s aid,
Our business needs must be delay'd;
Which might be done with half the labor
'Twould take to go and call a neighbor.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

THE PHILOSOPHER AND THE
ACORN.

A philosopher, proud of his wit and his reason,
Sat him under an oak in a hot summer season.
On the oak grew an acorn or two, it is said:
On the ground grew a pumpkin as big as his head.

Thought the sage, "What's the reason this oak is so strong
A few acorns to bear that are scarce an inch long;
While this poor feeble plant has a weight to sustain,
Which had much better hang on the tree, it is plain?"

But just at the time the philosopher spoke
An acorn dropp'd down on his head from the oak;
Then, said he, who just now thought _his_ plan was so clever,
"I am glad that _this_ was not a pumpkin, however."

MORAL.

The sage would no doubt have looked grievously dull,
Had a pumpkin descended with force on his scull.
Of his folly then let us in future beware,
And believe that _such_ matters _are best as they are_:
Leave the manners and customs of oak trees alone,
Of acorns, and pumpkins--and look to our own.

[Illustration]

THE WOLF AND THE CRANE.

A wolf, once forgetting the size of his swallow,
Tried to pass a large marrow-bone through it.
"Oh dear," said the beast, thinking death was to follow,
"How careless and stupid to do it!"

His mouth was propp'd open by means of the bone,
And his breathing was greatly impeded,
But a crane coming up, he contrived to make known
What kind of assistance he needed.

"How d'ye do?" said the bird; said the beast, "Very ill,
For a bone has gone down the wrong way;
But if you can extract it by means of your bill,
The service I'll amply repay."

Thought the crane, "I'm no surgeon: yet all must agree,
That my bill will make excellent _forceps_;
And as for the money, I do not now see
Why I need refuse taking his worship's."

Said the bird, "It's agreed;" said his patient, "Proceed,
And take the bone hence, I beseech;"
Which, after awhile, and with infinite toil,
The crane at last managed to reach.

"Thank my stars!" said the beast, from his terrors released,
"Thank you _too_, sir," said he to the bird;
"Alas!" said the crane, "is this all I'm to gain,
I was waiting the promised reward."

Said the wolf, "You forget, I've contracted no debt,
Since the service was _rendered by me_;
Your head I releas'd from the jaws of a beast,
A