154 AMUSEMENT,

like himself, he liked music and merriment,
and even hard work came more easy for a
little recreation by the way.

There was much truth and good sense in
the observation of the waggoner. “ All work
and no play,” says the proverb, “ makes
Jack a dull boy.” It is right and proper
that we should devote some part of our time
to amusement, for by means of it we are
cheered and enlivened, and qualified to en-
gage in our severer duties with good effect.
But we should be careful of two points:
first, that we choose innocent amusements ;
and second, that we do not permit our recre-
ations so far to engross our thoughts or our
time, as to interfere with the sober business
of life.

The Lion and the Mouse.

A lion was once going to war; he had
buckled on his sword, and gathered his
forces, and, with the monkey arid the bear
supporting his long robe, behind, he was
proudly marching over the plain at the head
of his army. As he was proceeding, it