Owl, the Swan, the Cock, the Spider, the Afs, and the

Farmer

Cook-maid, the Turnfpit, and the Ox

Ravens, the Sexton, and the Earth-worm

206

211

214

217

220

228

232

235

Mifcellaneous Fables from E. Moore, J. Cunningham, and others.

HE Nightingale and Glow-worm

THH

Poet and his Patron

240

Hymen and Death

241

-242

Wolf, the Sheep, and the Lamb

245

Goofe and the Swans

247

Lawyer and Juftice

250

Farmer, the Spaniel, and the Cat

253

Owl and the Nightingale

255

Thrush and Pye

258

Ant and Caterpillar

259

Rofe and Butterfly

Sheep and the Bramble-bush

Fox and the Cat

Admonitory Conclufion

260

261

ib.

263

Juft published by T. SLACK, in Newcastle.

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SELECT

MORAL and ENTERTAINING

FABLE S.

1. The BEAVER and the SLOTH.

T

HE Sloth is an animal of South-America, and is fo ill formed for motion, that a few, paces are often the journey of a week; and fo indifpofed to move, that he never changes 'his place, but when impelled by the fevereft ftings of hunger. He lives upon the leaves, fruit, and flowers of trees, and often on the bark itself, when nothing befides is left for his fubfiftence. As a large quantity of food is neceffary for his fupport, he generally strips a tree of all its verdure in lefs than a fortnight. And being then deftitute of food, he drops down, like a lifeless mafs, from the branches to the ground. After remaining torpid fome time, from the fhock received by the fall, he prepares for a journey to fome neighbouring tree, to which he crawls with a motion almoft imperceptible. At length arrived, he afcends the trunk, and devours, with famifhed appetite, whatever the branches afford. By confuming the bark, he foon deftroys the life of the tree, and thus the fource is loft from which his fuftenance is derived. A

Such

Such is the miferable state of this flothful animal. How different are the comforts and enjoyments of the induftrious Beaver? This creature is found in the northern parts of America, and is about two feet long, and one foot high. The figure of it fomewhat refembles that of a rat. In the months of June and July the Beavers affemble, and form a fociety, which generally confifts of more than two hundred. They always fix their abode by the fide of a lake or a river; and in order to make a dead water in that part which lies above and below, they erect, with incredible labour, a dam or pier, perhaps fourfcore or a hundred feet long, and ten or twelve feet thick at the bafe. When this dike is completed, they build their feveral apartments, which are divided into three stories: The firft is below the level of the mole, and is for the most part full of water. The walls of their habitations are perpendicular, and about two feet thick: If any wood project from them, they cut it off with their teeth, which are more ferviceable than faws: And by the help of their tails, they plafter all their works with a kind of mortar, which they prepare of dry grass and clay mixed together. In Auguft or September they begin to lay up their ftores of food; which confist of the wood of the birch, the plane, and some other trees. Thus they pafs the gloomy winter in eafe and plenty.

These two American animals, contrafted with each other, afford a moft ftriking picture of the bleffings of Induftry, and the penury and wretchedness of Idlenefs.

11. The TAME GEESE and WILD GEESE.

TWO Geefe ftrayed from a farm-yard in the fens of Lincolnshire, and fwam down a canal to a large morafs, which afforded them an extensive range, and plenty of food, A flock of Wild Geefe frequently reforted to this morafs; and though at first

they

they were fhy, and would not fuffer the tame ones to join them, by degrees they became, well acquainted, and affociated freely together. One evening their cackling came to the ears of a Fox, that was prowling at no great distance from the morafs. The artful plunderer directed his courfe through a wood on the borders of it, and was within a few yards of his prey, before any of the Geefe perceived him: But the alarm was given just as he was fpringing upon them; and the whole flock inftantly afcended into the air, with loud and diffonant cries. The Wild Geefe winged their flight into the higher regions, and were feen no more; but the two tame ones, unuled to foar, and habituated to receive protection without any exertion of their own powers, foon dropped down, and became fucceffively the victims of the Fox.

The faculties of every animal are impaired by dif ufe, and ftrengthened by exercife. And in man, the energy and verfatility of the mind depend upon action, no lefs than the vigour and agility of the body.

IN

III. The TIGER and the ELEPHANT.

N one of the Defarts of Africa, a Tiger of uncommon fize, agility, and fiercenefs, committed the moft dreadful ravages. He attacked every animal he met with, and was never fatiated with blood and flaughter. Refiftance ferved only to increafe his ferocity, and paffive timidity to multiply his victims. When the foreft afforded him no prey, he lurked near a fountain of water, and feized, in quick fucceffion, and with indifcriminate cruelty, the various beafts that came to drink.

It happened that an Elephant ftopped to quench his thirst at the ftream, whilft the Tiger lay concealed in the adjoining thicket. The fight of a creature fo ftupendous, rather incited than restrained his rapacity. He compared his own agility with the unwieldy bulk