THE TOWN.


 bites at a fly upon his shaggy side. But who
 shall dogmatize on such an attitude of the mind?
 Indifference, after all, may be height instead of
 depth. Does not "A. B." (his modesty has
 given us no more than his initials) write as
 long ago as 1595, in "The Noblenesse of the
 Asse; a work rare, learned, and excellent," of
 that characteristic and admirable calm?- He
 [the asse] refuseth no burden; he goeth whither
 he is sent without any contradiction; he lifts
 not his foot against any one; he bytes not; if
 strokes be given him, he careth not for them."
 A. B.'s honest appreciation of this patient and
 respectable animal leads him yet a little fur-
ther. Their goodly, sweet, and continual bray-
ing," he says; and adds that such brayings
formee a melodious and proportionate kinde of
musicke." Still, all this is but the small adorn-
ment of an estimable character; the great thing
is his beast's tranquil calm."