I ILLINOIS Production Note Digital Rare Book CoileCtions Rare Book & Manuscript Library University of Illinois Library at Urbana—Champaign 2019 i aan 93m?» W133 4’ y! ./ ué't/ p06 - LV/ 3/ . , 1271 i .Jzi'EIC/Z..‘ C, ' Z ”10% I 4’24 , w... .. Eggihllfl: . fisbfiLP. \ THE COUNTRY AND TOWN MOUSE. w.._ {whiurlfiilcafiunkv In}; \wfichxarduwflnu $3531 H. n. JACKDAW IN BORROWED PLUMES AND OTHER FABLES. flingirateh by §tmfiies from 313231. @ife. BY iMRS GEORGE CUPPLE& ‘ AUTHOR OF ‘GRANDPAPA’S KEEPSAKES, “THE LITTLE CAPTAIN,” ETC. n u BLU FF CRA G, ” 11C)I¢1)()I¢: T. NELSON AND SONS, PATERNOSTER ROW; EDlNBURGH; AND NEW YORK. 1875. . THE J ACKDAW IN BORROWED PLUMES. ,1, Si, and ambitious, that, not content to live with those like himself, he began to look abcut for some means to change his condition. Very soon his sharp eyes lighted upon some peacock’s feathers, and in a moment he had picked them up. He then stuck them amongst his own, making them spread out as well as he could into a fine tail ; and being pleased with himself, he strutted away to join an assem- bly of those beautiful birds. They were not long, however, in finding him out, stripped him of his borrowed plumes, and with their sharp bills pulled so many of his own feathers Ngfikxfé CERTAIN jackdaw was so proud <4... 6 THE JACKDAW IN BORROWED PLUMES. out, that When, full of grief and affliction, he returned to his old friends and com— panions, it was in such a sad condition that they did not recognize him. When they had n/— fir discovered his late life, and the company he had been keeping, they avoided him, and , _ refused to have anything to say to him. \ One old jackdaw said: “ If you had been content, friend, With your station, and had 9'2 354E 91" i V. a F’ - . ,l :7 f if Jr» M! y 9m3'i‘: Va; ,-.' K » a, “THE JACKDAW IN BORROWED PLUMES. 7 not looked down on the rank in which nature had placed you, you would not have suffered the slight which now we think ourselves obliged to put upon you, nor been used so scurvily by those upon whom you intruded yourself.” “ Fine feathers make fine birds,” we are often told ; but what this fable teaches is to live contentedly in our condition, whatever it be, without trying to look better or appear richer than we are by a false or borrowed light. “ But, mother, all the girls will be so finely dressed, and I will look so shabby,” I said little Susan Taylor, the tears standing in E her blue eyes. “ Miss l‘ditchell said we were _ to come as neat as we could, for she liked ' to see us all tidy on the examination-day.” “ And I am sure you will look very nice indeed,” said her mother. “ I have starched your blue and white print frock, and when it is smoothly ironed I have no doubt you will say so too.” i . .é 5‘ l l, '5 {1,1 l i‘- ‘ | “(1' 8 THE JACKDAW IN BORROWED PLUMES. “ But, mother, Grace Hughson is to have ‘ a new white muslin one,” said Susan ; “ and ever so many of the others are getting the same, and my’print will look so old beside them.” “ It is all very well, my dear, for Grace to have new dresses; but her father is a rich man, and it would hardly do for the daughter of Mr. Hughson’s clerk to be dressed like his daughter.” “But, mother,” insisted Susan, “it was Grace [who said I ought to ask you for a new dress.” Here Mrs. Taylor lost patience, and told Susan to leave the room, saying, that she knew best what was proper for her little girl to wear. ' For ever so many days Susan might have been seen stealing away up to the back-door of Mr. Hughson’shouse, where she was met by Grace; and it was not difficult to make out that a grand project was on foot; but. so closely did they keep the secret, that no THE JACKDAW IN BORROWED PLUMES. V ‘ 9 one found it out till the day of the school examination came round. On that morning lWrs. Taylor brought out the blue print frock ; and when Susan. had got her pretty clean stockings and new shoes on, the dress was put on ; and .it looked so nice, that even, V Susan seemed to be pleased with the peep she got of herself in the looking-glass. But what made Susan blush and hang her head when her mother said, as she tied a pretty piece of blue ribbon over her hair, “ There, I don’t think any of your schoolmates will venture to say that you are not neat, and dressed as your father’s daughter should be ”’2 In a short time Susan had left the house, earlier than her mother thought necessary ; but she said she had promised to call for, Grace Hughson, and away she ran towards her friend’s house. Grace was at the back- door as usual ;' and when Susan came up, she exclaimed, “ Oh, how neat you do look! I think, after all, you had better wear your own frock.” . .3; ,.W~W.w.m,-. 