MORAL. Rival not thy betters.

APPLICATION. "The poor shall never cease out of the land." If this be true, then poverty is a divine institution; and a subordination of rank to rank is established as the law impressed upon human society by its divine Author. Could all men be made equal to-morrow, on the next day there would be an inequality again, as men had improved or abused the inheritance entrusted to them.

Order is Heaven's first law; and this confest,

Some are, and must be, greater than the rest.

This fable teaches the duty of being contented with the station in which Providence has placed us, and of avoiding that silly ambition which makes men of low estate attempt to vie with their superiors in rank and fortune. A velvet purse is not to be made out of a sow's ear.

A competent living, and honestly had,

Makes such as are godly both thankful and glad.

The

THE first time the Fox saw the Lion, he fell down at his feet, and was ready to die with fear. second time he took courage, and could even bear to look upon him. The third time he had the impudence to come up to him, to salute him, and to enter into familiar conversation with him.

MORAL. Familiarity breeds contempt.

APPLICATION. This short fable is very apposite. It depicts the two great faults into which underbred persons are apt to fall in their behaviour to their

superiors. They either entertain an awkward and undue fear, which proceeds from ignorance, inexperience, and extreme rusticity, or they assume a forwardness and familiarity which are offensive and insufferable. The true gentleman will alike avoid both these extremes.

THE Ape meeting the Fox one day, humbly requested him to give him some of the hairs from his fine long brush to make into a covering, as he was so exposed to all the violence and inclemency of the weather. "For," says he, "Reynard, you have already more tail than you have occasion for, and a great part of it even drags along in the dirt." The Fox answered, "that as to his having too much, that was more than he knew; but be it as it would, he had rather sweep the ground with his tail as long as he lived, than deprive himself of a single hair to gratify an Ape."

MORAL. He that goes a-borrowing, goes a-sorrowing.

APPLICATION. Charity begins at home; but it should not, as is too often the case, end there. The conduct of the Fox in this fable (of which the counterpart is common enough among men) is not amiable, and cannot be commended. The poor relation has claims on the aid of his wealthy kinsman ; and a loan granted with judgment and precaution is often of great good. It has been well said,—

Who bears him gently to his own relations

Will ne'er show hard to others.

The most perspicuous lesson, however, inculcated by this fable is summed up in the proverb, "Would you know the value of money? go and borrow some."

Neither a borrower nor a lender be;

For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.

Earn, if you want; if you abound, impart :
These both are pleasures to the feeling heart.