APPLICATION. This fable contains a caution against covetousness, or that excessive greed which oftentimes overreaches itself, and misses what it aims at. It is susceptible of a deeper meaning, and of a wider interpretation. It points out the final loss and disappointment of that numerous class of men who are spending their labour on that which cannot satisfy, and who, while perplexing themselves all their lives long with schemes of visionary good, neglect to avail themselves of the many sources of real, substantial happiness which a kind Providence places within their reach.

Some are so mad, they can't endure

To live and love and be secure ;

Projects and pride distract their breast,
Ambition will not let them rest.

These, growing old or wise, complain,
Their foolish labours were in vain.

The biggest things are not the best, the brightest often

dross;

And when we grasp at profit most, we oft get greater loss.

1

THE Ass, observing how great a favourite the little Dog was with his master,-how much caressed and fondled, and fed with good bits at every meal; and for no other reason, that he could perceive, but skipping and frisking about, wagging his tail, and leaping up into his master's lap,-was resolved to imitate the Spaniel, and see whether such a behaviour would not procure him similar favours. Accordingly, the master was no sooner come home from walking about his fields and gardens, and seated in his easy-chair, than the Ass, who observed him, came gambolling and braying towards him in a very

awkward manner. The master could not help laughing aloud at the odd sight. But his jest was soon turned into earnest, when he felt the rough salute of the Ass's fore-feet, who, raising himself upon his hinder legs, pawed against his breast with a most loving air, and would fain have jumped into his lap. The good man, terrified at this outrageous behaviour, and unable to endure the weight of so heavy a beast, cried out; upon which his servants, running in, belaboured the Ass with their sticks, and soon convinced him that every one who desires it is not qualified to be a favourite.

MORAL. A place for every man, and every man in his place.

APPLICATION. This fable aptly describes a character often to be met with among persons not thoroughly accustomed to the usages of good society, who, by excessive civility, overstrained courtesy, and wearisome pressure of officiousness, render their favours tiresome and unacceptable. Such attentions, while they flatter, sting. All sweets are not whole

some.

As with the brute, with man no less,

The friendship of th' uncultured mind

Is irksome oft, from sheer excess

Of zeal to do the thing that's kind.

The conduct of the Ass in this fable further reproves

the folly of those men who undertake offices for which they are not fitted, or who speak oracularly on matters which they do not understand. An amusing story is told of Apelles, the famous Grecian artist. A shoemaker, on seeing one of his pictures, found fault with a portion of the sandal. The painter accepted the criticism, and made the correction suggested. But when the shoemaker, returning to seé the alteration, proceeded to find fault with the other parts of the figure, Apelles administered a rebuke which has grown into a proverb-“Ne sutor ultra crepidam." He who is qualified to excel in one profession may be totally unfitted for another. Rash presumption is a ladder which will break the mounter's neck.

What one man does, another fails to do;
[What's fit for me, may not be fit for you.

A. WOLF, after devouring his prey, found a bone stick in his throat, which gave him so much pain, that he went howling up and down, and importuning every. creature he met to remove it; nay, he promised a reasonable reward to any one that should relieve him., At last the Crane, tempted with the hope of the reward, and having first made him confirm his promise with an oath, undertook the business, and ventured his long neck into the rapacious fellow's throat. Having plucked out the bone, he asked for the promised gratuity; when the Wolf, turning his eyes disdainfully towards him, said," I did not think you