A FARM-YARD FABLE.
ONE day the poultry belonging to a farm-yard were idling about, with nothing particular to do, and evidently just in the humour to observe and comment upon each other's move- ments. On the other side of a wire fence lay a luscious-looking -snail, which presently caught the eye of one of the ducks. Not a quack did she utter to announce her intentions, but waddled silently up to the fence. The other birds watched her with lazy curiosity, and the turkey-cock gave a sudden gobble, which probably meant, "What on earth takes her there ? I'd lay my wattle she can't get through those wires ; they're much too close together; there can't possibly be room for her between." She popped her head through, and made one effort to force her body after it; but it was no use, and the attempt was clearly hopeless. What will she do? Will she let her discomfiture become apparent, and submit to be jeered at for having tried an impossibility ? Not she! Promptly recognising her failure, -and drawing back her bead, she whisked herself round imme- diately, and looked about her with perfect aplomb and a gentle chuckle of satisfaction and self-complacent waggle of the tail, which were inimitable, and could hardly fail to impress the :spectators with the belief that her object was fully accomplished, .and that she had never intended to do more than poke her head through the wires, just to taste the grass beyond. An observer, who had perceived the snail, had his doubts about the matter ; but 'we quite believe that she succeeded in imposing upon her equals, .and was regarded by them with undiminished respect, as a 'prudent and judgmatical duck, who knew better than to under- take any impracticable enterprise.
As we reflected upon the little incident, we wondered whether the lower animals may not have discovered the great truth that whoever is known to have suffered failure is apt, on that account, to stand less well in the opinion of his fellows. And it seemed-to us that here and there in the world noisy boasters are to be met with who might profit by the example of the duck, and learn that whoever aspires to be highly considered amongst men must beware of announcing beforehand all the great things he hopes to accomplish ; and in case of rebuff, must be careful -to preserve so unruffled a serenity that no one may be able to discover that he has any cause for mortification.
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