APPLICATION. This fable is designed to describe those who are guilty of vain pretensions, who give themselves hectoring airs, and assume to be wiser, richer, more learned, of higher rank, and of more social importance, than they really are. Such persons are ever in danger of being discovered, when they will in a greater or lesser degree be exposed to the ridicule and humiliation incurred by the Ass in the Lion's Skin. The really honest man will in all conditions of life show himself in his true colours, and in his own character. He will not, for the sake of any temporary gain, pretend to be better than he is, and still less for the sake of conciliating evil companions will he condescend to do any thing that shall make him appear worse than he is. He will act in the spirit of the homely advice of the Scotch proverb,— "Be the same thing that ye wad be ca'd."

Not every one that goes in red,
And wears a feather in his head,

Must strait a man of war be said.

Each might his several province well command,
Would all but stoop to what they understand.

IN a certain district the Mountains reëchoed with

strange and unaccountable noises. The countrypeople, much alarmed, came from all parts to see what the cause could be. After they had waited a considerable time in anxious expectation, out crept a Mouse.

MORAL. Do not make much ado about nothing.

APPLICATION. This story is so well known, and so frequently used, that it rises out of the category of a fable, and approaches the intimate familiarity of a

proverb. It exposes the conduct of those who promise something exceedingly great, and accompany it with a performance ridiculously little. Such persons are continually met with. All those who in their words are loud in offers of help, and never carry them into practical effect; who, large in promises, are small in performances; who, with mighty protestations and loud sounding of trumpets, announce and magnify some new invention which, on being tested, is found of no importɛnce; or who unduly raise the expectations of friends and neighbours, only to hurt and disappoint them by impotent conclusions,-are lashed and satirised in this fable. So frequent is its application, that the mere suspicion of a man being likely to promise more than he can perform, causes him to be likened to the mountain in labour for the production of a mouse.

Oh, thoughtless mortals, ever blind to fate!
Too soon dejected, and too soon elate.

A SATYR, as he was ranging the forest in an exceeding cold, snowy season, met with a Traveller halfstarved with the extremity of the weather. He took compassion on him, and kindly invited him home to a warm, comfortable cave he had in the hollow of a rock. As soon as they had entered and sat down, the cliilly Traveller, notwithstanding there was a good fire in the place, could not forbear blowing his fingers' ends. Upon the Satyr's asking why he did so, he answered, that he did it to warm his hands. On this his host spread the table before him with dried fruits of several sorts; and having mulled some wine over

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the fire, presented it hot to his shivering guest. On this the Traveller thought fit to blow likewise; and upon the Satyr's demanding a reason why he blew again, he replied, to cool his dish. This second answer provoked the Satyr's indignation so, that he thrust the Traveller out of doors, saying, he would have nothing to do with one who blew hot and cold with the same mouth.

MORAL. A double-minded man makes no friends,

APPLICATION. Some men are habitually guilty of the conduct condemned in this fable. Persons, for instance, are to be found who give their friends a cordial welcome in private, but scarcely admit them to speaking terms in public; who are guilty of the meanness of praising a man to his face, and of reviling him behind his back; who express a pleasure in receiving the visit of a neighbour, and yet, erc the door is closed, give directions to their servants to refuse them admittance on the next occasion of their calling. All those who thus act, like the Traveller in the cave of the Satyr, blow hot and cold with one and the same breath. Such conduct merits, and wherever known will excite, indignation or contempt. A "sentiment" once popular at the farmers' ordinaries in and about Gloucester will reflect the lesson taught by this fable: