"I shouldn't have minded so much," said the Bee, with some bitterness, just before breathing his last in the honey-pot, "only it happens to be my own make!" * * * * * "Is the White Rabbit beautiful?" someone inquired of the Albino Rat. "She might be passable enough," replied the Rat, "but for one most distressing deformity. She has pink eyes!" * * * * * When the Ass was asked about his Cousin the Zebra, he said: "Do not speak about him--for he has disgraced us all. Never before has there been any eccentricity in _our_ family!" * * * * * The full-blown Sausage professeth to have forgotten the days of his puppyhood. * * * * * "_Will_ you allow me to pass?" said the courteous Garden Roller to the Snail. * * * * * Had anyone met the Red Herring in the sea and foretold that he would one day be pursued by Hounds across a difficult country, the Herring would have accounted him but a vain babbler. Yet so it fell out! _Note._--I shrewdly suspect that my young friend has made the rather natural mistake of substituting the word "Red Herring" for "Flying Fish." It is not absolutely incredible that one of the latter department should fly inland and be chased by Dogs--but even Piljosh should be aware that no Herring could pop off in such a way.--H. B. J. * * * * * An Officious Busybody, perceiving a Phoenix well alight, promptly extinguished her by means of a convenient watering-pot. * * * * * "Had you refrained from this uncalled for interference," said the justly irate Bird, "I should by this time be rising gloriously from my ashes--instead of presenting the ridiculous appearance of a partially roasted Fowl!" _Note._--I can offer no explanation of this allegory, except to remind the reader that the Phoenix is the notorious symbol for a fire insurance.--H. B. J. * * * * * "Alas!" sighed the Learned Pig, while expiring from inflammation of the brain, brought on by a laborious endeavour to ascertain the sum of two and two, "Why, _why_ was I cursed with Intellect?" * * * * * "I shall know better another time!" gasped the Fish, as he lay in the Landing-net. * * * * * A certain Merchant sold a child a sharp sword. "Thou hast done wrong in this," remonstrated a Sage, "since the child will assuredly wound either himself or some other." "_I_ shall not be responsible," cried the Merchant, "for, in selling the sword, I did recommend the child to protect the point with a cork!" * * * * * A certain grain of Millet fell out of a sack in which it was being carried into the City, and was soon trampled in the dust.