came up again, and was speedily aware of his new misfortune. Thus, clothes, ass, and goat had all gone different ways; and their unlucky owner, with all his toil, could scarcely find people charitable enough to be willing to clothe him.— GOZZI'S ORIENTAL TALES.

THE PARROT AND THE KING.

Once upon a time a fowler spread a net near the nest of a parrot, and caught it therein, along with all its young ones. The parrot then said to her little 64 ones, My children, the best thing that can be done in this plight, is for you to lie here quite still, pretending to be dead. If this bird-catcher shall think you dead, he will leave you alone should be caught, then never mind. alive, then, by one device or other, I will to you again." The young ones acted according to her advice, each continuing to lie still without drawing a breath.

behind, and. if I

Should I remain manage to return

The fowler, conceiving that they were probably dead, said, Let me release them from the snare!" He accordingly threw them out of the net, whereupon, they each flew away and perched upon the branch of a tree. The bird-catcher was then enraged with the mother-parrot, and was about to dash her violently on the ground, but, just then, she exclaimed, "Oh, fowler, do not kill me! if you spare my life I will be the means of procuring you such a sum of money, that you will want for nothing all the rest of your life. As long as you shall live you will have no anxiety about anything! for I am exceedingly sagacious, and skilled in medicine. My knowledge of the medical science is as complete as anyone could desire!"

The fowler was pleased at this refrained from putting her to death.

46

appeal of hers, and Then, addressing the

bird, he said, 'Parrot; the king of my country has been

ill for a long time past, having a severe and obstinate disease. Do you think you could cure him?" She replied, "What is to hinder me? I am such a physician that I could restore a thousand diseased persons to health.

Take

me to your king and recount the praises of my healing skill-then you can sell me to him for as much as you like."

Accordingly, the fowler, having shut up the parrot in a cage, took her to his king, and said, "Your Majesty, this parrot is exceedingly sagacious, and possesses great skill in the science of medicine. If you give me the command, I will bring her into the presence of your illustrious Majesty!" The king replied, "My friend, this is just what I was anxious for: I am in great need of a wise physician, and I was just wishing that some one would come who could remove my distemper. You had better bring the bird and name her price!" He fixed it at a large sum of money, which the king ordered to be given to him. He took the money, and went home. The parrot began to administer medicine to the king, and after two or three days the king's disease was half cured thereby.

Then the parrot said, "Your Majesty, by the grace of God, and through my wisdom and medicines, you have now half recovered your health. If you will have compassion on me, and grant me my liberty, then, I promise you, that I will bring from the desert such an article that, in two or three days after eating it, you will be entirely cured." The king thought that no doubt the parrot was speaking the truth, and with this conviction, liberated her from the cage. The parrot thereupon flew off towards the forest, and joining her young ones, never showed her face again to the king. -TALES OF a Parrot.

CREATION.

The spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,

And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim.

The unwearied sun from day to day,

Does his Creator's power display,
And publishes to every land,
The work of an Almighty hand.
Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And nightly to the listening earth,
Repeats the story of her birth:

While all the stars that round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,

And spread the truth from pole to pole.
What, though in solemn silence all
Move round this dark terrestrial ball!
What, though no real voice nor sound,
Amid their radiant orbs be found!
In Reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice;

For ever singing as they shine,

"The hand that made us is divine."-ADDISON.

THE BOAR AND THE TWO LIONS.

One moonlight night I had taken my position on a high rock which overhung a fountain and a small marsh, a favourable spot with our hunters to watch for boars, who resorted thither to drink and root.

The moon had traversed half the heavens, and I, tired

with waiting, had fallen into a dose, when I was roused by a rustling in the wood, as on the approach of some large animal. I raised myself with caution, and examined my gun, ere the animal entered the marsh. He paused and seemed to be listening, when a half growl, half bark, announced him to be a boar; and a huge beast he was, and with stately step he entered the marsh.

I could now see by the bright moon, as he neared my station, that his bristles were white with age, and his tusks gleamed like polished steel among the dark objects around him. I got ready my gun, and waited his approach to the fountain

Having whetted his ivory tusks, he began to root; but he appeared to be restless, as if he knew some enemy was at hand; for every now and then raising his snout, he sniffed the air.

I marvelled at these movements, for as the breeze came from a quarter opposite to my position, I knew I could not be the object of the boar's suspicion.

Now, however, I distinctly heard a slight noise near the edge of the marsh: the boar became evidently uneasy; he once or twice made a low moan, and again began to root.

Keeping a sharp look-out on the spot whence I heard the strange noise, I fancied I could distinguish the grim and shaggy head of a lion crouching upon his fore paws, and with eyes that glared like lighted charcoal through the bushes, he seemed peering at the movements of the boar. I looked again, and now I could see plainly a lion creeping cat-like on his belly as he neared the boar, who was busy rooting, but with bristles erect, and now and then muttering something that I could not understand.

The lion had crept within about twenty feet of the boar, but was hidden in part by some rushes. I waited breath

less for the result; and although myself out of danger, I trembled with anxiety at the terrible scene.

The boar again raised his snout, and half turned his side towards the lion, and I fancied I could see his eye watching the enemy. Another moment, and the lion made a spring, and was received by the boar, who reared up on his hind legs. I thought I could hear the blow of his tusks as the combatants rolled on the ground. Leaning over the rock, I strained my eyes to see the result. To my surprise the boar was again on his legs, and going back a few paces, rushed at his fallen foe; a loud yell was given by the lion, which was answered by the distant howlings of the jackals. Again and again the ferocious boar charged, till he buried his very snout in the body of the lion, who was kicking in the agony of death. Blood indeed flowed from the sides of the boar, and his bristles still stood erect as he triumphed over the sultan of the forest, and now he seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. "God is great," said I, as I trembled with dread: "He will soon reach me on the rock." I threw myself flat on my face, and cried out, "There is no other God, but God, and Muhammad is his prophet!" I soon recovered my courage, and looked again. The boar had returned to his natural size, and was slaking his thirst in the fountain. I seized my gun, but reflecting, said within myself, "Why should I kill him? He will not be of any use to me; he has fought bravely, and left me the skin of a lion, and perhaps he may be a jin: so I laid down the gun, contenting myself with thoughts of the morrow.

The boar had left the fountain, and was again busied rooting in the marsh, when another slight noise, as of a rustling in the wood, attracted my notice, and I could

* An evil genius or spirit.