Aeroplanes | Page 5

better hang on the tree,
it is plain?"
But just at the time the philosopher spoke
An acorn dropp'd down on
his head from the oak;
Then, said he, who just now thought _his_
plan was so clever, "I am glad that _this_ was not a pumpkin,
however."
MORAL.

The sage would no doubt have looked grievously dull,
Had a
pumpkin descended with force on his scull.
Of his folly then let us in
future beware,
And believe that _such_ matters _are best as they are_:

Leave the manners and customs of oak trees alone,
Of acorns, and
pumpkins--and look to our own.
[Illustration]
THE WOLF AND THE CRANE.
A wolf, once forgetting the size of his swallow,
Tried to pass a large
marrow-bone through it.
"Oh dear," said the beast, thinking death was
to follow,
"How careless and stupid to do it!"
His mouth was propp'd open by means of the bone,
And his breathing
was greatly impeded,
But a crane coming up, he contrived to make
known
What kind of assistance he needed.
"How d'ye do?" said the bird; said the beast, "Very ill,
For a bone has
gone down the wrong way;
But if you can extract it by means of your
bill,
The service I'll amply repay."
Thought the crane, "I'm no surgeon: yet all must agree,
That my bill
will make excellent _forceps_;
And as for the money, I do not now
see
Why I need refuse taking his worship's."
Said the bird, "It's agreed;" said his patient, "Proceed,
And take the
bone hence, I beseech;"
Which, after awhile, and with infinite toil,

The crane at last managed to reach.
"Thank my stars!" said the beast, from his terrors released, "Thank you
_too_, sir," said he to the bird;
"Alas!" said the crane, "is this all I'm
to gain,
I was waiting the promised reward."
Said the wolf, "You forget, I've contracted no debt,
Since the service

was _rendered by me_;
Your head I releas'd from the jaws of a beast,

And now you're demanding a fee!"
MORAL.
Give your help to a wolf, should he beg for your aid,
But you must
not expect when you've done to be paid.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
THE DOG AND THE SHADOW.
A dog growing thinner, for want of a dinner,
Once purloined him a
joint from a tray,
"How happy I am, with this shoulder of lamb,"

Thought the cur as he trotted away.
But the way that he took, lay just over a brook,
Which he found it
was needful to cross;
So without more ado, he plunged in to go
through,
Not dreaming of danger or loss.
But what should appear, in this rivulet clear,
As he thought upon
coolest reflection,
But a cur like himself, who with ill-gotten pelf,

Had run off in that very direction.
Thought the dog, _a propos_! but that instant let go
(As he snatched
at this same water-spaniel)
The piece he possess'd:--so with hunger
distress'd
He slowly walk'd home to his kennel.
MORAL.
Hence, when we are needy, don't let us be greedy,
(Excuse me this
line of digression,)
Lest in snatching at all, like the dog, we let fall

The good that we have in possession.
[Illustration]

THE TRAVELLERS AND THE BEAR.
Two trav'llers one morning set out from their home,
It might be from
Sparta, from Athens, or Rome;
It matters not which, but agreed, it is
said,
Should danger arise, to lend each other aid.
But scarce was this done, when forth rushing amain,
Sprung a bear
from a wood tow'rds these travellers twain;
Then one of our heroes,
with courage immense,
Climb'd into a tree, and there found his
defence.
The other fell flat to the earth with dread,
When the bear came and
smelt him, and thought he was dead;
So not liking the carcase, away
trotted he,
When straight our brave hero descended the tree.
Then, said he, "I can't think what the bear could propose,
When so
close to your ear, he presented his nose."
"Why this," said the other,
"he told me to do,
To beware for the future of cowards like you."
MORAL.
Those people who run from their friends in distress,
Will be left when
_themselves_ are in trouble, I guess.
[Illustration]
THE FROGS AND THE BULL.
A Bull once treading near a bog,
Displaced the entrails of a frog,

Who near his foot did trust them;
In fact, so great was the contusion,

And made of his inwards such confusion,
No art could re-adjust
them.
It chanced that some who saw his fate,
Did to a friend the deed relate,

With croakings, groans, and hisses;
"The beast," said they, "in size
excell'd
All other beasts," their neighbors swell'd,
And ask'd, "as

large as this is!"
"Oh, larger far than that," said they,
"Do not attempt it, madam,
pray;"
But still the frog distended,
And said, "I'll burst, but I'll
exceed,"
She tried, and burst herself indeed!
And so the matter
ended.
MORAL.
Should you with pride inflate and swell,
As did the frog: then who
can tell!
Your sides may crack, as has been shown,
And we with
laughing crack our own.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
THE COUNCIL OF MICE.
Some mice who saw fit, once a quarter to