AND THE STAG.

Within a certain pasture,
There lived some creatures wild.
The sky was blue, the grass was green,
The air was very mild.

Now though this field was large and fine,
They could not live in love:
But for the grass in one large spot
A horse and stag once strove.

The stag was strongest in the strife,
And so the battle won;
And from the field the horse was sent
And with chagrin was stung.

So to the man the horse applied,
For help, the stag to beat,
And so effectual was his help,
The stag had to retreat.

But when to go away he tried,
The man held to him fast:
"Now that you are of use," he cried,
"You'll serve me to the last."

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

THE CAT AND THE OLD MOUSE.

The mice o'errun a certain house--
In every spot was found a mouse.
So for a cat the mistress went,
And to the kitchen puss was sent.

With diligence were many caught,
And eaten up. The mice were taught
That they some cunning must devise
To keep the prey from pussy's eyes.

So on a certain shelf so high,
To reach which puss in vain might try,
There all the mice together got,
And they resolved to leave it not.

So pussy found that to eat them,
She must resort to stratagem.
And holding fast by means of pegs,
She hung suspended by the legs.

And downward she then hung her head,
And looked as though she were quite dead--
And thus she sought to cheat the mice,
And from their dwellings them entice.

A cunning mouse, well "up to trap,"
On pussy her two eyes did clap.
"Aha!" she cried, "puss are you there?
Within your reach, I would not dare--
Not e'en though it were proved by law,
That your whole skin were stuffed with straw."

[Illustration]

THE FOX AND THE VIZOR MASK.

A fox while walking out one day,
Into a toy shop chanced to stray;
Among the toys that stood arrayed,
A vizor mask was there displayed,
With rosy cheeks, complexion fair,
And ruby lips and auburn hair,
And eyes of blue, and Grecian nose;
And many beauties to disclose,
It seemed made. The fox, with sighs,
Gazed on. "Ah, ah!" he cries,
"Look at this head it naught contains,
It has rare beauty, but no brains."

MORAL.

The accomplished beau, in air and mien how blest.
His hat well fashioned, and his hair well dress'd--
But still undress'd within: to give him brains
Exceeds his hatter's or his barber's pains.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

THE GOOSE THAT LAID GOLDEN
E