For tyrants, on the rights the poor had given them to protect;

Till now the simple elements of nature are their all,

That from the cabin is not filch'd, and lavish'd in the hali— And while night, noon, or morning meal no other plenty brings,

Nc beverage than the water draught from old, spontaneous springs,

They, sure, may deem them holy wells, that yield, from day to day,

One blessing which no tyrant hand can taint, or take away

148. WANTS.

PAULDING.

1. EVERYBODY, young and old, children and graybeards, has heard of the renowned Haroun Al Raschid, the hero of Eastern history and Eastern romance, and the most illustrious of the caliphs of Bagdad, that famous city on which the light of learning and science shone, long ere it dawned on the benighted regions of Europe, which has since succeeded to the diadem that once glittered on the brow of Asia. Though as the successor of the Prophet he exercised a despotic sway over the lives and fortunes of his subjects, yet did he not, like the Eastern despots of more modern times, shut himself up within the walls of his palace, hearing nothing but the adulation of his dependants; seeing nothing but the shadows which surrounded him; and knowing nothing but what he received through the medium of interested deception or malignant falsehood.

2. That he might see with his own eyes, and hear with his own ears, he was accustomed to go about through the streets of Bagdad by night, in disguise, accompanied by Giafer the Barmecide, his grand vizier, and Mesrour, his executioner; one to give him his counsel, the other to fulfil his commands promptly, on all occasions. If he saw any commotion among the people, he mixed with them and learne l its cause; and if

m passing a house he heard the moanings of distress, or the complaints of suffering, he entered, for the purpose of administering relief. Thus he made himself acquainted with the condition of his subjects, and often heard those salutary truths which never reached his ears through the walls of his palace, or from the lips of the slaves that surrounded him.

3. On one of these occasions, as Al Raschid was thus perambulating the streets at night, in disguise, accompanied by nis vizier and his executioner, in passing a splendid mansion he overheard, through the lattice of a window, the complaints of some one who seemed in the deepest distress, and silently ap proaching, looked into an apartment exhibiting all the signs of wealth and luxury. On a sofa of satin embroidered with gold, and sparkling with brilliant gems, he beheld a man richly dressed, in whom he recognized his favorite boon companion Bedreddin, on whom he had showered wealth and honors with more than Eastern prodigality. He was stretched out on the sofa, slapping his forehead, tearing his beard, and moaning piteously, as if in the extremity of suffering. At length, starting up on his feet, he exclaimed in tones of despair, “O Allah! I beseech thee to relieve me from my misery, and take away my life !"

4. The Commander of the Faithful, who loved Bedreddių, pitied his sorrows, and being desirous to know their cause, that he might relieve them, knocked at the door, which was opened by a black slave, who, on being informed that they were strangers in want of food and rest, at once admitted them, and informed his master, who called them into his presence and bade them welcome. A plentiful feast was spread before them, at which the master of the house sat down with his guests, but of which he did not partake, but looked on, sighing bitterly all the while.

5. The Commander of the Faithful at length ventured to ask him what caused his distress, and why he refrained from partaking in the feast with his guests, in proof that they were welcome. "Hath Allah afflicted thee with disease, that thou canst not enjoy the blessings he has bestowed? Thou art surrounded by all the splendor that wealth can procure; thy

dwelling is a palace, and its apartments are adorned with all the luxuries which captivate the eye, or administer to the gratification of the senses. Why is it then, O my brother, that thou art miserable?"

6. "True, O stranger !" replied Bedreddin. "I have all these. I have health of body; I am rich enough to purchase Il that wealth can bestow, and if I required more wealth and honors, I am the favorite companion of the Commander of the Faithful, on whose head lie the blessings of Allah, and of whom I have only to ask, to obtain all I desire, save one thing only."

7. "And what is that?" asked the caliph. "Alas! I adore the beautiful Zuleima, whose face is like the full moon, whose eyes are brighter and softer than those of the gazelle, and whose mouth is like the seal of Solomon. But she loves another, and all my wealth and honors are as nothing The want of one thing renders the possession of every other of no value. I am the most wretched of men; my life is a burden, and my death would be a blessing."

