THE OX AND THE ASS.

An Ox and near an Ass one day
Were in a meadow feeding;
Thus to the Ox the Ass did say,

Nor sense nor manners heeding:

"Here tame like thee I would not stay; No labour would I do;

I'd fight and far away I'd stray,
If I had horns like you."

The Ox replied, "That's well confess'd
No doubt you would abuse them:
But I, who am of horns possess'd,
Know better how to use them."

THE FLOWER AND THE WILLOW.

A lovely flower, of rainbow hue,
Beneath a weeping willow grew;
But discontent proved its vexation;
It murmur'd at its situation.

While passion shook its blushing head,
It to the weeping willow said;
"See how I'm shaded here by you:
My lovely charms are hid from view :

"Beauties like mine would surely grace
An open and conspicuous place.
Why in this lonely shade must I
Unnoticed bloom, unnoticed die?

"To hide such charms is 'gainst all rule;
And Flora surely was a fool,

To plant so fair a flower as me
Beneath a gloomy willow tree."

The goddess, from her fragrant bower,
O'erheard the discontented flower;

And, straightway, she its wishes granted; 'Twas to another spot transplanted.

Beneath the sun's resplendent ray,
Its charms were wither'd in a day.

The willow, that had been its aid,
Surveyed the change, and thus she said: -

"Frail murmurer! well may'st thou lament The fatal fruits of discontent;

For since my shelter was despised,
See how thy folly is chastised!

"Why did thy pride create a care

That all who pass'd might deem thee fair?
But thou hast proved, to thy vexation,
How dear fools pay for admiration.

"To Flora's tribes, I hope thy fall
Will prove a good, and teach them all
To live contented in their stations,
Nor murmur at her dispensations.”

The faded flower made no reply,
But, trembling to the zephyr's sigh,
Bow'd down its languid head, and died
The victim of its foolish pride.

THE HARE AND THE HOUND.

A country-man, one day, with care,
Did till a trap to catch a Hare;

*

But Puss escaped the snare thus laid,
For, lo! therein a Hound was stay'd.
The Hound began a hideous yell,
Which echoed over hill and dell;

When, lo! a Hare pass'd by, and view'd
The Hound by whom she'd been pursued.
Poor Puss, though glad, was much surprised:
She by the Hound was recognised:
"Ah! Puss, my dearest friend," said he,
"Do lend your aid to set me free;

And if you will, my word I'll stake

Ne'er more a Hare to kill or take."

The Hare replied: "That's flattering stuff! You have already kill'd enough;

Methinks, although you promise fair,

I am more safe while

you are there.

'Tis wrong to stray from caution's bounds: And hard to trust to hungry Hounds."

Set.

THE SNOW-DROP AND THE IVY.

Fast fell the rain, the winds did roar;
Her wint❜ry robe Creation wore ;
When, fearless, from a frost-bound bed,
A Snow-drop raised its little head.

An Ivy, through the winter green,
Its unprotected state had seen;
And, by mistaken prudence moved,
The fearless flow'ret thus reproved: -

" 'Tis great presumption this, I vow,
In such a tender flower as thou,

That thus thou seem'st to dare the blast,
When lofty elms e'en are laid waste.

"Take my advice, lie by awhile,

Till Sol resumes his vernal smile;
Then beauty will bedeck the vales,
And whirlwinds sink to gentle gales.

"Let not the storms display their power

On such a weak, unshelter'd flower."