herself on her knees before the animal, and implored with all the energy and expression of a mother in despair, the life of her child. The lion stopped,-fixed his eyes upon her,—placed the infant upon the ground, without having done it the smallest injury, and departed.*

THE LION AND THE MOUSE.

A lion, faint with heat, and weary with hunting, was laid down to take his repose under the spreading boughs of a thick shady oak. It happened that, while he slept, a company of scrambling mice ran over his back, and waked him: upon which, starting up, he clapped his paw upon one of them, and was just going to put it to death; when the little suppliant implored his mercy in a very moving manner, begging him not to stain his noble character with the blood of so despicable and small a beast. The lion, considering the matter, thought proper to do as he was desired, and immediately released his little trembling prisoner. Not long after, traversing the forest in pursuit of his prey, he chanced to run into the toils of the hunters; from whence, not able to disengage himself, he set up a most hideous and loud roar. The mouse, hearing the noise, and knowing it to be the lion's, immediately repaired to the place, and bid him fear nothing, for that he was his friend. Then straight he fell to work, and his little sharp teeth, gnawing asunder the knots and fastenings of the toils, set the royal brute at liberty.

"ESOP'S FABLES."

A story recorded of Cecco d'Ascoli and of Dante, on the subject of natural and acquired genius, may illustrate

From Noble Deeds of Women by Elizabeth Starling.

the present topic. Cecco maintained that nature was more potent than art, while Dante asserted the contrary. To prove his principle, the great Italian bard referred to his cat, which, by repeated practice, he had taught to hold a candle in its paw while he supped or read. Cecco desired to witness the experiment, and came not unprepared for his purpose; when Dante's cat was performing its part, Cecco, lifting up the lid of a pot which he had filled with mice, the creature of art instantly showed the weakness of a talent merely acquired, and dropping the candle, flew on mice with all its instinctive propensity. Dante was himself disconcerted; and it was adjudged that the advocate for the occult principle of native faculties had gained his cause!

*

A sailor once went ashore on the coast of South America. He had with him a number of red woollen caps for sale. On his way to a town at some distance from the coast, he had to pass through a forest, in which troops of monkeys were everywhere seen climbing among the trees.

At noon, as the sun was right overhead, the sailor had to take shelter from its burning rays. He lay down to rest under the shade of a large tree. Taking one of the caps out of his bundle, he put it on his head, and soon fell fast asleep.

When he awoke, he found, to his amazement, that the caps were all gone! ! He heard a most unusual chattering among the dense branches above him, and looking up, he saw the trees alive with troops of monkeys. On the head of each monkey was a red woollen cap!

From Disraeli's Curiosities.

The little mimics had watched his proceeding, and having stolen his caps while he slept, had adorned their black pates with their booty. The monkeys gave no heed to his shouts, but only grinned at his rage.

Finding every attempt to get back his caps fruitless, he pulled off the one which he had put on his head and threw it on the ground, crying out, "Here, you little thieving rogues, if you will keep the rest, you may take this one too!"

Each

No sooner had he done this than, to his great surprise, the little animals at once did the same. snatched the cap from his head and threw it on the ground! The sailor regained all his caps, and marched off in triumph.*

THE BRAHMANA, THE TIGER, AND

THE SIX JUDGES.

Once upon a time a Brâhmana, who was walking along the road, came upon an iron-cage, in which a great Tiger had been shut up by the villagers who caught him.

66

As the Brahmana passed by, the Tiger called out and said to him, "Brother Brâhmana, Brother Brâhmana, have pity on me, and let me out of this cage for a minute only, to drink a little water, for I am dying of thirst." The Brahmana answered, "No I will not; for if I let you out of the cage you will eat me." "O father of mercy," answered the Tiger, "in truth that I will never be so ungrateful; only let me may drink some water and return." took pity on him, and opened the cage-door; but no sooner had he done so than the Tiger, jumping out, said,

From The New Royal Readers No. 3.

will I not.

out that I Then the Brahmana

"Now I will eat you first, and drink the water afterwards." But the Brâhmana said, "Only do not kill me hastily. Let us first ask the opinion of six, and if all of them say it is just and fair that you should put me to death, then I am willing to die." "Very well," answered the Tiger, "it shall be as you say; we will first ask the opinion of six."

So the Brahmana and the Tiger walked on till they came to a Banyan-tree; and the Brahmana said to it, "Banyan-tree, Banyan-tree, hear and give judgment.” "On what must I give judgment?" asked the Banyantree. The Brahmana stated the case. The Banyan-tree answered, "Men often come "Men often come to take refuge in the cool shade under my boughs from the scorching rays of the sun; but when they have rested, they cut and break my pretty branches, and wantonly scatter the leaves that sheltered them. Let the Tiger eat the man, for men are an ungrateful race."

At these words the Tiger would have instantly killed the Brahmana; but the Brahmana said, "Tiger, Tiger, you must not kill me yet, for you promised that we should first hear the judgment of six." "Very well,” said the Tiger, and they went on their way. After a little while they met a Camel. "Sir Camel, Sir Camel," cried the Brahmana, "hear and give judgment." The Brahmana stated the case. The Camel replied, "When I was young and strong, and could do much work, my master took care of me and gave me good food; but now that I am old, and have lost my strength in this service, he overloads me and starves me, and beats me without mercy. Let the Tiger eat the man, for men are an unjust and cruel race."

The Tiger would have then killed the Brahmana, but the latter said, "Stop, Tiger, for we must first hear the judgment of six."

So they both went again on their way. At a little distance they found a Bullock lying by the roadside. The Brahmana said to him, "Brother Bullock, Brother Bullock, hear and give judgment." And the Brâhmana stated the case. The Bullock said, "When I was able to work my master fed me well and tended me carefully, but now I am old, he has forgotten all I did for him, and left me by the roadside to die. Let the Tiger eat the man, for men have no pity."

Three out of six had given judgment against the Brâhmana, but still he did not lose all hope, and determined to ask the other three.

They next met an Eagle, flying through the air, to whom the Brahmana cried, "O Eagle, great Eagle, hear and give judgment." And the Brahmana stated the case, but the Eagle answered, "Whenever men see me they try to shoot me; they climb the rocks and steal away my little ones. Let the Tiger eat the man, for men are the persecutors of the earth."

Then the Tiger began to roar and said, "The judgment of all is against you, O Brâhmana!" But the Brâhmana answered, "Stay yet a little longer, for two others must first be asked." After this they saw an Alligator, and the Brâhmana related the matter to him, hoping for a more favourable verdict. But the Alligator said, "Whenever I put my nose out of the water, men torment me, and try to kill me. man, for as long as men live, we

The Brahmana gave himself

Let the Tiger eat the shall have no rest." up as lost; but once

more he prayed the Tiger to have patience, and to let