FABLE V.

THE MAN AND THE WEASEL.

A SLY Weasel, who had been trapped by a Farmer, being willing to exert her utmost eloquence to save her life,—' Pray, dear sir,' said she, 'be so kind as to spare me; for no poor creature could have taken greater pains than I have to clear your barns and house of the mice. I have been of more service to you than twenty cats.'-' If you had done this,' answered the man, 'with a view to my interest, I should have been much obliged to you for the favour, and would readily have yielded to your entreaties; but as your only study is to possess yourself of the bits and scraps which the mice would have made a meal of, and afterwards to devour the little thieves themselves, you have no right to upbraid me with your pretended services.' Having thus spoken, he squeezed the Weasel to death in an instant.

MORAL.

This fable points to those who become useful to others merely to serve their own ends, and yet have the assurance to make a merit of it.

FABLE VI.

THE TRUSTY DOG.

A lurking Thief had thrown a crust of bread to an honest Mastiff, hoping to bribe him to silence by the bait. Hark ye, friend,' said the Mastiff; 'what! you want to stop my tongue, suppose, and to keep me from barking for the service of my master? But you are greatly mistaken, I assure you; for this sudden kindness will only put me the more upon my guard.'

I

MORAL.

Never suffer yourself to be bribed to do anything contrary to your duty, by an appearance of kindness from one who is a stranger to you.

FABLE VII.

THE FOX AND THE EAGLE.

A CRUEL Eagle once stole the cubs of a Fox, and carried them to her nest for her young ones. The poor dam running after her, began to beg and pray that she would not inflict such a misfortune upon a creature who deserved her pity. But the Eagle, thinking herself secure from danger, was above listening to her cries. The Fox, however, snatching a burning torch from an hearth, surrounded the tree with flames in an instant, and made her enemy tremble for the lives of her children. At last, therefore, the haughty bird, to save her own brood, not only restored her cubs to the Fox, but was glad to add cries and entreaties, to prevent the ruin of her own offspring.

MORAL.

The rich and strong, though ever so highly exalted, should beware how they provoke the poor by injuries; because the way to revenge lies always open, and they are but too ready to take it.