FABLES. 



203 



THE MAN AND THE WEASEL. 



A Man having caught a Weasel in his pantry, 

 was just going to kill it, when the little captive 

 begged that he would not do so cruel a deed, but 

 spare his life; and he assured the Man that he was 

 his friend, and only entered his pantry with a view 

 of destroying the mice with which it was infested. 

 That may be, said the Man, but you do not do this 

 with the intention of serving me, nor with any 

 other view but that of serving yourself; and be- 

 sides, you are so ferocious and cruel a little crea- 

 ture, that you kill every animal you have within 

 your power, without the least compunction, and 

 seem to delight in killing for killing's sake; there- 

 fore, your pretensions to serve me, and your plea 

 for mercy, are good for nothing. 



