FABLES. 



THE MASTER AND HIS SCHOLAR. 



As a School-master was walking" upon the bank 

 of a river, he heard a cry as of one in distress : ad- 

 vancing a few paces farther, he saw one of his 

 Scholars in the water, hanging by the branch of a 

 willow. The Boy had, it seems, been learning to 

 swim with corks, and now thinking himself suf- 

 ficiently experienced, had thrown these implements 

 aside, and ventured into the water without them; 

 but the force of the stream having hurried him out 

 of his depth, he had certainly been drowned, had 

 not the branch of the tree providentially hung in 

 his way. The Master took up the corks, which lay 

 upon the ground, and throwing them to his Scholar, 

 made use of this opportunity to read a lecture to 

 him upon the inconsiderate rashness of youth. Let 

 this be a warning to you, says he, in the conduct of 

 your future life, never to throw away your corks till 



