THE MILLER, HIS SON, AND THEIR ASS.

A Miller and his Son were driving their Ass to a neighbouring fair to sell him. They had not gone får when they met with a troop of girls returning from the town, tâlking and laughing (pr. läfing). "Look there!" cried one of them, "did you ever see such fools, to bē trudging along the road on foot, when they might be rīding!” Thē ōld Man, hearing this, quietly bade his son get on the Ass, and wâlkt along merrily by the side of him. Presently they came up to a group (pr. groop) of old men in earnest debate. "There!" said one of them, it proves what I was a-saying. What respect is shown to ōld age in these days? Do you see that idle young rogue riding, while his old father has to wâlk? Get down, you scapegrāċe! and let the ōld man rest his weary limbs." Upon this the Father made his Son dismount, and got up himself. In this manner they had not proceeded fär when they met a company of women (pr. wimmen) and children. “Whỹ, ÿoü lazy ōld fellōw!" cried several tongues at once, "how can you ride upon the beast, while that poor little lad there can härdly keep pace by the side of you." The good-natured Miller stood corrected, and immēdiately took up his Son behind him. They had

now âlmost reacht the town. "Pray, honest friend,” said a townsman, "is that Ass your ōwn?" "Yes," says the ōld Man. "Oh! One would not have thought sō," "by the way you load him.

said the other,

Whÿ, you two

fellows are better able to carry the poor beast than he you!" "Anything to please you," said the old Man; "we can but try." Sō, alighting with his Son, they tied the Ass's legs together, and by the help of a pōle endeavoured to carry him on their shoulders ōver a bridge that led to the town. This was so entertaining a sight that the people ran out in crowds to laugh (pr. läf) at it; till the Ass, not liking the noise nor his situation, kickt asunder the cords that bound him, and, tumbling off the põle, fell into the river. Upon this the ōld Man, vext and ashāmed, māde the best of his way hōme again-convinced that by endeavouring to please everybody he had pleased nobody, and lost his Ass into the bärgain.— James's Esop.

THE LION AND THE GAD-FLY.

A Gad-fly one day buzz'd about the nose of a Lion. Begone, wretch! said the Lion;

I would crush you in a moment were you not unworthy of my nōtiče.

den, too proud

Do you despise me? said the Gad-fly, then I will make wâr against you. The Lion lay down at the mouth of his to notice what the insect said. Very soon the Fly began to hum, then taking a circuit (pr. cîrkit) in the air därted into the nostril of the Lion, and bit and stung him till hẽ waṣ âlmōst mad. He lasht his sides with his tail, he gnasht his teeth, and tost the foam from his lips. At last he fell on the ground and bit the dust with agony. "There," said the Fly, “learn the folly of despising any thing."

The Fly was greatly puft up with his victory over the Lion: "See with what ease," said he, "I have beat the king of beasts! I challenge the whole world to contend with me."

A Spider from her hōle heard the vain boast of the Fly, and smiled at his folly. There is none sō great, but there is a greāter.

The Fly, having sung his song of victory, was flying off, when he struck upon the Spider's web, and was caught in the most tender and flimsy net in the world. The Spider leapt from her hōle, seized the conqueror (pr. conkerer) of the king of beasts, and püt him to death in a mōment.

There is no creature so smâll as to bē safely despised, nor too great to be conquer'd (pr. conkerd).

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THE WASP AND THE BEE.

A Wasp met a Bee, and said to him, Pray can you tell me what is the reason that men are sō ill-natured to me, while they are so fond of you. We are both very much alike, but that the broad golden rings about my body make me much handsomer than you are; we are both wing'd insects, wē bōth love honey, and wē bōth sting people when we are angry; yet men always hate me, and try to kill me, though I am much mōre familiar with them than you are, and pay them visits in their houses, and at their teatable, and at their meals; while you are very shy, and härdly ever come near them; ÿet they build you curious houses, thatcht with straw, and take care of, and feed you in the winter very often. I wonder what's the reason."

The Bee said, "Because you never do them any good; but, on the contrary, are very troublesome and mischievous, therefōre they do not like to see you. But they know

that I am busy (pr. bizzy) âll day long in māking them honey. You had better pay them fewer visits, and try to bē ūsefül.”

Uses are the great test of value.-Dodsley.

THE ARTLESS YOUNG MOUSE.

A young mouse lived in a cupboard where sweetmeats were kept; she dined every day upon biscuit (pr. biskit), märmalade, or fine sügar. Never had any little mouse lived so well. She had often ventured to peep at the family while they sat at supper; nay, shē had sometimes stōlen down on the carpet, and pickt up the crumbs, and nobody had ever heard her. She would have been quite happy, but that she was sometimes frighten'd by the cat, and then she ran trembling to the hōle behind the wainscot. One day she came running to her mother in great joy. "Mother!" said she, "the good people of this family have built me a house to live in, it is in the cupboard; I am sure it is for me, for it is just big enough; the bottom is of wood, and it is cover'd âll ōver with wires; and I dare say they have made it on purpose to screen mẽ from that terrible cat, which ran after me sō often; there is an entrance just big enough