The Country Maid and her Milk Pail. WHEN men suffer their imagination to amuse them, with the prospect of dif tant and uncertain improvements of their condition, they frequently fuftain real loffes, by their inattention to those affairs in which they are immediately concerned. A country Maid was walking very deliberately with a pail of milk upon her head, when she fell into the following train of reflections : The money for which I fhall fell this milk will enable me to increase my stock of eggs to three hundred. These eggs, allowing for what may prove addle, and what may be destroyed by vermin, will produce at least two hundred and fifty chickens. The In chickens will be fit to carry to market about Christmas, when poultry always bears a good price; fo that by May Day I cannot fail of having money enough to purchase a new Gown. Green-let me confider-yes, green becomes my complexion beft, and green it shall be. this dress I will go to the fair, where all the young fellows will strive to have me for a partner; but I fhall perhaps refufe every one of them, and with an air of disdain, tofs from them. Transported with this triumphant thought, fhe could not forbear acting with her head what thus paffed in her imagination, when down came the pail of milk, and with it all her imaginary happiness. The Cat and the Rat. A CERTAIN Cat had made fuch unmerciful havoc among the vermin of her neighbourhood, that not a fingle Rat or Mouse ventured to appear abroad. Pufs was foon convinced, that if affairs remained in their prefent fituation, she must be totally unfupplied with provifions. After mature deliberation, therefore, she refolved to have recourse to ftratagem. For this purpose fhe fufpended herself to a hook with her head downwards, pretending to be dead. The Rats and Mice, as they peeped from their holes, obferving her in this dangling attitude, concluded fhe was hanging for fome misdemeanour; and their prey. Pufs, as foon as a fufficient dropped into the midst of them; and This artifice having fucceeded fo well, Accordingly the whitened her coat all difguife lay concealed in the bottom of with great joy immediately fallied forth in queft of number were collected together, quitting her hold, very few had the fortune to make good their retreat. she was encouraged to try the event of a fecond. over, by rolling herself in a heap of flour, and in this a meal tub. This stratagem was executed in general with the same effect as the former. But an old experienced Rat, altogether as cunning as his adversary, was not so easily enfnared. I don't much like, faid he, that white heap yonder: Something whispers me there is mischief concealed under it. "Tis true it may be meal; but it may likewise be something that I should not relish quite so well. There can be no harm at least in keeping at a proper distance; for caution, I am fure, is the parent of safety. The Fox and the Swallow. ARISTOTLE informs us, that the following Fable was spoken by Esop to the Samians, on a debate upon changing their ministers, who were accused of plundering the commonwealth. A Fox fwimming across a river, happened to be entangled in fome weeds that grew near the bank, from which he was unable to extricate himfelf. As he lay thus exposed to whole fwarms of flies, which were galling him and fucking his blood, a fwallow, obferving his distress, kindly offered to drive them away. By no means, said the Fox; for if these should be chased away, which are already fufficiently gorged, another more hungry fwarm would fucceed, and I should be robbed of every remaining drop of blood in my veins. The Fox and the Bramble. A FOX, closely pursued by a pack of Dogs, took shelter under the covert of a Bramble. He rejoiced in this afylum; and for a while, was very happy; but foon found that if he attempted to ftir, he was wounded by thorns and prickles on every fide. However, making a virtue of neceffity, he forbore to complain; and comforted himself with reflecting that no blifs is perfect; that good and evil are mixed, and flow from the fame fountain. These Briers, indeed, faid he, will tear my skin a little, yet they keep off the dogs. For the fake of the good then let me bear the evil with patience; each bitter has its fweet; and these Brambles, though they wound my flesh, preserve my life A FARMER came to a neighbouring Lawyer, expreffing great concern for an accident which he said had just happened. One of your Oxen, continued he, has been gored by an unlucky Bull of mine, and I fhould be glad to know how I am to make you reparation. Thou art a very honeft fellow, replied the lawyer, and wilt not think it unreafonable that I expect one of thy Oxen in return. It is no more than juftice, quoth the Farmer, to be fure; but what did I say? -I mistake—It is your Bull that has killed one of my Oxen. Indeed! fays the Lawyer, that alters the cafe; I must inquire into the affair; and if-And if faid the Farmer-the business I find would have been concluded without an if, had you been as ready to do justice to others, as to exact it from them. The Bear and the two Friends. TWO Friends, fetting out together upon a journey, which led through a dangerous foreft, mutually promised to affift each other if they should happen to be affaulted. They had not proceeded far, before they perceived a Bear making towards them with great rage. There were no hopes in flight; but one of them, being very active, fprung up into a tree; upon which the other, throwing himself flat on the ground, held his breath and pretended to be dead; remembering to have heard it afferted, that this creature will not prey upon a dead carcafs. The bear When he was fairly came up, and after smelling to him fome time, left him and went on. out of fight and hearing, the hero from the tree called out-Well, my friend, what faid the bear? he seemed to whisper you very closely. He did fo, replied the other, and gave me this good piece of advice, never to affociate with a wretch, who in the hour of danger, will defert his friend. The Two Dogs. HASTY and inconfiderate connections are generally attended with great disadvantages; and much of every man's good or ill fortune, de pends upon the choice he makes of his friends. A good-natured Spaniel overtook a furly Maftiff, as he was travelling upon the high road. Tray, although an entire stranger to Tiger, very civilly accosted him; and if it would be no interruption, he said, he should be glad to bear him company on his way. Tiger, who happened not to be altogether in fo growling a mood as usual, accepted the propofal; and they very amicably pursued their journey together. In the midft of their converfation, they arrived at the next village, where Tiger began to difplay his malignant difpofition, by an unprovoked attack upon every dog he met. The villagers immediately fallied forth with great indignation, to rescue their refpective favourites; and falling upon our two friends, without dif tinction or mercy, poor Tray was moft cruelly treated, for no other reason, but his being found in bad company. STATISTICS OF COLLEGES AND COLLEGIATE DEPARTMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES AUTHORIZED TO CONFER DEGREES IN ARTS, COMPILED FROM THE MOST RETHE UNITED STATES BUREAU OF EDUCATION. with the office. tions, reference is made to the appropriate tables, theological, legal, medical, normal, commercial, agri"a" mean the given amount per annum; "b" signifies board and tuition per annum. Roman Catholic; Bapt., Baptist; Mas., Masonic; M. E., Methodist Episcopal; P. E., Protestant Epis Cumberland Prosbyterian; Luth., Lutheran; Fr., Friends; U. B., United Brethren; F. B., Free Bap Reformed; Ref., Reformed, (Dutch;) L. D. S., Latter-Day Saints; A. M. E., African Methodist Episco. byterian; M. E. S., Methodist Episcopal, South. ful. |