fufficiently convinced the judge on which fide the tight lay; and he decreed the honeycombs accordingly.

The Old Man and Death.

A FEEBLE Old Man, quite fpent with carrying a burden of fticks, which, with much labour, he had gathered in a neighbouring wood, called upon Death to releafe him from the fatigues he endured. Death, hearing the invocation, was immediately at his elbow, and afked him what he wanted. Frighted and trembling at the unexpected appearance: O, good fir! faid he, my burden had like to have flipt from me, and being unable to recover it myfelf, I only implored your affiftance to replace it on my fhoulders.

The Court and Country Moufe.

A contented COUNTRY MOUSE had once the honour to receive a vifit from an old acquaintance belonging to the Court. The Country Moufe,

extremely glad to fee her gueft, very hofpitably fet before her the beft cheefe and bacon which her cottage afforded; and as to their beverage, it was the pureft water from the fpring. The repaft was homely indeed, but the welcome hearty: they fat and chatted away the evening together very agreeably, and then retired in peace and quietnefs each to her little cell. The next morning, when the gueft was to take her leave, the kindly preffed her country friend to accompany her; fetting forth, in very pompous terms, the great elegance and plenty in which the lived at court. The Country Moufe was eafily prevailed upon, and they fet out together. It was late in the evening when they arrived at the palace; however, in one of the rooms, they found the remains of a fumptuous entertainment. There were creams, and jellies, and fweetmeats; and every thing, in fhort, of

the most delicate kind: the cheefe was Parmefan, and they wetted their whiskers in exquifite Champagne. But before they had half finished their repaft, they were alarmed with the barking and feratching of a lapdog; then the mewing of a cat frightened them almoft to death; by and by, a whole train of fervants burft into the room, and every thing was fwept away in an inftant. Ah! my dear friend, faid the Country Mouse, as foon as the had recovered courage enough to fpeak, if your fine living is thus interrupted with fears and dangers, let me return to my plain food, and my peaceful cottage; for what is elegance without eafe; or plenty with an aching heart?

A FOX and a GOAT travelling together in a very fultry day, found themfelves exceedingly thirty; when looking round the country in order to difcover a place where they might probably meet with water, they at length defcried a clear fpring at the bottom of a well. They both eagerly defcended, and having

fufficiently allayed their thirst, began to confider how they should get out. Many expedients for that purpofe were mutually propofed, and rejected. At laft the crafty Fox cried out with great joy, I have a thought juft ftruck into my mind, which I am confident will extricate us out of our difficulty: Do you, faid he to the Goat, only rear yourself up upon your hinder legs, and reft your forefeet against the fide of the well. In this pofture, I will climb up to your head, from which I fhall be able, with a spring, to reach the top; and when I am once there, you are fenfible it will be very eafy for me to pull you out by the horns. The fimple Goat liked the propofal well; and immediately placed himself as directed: by means of which the Fox, without much difficulty, gained And now, faid the Goat, give me the affiftance you promifed. Thou old fool, replied the Fox, hadft thou but half as much brains as beard, thou wouldst never have believed, that I would hazard my own life to fave thine. However, I will leave with thee a piece of advice, which may be of fervice to thee hereafter, if thou shouldft have the good fortune to make thy escape: "Never venture into a well again, before thou haft well confidered how to get out of it."

the top.

The Farmer, the Cranes, and the Stork.

A STORK was unfortunately drawn into company with fome Cranes, who were juft fetting out on a party of pleafure, as they called it, which in truth was to rob the fifh ponds of a neighbouring Farmer. Our fimple Stork agreed to make one; and it fo happened, that they were all taken in the fact. The Cranes having been old offenders, had very little to fay for themfelves, and were prefently difpatched; but the Stork pleaded hard for his life. He urged that it was his firft fault, that he was not naturally addicted to ftealing fish, that he was famous for piety to his parents, and, in fhort, for many other virtues. Your piety and virtue, faid the Farmer, may, for aught I know, be exemplary; but your being in company with thieves renders it very fufpicious; and vou must therefore fubmit with patience to fhare the fame pu nifhment with your companions.