which he had to a mouse, that he was by nature a beast, and would always continue firm and true to their interest. His plea was admitted; but, in the end, the advantage turning completely on the side of the Birds, under the admirable conduct and courage of their general the eagle, the Bat, to save his life, and escape the disgrace of falling into the hands of his deserted friends, betook himself to flight; and ever since, skulking in caves and hollow trees all day, as if ashamed to show himself, never appears till the dusk of the evening, when all the feathered inhabitants of the air are gone to roost.

MORAL.

Traitors are odious, even to those who profit by their treason.

APPLICATION. Traitors have been found through all times and ages; in courts, camps, senates, and peoples. The treachery may originate in fear, or in the desire of personal advantage, or from a mercenary spirit prompted by gold and bribes, or from the innate degradation of a sordid nature, which secretly hates and resents a deed of heroism. Whatever be the cause, the author of the treachery, like the Bat in the fable, is an object of hatred and suspicion to those who profit by his treason.

Know, villains, when such paltry slaves presume

To mix in treason, if the plot succeeds,

They're thrown neglected by.

It must be remembered that there is a kind of moral treason of which all may be guilty, when they allow momentary self-interest, bad example, or any inferior motive, to betray them into actions offensive to their better nature, and which their conscience condemns.

A SKILFUL archer coming into the woods, directed his arrows so successfully, that he slew many wild beasts. This put all the denizens of the forest into a fearful consternation, and made them fly to the most retired thickets for refuge. At last a Tiger assumed a brave front and courage, and, bidding his companions not to be afraid, said that he alone would engage the enemy; telling them they might depend upon his valour and strength to revenge their wrongs. In the midst of these threats, while he was lashing himself with his tail, and tearing up the ground in anger, an arrow pierced his ribs, and hung by its barbed point

in his side. He set up a loud and hideous roar, occasioned by the anguish which he felt, and endeavoured to draw out the painful dart with his teeth; when the Fox, approaching him, inquired with an air of surprise who it was that could have strength and courage enough to wound so mighty and valorous a beast. "Ah!" says the Tiger, "I was mistaken in my reckoning: it was that invincible man yonder."

MORAL. Knowledge is power.

APPLICATION. Man, armed with his high prerogative of reason, although of himself the most powerless of all creatures for attack or defence, is enabled, by his knowledge, science, and invention of weapons of destruction, to obtain an easy mastery over the most powerful and unruly of animals. By the same principle the superiority of one nation over another is indicated and maintained. As the Tiger in the fable succumbed to the superior skill of the archer, so in international contests the final victory will remain with that people and country who can bring into the conflict an augmented power in its fleets and arma

ments.

Unwisely who provokes an abler foe,

Conquest still flies him, and he strives for woe.

THE Lioness and the Fox meeting together, fell into discourse. The conversation, by some means, turned on the comparatively greater fruitfulness of some living creatures to others. The Fox observed to the Lioness, that, for her part, she thought Foxes were as happy in that respect as almost any other creatures, for that they always had a good litter of cubs once a year; "and yet," says she, "there are those who never give birth to more than one at a