The Weasel and the Rat.

A Hungry Weasel poor and lank, With wrinkled Jaws, and Taper Flank, Hardly recover'd from her Weakness, Occasion'd by a Fit of Sickness. Met with a Granary, and stole Into it thro' a little Hole. She bless'd herself to see the store, No Miser sure could covet more: And, thinking Nobody could harm her, Fell to, and fed like any Farmer. At Nights she slept, and snor'd at Ease, And having Peace and Quietness, Four Meals a Day, a wholesome Air, A dainty Diet, little Care, She quickly chang'd her meagre Feature, And look'd like quite another Creature. The Truth is, it would be a hard Case, If all this should not mend one's Carcass. Once, sitting at a Dish of Wheat, She heard a Noise, forsook her Meat, Ran to the Hole to save her Bacon, Squeez'd to get thro'; but was mistaken. And as she searches all about, And finds no Crevish to get out, She spies a Rat, and tells him, pray What must I do, I've lost my way, Which is the Hole? No, says the Rat, Your way is right; but y'are too Fat. Stay but a Week, and fast, good Dame, } Till y'are as lean, as when you came, } And then you'll find the Hole's the same. }

The Moral. A Man in profitable Station, Grown rich by Plundering the Nation, Is often willing to resign, But seldom to refund the Coin.