was the other possessor of their secret. | ing villages, the captain put his troop into He returned to his companions with ex- the other jars, and placing them on panultation; he related to them his good for-niers on the backs of mules, drove them, tune; and they, with many praises, con- toward evening, into the town. gratulated him and each other. In the evening, the captain and the spy set forward for the town. The whole troop followed in separate parties well armed, and met in the great square, to act as their leader should direct; but when the two former came to the street where Ali Baba lived, the robber could not distinguish the house; for Morgiana, having taken notice of the mark on her master's door, thought it had a particular appearance; she therefore took a piece of chalk, and marked the doors of all their neighbors so exactly like it, that it was impossible to distinguish one from another. The design being thus rendered abortive, the thieves returned to the cavern, where their unfortunate comrade, being condemned by their unanimous suffrages, was put to death. But as so much light had been obtained by the first adventure, and as the cutting off of their enemy was of so much concern to them all, another of the troop, flattering himself that he should succeed better, undertook the dangerous business. By renewing the inquiry, he easily found out the house, which he marked with red chalk in a part remote from sight, and returned with confidence to his companions. Nothing escaped the watchfulness of Morgiana. The former affair had alarmed her; and when she saw the red mark, she repeated the former caution, and marked every house in the street in the same manner. The second spy, therefore, was as unsuccessful as the first. The troop, once more disappointed, returned to their cayern, and put their other comrade to death, agreeably to the law they had all consented to. The captain, grieved for the loss of his two gallant companions, resolved to undertake the affair himself. Having found out Ali Baba's house, he did not fix any mark upon it, but took so much notice of it, that it was impossible he could mistake it. He then returned to his companions, and laid before them a scheme to cut off their adversary without noise or danger. The troop approved their captain's proposal. They provided many large jars, some of which they filled with oil; and having bought stout mules in the adjoin Going immediately to Ali Baba's house, he found him sitting at the door, enjoying the cool of the evening. The pretended oil-merchant requested Ali Baba that he would receive him for that night, as he was a stranger and knew not where to go. His request was readily granted. The servants unloaded the mules, and took care of them; and Ali Baba received his treacherous guest with the hospitality becoming a good Mussulman. Before they retired to rest, Ali Baba told Morgiana that he would bathe early in the morning, and directed her to have his bathing-clothes and some broth ready. This obliged her to sit up after her master and his guest had retired; and the latter hearing it, resolved to lie down in his clothes, and not give the signal while Morgiana was stirring, for fear of a disappointment. It happened, while she was busy, that her lamp grew dull, and having no oil in the house, she recollected the jars in the yard, from whence she resolved to supply herself. Upon opening the first she came to, the thief within said, softly, "Is it time?" to which Morgiana, with admirable presence of mind, replied, "Not yet; but presently!" She then examined all the jars, and found there were in them seven-and-thirty armed men, a few jars only being filled with oil. up Morgiana soon concluded who these men were. She hastily called another slave, named Abdallah, and bringing several jars of oil into the kitchen, they heated a part of it boiling-hot. This she poured into one of the jars, by that means killing the thief that was concealed in it. She did so till she had destroyed all the seven-andthirty thieves, when she put out her fire and went to bed. The captain had waited with great impatience for her doing so. As soon as all was quiet, he went to his window and threw stones at the jars, which was the signal agreed on for his companions to release themselves. Finding none of them stir, he began to be uneasy, and repeated the signal two or three times. He then became impatient and alarmed; and hastening down to the jars, he opened one of them. The steam of the boiling oil soon informed him of the fate of his friends. He had the resolution to open every jar, in hopes that some of them might have escaped, but in vain: they were all dead. The captain was so enraged at the failure of his design, and at the loss of so many brave fellows, that he would certainly have sacrificed his own life in a public attack on Ali Baba, had not hopes of more complete vengeance darted into his mind, and encouraged him to make his escape. In the morning, Morgiana acquainted her master with what had happened. Ali Baba, grateful for such important services, gave her her freedom, and a large sum of money; but she was so much attached to the family, that she continued to live with them, and superintend the other slaves in their business. The captain of the thieves returned to the forest in a transport of rage and despair. When he arrived at the cavern, the loneliness of the place seemed frightful to him: "Where are you, my brave lads!" cried he, "my old companions? how unhappy to lose you by a fate so base! had you died with your sabres in your hands. I should not have been inconsolable. Where shall I get so gallant a troop again? But first let me sacrifice the wretch to whom I owe this fatal misfortune. He then endeavored to compose his mind, that he might the more safely and effectually execute his revenge on Ali Baba. The captain suffered several weeks to pass by before he set about the scheme he had planned for the destruction of his enemy. By this means he hoped Ali Baba's vengeance would relax, and he himself should be more cool in his measures. He passed much of his time in the town, where he learned that Cassim's son, now adopted by Ali Baba, had a very considerable shop. He also took a shop, which he plentifully supplied from the cavern with all sorts of rich stuffs. He appeared as a merchant, and having a large assortment of valuable goods, was treated by everybody with respect. Young Cassim was among those who sought the regard