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A HAWK, pursuing a pigeon over a corn-field with blind eagerness, was caught himself in a net which had been set for crows. A Farmer who was employed not far off, seeing the Hawk fluttering in the net, came and took him; but, just as he was going to kill him, the Hawk besought him to let him go, assuring him that he was only following a pigeon, and neither intended nor had done any harm to him. To whom the Farmer replied, "And what harm had the poor pigeon done to you?" Upon which he wrung his head off immediately.

M

MORAL. Do to others as you would be done by.

APPLICATION. What more perfect standard for the guidance of men in their dealings with each other could be possibly devised than this golden rule of doing to others as they would be done by? This wise and beneficent direction sets up a court of conscience in the human breast, and bids every man to try himself in his conduct towards his neighbour at the bar of that tribunal, and on all occasions to act towards him as he would wish himself to be treated if he were placed in the like circumstances.

To others do-the law is not severe

What to thyself thou wishest to be done ;
Forgive thy foes; and love thy parents dear,

And friends, and native land ;-nor those alone :

All human weal and woe learn thou to make thine own.

Where

It is a righteous retribution when the conduct we mete to others is measured back to ourselves. villany goes before, vengeance follows after.

What greater praise of God or man than mercy for to show?
Who merciless shall mercy find that mercy show to few?

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THE NURSE AND THE WOLF.

A NURSE, who was endeavouring to quiet a wayward, self-willed child, among other attempts, threatened to throw him out of doors to the Wolf, if he did not leave off crying. A Wolf, who chanced to be prowling near the door just at that time, heard the words, and, believing the woman to be in earnest, waited a long while about the house in expectation of seeing her words made good. But at last the child, wearied with its own importunities, fell asleep, and the poor Wolf was forced to return again to the woods without his expected supper. The Fox meeting him, and surprised to see him going home

so thin and disconsolate, asked him what was the matter, and how he came to speed no better that night. "Ah, do not ask me," says he; "I was so silly as to believe what the Nurse said, and have been disappointed."

MORAL. Be not too ready to give credence to the assertions of an angry man.

APPLICATION. There is no custom more common, nor at the same time more hurtful and pernicious, than that which prevails among nurses and persons of inferior minds, of telling children false stories and resorting to threats, with the intention of frightening them into good conduct. This habit is sinful in itself, as a departure from the strictness of truth, and is often most fatal in its consequences. There are many well-authenticated instances on record in which. a permanent injury in after years has been caused to the child; and many lasting fears, prejudices, and antipathies have arisen from the impressions created in the infant mind by these idle tales and threats. Dean Swift, in his account of the kingdom of Lilliput, relates that "nurses thus misconducting themselves were first soundly scourged, and then expelled from the island." Let it, then, be the first care of mothers or nurses never either to say to a child anything which is not strictly true, nor in a fit

of anger to indulge in threats which they have no intention to carry out. If they adopt the conduct of this foolish Nurse in the fable, and conjure up an imaginary wolf or ghost to help them in the momentary emergency of a naughty fit, they will probably find, when it is too late, that they have thoughtlessly cowed the spirit of the child, and have planted in his mind thorns and fears which it will be beyond the power of their arguments or philosophy to modify or remove.

One angry moment often does

What we repent for years;

It works the wrong we ne'er make right

By sorrow or by tears.

This fable, however, refers to the conduct of the Wolf rather than of the Nurse. It teaches the folly of those who take too much notice of words spoken in a passion. Angry persons say more than they mean, and generally, as soon as the moment of calm reflection comes, are themselves sorry for their violence and indiscretion.

Oh, how the passions, insolent and strong,
Pear our weak minds their rapid course along!

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