8. "By the beard of the Prophet," cried the caliph, “I swear thy case is a hard one. But Allah is great and powerful, and will, I trust, either deliver thee from thy burden, or give thee strength to bear it." Then thanking Bedreddin for his hospitality, the Commander of the Faithful departed with his companions.

149. WANTS-continued.

1. TAKING their way toward that part of the city inhabited by the poorer classes of people, the caliph stumbled over something, in the obscurity of night, and was nigh falling to the ground: at the same moment a voice cried out, “Allah, preserve me! Am I not wretched enough already, that I must be trodden under foot by a wandering beggar like my self, in the darkness of night !"

2. Mezrour the executioner, indignant at this insult to the Commander of the Faithful, was preparing to cut off his head,

when Al Raschid interposed, and inquired of the beggar his name, and why he was there sleeping in the streets at that hour of the night.

"Mashallah," replied he, "I sleep in the street because I have nowhere else to sleep; and if I lie on a satin sofa, my pains and infirmities would rob me of rest. Whether on divans of silk, or in the dirt, all one to me, for neither by day nor by night do I know any rest. If I close my eyes for a moment, my dreams are of nothing but feasting, and I awake only to feel more bitterly the pangs of hunger and disease."

3. "Hast thou no home to shelter thee, no friends or kindred to relieve thy necessities, or administer to thy infirmities ?"

"No," replied the beggar; "my house was consumed by fire; my kindred are all dead, and my friends have deserted me. Alas! stranger, I am in want of every thing-health, food, clothing, home, kindred, and friends. I am the most wretched of mankind, and death alone can relieve me."

4. "Of one thing, at least, I can relieve thee," said the caliph, giving him his purse. "Go and provide thyself food and shelter, and may Allah restore thy health."

The beggar took the purse, but instead of calling down blessings on the head of his benefactor, exclaimed, "Of what use is money? it cannot cure disease;" and the caliph again went on his way with Giafer his vizier, and Mesrour his executioner.

5. Passing from the abodes of want and misery, they at length reached a splendid palace, and seeing lights glimmering from the windows, the caliph approached, and looking through the silken curtains, beheld a man walking backward and forward, with languid step, as if oppressed with a load of cares. At length, casting himself down on a sofa, he stretched out his limbs, and yawning desperately, exclaimed, "O Allah! what shall I do! what will become of me! I am weary of life; it is nothing but a cheat, promising what it never purposes, and affording only hopes that end in disappointment, or, if realized, only in disgust."

6. The curiosity of the caliph being awakened to know the

cause of his despair, he ordered Mesrour to knock at the door; which being opened, they pleaded the privilege of strangers to enter for rest and refreshments. Again, in accordance with the precepts of the Koran and the customs of the East, the strangers were admitted to the presence of the lord of the palace, who received them with welcome, and directed refreshments to be brought. But though he treated his guests with kindness, he neither sat down with them, nor asked any questions, nor joined in their discourse, walking back and forth languidly, and seeming oppressed with a heavy burden of sorrows.

7. At length the caliph approached him reverently, and said: "Thou seemest sorrowful, O my brother! If thy suf fering is of the body, I am a physician, and peradventure can afford thee relief; for I have travelled into distant lands, and collected very choice remedies for human infirmity."

"My sufferings are not of the body, but of the mind," answered the other.

"Hast thou lost the beloved of thy heart, the friend of thy bosom, or been disappointed in the attainment of that on which thou hast rested all thy hopes of happiness?"

8. "Alas! no. I have been disappointed, not in the means, but in the attainment of happiness. I want nothing but a want. I am cursed with the gratification of all my wishes, and the fruition of all my hopes. I have wasted my life in the acquisition of riches that only awakened new desires, and honors that no longer gratify my pride or repay me for the labor of sustaining them. I have been cheated in the pursuit of pleasures that weary me in the enjoyment, and am perishing for lack of the excitement of some new want. have every thing I wish, yet enjoy nothing."

I

9. "Thy case is beyond my skill," replied the caliph; and the man cursed with the fruition of all his desires turned his back on him in despair. The caliph, after thanking him for his hospitality, departed with his companions, and when they had reached the street, exclaimed

"Allah, preserve me! I will no longer fatigue myself in a vain pursuit, for it is impossible to confer happiness on