A FALCONER having taken a Partridge in his nets, the bird begged hard for a reprieve, and promised the man, if he would let him go, to decoy other Partridges into his net. "No," replied the Falconer; "I was before determined not to spare you; but now you have condemned yourself by your own words: for he who is such a scoundrel as to offer to betray his friends to save himself, deserves, if possible, worse than death."

MORAL. Better a death of honour than a life of shame.

APPLICATION. There are certain human actions which the common consent of mankind in all ages and countries, by the promptings of a universal instinct, has stamped with a verdict of repudiation and infamy. Amongst these, the conduct represented in the person of the bird in this fable stands conspicuous. He who could consent to save his own life at the cost of ruin to his country, and of injury to his own friends and countrymen, especially when that ruin is to be compassed by his own active treachery, is deservedly held up to reprobation. Life is a great boon, but it may be too dearly purchased at the price of personal dishonour. It is related of Konrad Vallenrod, the last chief of the order of Teutonic Knights in Lithuania, that he entered the order, and professed great zeal for its interests, and became its Grand Master, being secretly animated throughout his career with the design of revealing its counsels, betraying its castles, and exposing its armies to their enemies; and that he finally succeeded in thus treacherously effecting its annihilation and destruction. His memory is deservedly held in universal execration. This fable condemns the cowardice which would purchase life at the price of honour; and encourages the noble and unselfish conduct of the man

Who knows the wrongs of want to bear,

E'en in its lowest, last extreme;

Yet can, with conscious virtue, fear

Far worse than death a deed of shame.

In this true patriotism is to be found the best guarantee for the preservation of personal liberty, for the welfare of states, and for the continued independence of nations.

AN Eagle flew down from his eyrie at the summit of a lofty mountain, and fastened his talons into the back of a lamb; and then instantly flying off, bore away into the clouds his bleating prize. A Crow who sat upon a neighbouring elm and beheld the exploit, resolved to imitate it; and so flying down upon the back of a ram, and entangling his claws in the wool, he fell a-chattering and attempting to fly, by which means he attracted the observation of the shepherd; who, finding his feet hampered in the fleece of the ram, easily took him and gave him to his boys for their sport and diversion.

MORAL. Every man is the son of his own works.

APPLICATION. How easily does this silly Crow delude himself into a belief that he possesses the strength, and can emulate the speed and imitate the example, of the Eagle in his rapacious flight! How surely does he become by his foolish bravado the creator of his own miseries and the author of his own misfortunes! In a similar manner many of the troubles of life are brought on men by their own faults.

Still to ourselves in every place consigned,
Our own felicity we make or find.

We should learn from this story to be careful of our actions, under the conviction that these actions have their permanent moral consequences, and tend to promote or to impede success in life.

Then be not with your present lot deprest,
But meet the future with undaunted breast.