4H .-.,..,.,,... THE JACKDAW IN BORROWED PLUMES. 10 But Susan replied, in almost a cross tone, “What! after all the trouble we have had about it. Oh, perhaps you are sorry you consented to lend it to me.” Grace, however, good-naturedly said she was not sorry a bit ,- and as they had only a few minutes to spare, they hastened up to her room. There, on the bed, lay a fine white muslin dress, tucked. up with pink satin bows. Grace had a new one on, trimmed with blue; and it was easily seen that, however fine the one on the bed looked, it was somewhat rumpled and soiled. ‘ Susan, with the help of Grace, took ofl‘ her print frock and put on the soiled muslin, which was fastened with some difficulty. It was as well that poor Susan did not see her back, for as Grace was a good deal stouter, she had to fasten it on her friend with some pins. When Susan reached the school her com— panions gathered round her ; and after a while they began to notice how badly the . dress fitted her ; and first one, and then THE STAG AT THE POOL. 11 another, began to laugh at the tawdry finery. “ Oh, What a fine lady, to be sure!” said one. “ I fear we shall never be able to speak to such a grand personage,” said another. “ I, do declare it is the. same dress Grace Hughson wore last examination-day.” While a girl Susan disliked very much, called out, _ “A jackdaw in borrowed plumes!” which set the rest a—laughing so heartily, that poor Susan was thankful to slip away home, feel— ing to the full that “ He who goes a—bor— rowing goes a—sorrowing.” WM” THE STAG AT THE POOL. . WHILE a stag'was drinking at a pool one day, he saw his form reflected in the clear water; and so pleased was he with the sight, that he stood for ever so long gazing at it. “ Ah,” says he, “ what a lovely pair of branching antlers, these are; how they tower above my head, and give an agreeable turn l g . l . f l l l 12 THE STAG AT THE POOL. to my Whole face. If some other parts of my body "were only like them, I would turn my back to nobody ; but I have such a set of legs, I am really quite ashamed to THE STAG- AT THE POOL. 13 look at them, and I Wish I had none at all.” ‘ While he was thus giving himself these airs, he was alarmed with the noise of some hunts- men, and a pack of hounds that had just found the scent, and were making towards him. Away he flew over the plain, soon leaving the men and dogs at a vast distance behind him. Unfortunately he got into a thick copse, and was caught in a thicket by his horns, where he was held fast till the hounds came in and pulled him down. He now saw what a mistake he had made in speaking against his legs, which would have carried him out of danger; and in being proud of those horns, which had caused his ruin. The useful ought always to be preferred to the beautiful, though a little of both is a good thing. “0 nurse, please dont ask me to pick currants, of all things,’ said Mary Seaton; “they always make my fingers so black; and, besides, the sun is so strong, and you know it always freckles my face.” '14 THE STAG AT THE POOL. “ But, my dear Miss Mary, “ you will never be able to go through the world with- out soiling your fingers,” said the worthy old nurse. “ ‘ Can do’ is'easily carried about with one ; and as your papa is not rich, you must learn to work, as well as how to be a fine lady. See to your sister Charlotte now, what 'a good worker she is I ” “ Oh, but Charlotte has such great large ugly hands,” said Mary, looking with great delight at the small white ones lying in her . lap; “and as for her face, it is so plain~look- ing, that she need not care what she does, or . how much she is tanned with the sun.” A very few years afterwards, I heard that - both the sisters were married. Mary, having been chosen for her pretty face, was not long in lettingher husband see she had nothing but outward beauty to recommend her; and as he was not a rich man by any means, they were reduced to great misery by her Bad management. Charlotte, on the other hand, though she had married a poorer man than “—4!