Novels were not the only way for the 18^th-century authors to educate their readers. This Collection of a few brief works presents short stories, fables, and poems in hopes of offering multiple ways to entice the reader into learning. The fable pictured here, “Recklessness punished”, tells the story of a cat on the lookout for rats. The rats, huddled together, dare not make any noise. One rat, however, makes the imprudent decision of breaking the silence and is immediately eaten by the cat. Written in rhyme, this story exemplifies traditional fable structure, made popular a century earlier by Jean de La Fontaine, as its catchy rhythm allows for both children and adults to profit from its prudent message.