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9. A virtuous youth will make a happy old age.

10. I have been young', and now I am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken', nor his seed begging bread' 11. As love thinks no evil', so envy' speaks no good'. 12. As virtue is its own reward', so vice' is its own punishment'.

LESSON III.

The Fox and the Crow.-A FABLE.

[Fable, a feigned story, designed to instruct or amuse. Not a falsehood, as it is not intended to be understood as true.-Moral of a fable, the instruction or lesson to be learned from it.]

1. A CROW, having stolen a piece of cheese from a cottage window, flew up into a high tree with it, in order to eat it; which the Fox observing, came and sat underneath, and began to compliment the Crow upon the subject of her beauty.

2. "I protest," said he, "I never observed it before, but your feathers are of a more delicate white than any that ever I saw in my life! Ah! what a fine shape', and graceful turn of body', is there! And I dare say you have a beautiful voice. If it be but as fine as your complexion, I do not know a bird that can pretend to stand in competition with you."

3. The Crow, tickled with this very civil language, wriggled about, and hardly knew where she was; but, thinking the Fox a little dubious as to the particular of her voice, and having a mind to set him right in that matter, she began to sing, and, in the same instant, let the cheese fall out of her mouth. This being what the Fox wanted, he snapped it up in a moment, and trotted away, laughing to himself at the easy credulity of the Crow.

4.

MORAL.

It is a maxim in the schools,
"That flattery's the food of fools!"
And whoso likes such airy meat,
Will soon have nothing else to eat

[Questions. What is a fable?-the moral of a fable? What is the meaning of dubious, in the third paragraph? Of credulity? What inflection upon the word shape, in the second paragraph? Upon body? Which is the emphatic word in the last line of the moral?]

LESSON IV.

The Blank Book and Printed Book.

-A FABLE.

1. A BLANK book and a printed book were placed by the side of each other on a shelf. The blank book was often pulled out, and as often shut again with a bang, and put up with an air of vexation by those who had opened it, and sometimes with the remark, "Oh, there is nothing in this." But the printed book, as soon as it was opened, and glanced at, was applauded with, "This will just do."

2. It was allowed a place near the fire,-introduced into company with sociable parlor guests, taken out as a companion for a walk with some of the ladies, when they rambled the fields, or strolled into the pleasure-grounds and the garden, indulged with lying on their laps in the bower,and sometimes it went out visiting, and was brought home again, much praised for the pleasure its company had af forded.

3. One day, when returned for a short time to its place on the shelf, the blank book inquired what it was that gave the printed book so many privileges. "You are often ta ken down, and admired," said the blank book; " and you go out visiting with the gentlemen and ladies, while I remain here neglected, and as dull as one of the dark days before Christmas. I think I am as big as you,-as old as you,as well dressed as you, and as much, by right, one of the family as you; what, then, makes people neglect me, and always desire your society?"

4. "Neither of the things you mention," said the printed book, "gives me any preference; it is what I have got printed inside."

5. Moral. We can never expect to enjoy the society of the wise and good, if we are like the blank book, with not a page of knowledge in us.

LESSON V.

The Fox and the Cock.-A FABLE.

1. As a Fox was returning, wearied and hungry, to his kennel, he espied a hen-roost; and, hastening towards it,

he arrived just as the Cock was saluting the dawn with his shrill clarion. "Good morning to you, Mr. Chanticleer," said the Fox; "good morning, sir! I am very glad to hear that musical pipe give such tokens of having retained all its compass and richness of tone.”

2. To this complimentary address the Cock did not make an immediate reply; indeed, the fawning manner, and smooth words, of the unexpected visiter, seemed to have produced only alarm, both in him and his mates. Speedily recovering himself, however, he said to the Fox, "Since my early chants give you so much pleasure, sir, I will now execute for you one of the best of them, with which I not unfrequently wake my master!"

3. "Oh! by no means! by no means!" replied the Fox, hastily; "I now recollect that a neighbor is to call on me this morning, and I should be sorry to keep him waiting." Saying this, away trotted Reynard, showing that it was not the desire to hear the Cock's music, as he had insinuated, which had caused the gladness which he had expressed.

