THE BELLY AND THE MEMBERS.

IN former days there was a quarrel among the Members of the human body. Each part professed itself to be indignant at being obliged to work for the Belly, which remained idle and enjoyed the fruits of their labour. They one and all resolved to rebel, and to grant him supplies no longer, but to let him shift for himself as well as he could. The Hands protested that they would not lift up a finger to keep him from starving. The Mouth wished he might never speak again if he took in the least bit of nourishment for him as long as he lived. The teeth said, May we be rotten if ever we chew a morsel for

him for the future! This solemn league and covenant was kept as long as anything of that kind can be kept, which was until each of the rebel Members pined away to the skin and bone, and could hold out no longer. Then they found there was no doing without the Belly, and that, as idle and insignificant as he seemed, he contributed as much to the maintenance and welfare of all the other parts, as they did to his.

MORAL. None for themselves are born.

APPLICATION. This fable is celebrated as having been the means of appeasing a serious revolt and sedition in a crisis of peculiar danger to the Roman State. The many wars in which the Republic had been engaged, and the severity of the burdens imposed on the people, had so inflamed the minds of the populace, that they moved from Rome in a body and encamped on the Mons Sacer, at a distance from the city, and, threatening to leave the country, obstinately refused to pay the taxes which were levied upon them. Menenius Agrippa, the consul, and general of the Roman Armies, went out at the request of the senate to remonstrate with his countrymen. He brought them to reason by the narration of this fable. It is easy to see its application. For if the branches and members of a community refuse the government that aid which its neccessities require, the whole must

perish together. The story is of universal use. As the members of the human body have each their own function to discharge, so that no member of it can dispense with the service of the other, in like manner the connection of every class of society is required to the support and well-being of the whole. The sovereign is necessary as the pilot in the ship-who, though he never touches a rope, contributes to the safety of the vessel. The rich and the poor, the capitalist and the workman, render benefits to each other, and promote each other's welfare. In fact, the union of all classes is necessary to that maintenance of authority, respect for the public law, and stability of government, on which the safety of property to individuals and the continuance of the national prosperity alike depend.

The rich the poor, the poor the rich, should aid :
None can protect themselves by their own shade.

A LION, seeing a fine plump Colt, had a great inclination to eat him, but knew not which way to get him into his power. At last he bethought himself of this contrivance: he gave out that he was a physician, who, having gained experience by his travels into foreign countries, had made himself capable of curing any sort of malady or distemper incident to any kind of beast; hoping by this stratagem to find an opportunity to execute his design. The Horse, who suspected the trick, was resolved to be even with him; and so, humouring the thing as if he had no suspicions, he visited the Lion, and

prayed him for his advice in relation to a thorn he had got in his foot, which had quite lamed him, and gave him great pain and uneasiness. The Lion readily agreed, and desired he might see the foot. Upon which the Horse lifted up one of his hind legs, and while the Lion pretended to be poring earnestly upon his hoof, gave him such a kick in the face as quite stunned him, and left him sprawling upon the ground. In the mean time the Horse trotted away, neighing and laughing merrily at the success of the trick, by which he had defeated the purpose of one who intended to have tricked him out of his life.

MORAL. Over-craftiness defeats its own ends.

APPLICATION. This fable illustrates a class of persons often met with in the various ranks of human society. There are some men who speak fair, but mean foul; whose words are honey, but their actions gall; who wound while they flatter; who seek confidence in order to betray; who cover with their wings while they attack with their beaks. These men are well represented by the Lion in this story ; and when they meet his fate, it is a matter of rejoicing. Every one is glad to see a knave caught in his own trap:

'Tis the sport to have the engineer Hoist with his own petard.