FAVOURITE FABLES. 41

these friends of ours are not to be depended upon; so you
must go to your uncles and cousins, and tell them I desire
they would be here betimes to-morrow morning, to help us
to reap.”’ Well, this the young ones, in a great fright,
reported also to their mother. ‘If that be all,’’ says she,
“do not be frightened, dear children; for kindred and rela-
tions are not so very forward to serve one another; but take
particular notice what you hear said next time, and be sure
you let me know it.”’

She went abroad next day, as usual; and the owner,
finding his relations as slack as the rest of his neighbours,
said to his son, ‘“‘Harkee, George; get a couple of good
sickles ready against to-morrow morning, and we will even
reap the corn ourselves.’? When the young ones told their
mother this, ‘‘ Then,’’ said she, ‘‘we must be gone indeed;
for, when a man undertakes to do his business himself, it is
not so likely he will be disappointed.’”’? So she removed her
young ones at once, and the corn was reaped next day by
the good man and his son.

MORAL.

Never depend on the assistance of others. No business
is so sure to be done as that which a man sets about doing
himself.