20 FABLES. 



Unhappy creature that I am, I am too late con- 

 vinced that what I prided myself in, has been the 

 cause of my undoing; and what I so much disliked, 

 was the only thing that could have saved me. 



APPLICATION. 



WE often make a false estimate, in preferring our 

 ornamental talents to our useful ones, and are apt 

 to place our love and admiration on wrong objects. 

 When our vanity is stronger than our reason, show 

 and ostentation find easy admission into our hearts,, 

 and we are much fonder of specious trifles than 

 useful plainness. But the truest mark of wisdom 

 is to estimate things at their just value, and to 

 know whence the most solid advantages may be 

 derived: otherwise, like the Stag in the liable, we 

 may happen to admire those accomplishments 

 which are not only of no real use, but often prove 

 prejudicial to us, while we despise those things on 

 which our safety may depend. He that does not 

 know himself, will often form a false judgment 

 upon other matters which most materially concern 

 him ; and thus it fares with many, who suffer them- 

 selves to be deluded with the false pomp of high 

 life, and whose vanity prompts them to conceive 

 they possess talents w r hich qualify them to shine in 

 that circle, into which, had they judged rightly, 

 they never would have entered, but rather have ap- 

 plied themselves to improve other qualifications, 

 which might have insured their own happiness, and 

 have rendered them useful members of society. 



