by this means took the opportunity to devour many of them. At
last the shepherd discovered him, and cunningly fastening a rope about
his neck, tied him up to a tree which stood hard by. Some other
shepherds happening to pass that way, and observing what he was about,
drew near, and expressed their admiration at it. "What!" says one of
them, "brother, do you make hanging of a sheep?" "No," replied the
other, "but I make hanging of a Wolf whenever I catch him, though in the
habit and garb of a sheep." Then he showed them their mistake, and they
applauded the justice of the execution.

THE COUNTRYMAN AND THE SNAKE

A Villager, in a frosty, snowy winter, found a Snake under a hedge,
almost dead with cold. He could not help having a compassion for the
poor creature, so brought it home, and laid it upon the hearth, near the
fire; but it had not lain there long, before (being revived with the
heat) it began to erect itself, and fly at his wife and children,
filling the whole cottage with dreadful hissings. The Countryman heard
an outcry, and perceiving what the matter was, catched up a mattock and
soon dispatched him; upbraiding him at the same time in these
words:--"Is this, vile wretch, the reward you make to him that saved
your life? Die as you deserve; but a single death is too good for you."

THE BELLY AND THE MEMBERS

In former days, when the Belly and the other parts of the body enjoyed
the faculty of speech, and had separate views and designs of their own,
each part, it seems, in particular for himself, and in the name of the
whole, took exception to the conduct of the Belly, and were resolved to
grant him supplies no longer. They said they thought it very hard that
he should lead an idle, good-for-nothing life, spending and squandering
away, upon his own ungodly guts, all the fruits of their labor; and
that, in short, they were resolved, for the future, to strike off his
allowance, and let him shift for himself as well as he could. The Hands
protested they would not lift up a finger to keep him from starving; and
the Mouth wished he might never speak again if he took in the least bit
of nourishment for him as long as he lived; and, said the Teeth, may we
be rotten if ever we chew a morsel for him for the future. This solemn
league and covenant was kept as long as anything of that kind can be
kept, which was until each of the rebel members pined away to skin and
bone, and could hold out no longer. Then they foun