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Fables are fictions or feigned stories, designed to amuse, or to enforce moral instruction.

There was once an old farm-house, so shattered and decayed, that it was used only as a place of storage for corn, old books, clothes, and other articles.

The old shell was so warped and wrecked by wind and time, that the chinks and crevices afforded easy entrance for the mice, who, without leave, entered the premises, and established a commonwealth. Here they frisked and frolicked like mad things. They eat and wasted the corn, and made mince-meat of the blankets, which they cut through and through for lodging apartments. Not satisfied 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 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.

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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.

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A mail coach was, on a hot summer's day, travelling 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.

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It happened as they drove along, that a great school of little gentlemen and ladies were walking the road. It was a holyday, 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

abcut 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, iny 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.

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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.

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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. 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 withdraw my life-giving influence, and all would perish.

As the dispute ran high, a traveller, muffled up in his cloak, made his appearance, upon whom they both agreed to test the superiority of their strength by ascertaining which of them should first make him part with his cloak.

The wind summoned all his artillery of clouds, and storms, and made a furious attack upon the poor traveller, so that he could scarcely keep his feet, or move forward a single step; but all to no purpose; for the fiercer the storm beat upon him, the closer he hugged his cloak about him.

It was now the sun's turn. He burst forth with his refulgent rays, and the clouds were scattered in a moment. Every thing was refreshed. The flowers seemed to smile ; the beasts returned to their pasture; and the soft droppings. from a few scattered bushes were inexpressibly agreeable. As the sun, however, was determined to do his utmost, he made his beams hotter and hotter; till at length the traveller, who was at first exhilarated with his brightness, began to pant and sweat with the sultriness of the air. He loosed his buttons, and threw his cloak wide open. could bear it no longer; he cast it from him upon the ground, and sat down on it to cool himself; the sun was decisively the victor in the strife.

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Learn from this, said the sun, that soft and gentle means will often accomplish what force and fury may in vain attempt to effect.

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