leased with the
fellow's honesty, that he gave him the other two into the
bargain, as a reward for his just dealing.

The man then went to his companions, and, giving them an account
of what had happened, one of them went presently to the river
side, and let his hatchet fall designedly into the stream. Then,
sitting down upon the bank, he fell a-weeping and lamenting, as
if he had been really and sorely afflicted. Mercury appeared as
before, and, diving, brought him up a golden hatchet, asking if
that was the one he had lost. Transported at the precious metal,
he answered "Yes," and went to snatch it greedily. But the god,
detesting his abominable impudence, not only refused to give him
that, but would not so much as let him have his own hatchet
again.

MORAL.

Honesty is the best policy; it has made many a man's fortune,
being blessed by God, and highly valued by man.

FABLE LXXXII.

THE WOLF AND THE KID.

The GOAT, going abroad to feed, shut up her young kid at home,
charging him to bolt the door fast, and open it to nobody, till
she herself should return. The Wolf, who lay lurking just by,
heard this charge given, and soon after came and knocked at the
door, counterfeiting the voice of the Goat, and desiring to be
admitted. The Kid, looking out of the window and discovering the
cheat, bid him go about his business; for however he might
imitate a Goat's voice, yet he appeared too much like a Wolf to
be trusted.

MORAL.

We cannot use too much caution in avoiding those things which
those who have more experience than we have warned us against.

FABLE LXXXIII.

THE OLD MAN AND HIS SONS.

[Illustration: THE WOLF AND THE GOAT.]

An Old Man had many Sons, who were often falling out with one
another. When the father had exerted his authority, and used
other means in order to reconcile them, and all to no purpose, he
at last had recourse to this expedient: he ordered his Sons to be
called before him, and a short bundle of sticks to be brought;
and then commanded them, one by one, to try if, with all their
might and strength, they could any of them break it. They all
tried, but to no purpose; for the sticks being closely and
compactly bound up together, it was impossible for the force of
man to do it.

After this the father ordered the bundle to be untied, and gave a
single stick to each of his Sons, at the same time bidding him
try to break it, which, when each did, with all imaginab