a mischievous animal, and always took pleasure in bringing honest Smiler into trouble. If the victuals were brought on table, Tom would, if an opportunity occurred, seize a part of it, drop a morsel by the side of Smiler, and make his escape. When the servants returned, finding a piece beside the dog, they directly concluded he was the thief. and thrashed him soundly. When Tom and the spaniel were alone in a room, the former would knock down a plate, a glass, or anything that would break, and then set off, whence Smiler was chastised as the transgressor. The poor dog bore these evils patiently, trusting that one day his innocence would be known. It happened one afternoon that the poor dog was lying in the sun, near the hen-coop, by the side of which a trap was set, to catch a marten, who the day before had carried off a brace of fowls. A dead chicken was placed in the trap as a bait. Tom, who was always engaged in mischief, thought this a favourable opportunity to involve Smiler in trouble. "I will take the chicken away," said he, which will make me a good repast, and Smiler's back will pay for it." Then, sliding softly down, to effect his purpose, and putting his claws in to seize the prize, the trap closed upon him, and he fell a martyr to his love of mischief. His expiring cries brought all the family out, and it was now believed that he had been the cause of all poor Smiler's troubles. Indeed, as it was afterwards found that no more thefts occurred, Smiler was taken into favour, and rewarded as much now, as he had been ill-treated before.

THE LION AND OTHER BEASTS HUNTING.

A LEOPARD, a lynx, and a wolf, were ambitious of the honour of hunting with the lion. His savage majesty graciously acceded to their desire, and it was agreed that they should all have an equal share in whatever might be taken. They scour the forest; are unanimous in the pursuit, and, after a very fine chace, pull down a noble stag. It was divided with great dexterity by the lynx into four equal parts, but just as he was going to secure his share" Hold," said the lion, “let no one presume to serve himself, till he hath heard our just and reasonable claims. I seize upon the first quarter by virtue of my prerogative; the second I think is due to my superior conduct and courage; I cannot forego the third on account of the necessities of my den; and if any one is inclined to dispute my right to the fourth, let him speak." Awed by the majesty of his frown, and the terror of his paws, they silently withdrew, resolving never to hunt again, but with their equal.

THE ASS AND THE LAP-DOG,

An ass who lived in the same house with a favourite lap-dog, observing the superior degree of affection which the little minion enjoyed, imagined he had nothing more to do, in order to obtain an equal share in the good graces of the family, than to imitate the lap-dog's playful and endearing caresses. Accordingly he began to frisk about his master, kicking up his heels, and braying in an awkward affectation of wantonness and pleasantry. This strange behaviour could not fail of raising much laughter; which the ass mistaking for approbation and encouragement, he proceeded to leap upon his master's breast, and began very familiarly to lick his face; but he was presently convinced, by the force of a good cudgel, that what is sprightly and agreeable in one, may in another be justly censured as rude and impertinent; and that the surest way to gain esteem, is for every one to act suitably to his own natural genius and character.

THE FARMER AND HIS DOG.

A FARMER who had just stepped into the field to mend a gap in one of his fences, found at his return the cradle, where he had left his only child asleep, turned upside down, the clothes all torn and bloody, and his dog lying near it besmeared also with blood. Immediately conceiving that the creature had destroyed his child, he instantly dashed out his brains with a hatchet in his hand; when turning up the cradle, he found his child unhurt, and an enormous serpent lying dead on the floor, killed by that faithful dog, whose courage and fidelity in preserving the life of his son, deserved another kind of reward. These affecting circumstances afforded him a striking lesson, how dangerous it is too hastily to give way to the blind impulse of a sudden passion.

THE FARMER. THE SPANIEL, AND THE CAT.

WHY knits my dear her angry brow?
What rude offence alarms you now?

I said that Delia's fair, 'tis true,
But did I say she equalled you?
Can't I another's face commend,
Or to her virtues be a friend,
But instantly your forehead lours,
As if her merit lessen'd yours?
From female envy never free,
All must be blind because you see.

Survey the gardens, fields and bow'rs,
The buds, the blossoms, and the flow'rs;
Then tell me where the woodbine grows
That vies in sweetness with the rose;
Or where the lily's snowy white,
That throws such beauties on the sight?
Yet folly is it to declare,

That these are neither sweet nor fair.
The crystal shines with fainter rays
Before the diamond's brighter blaze;
And fops will say the diamond dies
Before the lustre of your eyes:
But I, who deal in truth, deny
That neither shine when you are by.
When zephyrs o'er the blossom stray,
And sweets along the air convey,
Shan't I the fragrant breeze inhale,
Because you breathe a sweeter gale?

Sweet are the flow'rs that deck the field;
Sweet is the smell the blossoms yield;
Sweet is the summer gale that blows;
And sweet, tho' sweeter you, the rose.
Shall envy then torment your breast,
If
you
are lovelier than the rest?
For while I give to each her due,
By praising them I flatter you;
And praising most, I still declare
You fairest, where the rest are fair.
As at his board a farmer sate,
Replenish'd by his homely treat,
His fav'rite spaniel near him stood,
And with his master shar'd the food;
The crackling bones his jaws devour'd
His lapping tongue the trenchers scour'd;

Till, sated now, supine he lay,
And snor'd the rising fumes away.

The hungry cat in turn drew near,
And humbly crav'd a servant's share;
Her modest worth the master knew,
And straight the fatt'ning morsel threw :
Enrag'd the snarling cur awoke,
And thus with spiteful envy spoke :

They only claim a right to eat,
Who earn by services their meat;
Me, zeal and industry inflame

To scour the fields, and spring the game;
Or, plunged in the wint'ry wave,

For man the wounded bird to save,
With watchful diligence I keep

From prowling wolves his fleecy sheep;
At home his midnight hours secure,
And drive the robber from the door :
For this his breast with kindness glows,
For this his hand the food bestows;
And shall thy indolence impart
A warmer friendship to his heart,
That thus he robs me of my due,

To pamper such vile things as you?

"I own," with meekness Puss replied,

'Superior merit on your side;

Nor does my breast with envy swell,

To find it recompens'd so well;

Yet I, in what my nature can,
Contribute to the good of man.

Whose claws destroy the pilf'ring mouse?
Who drives the vermin from the house?

Or, watchful for the lab'ring swain,

From lurking rats secures the grain ?

From hence if he rewards bestow,

Why should your heart with gall o'erflow?

Why pine my happiness to see,

Since there's enough for you

and me?"

"Thy words are just," the farmer cried,

And spurn'd the snarler from his side.

THE LARK AND THE CUCKOO.

A LARK said to a cuckoo, "Whence is it, that the storks, who are greater travellers, are not more knowing than we are?" The cuckoo smiled, and replied: “ It is to point out to us, that he who sets out on his travels without understanding, will never find it by the way."