“ i J i , 15.“. (fie-47.x; _ r.mw:mi.2,.r . arm», .7 - ‘ l-r - , * * , THE RAVEN AND THE SWAN. 15 her sister, had plenty and to’ spare ; and many a day the “ great ugly hands ” carried some dainty meal to, or helped to shape and ' sew for, the sister who had thought, because she had a pretty face, work was quite un- necessary. MW THE RAVEN AND THE SWAN. A RAVEN, who was discontented with the blackness of his plumage, was very anxious to become as white as the swan. For this purpose he left his former companions and resorts, and set out for the streams and lakes. There day after day he washed anddressed his coat, earnestly watching for a change in the colour of his feathers; but nolchange took place, for his feathers were as black as , ever. All the time he had been neglecting to supply himself with his usual food; and not being accustomed to so much cold bath- ing, he soon sickened and died. i 16 THE RAVEN AND THE SWAN. It is not left to our own part to eheoee our sphere of duty ; What we have to do is to make thebest of the gifts we possess. (432) . D THE RAVEN AND THE SWAN. ‘ 17 “ Oh, mother, you must let me learn singing. I don’t see why lVIary should go to the class without me,” said Rachel Brown to » her mother. ‘ “ My dear,” replied her mother, “ I would only be too glad to send you too; but you know perfectly well you have neither voice nor ear for singing, and it would be a pure waste of money to send you. Now, you have a talent for drawing, and Mary has none at all; so you must cultivate the gift God has given you.” “ But I shall never be a great painter,” said Rachel, pouting her lips ; “ and what is the use of learning simply to draw. Who cares to look over porthlios of stupid draw— ings? Everybody is pleased with music and singing.” “ Well, my dear, and don’t you play wonderfully well, considering the want of' ear your teacher laments about.” “ Oh, I suppose I can play well enough; but then nobody seems to care for music as (432) D mum-4mm. flaws; a .1 . < jg -; j 18 . THE KID AND THE WOLF. they do for singing. Whenever I play, everybody begins to talk; but when Mary sings to them, everybody says Hush; and they listen so attentively, and praise her ever so much when the song is. ended. Now, when I rise up, scarcely anybody takes any notice ; or they will say, out of pure polite- ness, ‘Thanks, my dear; that was a very fine piece.’ ” “ My dear child,” replied her mother, “we cannot all shine» alike in this world; and it is not only vain to wish for things beyond our reach, but absurd. Be con- tent, my dear, else people will liken you to , the foolish raven who tried to change itself into a swan, and whose end was so miser- able.” WW THE KID AND THE WOLF. , A KID being mounted upon the roof of a ' shed, and seeing a wolf below, loaded him with all manner of reproaches. Upon which ._._...___——_———__. n, the wolf, looking up, replied, “ Do not ima« gine, you vain silly creature, that you annoy 19 ...i ,_. .K “21‘,“ A, ,A , . _ ' —¢ . v A - mt .A.‘ f‘"? , ' ,. ' » ” “w. mans»? w' .‘ slips; - . ‘20 THE KID AND THE WOLF. me; for if it were not that you are secure I in your present position from my teeth, you would be more careful of your language.” To rail and use bitter words is not only wrong, but highly unbecoming; and when used to those we think inferior, and who cannot, on_ account of their position, retali— ate, is not only vainglorious, but cowardly in the extreme. ' ' “ I see one of the low fellows who live in the back street coming up by the school— house green,” cried Harry Dickson to some of his companiOns. “Come along, and let us stone him ; it’ll pay them off for getting the better of us in the last fight.” “ I do declare it’s their champion,” said Tom, Harry’s brother. “ We’d better leave him alone, else he may pay us back some day.” “Not at all; we will let him see we’ll have the. advantage this time,” said Harry. ' “ But it’s not fair play,” replied Tom ; ‘“ he can’t stand up against so many of us,” THE KID AND THE WOLF. 21 But Harry hastened down to the green—— which the boy was compelled to pass—fol— lowed by ever so many of his school—fellows. “ Hallo, you ragamuffin I” cried