with this, they took a fancy to the books, but not knowing how to study them, they amused themselves with stripping off their binding, and gnawing and tearing them, till they were mere chaff.

When the farmer learnt what depredation was made by these mischievous creatures, he put a faithful cat among them, which made such havock that they soon scampered to their lurking-places, nor durst show a whisker, so long as grimalkin was in sight or hearing.

At length puss having retired, and the doors being shut, the affrightened mice called a council to deliberate upon what measures might best be adopted to preserve them from the clutches of their furious enemy. There was much debate, and many opinions were offered; but nothing, that seemed to promise relief or safety. A heavy gloom hung over the assembly, and sadness sat on every countenance; some mourning the loss of fathers and mothers, others that of children and friends, who had fallen a prey to the common foe; and all were pale with fear for their lives. How unlike was this to their former meetings, when all were brisk and merry; the old rejoiced to see the frolicks of youth, and the young fatigued themselves with play to make sport for the aged.

At length a pert young mouse started up, and in a florid speech, expressed his surprise at the dejection of his fellow-citizens, and gave it as his opinion, that their affairs were not so desperate, as seemed to be imagined. Perhaps, said he, none of you have considered the case so closely as I have. Do but recollect, and you will find, that even a cat with all her lives, can be in but one room at once.

The

difficulty is, to know beforehand which room that will be. We could presently get out of her reach, if we did but know when she was coming. But the misfortune is, she is so sly, that she is upon us in a moment, before, we think of it. My advice is, that we procure a small bell, and fasten it upon the old cat, so that with all her sly caution, it would be impossible for her to approach us without giving an alarm; and then we might defy her utmost speed to overtake us, before we could reach our holes in safety.

The inexperienced part of the audience shouted applause to the young orator, and instantly moved a vote of thanks for his ingenious expedient against future danger.

Upon which an old mouse, gray with age, stood up, and begged to be heard. He said the speech was excellent, and the expedient admirable, and the author of it was, no doubt, a mouse of genius; but he thought it not so proper to vote him thanks, till he should go a little farther, and execute his plan by fastening the bell upon the old cat. The young mice perceived they were ridiculed, and the young orator was so mortified, that he hastened away to his hole, nor durst again show his head.

The Fly in the Mail Coach.

A mail coach was, on a hot summer's day traveling a very dusty road. There were several passengers on important business, all in great haste to get to their journey's end. Among the passengers in the coach was a silly fly, who in his own opinion was of more importance than all the rest. He thought it was a very fine thing to travel with a coach and four, and to go so fast without being fatigued.

It happened as they drove along, that a great school of little gentlemen and ladies were walking the road. It was a hol'yday, and the little folks were dressed in their best attire. As the coach drove by, the wind set full in their faces, and the poor children were almost suffocated with the dust,

Upon my word, said the fly, I am very sorry for those poor children, I am quite grieved I should so incommode them. Had I not been in such extreme haste, I would really have desired the coachman to stop till they had passed; but a person of my consequence cannot be expected to pass through the world, without occasional inconvenience to inferiors.

A butterfly, who happened to hear this proud speech, could not help rebuking this self-conceited fly. You insignificant insect, do you think any body here knows any thing about you? Had you the gay coloured wings with which nature has seen fit to adorn me, you might indeed expect some attention from wanton boys and girls, who often sacrifice our lives to gratify an idle curiosity. But be not concerned, you may go through the world unnoticed by any body, unless a spider should amuse himself by throwing his net over you. Take my word for it, my friend, there is not a more ridiculous creature in the world, than he, who entertains a high opinion of his own importance, when no one ever dreamed of him but himself.

The fly was so ashamed at this just rebuke, that he stole away into a crevice in a corner of the coach, and never showed himself again, till he came within the smell of the butcher's shambles as he entered London; when he crept from his hiding place, and flew away in haste to his dinner, glad to escape from a place where he had suffered so much mortification. 15 *

The sun and the wind had a dispute one day, which of the two was the most powerful.

The wind said, do you pretend to compare with me? I tear up the stoutest trees by the roots, and level palaces and towers in the dust. I throw the sea into commotion, and swell the billows to mountain size; and send whole fleets of ships with all their crews to the bottom.

Granted, said the sun, but all this does not equal my power. I open the buds and the flowers, and bring to maturity the fruits of the earth, to make glad the heart of man. I cause the grass to grow, and spread beauty and cheerfulness over the whole face of nature. Every thing, that possesses life or animation, owes its health and prosperity to me;