18 FAVOURITE FABLES.

FABLE XV.
THE VINE AND THE GOAT.

A Goat having taken shelter from the heat of the sun
under the broad leaves of a shady-spreading vine, began to
crop and eat them; by this means, the branches being put
into a rustling motion, he drew the eyes of some hunters who
were passing that way, and, seeing the vine stir, thought some
wild beast had taken covert there; they shot their arrows at a
venture, and killed the Goat, who, before he expired, uttered
his dying words to this purpose: “Ah! I suffer justly for my
ingratitude, who could not forbear doing an injury to the
vine that had so kindly afforded me shelter.”’

MORAL.

Ingratitude is a great crime, and from which we should
seek earnestly to be preserved. He that is capable of in-
juring his benefactor, what would he scruple to do towards
another ?