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 Rh upon the Wasp gave judgment:—"It is clear now who made the comb, and who cannot make it; the Court adjudges the honey to the Bees."

(Phædrus, Fables, Vol. III, No. 13; Thomas James' translation.)

ÆS0P AT PLAY

N Athenian one day found Æsop at play with a company of little boys, and began to jeer and laugh at him for it. The old fellow, who was too much of a joker himself to suffer others to ridicule him, took a bow, unstrung it and laid it upon the ground. Then, addressing his critic, he said:

"Now, Philosopher, explain this riddle, if you can, and tell us the meaning of that unstrung bow."

The man, after racking his brain, and scratching his head for a considerable time, to no purpose, at last gave it up and said that he could not solve the riddle.

"Why," said Æsop, laughing, "if you keep a bow always bent, it will presently break; but if you let it go slack, it will be ready for use when you need it."

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

(Phædrus, Fables, Vol. III, No. 14; from Bussey's Fables Original and Selected.)

THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE OWL

N Owl, accustomed to feed at night and to sleep during the day, was greatly disturbed by the noise of a Grasshopper, and earnestly besought her to leave off chirping. The Grasshopper refused to desist, and chirped louder and louder the more the Owl entreated.