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x. The MISER.

MISER being dead, and fairly interred, came to the banks of the river Styx, defiring to be ferried over, along with the other ghofts. Charon demands his fare, and is furprised to fee the Mifer, rather than pay it, throw himself into the river, and fwim over to the other fide, notwithstanding all the clamour and oppofition that could be made to him. All Hell was in an uproar; and each of the judges was meditating fome punishment fuitable to a crime of fuch dangerous confequence to the infernal revenues. "Shall he be chained to the rock along with Prometheus? Or tremble below the precipice in company with the Danaides? Or affift Syfiphus in rolling his ftone ?""No, (fays Minos) none of thefe; we must invent fome feverer punishment. Let him be fent back to the earth, to fee the ufe his heirs are making of his riches,"

XI. The Fox and the STORK.

HE Fox, though in general more inclined to

THE roguery than wit, had once a ftrong inclination

to play the wag with his neighbour the Stork. He accordingly invited her to dinner in great form; bút when it came upon the table, the Stork found it confifted folely of different foups, ferved up in broad fhallow dishes, fo that he could only dip in the end of her bill, but could not poffibly fatisfy her hunger. The Fox lapped it up very readily; and every now and then, addreffing himself to his guest, defired to know how the liked her entertainment; hoped that every thing was feafoned to her mind; and protested he was forry to see her eat fo fparingly. The Stork, perceiving the was played upon, took no notice, but pretended to like every dish extremely; and at parting, preffed the Fox fo earnestly to return the vifit, that he could

not

not in civility refuse. When the day arrived, he repaired to his appointment; but to his great mortifi cation, when dinner appeared, he found it compofed of minced meat, ferved up in long narrow-necked glaffes; fo that he was only tantalized with the fight of what it was impoffible for him to tafte. The Stork thrust in her long bill, and helped herself very plentifully then turning to Reynard, who was eagerly licking the outfide of a jar where fome fauce had been fpilled,-I am very glad, faid fhe, fmiling, that you feem to have fo good an appetite; I hope you will make as hearty a dinner at my table, as I did the other day at yours. Reynard hung down his head, and looked very much difpleafed.-Nay, nay, faid the Stork, do not pretend to be out of humour about the matter: They that cannot take a jest, should never make one.

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XII. The SPIDER and FLY.

UCY and Emilia were admiring the ftructure of a Spider's web, which was formed between the branches of a tall fhrub in a garden; when Eugenius, returning from his morning walk, ftopped to enquire what object fo much engaged their attention. The dew-drops yet befpangled the fine threads, of which the web was compofed, and rendered every part of it confpicuoufly beautiful. A fmall winged infect happened, at this inftant, to be caught in the toil; and the Spider, before invifible, advanced along the lines from his fecret retreat, feized the prey, and killed it by inftilling a venomous juice into the wound he had made. When the rapacious tyrant had almost devoured his game, another Fly, of a larger fize, became entangled in the mefh. He now waited impatiently till the infect was fatigued, by struggling to obtain its liberty; and then rolling the web round it, he left the poor Fly in a state of terror and impotence, as a re repaft for his returning appetite.

You

You pity the fate, faid Eugenius, of this unfortunate infect, whofe deftruction is the natural confequence of its ignorance and want of caution. Remember that you yourselves will be expofed, in the commerce of life, to various fnares, dangerous to your virtue, and fubverfive of your peace of mind. Flattery is the common toil laid for your fex; and when you are entangled in it, vanity, affectation, pertnefs, and impatience of controul, conftitute the poifon which is then infufed into your wounded bofoms. Pleasure spreads a glittering web, which has proved fatal to thoufands. Ambition catches the unwary, by power, titles, dignities, and preferments. And Falfe Religion, under a dazzling outside of mysterious fanctity, and pompous ceremonies, conceals a net-work of prieftcraft and fuperftition, from which it will be still more difficult to extricate yourselves.— Soph on and Alexis had now joined the little party; and Eugenius, pointing to them his difcourfe, bid them beware of the Cobwebs of Philosophy; those fine spun hypothefis, which involve the mind in error, and unfit it for the patient investigation of truth by obfervation and experiment.

