FABLES. 



197 



THE OLD MAN AND DEATH. 



A poor feeble old Man, who had crawled from his 

 cottage into a neighbouring wood to gather a few 

 sticks, had made up his bundle, and laying it over 

 his shoulders, was trudging homewards; but what 

 with age, and the length of the way, he grew so 

 faint and weak, that he sunk under it, and as he sat 

 upon the ground, called upon Death to come once 

 for all and ease him of his troubles. Death no 

 sooner heard him, than he came and demanded 

 what he wanted? The poor old Creature, who little 

 thought Death was so near, frightened almost out 

 of his senses with his terrible aspect, answered him 

 trembling, That having by chance let his bundle of 

 sticks fall, and being too infirm to get it up himself, 

 he had made bold to call upon him to help him; 

 and he hoped his worship was not offended with 



