FAVOURITE FABLES. 63

However, as master of the house, he thought himself obliged
to do the honours of it, in all respects, and to make as great
a stranger of his guest as he possibly could. In order to
this, he set before him a reserve of delicate grey pease and
bacon, a dish of fine oatmeal, some parings of new cheese,
and, to crown all with a dessert, a remnant of a charming
mellow apple.

In good manners, he forebore to eat any of it himself, lest
the stranger should not have enough; but, that he might
seem to bear the other company, sat and nibbled a piece of
wheaten straw very busily. At last, says the spark of the
town, ‘‘Old croney, give me leave to be a little free with
you. How can you bear to live in this nasty, dirty, melan-
choly hole here, with nothing but woods and meadows,
mountains and rivulets about you? Do you not prefer the
busy world to the chirping of birds, and the splendour of a
court to the rude aspect of an uncultivated desert? Come,
take my word for it, you will find it a change for the better.
Stand not considering, but away this moment. Remember,
we are not immortal, and therefore have no time to lose.
Make sure of to-day, and spend it as agreeably as you can ;
you know not what may happen to-morrow.”’

In short, these and such like arguments prevailed, and
his country friend was resolved to go to town that night.
So they both set out upon their journey, proposing to sneak