about you? Had you the gay coloured wings with which nature has seen fit to adorn me, you might in leed 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 him.self.

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.

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 towers in the dust. I throw the sea into commotion

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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: withdraw my life-giving influcnce, 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. At last he 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.

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

THE MOUSE, THE COCK, AND THE CAT.

A young mouse, whose mother was very careful of her, was desirous of going abroad, to see the world. Dear mother, said she, do let me take a walk, and enjoy myself alone, and not keep me always tied to your apron strings. You are too young and inconsiderate as yet, said the mother, to be trusted alone. You will immediately get into danger, and perhaps lose your life. Oh, never be afraid for me, mamma, replied the young one, I have eyes to see, and feet to run with, and wit enough to keep out of danger.

This impatience to get beyond the reach of parents, said the mother, and to enjoy liberty, is a weakness too common to children, and often proves fatal to them; but for once I will let you go, only be careful, and remember that my anxiety will not cease, till I see you return.

Oh, never fear, said the young one, I will be back in two hours at farthest; and will then entertain you with a history of my rambles.

So saying, she skipped away in high glee, and scarcely knew how to behave herself for joy; but within half an hour, she came running back, quite out of breath, and every hair on her back standing upright with horror.

What is the matter, said the mother? What has so muc alarmed you ?

Give me, answered the young mouse, a few minutes to take breath, and I will tell you.

I fear you have been heedlessly running into danger, said the mother, shaking her head.

Indeed, but I have not, mother; when you have heard all I have to say, you will think I have behaved very wisely. After having gone through the fields, and looked at the grass, the cows, and the flowers, I turned into a farm-yard, where I saw ploughs, and yokes, and a deal of fine things, which I never saw before. But just now I spied a terrible creature, which I at once knew to be an enemy. It had a strange piece of flesh as red as blood growing on top of its head, and anotner of the same colour under its chin. What it was I know not; but it flapped its wings, and, opening its great mouth wide enough to swallow me, uttered such a tremendous scream, as made me tremble like a leaf, and I scampered away as fast as I could, and here I am safe. But this was very unfortunate, for just then I saw at a little distance another creature, so beautiful and harmless, so gentle and modest, that I fell directly in love with it. It was very much like us in shape, but ten times as large. It had a soft fur coat, beautifully brindled, black and gray. It fixed its eyes on me, and I verily believe was about to speak to me, when Mr. Redcrest set up his terrible squall, and obliged me to take to my heels.

My dear child, said the old mouse, every word you speak alarms me. The animal, which terrified you so, is one of the most innocent creatures in the world; whereas the one you so much admired, is no other than the cat, a most implacable enemy to the whole race of mice. It is fortunate you escaped as you did; the next moment you would have been devoured, and never more should I have seen you. From this, my child, you will learn the value of experience. and better realize the benefit of parental care, which is necessary to save you from innumerable dangers.

It is foolish to look upon any thing as unworthy of notice, merely because it is little. Nothing is little or great but by comparison. When Gulliver was in Brobdinag, a country in the story-book, where the people were sixty feet high, they could not help exclaiming, "Bless me, how little you are!" But the same Gulliver, when he was in Lilliput, whose puny inhabitants were only five or six inches high, was called a giant, because he was so large.

There is a little insect, called the gad-fly, which stings the buli and other great and mighty beasts, particularly in hot countries, till it drives them mad. Perhaps this is, because these poor beasts are destitute of understanding, by which we are taught to endure pain, and wait with patience til it is over.

Begone contemptible wretch, said a lion one day to a gadfly who was buzzing around him. He thought it beneath the majesty of his character to suffer himself to be disturbed by such a pitiful insect.

Do you despise me, said the gad-fly, highly incensed at the insulting tone and language of the lion? I will teach you to think twice another time, before you determine whom you will despise-I declare war against you.