THE ASS, THE LION, AND THE COCK.

AN Ass and a Cock were feeding together in the same place, when on a sudden they saw a Lion approaching them. This beast is reported above all things to have an aversion to the crowing of a Cock; so that he no sooner heard the voice of that bird, but he took to his heels, and ran away as fast as ever he could. The Ass, fancying he fled for fear of him, in the bravery of his heart pursued him, and followed him so far, that they were quite out of the hearing of the Cock; which the Lion no sooner perceived, but he turned about and seized the Ass; and just as he was ready to tear him to pieces, the foolish creature ex

pressed himself thus: "Alas! fool that I was, knowing the cowardice of my own nature, thus by an affected courage to throw myself into the jaws of death, when I might have remained secure and unmolested!"

MORAL. Words are good, when works follow.

APPLICATION. How often do we meet persons in society who have a habit of boasting themselves able to do many things, which, when put to the proof, they fail of accomplishing !

Who knows himself a braggart,

Let him fear this; for it shall come to pass

That every braggart shall be found an ass.

They who thus overrate their own deeds and abilities, expose themselves to the ridicule of their companions, and risk the loss of the esteem and respect of those whose praise is worth having. The emptiest tub makes the loudest noise. There is often a great cry and little wool. A silent tongue makes a wise head.

Little men found undertaking

What the great alone may do,
Like all who their part mistaking,
Soon or late their folly rue.

And some I see, again, sit still and say but small,
That can do more than they that say they can do all.

A CERTAIN Jackdaw was so proud and ambitious, that, not contented to live with his own kind, he picked up the feathers which fell from the Peacocks, stuck them in among his own, and very confidently introduced himself into an assembly of those beautiful birds.

As soon as they saw him, they stripped him of his borrowed plumes, and, falling upon him with their sharp bills, punished him as his presumption deserved. Upon this, full of grief and affliction, he returned to his old companions, and would have lived with them again; but they, knowing his late vain conduct, industriously avoided him, and refused to

admit him into their company: and one of them, at the same time, gave him this serious reproof: "If, friend, you could have been contented with your station, and had not disdained the rank in which Nature had placed you, you had neither been rejected by those upon whom you intruded yourself, nor exposed to the notorious slight which we are now about to put upon you."

MORAL.

Let none presume

To wear an undeserved dignity.

APPLICATION.

Some men are never happy unless they are imitating the manners or intruding into the society of their betters. Such persons often assume an importance which does not really belong to them, and thereby perpetually incur mortification from the contemptuous civility of their superiors and from the scornful indifference of their equals. The true gentleman will carefully eschew unfounded pretensions. He will always aim to be what he appears. He will thus avoid all danger of being placed in a false position, and, respecting himself, will conciliate respect from others. Seek honestly to be what you appear, careful neither to sink below nor to soar above your true position in life, and thus you will learn the lesson this fable is intended to convey. You will find that those who attempt to rise higher than they ought,

generally mar their fortune, and fall lower than they would have done if they had been less ambitious.

One self-approving hour whole years outweighs
Of stupid starers and of loud huzzas.