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The Peasants, fool'd before, agreed
No more his wanton cries to heed;
And, tho' the Wolf in earnest came,
They guess'd derision was his aim.
Hence, then, we learn to jest with truth
Blasts the fair character of youth,
When branded with a Liar's name
He stands a public mark of shame;
Urg'd by necessity, we grieve
His words we never can believe.

THIS gentle hint in friendship take,
'Tis urg'd alone for friendship's sake.
Full well I know, ingenuous youth,
You bear a strict regard to truth,
When matters of import and weight
Demand attention to their state;
"Tis trivial things alone that you
E'er fail to give their colouring true;
Some tale, perhaps, for mirth invent,
To raise a laugh your sole intent.
But, yet, reflect, that habits grow,
And prove in time man's fatal foe;
What now we do not much respect
Is still augmented by neglect:
Then pray, my friend, reflect in time,
And check it, ere it grow a crime.

FABLE LXXXVI.

THE DOG IN THE MANGER.

A Dog once in a manger lay
Upon a truss of sweetest hay.
A civil Ox, in passing by,
Pleas'd did his fav'rite food espy,
And making to the manger's side,
His mouth unto the hay applied.
When up Old Snarl in haste arose,
And threaten'd he would bite his nose,
And growl'd, and bark'd, and, in a rage,
Began uncivil war to wage.

The patient Ox did then entreat
That he would suffer him to eat ;
That, if, indeed, he wish'd to feed,
He would not his own hunger plead,
But, since Dogs never feed on hay,
The boon was small he sure must say.
But, no.-The surly Dog went on,
Growl'd o'er the hay, as o'er a bone,
And sorely did the mild Ox grieve,
That he the provender must leave;
But more it hurt him that the Cur
Brought on himself this odious slur,
For he had never play'd this part,
Had not ill-nature fill'd his heart,-

A fav'rite Magpie sees the play,

And mimics ev'ry word they say.

Oh! how he nicks us, Tom Moore cries,
Oh! how he nicks us, Mag replies;
Tom throws, and eyes the glitt❜ring store,
And, as he throws, exclaims Tom Moore!
Tom Moore the mimic bird replies;
The astonish'd gamesters lift their eyes,
And wond'ring stare, and look around;
As doubtful whence proceeds the sound.
This dissipative life, of course,

Soon brought poor Tom from bad to worse;
Nor prayers nor promises prevail

To keep him from a dreary gaol.

And, now, between each heartfelt sigh,

Tom oft exclaims Bad Company!
Poor Mag, who shares his master's fate,
Exclaims from out his wicker grate,
Bad Company! Bad Company!
Then views poor Tom with curious eye,
And cheers his master's wretched hours
By this display of mimic powers.
Th' imprison'd bird, tho' much caress'd,
Is still by anxious cares oppress'd,
In silence mourns his cruel fate,
And oft explores his prison grate.
Observe, thro' life you'll always find
A fellow-feeling makes us kind.
So Tom resolves immediately
To give poor Mag his liberty;

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A curious net he does prepare adauord nool Favour teal sid And lightly spreads the wreport wily snare;

The feather'd plunderers come in view, good of And Mag, soon joins the thievish crew bod The watchful Gard❜ner now stands by, to mo With nimble hand and wary eye wpM 2009 The birds begin their stolen repast, amialor The flying net secures them fast.

The vengeful clown, now fill'd with d with ire, nodT Does to a neighb'ring shed retired sodo baA And, having first secur'd the doors gaib aid ya And windows, next the net explores.airqmi 'T Now, in revenge for plunder'd seed, Each felon he resolves shall bleed, om senolis at yo lita al Then twists their little necks around, go to ba

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Mag, who with man was us'd to herd, solist A Knew something more than common bird; T He, therefore, watch'd with anxious care, And slipp'd himself from out the snare,

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And, oh! the heart which malice fills,
Is tortur'd with a thousand ills,
Can never know a moment's peace,
Until his life, or malice, cease.

The Master, who the whole had seen,
The Ox and Dog then came between,
And, with his horsewhip in his hand,
Against the manger took his stand:
He held Old Snarl fast by the ear,
Trembling in ev'ry joint with fear,
And waving his stout whip so wide,
He laid it roundly o'er his hide :

'Thou surly Dog,' said he, 'hence learn
'The Golden Rule that thou discern:
'Be you to others kind and true,
'As you'd have others be to you.'
Snarl, howling, ran off a good pace,
Nor dar'd long time to shew his face;
For where he came, there all had pat,-
The Dog that held the manger that!'
Consider, children, that, if you
Aught like this surly Dog should do,
Our Master, with all-seeing eyes,
Beholds, and surely will chastise,
With his avenging rod, the wretch,
Whose humour's always on the catch,
And doth with rage and malice burn
To do a neighbour an ill turn;
Be wise! nor imitate the fool
Who violates THE GOLDEN RULE.

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