[Illustration: THE SICK KITE.]
A Kite had been sick a long time, and finding there were no hopes of
recovery, begged of his mother to go to all the churches and religious
houses in the country, to try what prayers and promises would effect in
his behalf. The old Kite replied--'Indeed, dear son, I would willingly
undertake any thing to save your life, but I have great reason to
despair of doing you any service in the way you propose: for, with what
face can I ask any thing of the gods in favour of one whose whole life
has been a continual scene of rapine and injustice, and who has not
scrupled, upon occasion, to rob the very altars themselves?'