MORAL. The skin is nearer than the cloak.

APPLICATION. This fable may be made of great account. If a heathen could thus from the force of natural instincts teach the value of human life, how much more binding is the lesson on the Christian, who regards life as a divine gift, and to be preserved with the utmost care to the period of its natural termination! The fable teaches that when life is in danger, every thing but honour may be sacrificed for its defence and preservation. It may further illustrate the truth that of two evils, the less is always to be chosen.

Who does the best his circumstance allows
Does well, acts nobly: angels could no more.

It is the lot of man but once to die,

But e'er that death, how many death's have I?

As the Cat and the Fox were talking together on a time, in the middle of a forest, Reynard said,— "Let things turn out ever so bad, he did not care for he had a thousand tricks to resort to, before they should hurt him."-" But, pray," says he, "Mrs. Puss, suppose you were in danger from your enemies, what course would you take?"-" Nay," says the cat, "I have but one shift for it, and if that won't do, I am undone.""I am sorry for you," replies Reynard, "with all my heart, and would gladly furnish you with one or two of mine; but indeed, neighbour, as times go, it is not good to trust; we must even be

every one for himself, as the saying is, and so your humble servant." These words were scarce out of his mouth, when they were alarmed with a pack of hounds, that came upon them full cry. The Cat, by the help of her single shift, ran up a tree, and sat securely among the top branches, from whence she beheld Reynard, who had not been able to get out of sight, overtaken with his thousand tricks, and torn into as many pieces by the dogs which had surrounded him.

MORAL. An unstable man shall not excel.

APPLICATION. One aim in life, honestly chosen and diligently persevered in, is the best omen of success. The straight path of duty is the path of safety. The man with many expedients generally fails. He begins many plans, and finishes none. The proverb says, "Hang him that hath no shift and him that hath one too many."

Heaps of weak arts are not so strong as one
With solid prudence first consulted on.

A CERTAIN house was much infested with Mice; but at last they got a Cat, who every day caught and ate some of them. The Mice, finding their numbers grow thin, consulted what was best to be done for the preservation of the public from the jaws of the devouring Cat. They debated, and came to this resolution,-that no one should go down below the upper shelf. The Cat observing the Mice no longer came down as usual, hungry and disappointed of her prey, had recourse to this stratagem: she hung by her hinder legs on a peg which stuck in the wall, and made as if she had been dead, hoping by this lure to entice the Mice to come

down. She had not been in this posture long, before a cunning old Mouse peeped over the edge of the shelf, and spoke thus: "Aha, my good friend, are you there? there may you be! I would not trust myself with you, though your skin were stuffed with

straw."

MORAL. Experience teaches.

APPLICATION. No second warning is required to teach a wise man to eschew what he has once proved to be hurtful. A burnt child naturally dreads the fire. "He that is twice cheated by the same man is once treated as he deserves.”

Though losses and crosses be lessons right severe.

There's wit there you'll get there, you'll find no other where.