THE OLD MAN AND HIS ASS

An old man and a litlle boy were driving an ass to the next market tosell. « What a fool is this fellow », says a man upon the road, « to be trudging it on foot wilh his son, thaï his ass may go lighlî » The old man, hearing this, set his boy upon the ass, andwentwhistling by the side of him. « Why, sirrah ! » cries a second man to the boy, « is it fit for you to be riding, while your poor old falher is walking on fool? » The falher, upon this rebuke, took down his boy from the ass, and mounted himself. « Do you see )), says a ihird, « how the lazy old knave rides along upon his beast, while his poor lillle boy is almost crippled wilh walking ! » The old man no sooner heard this, Ihan he took up his son behind him. « Pray, lionest friend )), says a fourlh, « is that ass your own? » — « Yes », says the man. — « One should nol hâve ihought so », replied the olher, « by your loading him so unmercifully. You and your son are bélier able lo carry the poor beast, than he you. » — « Any thing to please », says the owner ; and alighling with his son, they tied the legs oflhe ass togelher, and by the help of a pôle, endeavoured to carry him, upon their shoulders, over the bridge thad led to the town. This was so entertaining a sight, that the people ran in crowds to laugh at it; till the ass, conceiving a dislike to the over-complaisance of his masler, burst asunder the cords that tied him, slipped from Ihe pôle, and tiimblcd into the river. The poor old man made the besl of his way home, ashamed and vexed, Ihat by endeavouring to please every body, he had pleased nobody, and lost his ass into the bargain. (World.)

ALLEGORIES.