50 FABLES. 



the bargain, as a reward for his just dealing. 

 Away goes the Man to his companions, and giving 

 them an account of what had happened, one of 

 them went presently to the river's side, and let his 

 hatchet fall designedly into the stream. Then 

 sitting down upon the bank, he fell to weeping and 

 lamenting as if he had been really and sorely 

 afflicted. Mercury appeared as before, and diving, 

 brought up a golden hatchet, asking if that w r ere 

 the hatchet he had lost? Transported at the pre- 

 cious metal, he answered yes, and went to snatch it 

 greedily; but the God, detesting his abominable 

 impudence, not only refused him that, but would 

 not so much as let him have his own again. 



APPLICATION. 



HONESTY is the best policy; and one of our best 

 poets has further stamped a value upon the good old 

 maxim, by his assertion that " an honest man is 

 the noblest work of God." The paths of truth and 

 integrity are so plain, direct, and easy, that the 

 man who pursues them, stands in no need of subtle 

 contrivances to deceive the world. He listens to 

 the honest monitor within, and makes good his 

 professions w r ith his practice : neither gold nor sil- 

 ver hatchets can make him deviate from it; and 

 whatever situation he may be placed in, he is sure 

 to meet the esteem of all men within the circle in 

 which he moves, and has besides the constant 

 pleasure of feeling self- approbation within his own 

 breast. 



