248 FABLES. 



corner, and at last, in turning over the litter, dis- 

 covered the Stag's horns sticking out of the straw: 

 upon which, he called all his servants back, and 

 soon made a prize of the poor creature. 



APPLICATION. 



THIS Fable is levelled against those worthless 

 hirelings, who slide over their time in negligent 

 disorder, and this not so much for want of capacity 

 as honesty; their own private interest almost solely 

 occupying their attention, while that of their mas- 

 ter, whose wages they receive, and whose bread they 

 eat, is postponed, or entirely neglected. Such ser- 

 vants deserve not to be inmates in any good man's 

 house; but where they are, it is absolutely neces- 

 sary for the governors of families to look into their 

 affairs with their own eyes; for though they may 

 happen not to be in personal danger from the 

 treachery of their domestics, they are perpetually 

 liable to injuries from their negligence, which 

 leaves the master open to the artifices of those who 

 would defraud him. Few families are reduced to 

 poverty merely by their own extravagance: the in- 

 attention of servants swells every article of expense 

 in domestic economy ; and the retinue of great men, 

 instead of exerting their industry to increase their 

 master's wealth, commonly exercise no other office 

 than that of caterpillars, to consume and devour it. 

 The fate of the Stag also warns us not to engage in 

 any hazardous speculation, the success of which i s 

 to depend upon the ignorance or carelessness of 

 those with whom we have to deal; for though we 

 may over-reach one or two, yet some master-eye is 

 sure at last to pierce our covering of straw, and 

 make us pay dearly for deviating from the straight 

 road of honour and honesty. 



