t course do you
design to take?" "Nay," says the Cat, "I have but one shift for it, and
if that won't do, I am undone." "I am sorry for you," replies Reynard,
"with all my heart, and would gladly help you, but indeed, neighbor, as
times go, it is not good to trust; we must even be every one for
himself, as the saying is." These words were scarcely out of his mouth,
when they were alarmed with a pack of hounds, that came upon them in
full cry. The Cat, by the help of her single shift, ran up a tree, and
sat securely among the top branches; from whence she beheld Reynard,
who had not been able to get out of sight, overtaken with his thousand
tricks, and torn in as many pieces by the dogs which had surrounded him.

A little common sense is often of more value than much cunning.

The Eagle and the Arrow.

[Illustration]

An Eagle sat on a lofty rock, watching the movements of a Hare, whom he
sought to make his prey. An archer, who saw him from a place of
concealment, took an accurate aim, and wounded him mortally. The Eagle
gave one look at the arrow that had entered his heart, and saw in that
single glance that its feathers had been furnished by himself. "It is a
double grief to me," he exclaimed, "that I should perish by an arrow
feathered from my own wings."

The misfortunes arising from a man's own misconduct are the hardest to
bear.

The Dog Invited to Supper.

[Illustration]

A Gentleman, having prepared a great feast, invited a Friend to supper;
and the Gentleman's Dog, meeting the Friend's Dog, "Come," said he, "my
good fellow, and sup with us to-night." The Dog was delighted with the
invitation, and as he stood by and saw the preparations for the feast,
said to himself: "Capital fare indeed! this is, in truth, good luck. I
shall revel in dainties, and I will take good care to lay in an ample
stock to-night, for I may have nothing to eat to-morrow." As he said
this to himself, he wagged his tail, and gave a sly look at his friend
who had incited him. But his tail wagging to and fro caught the cook's
eye, who, seeing a stranger, straightway seized him by the legs, and
threw him out the window to the street below. When he reached the
ground, he set off yelping down the street; upon which the neighbors'
dogs ran up to him and asked him how he liked his supper. "In faith,"
said he, with a sorry smile, "I hardly know, for we drank so deeply,
that I can't even tell you which way I got out."

Th