It's nae mair ferlie to see a woman greet than to see A Mair-i.e., more. Ferlie-i.e., wonder. MONKEY LAUGHS when THE SNAIL DANCES. Greet (Mauritius Creole). MOONSHINE AND OIL, those are the ruin of a house. (Arabian). To waste oil by burning a lamp when the moon shines is folly and a sign of extravagance. Naething is got without pains but an ill name and LANG NAILS. (Scotch). NINE IMBECILES who are mounted on a donkey. (Osmanli). No more striking picture of imbecility could be presented than that of nine idiots mounted on a stupid beast. Not every wood will make woODEN SHOES. (Danish). Of brothers-in-law and RED DOGS few are good. (Spanish). Only the GRAVECLOTHES change the physical nature. (Arabian). Only THE SILLY DOG chases the flying bird. (Chinese). Our business is like A MULE'S TAIL-it grows not and grows not smaller. (Bulgarian). Prayer comes not in answer to the CAT'S PRAYER. (Arabian). Putting an elephant into a narrow dish; a HORSE'S EGGS, or a flower in the air. (Bengalese). ROTTEN WOOD cannot be carved. (Chinese). Scanty cheeks mak' A LANG NOSE. (Scotch). Sometimes A RED VEST is given and sometimes a kick. (Hindustani). Sometimes you SOW RED BEANS and WHITE BEANS grow. (Mauritius Creole). "But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane, In proving foresight may be in vain: And lea'e us nought but grief and pain, Robert Burns. SWEET MEATS are not distributed during a battle. (Urdu). The envious man has A WICKED EYE. (Hebrew). The fowler knows the SERPENT'S SNEEZING. (Bengalese). The FRENCHMAN'S LEGS are thin, his soul little; he is fickle as the wind. (Russian). The LAZY PIG does not eat ripe pears. (Italian). The learned have eyes; the ignorant have merely Two (Kural). SPOTS ON THE FACE. The PORK BUTCHER always likes to talk about swine (Chinese). The smell is gone from the SCENTED LEATHER and it remains a common hide. (Hindustani). Applied to those who, having come out of poverty and obscurity and having arisen to a place of influence and authority, have lost their money and fallen back into their former condition. THE WHITE ANT, the cat, and the wicked spoil good things (Bengalese). They are galloping A PAPER HORSE. (Hindustani). They are setting A WOODEN HORSE to gallop. (Hindustani) The work that they have started is impracticable. Through GREEN SPECTACLES the world is green. Japa-) nese). Tie a TURBAN OF STRAW round thy head, but do not forget thy engagements. (Arabian). Idiots sometimes make turbans of straw for them- selves. TO A CRAZY SHIP every wind is contrary. (Italian). To exchange A ONE-EYED HORSE for a blind one. (French). Two WATERMELONS cannot be carried under one arm. (Modern Greek). See Bible Proverbs. New Testament: "No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to one and despise the other." What is obtained on THE DEVIL'S BACK is spent under his belly. (Welsh). When one is thirsty ONE THOUSAND PEARLS are not worth one drop of water. (Persian). When the rain is coming THE BULL-FROGS SING. (Louisiana Creole). With a single blow he opens not NINE NUTS. (Telugu). Used to encourage the spirit of perseverance. "Apelles was not a master painter the first day." "Rome was not built in one day.' 'Step after step the ladder is ascended." "Troy was not taken in a day.' 'Tis perseverance that prevails." (English). "The oak is not felled at one blow." 'A great state is not gotten in a few hours." (Spanish). "Perseverance kills the game. (Spanish, Portuguese). "By slow degree the bird builds its nest." (Dutch). "Link by link the coat of mail is made." (French). "In time a mouse will gnaw through a cable.' "The repeated stroke will fell the oak." (German). "Perseverance brings success.' (Dutch). "Nine-storied terraces rise by a gradual accumulation of bricks." (Chinese). "Paris was not built in a day." (French). "Little by little we become fat." (Turkish). "With perseverance one surmounts all difficulties." (Modern Greek). "Step by step one goes far." "Step by step one goes to Rome." (Italian, Dutch, Portuguese). You must walk a long while behind a WILD GOOSE before you find an ostrich feather. (Danish). 7 BIBLE PROVERBS THE OLD TESTAMENT A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; and such contentions are like the bars of a castle. (Prov. xviii: 19). The word offend is here used in the sense of resisted. Quarrels between brothers are often the bitterest. Someone has observed that when cruelty is referred to as ruthless, pitiless, blood-stained, or fiendish one instinctively thinks of the feuds of Ancient Greece or Medieval Europe. The strength and bitterness of feeling between estranged brothers has been expressed in several proverbs. In Spain and Portugal it is said, "The wrath of brothers is the wrath of devils." The Italians and French have the expression, "Three brothers, three castles." The French also say, 'A landmark is well placed between two brothers' fields." Michael Jermin in commenting on this proverb expresses his admiration for brothers who settle their differences by lot rather than by strife. A better way is that proposed in the Turkish adage, "When one hits you with a stone, hit him with a piece of cotton, remembering the observation of the modern Greeks, that "Two brothers are one trunk; they should mutually support each other." In considering the proverb it is well to recall Æsop's Fables of "The Eagle and the Arrow," and "The Pomegranate, the Apple Tree, and the Bramble." A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. (Prov. xxviii: 15). William M. Thomson, traveller and missionary in the East, declares that the force of the saying is |