Harry, “ what are you doing there ? You have no ‘ right to come near our green. Be of? with you, you low fellow I” ’ Harry looked round, and saw his school- mates were close at hand, and called the boy all sorts of low names he could think of, to which the poor boy paid no attention. But when Harry called him a thief, then Joe turned sharp round, and with an air of great contempt replied—é“ You think you are very clever: a cock, they say, crows best on its own yard—fence. What a brave gentleman to say such witty things with so many at his back I I’m in a hurry to get the doctor for a gentleman who ’s fallen and broke his leg, else I’d fight ye one and all, and wel- come; but the first time we meet, young master, I’ll give ye that satisfaction.” “ I say, let us give him a good stoning,” 22 , THE FROG AND THE OX. cried Harry, letting fly one at Joe, who ducked his head dexterously. But the boys wisely declined to enter into such an unequal fight. “ N o, no, Harry; it wouldn’t be fair,” they said. “ But,” added another, “ ~won’t Joe give it you when he catches you alone! I wouldn’t be in your shoes for something l” WW THE FROG AND THE OX. As an OX was grazing in a marshy meadow, he set his foot on a family of young frogs, and trod almost the whole of them to death. One, however, escaped, and hastened home to tell his mother of the sad accident that had befallen his unfortunate brothers and sisters. “ 0 mother, it was such a big beast,” said the little frog; “ I never saw such a large one in all my life 1” . “ Was it as large as this?” said the old frog, blowing herself out as much as possible. THE FROG AND THE OX. \ .. 45:933.“; ». “$111!. . i: ll 2; 1'; if 5 .,, 'll .1‘ “ Oh dear, a great deal bigger, mother,” . said the little frog. “ Well, then, was it as big as this C3 ” and: 24 THE FROG AND THE OX. the mother frog puffed out her skin even more than before. “ 0 mother! pray don’t try any more,” said the little frog; “if you were to burst your skin in the doing of it, you couldn’t make yourself near its size.” , The mother frog was very angry on hear— ing this, so she once more tried to increase her size; but, alas! she burst herself, and died. To attempt to better one’s condition is commendable, but to covet that which is certain to remain always beyond our reach is nothing but a vain ambition. “To think of those Browns giving such a large garden party last week, and now setting off in a waggonette to join a picnic party in the filbert wood—it’s really too bad I” “ Why, Jane, what’s the matter with you ? ” said Laura, her cousin. “ What have the B1 owns got to do with you. 9 or rather, vhat have you to do with them and their afiairs Cl THE FROG AND THE OX. 25 ' “A great deal,” replied Jane. “But mamma is not going to stand it any longer, andshe has coaxed papa to let us have a party next week, and we mean to make it such a grand affair. And what is more, we are going to hire a pony carriage and a pair of such lovely cream-coloured ponies for the summer months. I wonder if our opposite neighbours will look down upon us then.” Laura was about to tell her cousin that she dared say the Browns would never trouble their heads to notice them, but she contented herself by saying—“ The Browns are so very rich they may do what they please; but it won’t be easy for uncle to live like them.” ‘ To this Jane replied——“ Oh, mamma is determined to have her own way.” Poor Jane! Before many weeks had elapsed she had reason to regret she had encouraged‘her mother to give that party and live beyond their means. For scarcely 26 THE FROGS WHO DESIRED A KING. had they begun to enjoy their pony carriage when her father failed in business, and the disgrace was felt by him so keenly that he died of a broken heart, and both Jane and her mother had to retire to a distant town, where they had to earn their own living. Wfiw THE FROGS WHO DESIRED A. KING. THE frogs, living an easy free life among the lakes and ponds, grew weary of their mode of life, and anxious to have a change, assembled together one day, and with a great deal of noise petitioned Jupiter to send them a king, saying, for excuse, they wanted to! be kept in better order and live an honester life. Jupiter, who at the time happened to be in a good humour, after laughing at their