THE SWALLOW AND OTHER BIRDS.

A SWALLOW, observing a husbandman employed in sowing hemp, called the little birds together, and informed them what the farmer was about. He told them that hemp was the material from which the nets, so fatal to the feathered race, were composed, and advised them unanimously to join in picking it up, in order to prevent the consequences. The birds, either disbelieving his information, or neglecting his advice, gave themselves no trouble about the matter. In a little time the hemp appeared above ground; the friendly swallow again addressed himself to them, told them it was not too late, provided they would immediately set about the work, before the seeds had taken too deep root. But they still rejecting his advice, he forsook their society, repaired for safety to towns and cities, there built his habitation and kept his residence. One day, as he was skimming along the streets, he happened to see a large portion of those very birds imprisoned in a cage, on the shoulders of a bird-catcher. "Unhappy wretches," said he, "you now feel the punishment of your former neglect. But those who having no foresight of their own, despise the wholesome admonition of their friends deserve the mischiefs which their own obstinacy or negligence brings upon them.”

THE LION AND THE TIGER.

THE lion and the hare both sleep with their eyes open. While the former was one day reposing thus, before the entrance of his terrible cave, fatigued with the mighty chase, a tiger leaped near him and laughed at the light slumber. The fearless lion," he exclaimed; "sleeps there with open eyes like the timid hare!" "Like the timid hare?" roared the lion, springing up, and seizing the mocker by the throat. The tiger weltered in his blood, and the appeased victor again lay down to sleep.

THE COUNTRY MAID AND HER MILK-PAIL.

WHEN men suffer their imagination to amuse them with the prospect of distant and uncertain improvements of their condition: they frequently sustain real losses, by their inattention to those affairs in which they are immediately concerned. A country maid was walking very deliberately, with a pail of milk upon her head, when she fell into the following train of reflections: "The money for which I shall sell this milk, will enable me to increase my stock of eggs to three hundred. These eggs, allowing for what may prove addled, and what may be destroyed by vermin, will produce at least two hundred and fifty chickens. The chickens will be fit to carry to market about christmas, when poultry always bears a good price; so that by May-day I cannot fail of having money enough to purchase a new gown. Green-let me consider, yes, green becomes my complexion best, and green it shall be. In this dress I will go to the fair, where all the young fellows will strive to have me for a partner; but I shall perhaps refuse every one of them." Transported with the triumphant thought, she could not forbear acting with her head what thus passed in her imagination, when down came the pail of milk, and with it all her imaginary happiness.