The humblest Instruments may sometimes do good

service.

THE LION AND THE MOUSE,

A FABLE.

As a Lion was sleeping one day in the sun,
The mice sported round, full of frolic and fun,
They nuzzled about him, till losing all fear,
Some pulld his long mane and some nibbled his ear.
The Lion awoke, and extending his paws,
Caught a poor little Mouse, and wide open'd his jaws.-
Oh! sir, said his captive, half dead with alarm,
Do not eat me alive; I intended no barm;
I am not worth your anger ; but send me away,
And, if ever I can, I'll the favour re-pay-
Hoh! hoh! quoth the Lion, and laughed, with a roar,
What favours for me can a Mouse bave in store?
But you've made Lion smile, so in peace you shall go;
And pray, Mr. Mouse, don't forget what you owe.

The Mouse sought his hole, and there vowed bis sharp nose, Should never again break a Lion's repose,

It happened, next night, as in search of his food,
The Lion was ranging the neighbouring wood,
He was caught in the nets by the Hunters prepared,
And, in spite of his strength, was completely ensnared.
He kick'd, and be pranc'd, and he tore up the ground,
And be roar'd till the forests re-echoed the sound;
But the nets, by bis struggles, more closely he twin'd,
And drew tighter the knots which his body confined.
As at length quite exhausted and panting he lay,
By a fortunate chance, little Mouse came that way,
His sharp teeth to the cords, one by one, he applied,
Which, together, the force of the Lion defied;
And he so gnaw'd each thread, that in less than an hour,
Lion found himself free, and restored to his power.

From this Fable we learn, how absurd is their pride,
Who presume on their strength; and inferiors deride ;
For the meanest, at times, useful succour may lend,
As this poor little Mouse did the Lion befriend.

The following Epitaphs were sent us by our Cor

respondent N. L. H.

EPITAPH,
In Horsleydown Charch, Cumberland,

ON THOMAS BOND AND HIS WIFE.

1

Here lie the bodies
Of Thomas Bond, and Mary his wife.
She was temperate, chaste, charitable,

bat
She was proud, peevish, passionate.
She was an affectionate wife and a tender mother,

but
Her husband and child, whom she lovid,
Seldom saw her countenance without a disgusting frown,
Whilst she received visitors, whom she despised,

With an endearing smile.
Her behaviour was discreet towards strangers,

but

He had not, in the whole, enjoyed
Two years of matrimonial comfort.

At length
Finding she had lost the affections of her busband,

As well as the regard of her neighbours,
She died of vexation, July 20, 1768, aged 54.
William Bond, brother to the deceased,

Erected this stone,
As a weekly monitor to the surviving

Wives of this parish,

That they may avoid the infamy
Or having their memories handed down to posterity

With à patchwork character.

ANOTHER,
Sacred to the memory of,

SARAH MASON.

Reader, behold the tomb of one whose character was worthy of imitation. Though in a lowly station of life, and with no advantages of education, her conduct was always such as to make her beloved and respected by all who knew her. She was humble, pious, and gentle; patient, grateful, modest and sincere. Her care and love for her parents was remarkable ; her attention to perform her duty to her master and mistress no less so. At the age of 28, it pleased God to afflict her with a painful and fatal illness, which she bore with a Christian's patience and hope: no murmur escaped her lips, and her constant care was to console her aged parents. She was followed to the grave by a great number of the surrounding neighbours, who had known her worth, and were anxious to testify the respect they had for her.

ON TRIFLING IN THE CHURCH. We have, at different times, received a variety of poetical offerings from charity-school children ; and it is truly satisfactory to find that their education has turned their minds to such subjects as are set forth in their verses. We are, really, always sorry to discourage any attempts at what is good ; but our young friends will see that what may make an innocent amusement, or afford gratification tu private friends, may not always be suited to the critical eyes of the public. The following lines, however, sent us by a school child, may be of use. We give them, with the letter which accompanied them. Ed.

To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor.

SIR, HAVING seen several capital pieces, in your little book, about girls trifling in the church, and showing off their curl papers, and such foolish things, during divine service, I take the liberty of sending you the following lines.

ON TRIFLING IN THE CHURCH.

In God's own house for you to play,
While Christians meet to hear and pray,
Is to profane his holy place,
And tempt the Almighty to his face.

When angels bow before the Lord,
And devils tremble at his word,
Shall you, ye sinful mortals, dare
To play and sport and trifle there?

His wrath may strike your guilty head,
His fire, from heaven, may lay you dead,
And send your careless souls to dwell
Amidst the dark abodes of hell.

When death, the king of fears, shall come
To call you to your latest home,
The thoughts of such a shameful part
With bitter pains may pierce your beart.
Great God, compassionate and mild,
Forgive the follies of the wild,
Teach them to pray and mind thy word,
That they may learn to serve the Lord.

S, P.

TRANSLATORS OF THE BIBLE.. The great English Bible, which was in use until the reign of King James I., denominated the Bishops? Bible, from the circumstance of its being translated at the instance of Archbishop Parker, by the Bishops and other learned men, was printed in a large folio, by Richard Jugge, in 1568.

At the conference held at Hampton Court in 1603, many exceptions being made to this Bishops' Bible, it was, after due deliberation, recommended to have a new translation; when his Majesty King James issued an order to prepare one accordingly. “Not (as expressed in the preface) for a translation altogether new, nor yet to make of a bad one a good one; but to make a good one better, or of many good ones, one best.”

By the King's letter to the Archbishop, dated 1604, it appears that 54 learned persons were appointed to this important work. The translation did not commence until 1607, and then the number appointed was reduced to 47, either by death, or some other cause not now known.

The work being accomplished, it was published in 1613, with a dedication to the King, and is the Bible now read by authority in all our churches. It is denominated King James's Bible.

The learned Selden, whom Grotius designates “ The Glory of the English nation," referring to this subject in bis Table-Talk, says, “ The English translation of the Bible is the best translation in the world, and renders the sense of the original the best. The translators in King James's time took an excellent way: that part of the Bible being given to him who was most excellent in such a tongue (as the Apocrypha to Andrew Downes); and then they met together, and one read the translation, the rest holding in their hand some Bible either of the