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XIII. The MOUNTAIN in Labour.

Rumour once prevailed, that a neighbouring Mountain was in Labour: It was affirmed, that The had been heard to utter prodigious groans; and a general expectation had been raised, that fome extraordinary birth was at hand. Multitudes flocked with much eagerness to be witnefs of the wonderful event: One expecting her to be delivered of a giant; another of fome enormous monfter; and all were fufpended in earnest expectation of fomewhat grand and aftonishing. When, after waiting with great impatience a confiderable time, behold, out crept a little ridiculous Moufe!-Vain men, who raife the expectation of others, and fall fhort in their performance, ridiculed. -Much ado about nothing. XIV. The

XIV. The two Dogs Coupled.

BSERVE thofe two Hounds that are coupled

together, faid Eugenius to Lucy had me

were looking through the window; how they tor ment each other, by a difagreement in their purfuits! One is for moving flowly, and the other vainly urges onward. The larger Dog now fees fome object that tempts him on this fide; and mark how he drags his companion along, who is exerting all his efforts to purfue a different rout! Thus they will continue all day at variance, pulling each other in oppofite directions, when they might, by mutual compliance, pafs on cafily, merrily, and happily.

Lucy and Emilia concurred in cenfuring the folly and ill-nature of thefe Dogs; and Eugenius expreffed a tender with that he might never fee any thing fimilar in their behaviour to each other. Nature has linked you together, by the near equality of age; by your common relation to the most indulgent parents; by the endearing ties of fifterhood; and by all thofe generous fympathies, which have been foftered in your bofoms from your earlieft infancy. Let thefe filken cords of mutual love continue to unite you in the famo purfuits. Suffer no allurements to draw you different ways; no contradictory paffions to distract your friendfhip; nor any felfish views or fordid jealoufies to render those bonds uneafy and oppreffive, which are now your ornament, your strength, and highest happiness.

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XV. The DoG and the SHADOW.

N hungry Spaniel having ftolen a piece of flesh from a butcher's fhop, was carrying it across a river. The water being clear, and the fun fhining brightly, he faw his own image in the ftream, and fancied it to be another dog, with a more delicious marfel: Upon which, unjustly and greedily opening his jaws to fnatch at the fhadow, he loft the fubftance.All covet, all lofe. XVI. The

XVI. The DAW with borrowed FEATHERS.

WHEN

THEN a pert young templer, or city apprentice, fets up for a fine gentleman, with the affiftance of an embroidered waistcoat and Drefden ruffles, but without one qualification, proper to the character, how frequently does it happen, that he is laughed at by his equals, and defpifed by thofe whom he prefumed to imitated delays

A pragmatical Jackdaw was vain enough to imagine, that he wanted nothing but the drefs to render him as elegant a bird as the Peacock. Puffed up with this wife conceit, he plumed himfelf with a fufficient quantity of their most beautiful feathers; and in this borrowed garb, forfaking his old companions, endeavoured to pass for a Peacock. But he no fooner attempted to affociate with thefe genteel creatures, than an affected ftrut betrayed the vain pretender. The offended Peacocks, plucking from him their degraded feathers, foon ftripped him of his gentility, reduced him to a mere Jackdaw, and drove him back to his brethren; by whom he was equally defpifed, and juftly punished with general derifion and contempt.

ON

XVII. The Boys and FROGS.

N the margin of a large lake, which was inhabited by a great number of Frogs, a company of Boys happened to be at play. Their diverfion was duck and drake; and whole vollies of ftones were whirled into the water, to the great annoyance and danger of the poor terrified Frogs. At length, one of the most hardy, lifting his head above the furface of the lake,-Ah, dear children, faid he, why will ye learn fo foon the cruel practice of your race? Confider, I befeech ye, that though this may be fport to you, it is death to us.