lis, that before slow Mr. Snail had once thought of peeping out, they had fixed his shell fast to the side of the hive, and turned his house into his tomb.

Those, who attempt to occupy places, for which nature never designed them, are frequently ruined by the very persons, from whom they foolishly seek to derive profit and protection.

THE PINNA AND THE CUTTLE FISH.

There is a large kind of muscle, called the pinna; and the cuttle fish, which has eight, long arms, is its most destructive enemy.

Whenever the pinna opens its shell to take in its food, the cuttle

fish is on the watch to thrust in its long arms and devour it.

But it is so ordered by Providence, that a little crab, which has red eyes and sees very sharply, lives in the muscle's shell, and whenever his blind friend opens it, the crab looks out for the enemy.

As soon as he sees the cuttle fish coming, he tells the muscle, by giving him a little pinch with its claw, and so he instantly closes the shell, as a man fastens up his house and shuts out the thieves.

The little crab, by warning the pinna of its danger, secures, at the same time, its own protection and support; and we may learn from them not to despise the assistance of others.

Say to no one then, "I can do without you;" but be ready to help those who ask your aid, and then, when it is needed, you may ask

theirs..

LESSON XL.

jog ging glad ly

limp ing pro ved

fol low ing heav i er

THE MAN THAT TRIED TO PLEASE EVERY BODY AND
PLEASED NOBODY.

As an old man and his son were driving an ass to market, they were met by a person who called out to them in the following manner:

"Indeed, friends, you seem to be quite careful of the old ass there. I think one of you might as well get upon him and ride, as both to go jog ging after him on foot."

Upon this, the old man told his son to get on and ride, which he did very gladly; but before they had gone half a mile farther, they met another person.

"Well done, my young lad," said he, "is that the way you ride along at your ease, while your poor old father is limping after you in the dirt ?"

The lad now got off while his father took his place, and they went on till they met a third person, who said to the old man, "How can you be so cruel as to make your little son trudge along on foot, while you have only to guide your beast and ride ?"

The old man now thinking to please them all, took up his son be hind him, but they both proved to be a heavier burden than the poor beast could bear. For, as they urged him on, he sunk to the earth, and died in the middle of the road.

The old man and his son now turned back, vexed and grieved to think they had been so foolish as to try to please every body, and pleased nobody, and lost their beast in the bargain.

gild ed

Cov ers

rag ged

eat en.

self ish

ex pect

a sha med

THE TWO BOOKS, A Fable.

"Mind how you touch my gilded covers," said a fine book to a very plain one that happened to lie near him. "I wonder how such a rag ged fellow can dare to take such - liberties."

"It is true," said the plain book, "I do not look so fine as you do, but I have no rags that I need be ashamed of; for while you have been doing nothing these six years on the shelf, I have been read a hundred times.

"Besides, although my cover is nearly worn out, my leaves are sound, and worth a new cover; but when your fine covers are eaten off by the worms, you will never get any more I fear."

"I am glad you like your rags," said the fine book," but I will thank you to stand a little farther off, for I do not like them so well."

"For my part," said the poor book,