jests they are ready to make on us.

FABLE LXXVIII.

THE DOG IN THE MANGER.

A DOG was lying upon a manger full of hay. An Ox, being hungry,
came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; but the envious,
ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at him, would not suffer
him to touch it. Upon which the Ox, in the bitterness of his
heart, said, "What a selfish wretch thou art, for thou canst
neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer others to do so."

MORAL.

Selfishness is a most contemptible thing; but that degree of it
which withholds from others what we can make no possible use of
ourselves, is hateful in the extreme.

FABLE LXXIX.

THE OLD MAN AND DEATH.

[Illustration: THE DOG IN THE MANGER.]

A POOR, feeble old Man, who had crawled out into a neighbouring
wood to gather a few sticks, had made up his bundle, and,
laying it over his shoulders, was trudging homeward with it; but
what with age, and the length of the way, and the weight of his
burden, he grew so faint and weak that he sunk under it, and, as
he sat on the ground, called upon Death to come and ease him of
his troubles. Death no sooner heard him than he came and demanded
of him what he wanted. The poor old creature, who little thought
Death had been so near, and frightened almost out of his senses
with his terrible aspect, answered him, trembling, That, having
by chance let his bundle of sticks fall, and being too infirm to
get it up himself, he had made bold to call upon him to help him;
that, indeed, this was all he wanted at present, and that he
hoped his worship was not offended with him for the liberty he
had taken in so doing.

MORAL.

Men lightly speak of Death when they think he is far away; but
let him appear near, and the very sense of his approach almost
drives the life away. Men then resume the burden of cares which
they had thrown down as insupportable, being content to bear the
ills they have than fly to others that they know not of.

FABLE LXXX.

THE OLD HEN AND YOUNG COCK.

As an old Hen led forth her train,
And seemed to peck, to show the grain;
She raked the chaff, she scratched the ground,
And gleaned the spacious yard around.
A giddy chick, to try her wings,
On the well's narrow margin springs,
And prone she drops. The mother's breast
All day with sorrow was possessed.

A Cock she met--her son, she knew;
And in her heart affection grew.

"My son