request, threw a small log into the pool, and cried, “There is a king for you I ” The sudden splash which the log made when it fell, frightened them so THE FROGS WHO DESIRED A KING. 27 much that it was ever so long before they would venture near it; but in a little time, seeing it he so still, they gathered round and inspected it closely. At last, finding there was no danger, they leaped upon it, and, in short, treated his majesty with the utmost contempt. Such a king did not please them at all; they therefore sent , messengers again to Jupiter, who besought him to give them another with more life and motion in him. Upon that he sent them a stork, who without any ceremony began to devour his new subjects one after the other as fast as he could. The second king being worse than the first, the frogs applied privately to Mercury, and got him to speak to Jupiter in their behalf, that he would either give them another king, or restore them again to their former state. “ No, ” said Jupiter “it was their own wish, and they must now sufi‘e1 the punishment due to thei1 folly and vanity.” It is wiser policy to be content with our . 1W»; ::::W'- xw‘xvawal- :3." YEW > - ‘ .Wmms-mmmwwwrma _ ‘l r V ‘ 7 7 M 1 t ‘ 4 . THE FROGS WHO DESIRED A KING. 28 present condition, however had, than to fly to others that we know not of. We read. in history that when the com-V monwealth of Athens flourished under good THE COUNTRY AND TOWN MOUSE. 29 laws of its own enactment, they relied so much upon the security of their liberty that they became quite negligent, and allowed the laws to be broken without punishing the offenders. Designing, wicked people rose up at that time, who allowed the am- bitious Pisistratus to make himself master of their citadel and liberties, both together. The Athenians, finding themselves in a state of slavery, could not bear the thought of ' it, not even though they discovered their i tyrant was a very merciful one indeed ; and it was then, it is said, that the world—re- nowned ZEsop, a slave, advised them to have patience, giving them this fable as an ' example. THE COUNTRY AND TOWN MOUSE. A COUNTRY mouse. invited an old friend, who , resided in town, to pay him a Visit. The " town mouse said he would come with plea— sure; and the country mouse, to show how 5; . . '13 VA V" g I ‘, 1 I3. '. .i..' v 30 THE COUNTRY AND TOWN MOUSE. glad he was to see him, exerted himself to the utmost to make the visit agreeable. The town mouse ate so sparingly that the country mouse was quite distressed to see his friend with such a poor'appetite. “ Ah, if you would but stay with us for a week,” said . he, “ we will send you home with such an appetite that you will be envied by every- one of your friends.” “ Stay. a week ! ” replied the town mouse. “ My dear friend, I was just going to ask you how you contrive to live for an hour in such an out-of—the—way place as this! What a superior life one leads in a town! We cannot live for ever, as you well know, and what is the use of wasting your days here? Take my advice, and let our life be a merry one, if it must be short.” The poor country mouse was so pleased with the winning ways and polished manners of his friend, that he consented to go with him to his residence in town. It was a large house where the town THE COUNTRY AND TOWN MOUSE. 31 mouse stayed, and he exerted himself in turn to entertain his friend. The country mouse was quietly yielding himself to the enjoy- ment of the hour, When suddenly some people came into the room, forcing them to take refuge in a hole under the grate. They had scarcely crept out of their hiding-place, when the loud barking of dogs caused them to run back again in greater terror than before. This was too much for the nerves of the country mouse: bidding his friend good—bye, he said, “ This life may suit you, my dear friend; but I’d rather have my homely fare Where I have quietness to eat it, than live, in this constant state of fright, upon your luxuries.” It is better to live quietly and contentedly in a cottage, than in luxury and strife in a palace. 5 ‘iitIg-P «w-mem.WWN- ‘ x W11. 11. {o {Mswzew 41....W4Muf .... «Khan fig»... @144... 7... ...... 4-4%.“. m.wn...¢....9.4..n1hx «fiduwr ......A. flak? A... 4.4... AM... 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