4. Moral. The condition of mankind is such, that we must not believe every smooth speech to be the cover of a kind intention.

LESSON VI.

The Dog and his Relations.- -A FABLE.

1. KEEPER was a farmer's mastiff, honest, brave, and vigi lant. One day, as he was ranging at some distance from home, he espied a Wolf and Fox sitting together at the corner of a wood. Keeper, not much liking their looks, though by no means fearing them, was turning another way, when they called after him, and civilly desired him to stay.

2. "Surely, sir, (says Reynard,) you won't disown your relations. My cousin Ghaunt and I were just talking over family matters, and we both agreed that we had the honor of reckoning you among our kin. You must know, that, according to the best accounts, the wolves and dogs were originally one race in the forests of Armenia; but the dogs, taking to living with man, have since become inhabitants of towns and villages, while the wolves have retained their ancient mode of life.

3. As to my ancestors, the foxes, they were a branch of the same family, who settled farther northwards, where they became stinted in their growth, and adopted the custom of living in holes under ground. The cold has sharpened our noses, and given us a thicker fur and bushy tails, to keep us warm. But we have all a family likeness, which it is impossible to mistake; and I am sure it is our interest to be good friends with each other."

4. The wolf was of the same opinion; and Keeper, looking narrowly at them, could not help acknowledging their relationship. As he had a generous heart, he readily er tered into friendship with them. They took a ramble t gether; but Keeper was rather surprised at observing the suspicious shyness with which some of the weaker sort of animals surveyed them, and wondered at the hasty flight of a flock of sheep as soon as they came within view. However, he gave his cousins a cordial invitation to come and see him at his yard, and then took his leave.

5. They did not fail to come the next day about dusk. Keeper received them kindly, and treated them with part of his own supper. They staid with him till after dark, and then marched off with many compliments. The next morning, word was brought to the farm, that a goose and three goslings were missing, and that a couple of lambs were found almost devoured in the home-field.

6. Keeper was too honest himself readily to suspect others; so he never thought of his kinsmen on the occasion. Soon after, they paid him a second evening visit, and next day another loss appeared, of a hen and her chickens, and a fat sheep. Now, Keeper could not help mistrusting a little, and blamed himself for admitting strangers without his master's knowledge. However, he still did not love to think ill of his own relations.

7. They came a third time. Keeper received them rather coldly, and hinted that he should like better to see them in the day-time, but they excused themselves for want of leisure. When they took their leaves, he resolved to follow at some distance and watch their motions.

8. A litter of young pigs hay-stack without the yard. back, and ran off with him. squeal; and Keeper, running dear cousin in the fact.

happened to be lying under a The wolf seized one by the The pig set up a most dismal up at the noise, caught his He flew at him, and made him re

linquish his prey, though not without much snarling and growling.

9. The fox, who had been prowling about the hen-roost, now came up, and began to make protestations of his own innocence, with heavy reproaches against the wolf, for thus disgracing the family. "Begone, scoundrels, both! (cried Keeper;) I know you now too well. You may be of my blood, but I am sure you are not of my spirit. Keeper holds no kindred with villains." So saying, he drove them from the premises.

10. Moral.-Those who thrust themselves into our intiy, and make warm professions of friendship on a slight acquaintance, are commonly to be distrusted as having some selfish end of their own to answer,

LESSON VII.

The Ant and the Cricket. •

"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise."

1. A SILLY young cricket, accustomed to sing
Through the warm, sunny months of gay summer and spring,
Began to complain, when he found that at home
His cupboard was empty, and winter was come.
Not a crumb to be found

On the snow-covered ground;
Not a flower could he see;

Not a leaf on a tree;

"Oh, what will become," says the cricket, "of me?"

2. At last, by starvation and famine made bold,
All dripping with wet, and all trembling with cold,
Away he set off to a miserly ant,

To see if, to keep him alive, he would grant
Him shelter from rain,—

A mouthful of grain.

He wished only to borrow,—

He'd repay it to-morrow;

If not, he must die of starvation and sorrow.

3. Says the ant to the cricket, "I'm your servant and friend, But we ants never borrow, we ants never lend;

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