As a School-master was walking upon the bank of a river, he heard a
cry as of one in distress: advancing a few paces farther, he saw one
of his Scholars in the water, hanging by the branch of a willow. The
Boy had, it seems, been learning to swim with corks, and now thinking
himself sufficiently experienced, had thrown these implements aside,
and ventured into the water without them; but the force of the stream
having hurried him out of his depth, he had certainly been drowned, had
not the branch of the tree providentially hung in his way. The Master
took up the corks, which lay upon the ground, and throwing them to his
Scholar, made use of this opportunity to read a lecture to him upon the
inconsiderate rashness of youth. Let this be an example to you, says
he, in the conduct of your future life, never to throw away your corks
till time has given you strength and experience enough to swim without
them.