so grievous a disappointment, that they were not able to bear it; and they determined rather to throw themselves headlong into the water, let what would come of it, than lead a life so full of dangers and crosses. But, upon their coming to the brink of the lake, a number of Frogs, which were sitting there, frighted at their approach, leapt into the flood in great confusion, and dived to the very bottom for fear: which a cunning old Hare observing, called to the rest and said: "Hold! have a care what ye do; here are other creatures, I perceive, which have their fears as well as we don't, then, let us fancy ourselves the most miserable of any creatures upon earth; but rather let us, by their example, learn to bear patiently those inconveniences which our nature has thrown upon

us."

MORAL. Who can administer to a mind diseased?

APPLICATION.

There are persons to be met with who constantly yield themselves a prey to imaginary evils, and who perpetually render themselves unhappy by their expectation of events which never happen. Against this propensity, so common to weak minds, the fable protests. It cautions against that diseased imagination which makes its victims their own selftormentors, and brings them under the miserable

thraldom of an ever-present expectation of calamities. Fear is a great inventor. Not all the clouds in the sky drop water. Good heart in evils doth the evils

much amend. "Tu, ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito."

Do not t' invading ills thyself resign,

But 'gainst their force with greater strength combine;
For when th' are scattered, a serene repose

Will all thy vanquished difficulties close.

The body's wounds with medicines may be eas'd,
But griefs of mind by salves are not appeas'd.

The

THE Wolf having laid in store of provision, kept close at home, and made himself comfortable. Fox observed this, and went to visit him, to inform himself of the truth of the matter. The Wolf excused himself from seeing him, by pretending he was very much indisposed. All this did but confirm the Fox in his suspicions: so away he went to a shepherd, and made discovery of the Wolf; telling him he had nothing else to do but to come with a good weapon, and knock him on the head as he lay in his cave. The shepherd followed his directions, and killed the Wolf. The wicked Fox enjoyed the cave and pro

visions to himself, but enjoyed them not long; for the same shepherd, passing afterwards by the same hole, and seeing the Fox there, despatched him also.

MORAL. Harm seek, harm find.

APPLICATION. How frequently does human experience provide proofs of the truth of this fable! The evil that men plot for others often, by a righteous retribution, recoils on themselves. "Curses," says an Eastern proverb, "like chickens, come home to roost." He that striketh with the sword shall be beaten with the scabbard.

præbemus crura sagittis.”

"Cædimus, inque vicem

The evil deed

Brings its requital as the doer's meed.

To him who mischief seeks, shall mischief fall;
There comes an hour that recompenses all.

THE Dog sued the Sheep for debt, of which the kite and the wolf were to be judges. They, without debating long upon the matter, or making any scruple for want of evidence, gave sentence for the Dog; who immediately tore the poor Sheep in pieces, and divided the spoil with the unjust judges.

MORAL. Judges should be disinterested.

APPLICATION. The need of the counsel contained in this fable has in these days, happily, passed away. If there is one thing above another on which English