t
circumstances, but, pray, for the future allow others to have eyesight
as well as yourselves; nor wonder if every one prefers to accept the
testimony of his own senses."

The Eagle, the Jackdaw, and the Magpie

The kingly Eagle kept his court with all the formalities of sovereign
state, and was duly attended by all his plumed subjects in their
highest feathers.

These solemn assemblies, however, were frequently disturbed by the
impertinent conduct of two, who assumed the importance of high-fliers;
these were no other than the Jackdaw and the Magpie, who were forever
contending for precedence which neither of them would give up to the
other.

The contest ran so high that at length they mutually agreed to appeal
to the sovereign Eagle for his decision in this momentous affair.

The Eagle gravely answered that he did not wish to make an invidious
distinction by deciding to the advantage of either party, but would
give them a rule by which they might determine between themselves;
"for," added he, "the greater fool of the two shall in future always
take precedence, but which of you it may be, yourselves must settle."

The Boy and the Filberts

A Boy once thrust his hand into a pitcher which was full of figs and
filberts.

He grasped as many as his fist could possibly hold, but when he tried
to draw it out the narrowness of the neck prevented him.

Not liking to lose any of them, but unwilling to draw out his hand, he
burst into tears and bitterly bemoaned his hard fortune.

An honest fellow who stood by gave him this wise and reasonable advice:
"Take only half as many, my boy, and you will easily get them."

The Passenger and the Pilot

In a violent storm at sea, the whole crew of a vessel was in imminent
danger of shipwreck.

After the rolling of the waves was somewhat abated, a certain
Passenger, who had never been at sea before, observing the Pilot to
have appeared wholly unconcerned, even in their greatest danger, had
the curiosity to ask him what death his father died.

"What death?" said the Pilot, "Why, he perished at sea, as my
grandfather did before him."

"And are you not afraid of trusting yourself to an element that has
proved thus fatal to your family?"

"Afraid? By no means; why, we must all die; is not your father dead?"

"Yes, but he died in his bed."

"And why, then, are you not afraid of trusting yourself to your bed?"

"Because I am perfectly secure there."

"It ma