MORAL. Physician, heal thyself.

APPLICATION. We should not set up

for correc

tors of the faults of others, whilst we labour under the same ourselves. They whose eyes want couching are the most improper people in the world to set up for oculists.

He's wise who leaves his neighbour's faults alone,
And tries his talent to correct his own.

AN Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in time of harvest, he was carrying into the field for his master and the reapers to dine upon. By the way he met with a fine large Thistle, and, being very hungry, began to mumble it; which while he was doing, he entered into this reflection: "How many greedy epicures would think themselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I now carry! But to me this bitter, prickly Thistle is more savoury and relishing than the most exquisite and sumptuous banquet."

MORAL. That which is one man's meat is an

other man's poison.

APPLICATION. How often do we find persons setting up their own particular likings or dislikings as the only rule of propriety, and expressing a childish wonder at people for not estimating things exactly after the same fashion as themselves! This great fault, which frequently leads to rude remarks and uncalled-for interference, is rebuked in this fable. The tastes of men, women, and children are as widely different as the height of their stature, the colours of their hair, or the variety of their complexion; and it were as wise to expect a uniformity in the one as in the other. Some will ever like one thing, and some another. Permission to differ, and a sufferance of the variety of human preferences, without comment or observation, are essential to happy social or domestic intercourse. In truth, the want of wisdom apparent in a man or woman who expects every one else to be of his or of her opinion is reproved by the conduct of the Ass in this fable. Chacun à son goût.

Men's judgments, as their watches, disagree. None
Go just alike, yet each believes his own.

A LARK, who had Young Ones in a field of corn which was almost ripe, was under some fear lest the reapers should come to reap it before her young brood were fledged, and able to remove from their nest: wherefore, upon flying abroad to look for food, she left this charge with them-that they should take notice what they heard talked of in her absence, and tell her of it when she came back again. When she was gone, they heard the owner of the corn call to his son-"Well," says he, "I think this corn is ripe enough; I would have you go early to-morrow, and desire our friends and neighbours to come and help us to reap it." When the Old Lark came home, the

"I

Young Ones fell a-quivering and chirping round her, and told her what had happened, begging her to remove them as fast as she could. The mother bade them be easy; "for," says she, "if the owner depends upon friends and neighbours, I am pretty sure the corn will not be reaped to-morrow." Next day she went out again, upon the same occasion, and left the same orders with them as before. The owner came, and stayed, expecting those he had sent to: but the sun grew hot, and nothing was done, for not a soul came to help him. "Then," says he to his son, perceive these friends of ours are not to be depended upon; so that you must even go to your uncles and cousins, and tell them, I desire they would be here betimes to-morrow morning to help us to reap.' Well, this the Young Ones, in a great fright, reported also to their mother. not be frightened, children, for kindred and relations do not use to be so very forward to serve one another : but take particular notice what you hear said the next time, and be sure you let me know it." She went abroad the next day, as usual; and the owner, finding his relations as slack as the rest of his neighbours, said to his son, "Hark ye, George, do you get a couple of good sickles ready against to-morrow morning, and we will even reap the corn ourselves." When the Young Ones told their mother this, "Then," says she, indeed; for when a man undertakes

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we must be

gone

"If that be all," says she, "do