A MAN was angling in a river, and after a hard day's toil caught one small perch; which, as. he was taking off the hook and putting into his basket, opened its mouth, and began to implore his pity, begging that he would throw it into the river again. Upon the man's demanding what reason he had to expect such a favour, "Why," says the Fish, "because, at present, I am but young and little, and consequently not so well worth your while as I' shall be if you take me some time hence, when I am grown larger.""That may be," replies the man ;

"but I am not one of those fools who quit a certainty in expectation of an uncertainty."

MORAL. No time like the present.

Time past Time future is

Time present

APPLICATION. This fable is a counterpart of the preceding, and teaches the same lesson. is gone for ever, and never returns. not, and may never be, ours to use. is all we have at our disposal. It is our duty to make the most of it, and to turn every opportunity to the best advantage. If we neglect to do so, another chance may never occur.

Who seeks, and will not take when once 'tis offered,
Shall never find it more.

Seize opportunity, avoid delay;

What may to-day be done, do that to-day.

THE GEESE AND THE CRANES.

A FLOCK of Geese and a covey of Cranes used often to feed together in a wheat-field, as the grain was ripening for harvest. One day, the owner of the field, with his labourers, coming upon them suddenly, surprised them in the very act; and the Geese, being heavy, fat, full-bodied creatures, were many of them caught; but the Cranes, being thin and light, easily flew away.

MORAL. One does the scath, another has the

harm.

APPLICATION. The apparent partiality of Divine Providence, manifested in the occasional visitings of chastisement on the comparatively innocent, while the more immediate authors of the wrong escape with impunity, has been a source of remark to the moralists of all ages. This mysterious problem, so difficult of solution, seems to form the subject-matter of this fable. The Cranes may be considered as the worst offenders, and most destructive of the corn. They certainly had a less right to a share of the ripening grain than the Geese, who, in their season, will add to the profits of the farm; yet the former escape, and the latter are taken captive. This unequal incidence of misery and punishment is one of those mysteries which human reason cannot explain, and which must be left to be reconciled hereafter. It affords an argument for a future recompense of reward, which, in the hands of Infinite Justice, will reconcile the inequalities of the existing state.

Then know the truth of government divine,
And let these scruples be no longer thine.

Thus, little rogues submit to fate,

That great ones may enjoy their state.

A DOG, crossing a little rivulet with a piece of meat in his mouth, saw his own shadow represented in the clear mirror of the limpid stream; and, believing it to be another dog, who was carrying a larger piece of meat, he could not forbear catching at it; but was so far from getting any thing by his greedy design, that he dropped the piece he had in his mouth, which immediately sank to the bottom, and was irrecoverably lost.

MORAL. Catch not at the shadow, and lose the substance.