rrelling for the Apple of Discord and the Bone of
Contention, for they were very hungry.

"My sons," said Apollo, "I will part the prizes between you. You," he
said to the First Poet, "excel in Art--take the Apple. And you," he said
to the Second Poet, "in Imagination--take the Bone."

"To Art the best prize!" said the First Poet, triumphantly, and
endeavouring to devour his award broke all his teeth. The Apple was a
work of Art.

"That shows our Master's contempt for mere Art," said the Second Poet,
grinning.

Thereupon he attempted to gnaw his Bone, but his teeth passed through it
without resistance. It was an imaginary Bone.

The Thistles upon the Grave

A Mind Reader made a wager that he would be buried alive and remain so
for six months, then be dug up alive. In order to secure the grave
against secret disturbance, it was sown with thistles. At the end of
three months, the Mind Reader lost his money. He had come up to eat the
thistles.

The Shadow of the Leader

A Political Leader was walking out one sunny day, when he observed his
Shadow leaving him and walking rapidly away.

"Come back here, you scoundrel," he cried.

"If I had been a scoundrel," answered the Shadow, increasing its speed,
"I should not have left you."

The Sagacious Rat

A Rat that was about to emerge from his hole caught a glimpse of a Cat
waiting for him, and descending to the colony at the bottom of the hole
invited a Friend to join him in a visit to a neighbouring corn-bin. "I
would have gone alone," he said, "but could not deny myself the pleasure
of such distinguished company."

"Very well," said the Friend, "I will go with you. Lead on."

"Lead?" exclaimed the other. "What! _I_ precede so great and
illustrious a rat as you? No, indeed--after you, sir, after you."

Pleased with this great show of deference, the Friend went ahead, and,
leaving the hole first, was caught by the Cat, who immediately trotted
away with him. The other then went out unmolested.

The Member and the Soap

A Member of the Kansas Legislature meeting a Cake of Soap was passing it
by without recognition, but the Cake of Soap insisted on stopping and
shaking hands. Thinking it might possibly be in the enjoyment of the
elective franchise, he gave it a cordial and earnest grasp. On letting
it go he observed that a portion of it adhered to his fingers, and
running to a brook in great alarm he proceeded to w