A _Country-man_ and a _Panther_.
A _Panther_ had the Fortune to drop into a _Pit-fall_. The People came
Flocking about him; some Pelting and Battering him with Stones and
Cudgels; others Pity’d him, and threw him somewhat to Eat. Toward Night,
they went All Home again, taking for granted that they should find him
Dead next Morning: But in that _Interim_ he came to Himself again, and
gave ’em the Slip: And upon getting Loose, he made such Havock both with
Man and Beast, that the whole Country, Friend and Foe, were all in Dread
of him. The _Panther_ finding the Fright so General, call’d out to ’em,
and told them; _So many of ye_ (says he) _as were Kind to me in the Pit,
set your Hearts at Rest, for I’ll not Hurt a Creature of ye, now I’m at
Liberty_. I have not forgotten who they were that gave me Bread, and who
threw Stones at me; and I’m an Enemy only to those that were Enemies to
me.
The MORAL.
_There’s no Creature so Wild and Savage, but it may be wrought upon and
Reclaim’d by Good Offices and Benefits; to the shame of that part of
Mankind, that returns Evil for Good, and is yet to Learn Humanity from
the Beasts of the Forrests._