A very prancy horse, discovering an oyster on the sea-shore, thought to
show off a little and make the oyster envious.

After he had done some surprising leaps and curvetings, he went up to the
oyster, and, with a toss of his head, said:

"There! what do you think of that?"

"You must excuse me," answered the bivalve, "but I have been blind from
birth, and missed the whole show."


IMMORAL:

Of what use is a dress suit in the Desert of Sahara?

[Illustration: The Horse and the Oyster.]




The Monkey and the Ass.

An ass, having seen a monkey doing tricks on a roof, to the edification of
the villagers, became envious, and essayed to emulate his more agile rival.

The roof broke under his greater weight, and he fell through on his master,
squashing him flatter than a pan-cake. Thenceforward, having no one to say
him nay, he lived a life of peace and plenty, coming and going at his own
sweet will, while the monkey was captured by an organ grinder and works