34 FAVOURITE FABLES.

MORAL.
Young folks, who think themselves so wise,
That old folks’ counsel they despise,
Will find, when they too late repent,
Their folly prove their punishment.

—o—

FABLE XXVII.
THE MOUSE AND THE WEASEL.

A uitTLe starveling rogue of a Mouse had, with much
pushing application, made his way through a small hole in a
corn-basket, where he stuffed and crammed so plentifully,
that, when he would have retired the way he came, he found
himself too plump, with all his endeavours, to accomplish it.
A Weasel, who stood at some distance, and had been divert-
ing himself with beholding the vain efforts of the little fat
thing, called to him, and said, ‘‘ Harkee, honest friend; if
you have a mind to make your escape, there is but one way
for it: contrive to grow as poor and lean as you were when
you entered, and then, perhaps, you may get off.”’

MORAL,

If evil habits have got a man into difficulties, there is no
surer way to extricate himself than, by God’s help, to cast
those habits off.