Aesop, in Rhyme Part 3

A milkmaid, who poized a full pail on her head, Thus mused on her prospects in life, it is said: "Let's see--I should think that this milk will procure One hundred good eggs, or fourscore to be sure.

"Well then--stop a bit,--it must not be forgotten, Some of these may be broken, and some may be rotten; But if twenty for accidents should be detach'd, It will leave me just sixty sound eggs to hatch'd.

"Well, sixty sound eggs--no; sound chickens, I mean; Of these some may die--we'll suppose seventeen-- Seventeen!--not so many--say ten at the most, Which will leave fifty chickens to boil or to roast.

"But then there's their barley; how much will they need?

Why they take but one grain at a time when they feed, So that's a mere trifle; now then let us see, At a fair market price, how much money there'll be?

"Six s.h.i.+llings a pair--five--four--three-and-six, To prevent all mistakes, that low price I will fix; Now what will that make? fifty chickens, I said, Fifty times three-and-sixpence--_I'll ask brother Ned_.

"Oh! but stop--three-and-sixpence a _pair_ I must sell 'em; Well, a pair is a couple--now then let us tell 'em; A couple in fifty will go--(my poor brain!) Why just a score times, and five pair will remain.

"Twenty-five pair of fowls--now how shameful it is, That I can't reckon up as much money as this!

Well, there's no use in trying; so let's give a guess; I will say twenty pounds, and _it can't be no less_.

"Twenty pounds, I am certain, will buy me a cow, Thirty geese, and two turkeys--eight pigs and a sow; Now if these turn out well, at the end of the year, I shall fill both my pockets with guineas 'tis clear.

"Then I'll bid that old tumble-down hovel good-bye; My mother she'll scold, and my sisters they'll cry: But I won't care a crow's egg for all they can say; I sha'n't go to stop with such beggars as they!"

But forgetting her burden, when this she had said, The maid superciliously toss'd up her head When alas! for her prospects--the milk pail descended!

And so all her schemes for the future were ended.

MORAL.

This moral, I think, may be safely attach'd: Reckon not on your chickens before they are hatch'd.

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THE LARK AND HER YOUNG ONES.

A lark who had her nest conceal'd, Says Esop, in a barley field; Began, as harvest time drew near, The reaping of the corn to fear; Afraid they would her nest descry, Before her tender brood could fly.

She charged them therefore every day, Before for food she flew away, To watch the farmer in her stead, And listen well to all he said.

It chanced one day, she scarce was gone, Ere the farmer came and his son.

The farmer well his field survey'd, And sundry observations made; At last, "I'll tell you what," said he, "This corn is fit to cut, I see; But we our neighbor's help must borrow, So tell them we begin to-morrow."

Just after this the lark returned, When from her brood this news she learned.

"Ah! dearest mother," then, said they, "Pray, let us all begone to-day."

"My dears," said she, "you need not fret, I shall not be uneasy yet; For if he waits for neighbor's aid, The business long will be delay'd."

At dawn she left her nest once more, And charged her young ones as before.

At five the farmer came again, And waited for his friends in vain, "Well," said the man, "I fancy, son, These _friends_ we can't depend upon; To-morrow early, mind you go, And let our own _relations_ know."

Again the lark approach'd her nest, When round her all her young ones press'd, And told their mother, word for word, The fresh intelligence they heard.

"Ah, children, be at ease," said she "We're safe another day, I see; For these _relations_, you will find, Just like his _friends_, will stay behind."

At dawn again the lark withdrew, And did again her charge renew.

Once more the farmer early came, And found the case was just the same.

The day advanced, the sun was high; But not a single help drew nigh.

Then said the farmer, "Hark ye, son-- I see this job will not be done, While thus we wait for friends and neighbors; So you and I'll commence our labors: To-morrow early, we'll begin _Ourselves_, and get our harvest in."

"Now," said the lark, when this she heard, "Our movement must not be deferr'd; For if the farmer and his son Themselves begin, 'twill soon be done."

The morrow proved the lark was right; For all was cut and housed by night.

MORAL.

Hence, while we wait for other's aid, Our business needs must be delay'd; Which might be done with half the labor 'Twould take to go and call a neighbor.

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THE PHILOSOPHER AND THE ACORN.

A philosopher, proud of his wit and his reason, Sat him under an oak in a hot summer season.

On the oak grew an acorn or two, it is said: On the ground grew a pumpkin as big as his head.

Thought the sage, "What's the reason this oak is so strong A few acorns to bear that are scarce an inch long; While this poor feeble plant has a weight to sustain, Which had much better hang on the tree, it is plain?"

But just at the time the philosopher spoke An acorn dropp'd down on his head from the oak; Then, said he, who just now thought _his_ plan was so clever, "I am glad that _this_ was not a pumpkin, however."

MORAL.

The sage would no doubt have looked grievously dull, Had a pumpkin descended with force on his scull.

Of his folly then let us in future beware, And believe that _such_ matters _are best as they are_: Leave the manners and customs of oak trees alone, Of acorns, and pumpkins--and look to our own.

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