Favourite Fables in Prose and Verse Part 5

If evil habits have got a man into difficulties, there is no surer way to extricate himself than, by G.o.d's help, to cast those habits off.

FABLE XXVIII.

THE OLD HOUND.

An old Hound, who had been an excellent good one in his time, and given his master great sport and satisfaction in many a chase, at last, by the effect of years, became feeble and unserviceable.

However, being in the field one day when the Stag was almost run down, he happened to be the first that came in with him, and seized him by one of his haunches; but his decayed and broken teeth not being able to keep their hold, the deer escaped and threw him quite out. Upon which his master, being in a great pa.s.sion, and going to strike him, the honest old creature is said to have barked out this apology. "Ah! do not strike your poor old servant; it is not my heart and inclination, but my strength and speed that fail me. If what I now am displeases you, pray don't forget what I have been."

MORAL.

Past services should never be forgotten.

FABLE XXIX.

THE CHARGER AND THE a.s.s

The Horse, adorned with his great war-saddle, and champing his foaming bridle, came thundering along the way, and made the mountains echo with his loud, shrill neighing. He had not gone far before he overtook an a.s.s, who was labouring under a heavy burthen, and moving slowly on in the same track with himself.

Immediately he called out to him, in a haughty, imperious tone, and threatened to trample him in the dirt, if he did not make way for him. The poor, patient a.s.s, not daring to dispute the matter, quietly got out of his way as fast as he could, and let him go by. Not long after this, the same Horse, in an engagement with the enemy, happened to be shot in the eye, which made him unfit for show or any military business; so he was stript of his fine ornaments, and sold to a carrier. The a.s.s, meeting him in this forlorn condition, thought that now it was his time to speak; and so, says he, "Heyday, friend, is it you? Well, I always believed that pride of yours would one day have a fall."

MORAL.

Pride and haughtiness are foreign to really great men. Those who show it, when in their high estate, if the wheel of fortune should change, instead of friends.h.i.+p or pity, will meet with nothing but contempt.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE CHARGER AND THE a.s.s.]

FABLE x.x.x.

THE COLT AND THE FARMER.

A COLT, for blood and mettled speed, The choicest of the running breed, Of youthful strength and beauty vain, Refused subjection to the rein.

In vain the groom's officious skill Opposed his pride, and checked his will; In vain the master's forming care Restrained with threats, or soothed with prayer: Of freedom proud, and scorning man, Wild o'er the s.p.a.cious plain he ran.

Where'er luxuriant Nature spread Her flowery carpet o'er the mead, Or bubbling stream's soft gliding pa.s.s To cool and freshen up the gra.s.s, Disdaining bounds, he cropped the blade, And wantoned in the spoil he made.

In plenty thus the summer pa.s.sed; Revolving winter came at last: The trees no more a shelter yield; The verdure withers from the field: Perpetual snows invest the ground; In icy chains the streams are bound: Cold, nipping winds, and rattling hail, His lank, unsheltered sides a.s.sail.

As round he cast his rueful eyes, He saw the thatched-roof cottage rise: The prospect touched his heart with cheer, And promised kind deliverance near.

A stable, erst his scorn and hate, Was now become his wished retreat; His pa.s.sion cool, his pride forgot, A Farmer's welcome yard he sought.

The master saw his woful plight, His limbs, that tottered with his weight, And, friendly, to the stable led, And saw him littered, dressed, and fed.

In slothful ease all night he lay; The servants rose at break of day; The market calls. Along the road His back must bear the pond'rous load;

In vain he struggles or complains, Incessant blows reward his pains.

To-morrow varies but his toil: Chained to the plough, he breaks the soil; While scanty meals at night repay The painful labours of the day.

Subdued by toil, with anguish rent, His self-upbraidings found a vent.

"Wretch that I am!" he sighing said, "By arrogance and folly led; Had but my restive youth been brought To learn the lesson nature taught, Then had I, like my sires of yore, The prize from every courser bore.

Now, lasting servitude's my lot, My birth contemned, my speed forgot; Doomed am I, for my pride, to bear A living death from year to year."

MORAL.

He who disdains control, will only gain A youth of pleasure for an age of pain.

FABLE x.x.xI.

THE LARK AND HER YOUNG ONES.

A LARK, who had young ones in a field of corn almost ripe, was under some fear lest the reapers should come to reap it before her young brood was fledged and able to remove from that place.

She, therefore, upon flying abroad to look for food, left this charge with them--to take notice what they heard talked of in her absence, and tell her of it when she came back again.

When she was gone, they heard the owner of the corn call to his son: "Well," says he, "I think this corn is ripe enough. I would have you go early to-morrow, and desire our friends and neighbours to come and help us to reap it." When the old Lark came home, the young ones fell a quivering and chirping round her, and told her what had happened, begging her to remove them as fast as she could. The mother bid them be easy: "For," said she, "if the owner depends on his friends and neighbours, I am pretty sure the corn will not be reaped to-morrow."

Next day, she went out again, leaving the same orders as before.

The owner came, and staid, expecting his friends; but the sun grew hot, and nothing was done, for not a soul came to help them.

Then says he to his son, "I perceive these friends of ours are not to be depended upon; so you must go to your uncles and cousins, and tell them I desire they would be here betimes to-morrow morning, to help us to reap." Well, this the young ones, in a great fright, reported also to their mother. "If that be all," says she, "do not be frightened, dear children; for kindred and relations are not so very forward to serve one another; but take particular notice what you hear said next time, and be sure you let me know it."

She went abroad next day, as usual; and the owner, finding his relations as slack as the rest of his neighbours, said to his son, "Harkee, George; get a couple of good sickles ready against to-morrow morning, and we will even reap the corn ourselves."

When the young ones told their mother this, "Then," said she, "we must be gone indeed; for, when a man undertakes to do his business himself, it is not so likely he will be disappointed."

So she removed her young ones at once, and the corn was reaped next day by the good man and his son.

MORAL.

Never depend on the a.s.sistance of others. No business is so sure to be done as that which a man sets about doing himself.