WISDOM’S WAGES AND FOLLY’S PAY

“< Think well!’” he bawled out; “ ‘think well! before
you do what you are about to do, think well!’”

When the two thieves heard Babo’s piece of advice, they
thought that the judge’s officers were after them for sure and
certain. Down they dropped the pot of money, and away
they scampered as fast as their legs could carry them.

Babo heard them running, and poked his head through
the hedge, and there lay the pot of gold. ‘‘ Look now,”
said he: “(this has come from the advice that was given
me; no one ever gave me advice that was worth so much ;

before.” So he picked up the pot of gold, and off he
marched with it.

He had not gone far before he met two of the aes
officers, and you may guess how they opened their eyes
when they saw him travelling along the highway with a
pot full of gold money.

“Where are you going with that money ? ” said they.

“‘T don’t know,” said Babo.

“ How did you get it?” said they.

“T got it for a piece of advice,” said Babo.

For a piece of advice ! No, no—the king’s officers knew
butter from lard, and truth from t’other thing. It was
just the same in that country as it is in our town—there
was nothing in the world so cheap as advice. Whoever
heard of anybody giving a pot of gold and silver money
for it? Without another word they marched Babo and
his pot of money off to the king.

Come,” said the king, ‘‘ tell me truly ; where a you
get the pot of money ?”

Poor Babo began to whimper. “I got it for a piece of
advice,” said he.

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