My dear boy, there is a proverb, 'Let _well_ alone,' Let us not have too much ambition,--it has ruined greater states than ours." Fritz seemed grieved to give up his plan, and suggested that he could forge some strong bars of iron to place before the opening, which could be removed at will.
"But," said I, "they will not prevent the snakes from passing underneath.

I have noticed some with terror, as they are animals I have a great antipathy to; and if your mother saw one crawl into her grotto, she would never enter it again; even if she did not die of fright." "Well, we must give it up," said Fritz; "but it is a pity.

Do you think, father, there are more bears in the island than those we killed ?" "In all probability," said I; "it is scarcely to be supposed that there should only be two.

I cannot well account for their being here.

They can swim very well, and perhaps the abundance of fruit in this part of the island may have attracted them." I then gave my son a short account of their manners and habits, from the best works on the history of these animals.
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