olish nibbling I shall tear all the
teeth out of your spiteful head before you know where you are."

MORAL.

Take care that you never strive with those who are too strong for
you, nor do spiteful things, lest you suffer for it.

FABLE XXV.

THE WOLF AND THE LAMB.

One hot, sultry day, a Wolf and a Lamb happened to come just at
the same time to quench their thirst in the stream of a clear,
silver brook, that ran tumbling down the side of a rocky
mountain. The Wolf stood upon the higher ground, and the Lamb at
some distance from him down the current. However, the Wolf,
having a mind to pick a quarrel with him, asked him what he meant
by disturbing the water, and making it so muddy that he could not
drink, and at the same time demanded satisfaction. The Lamb,
frightened at this threatening charge, told him, in a tone as
mild as possible, that, with humble submission, he could not
conceive how that could be, since the water which he drank ran
down from the Wolf to him, and therefore it could not be
disturbed so far up the stream. "Be that as it will," replies the
Wolf, "you are a rascal; and I have been told that you treated me
with ill-language behind my back about half a year ago." "Upon my
word," says the Lamb, "the time you mention was before I was
born." The Wolf finding it to no purpose to argue any longer
against truth, fell into a great passion, snarling and foaming at
the mouth, as if he had been mad; and, drawing nearer to the
Lamb, "Sirrah," said he, "if it was not you, it was your father,
and that's all one." So he seized the poor innocent, helpless
thing, tore it to pieces, and made a meal of it.

[Illustration: THE WOLF AND THE LAMB.]

MORAL.

Bad men, who wish to quarrel, will always find a pretence; if
they can find no true grounds, they will resort to those which
are false.

FABLE XXVI.

THE OLD BULLFINCH AND YOUNG BIRDS.

It chanced, that, on a winter's day,
But warm and bright, and calm as May,
The birds, conceiving a design
To forestall sweet St. Valentine,
In many an orchard, copse, and grove,
Assembled on affairs of love;
And with much twitter and much chatter,
Began to agitate the matter.

At length, a Bullfinch, who could boast
More years and wisdom than the most,
Entreated, opening wide his beak,
A moment's liberty to speak;
And, silence publicly enjoined,
Delivered briefly thus his mind:

"