Year: 1868

slowed womAa to lead me into sBet
seFape.


wealthy and pious lady lived near
sho had frequently relieved tho ola
man aud his wife. One day when pass.
ing she overheard them grumhling a
usual. about Adam and Eve She m,
auuous 70 convince them .. tha i'm
I portanee % being oonteuted with the 20.
sition in which Providence had placed
them, and how wrong ii was to Be thus
constantly murmaring at their lot in
life.


The next morning the ladys servant
in livery came to the cottage With a
message from bis mistress requesting
the old couple to 60 ap 10 the mansion.


The looks Of discomfort vanished for
once, as the old folks were delighted
With such mark Of distinction from
one SO very rich


On arriving at the mansion, the lady
received them most kindly, aud thus adj
dressed them


Il have set apart two rooms IN my
house, and 20 long as you attend 70 my
wishes You will be allowed TO remain
here, and have everything needful for
your comfort But il you disobey any
ofmy rules, you viii be Immediately
turned out and sent back to your mud
cottage"


Thank youl thank you kindly, ma
dam, responded the old man.


"Never fear onr doing anything
against your wishes, ma am, added the
old woman.


Every well, said the lady, "then you
will find a home here for life.


Everything necessary for their com
fort was provided, aud all went on well
for some time. There was one thing
that somehow puzzled them.


For several days there was placed on
the dinner table covered dish, which
they were desired not to touch


MY lady desires me to say that ev-
cry dish is at your service except that
one, said the servant.


On such a day, having nearly finish
ed their hearty repast, the curiosity Of
the old woman was greatly excited as
to the forbidden dish, and said to her
Lust and


Whatever can it be?


"Never mind" said the old man
we've had capital dinner without il. =


"As the lady was doing us good, she
might as well let us taste every dish, .
said the old woman.


'Why yes, she might as we'll done
handsomely" rejo;ned the husband.


There can be no harm in looking. 3"
continued the old woman: ''the lady
will never be any the wiser for that"


The Old man was silent, and silence
serves to give consent He was almost
as curious as his wife about the strange
dish. The temptation was strong, and
the longer it was parlled about, the

more irresistible it became.


She'll never know we have looked"
replied the old woman, as she gently
took hold OF the cover, and very eau
tously raised it on one side, and
there, stopped down to peep under.


"Ohl oh oh I" exclaimed the terri
fed old woman, as she started back and
upset the dish cover on the floor.


Out jumped a mouse


The uproar reused the lady of the
house, who, suspecting what was the
matter, was qnckly at the door


What is this the return You make
for my kindness? You, who were so
ready to blame Adam and Eys for eat
ing the forbidden fruit, could not you
obey my triaing request2 You have
now forfeited the privileges / conferred
upon you, and you must therefore leave
my house immediately, and return to
mud cottage. Never, in future, blame
Adam and Eve again for what you evil
IDENTIFY would have done had you been
IN their places T.