of the new merchant, and soon became his declared favorite. He loaded the young man with civilities, often made him small presents, and invited him continually to dine and sup with him. As young Cassim did not keep house, he had no opportunity to return these obligations. He therefore introduced the stranger to Ali Baba, who received him very cordially. When evening drew on, the captain appeared desirous to take his leave; but his host, who was much taken with his pleasant manner, pressed him to stay to supper. After some excuses, the pretended merchant said, "I would accept your friendly invitation, but I eat no sait in any of my food." "Well," replied Ali Baba, "we will have the supper dressed without any." When Morgiana received this direction, she was much dissatisfied. "Who is this difficult man," said she, "that eats no salt?" "Be not displeased with him for that," replied Ali Baba; “he is my son's friend, and an honest man.' Though Morgiana obeyed her master, and sent up supper as he desired, she was still uneasy at the request his new guest had made; she therefore carried in one of the dishes herself on purpose to look at him. The moment she entered the room she knew him, notwithstanding his disguise, and examining him pretty closely, she saw a dagger under his garment. am not surprised," thought she, "that this wretch, who is my master's greatest enemy, will eat no salt with him, since he intends to assassinate him; but I will prevent him." Accordingly, as soon as supper was removed, she entered the room dressed like a dancer, with a silver girdle, to which hung a poniard of the same metal. She played on a tabor, and danced several dances with great spirit. At length, drawing the poniard, she pointed with it to a little chink in the side of the tabor, where spectators generally give their gratuity to those who dance for a livelihood; and going to Ali Baba, he put in a piece of gold, as did his son. She then drew near the visitor, and, while he was putting his hand in his purse, plunged the poniard into his bosom. Ali Baba and his son cried out against her for this violent act; but she soon called to their recollection the pretended oil-merchant, and showed the arms he had concealed. The unfortunate robber confirmed her testimony, by lamenting, before he expired, amidst his execrations and despair, that he was the last of the forty thieves to whom the cavern had belonged. Ali Baba received with due gratitude [Anna Cora Mowatt-Ritchie was born in 1819, at Bordeaux, France. She resided in America the greater part of her life, and, after a brilliant career in literary and theatrical circles, died in 1870.] Thy will be done! O heavenly King, Its upward flight, great God, to Thee!- VOL. X. When heaven seemed dawning on my view, And though the world can never more A world of sunshine be to me, Though all my fairy dreams are o'er, Though friends I loved the dearest, best, Yet must I live-must live for those Who mourn the shadow on my brow, Who feel my hand can soothe their woes, Whose faithful hearts I gladden now. Yes, I will live-live to fulfil The noble mission scarce begun, And, pressed with grief, to murmur still, "All-Wise, All-Just, Thy will be done!" HILDA'S LITTLE HOOD. [Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen was born in Norway, 1848, came to America in 1869, and became coeditor of a Norwegian newspaper in Chicago. He has contributed much to periodical literature. We extract the following gem from his volume of poems, Idylls of Norway.] In sooth I have forgotten, for it is long ago, And winters twelve have hid it beneath their shrouds of snow; And 'tisn't well, the parson says, o'er bygone things to brood, But, sure, it was the strangest tale, this tale of 'Hilda's hood. For Hilda was a merry maid, and wild as wild could be, Among the parish maidens was none so fair as she; Her eyes they shone with wilful mirth, and like a golden flood Her sunny hair rolled downward from her little scarlet hood. 243 I once was out a-fishing, and, though sturdy | Then straight my heart ran riot, and wild my at the oar, My arms were growing weaker, and I was far from shore; And angry squalls swept thickly from out the lurid skies, pulses flew; I strove in vain my flutter and my blushes to subdue; "Why, Eric!" laughed a roguish maid, "your cheeks are red as blood;" And every landmark that I knew was hidden "It is the shine," another cried, "from Hil. from mine eyes. da's scarlet hood." The gull's shrill shriek above me, the sea's I answered not, for 'tis not safe to banter with strong bass beneath, a girl; The numbness grew upon me with its chilling The trees, the church, the belfry danced about touch of death, me in a whirl; And blackness gathered round me; then I was as dizzy as a moth that flutters round the through the night's dark shroud A clear young voice came swiftly as an arrow cleaves the cloud. It was a voice so mellow, so bright and warm and round, flame; I turned about, and twirled my cap, but could not speak for shame. But that same Sabbath evening, as I sauntered o'er the beach, As if a beam of sunshine had been melted And cursed that foolish heart of mine for into sound; choking up my speech, It fell upon my frozen nerves, and thawed the I spied, half wrapped in shadow at the margin springs of life; I grasped the oar and strove afresh; it was a bitter strife. of the wood, The wavy mass of sunshine that broke from The breakers roared about me, but the song With quickened breath on tiptoe across the took bolder flight, sand I stepped; And rose above the darkness like a beacon in Her face was hidden in her lap, as though she the night; mused or slept; And swift I steered and safely, struck shore, The hood had glided backward o'er the hair and by God's rood, that downward rolled, Through gloom and spray I caught the gleam Like some large petal of a flower upon a stream of Hilda's scarlet hood. The moon athwart the darkness broke a broad and misty way, of gold. "Fair Hilda," so I whispered, as I bended to her ear; prise or fear. The dawn grew red beyond the sea and sent She started up and smiled at me without surabroad the day; And loud I prayed to God above to help me, "I love you, Hilda," said I; then in whispers if He would, more subdued: For deep into my soul had pierced that gleam "Love me again, or wear no more that little from Hilda's hood. scarlet hood." I sought her in the forest, I sought her on the "Why, Eric," cried she, laughing, "how can strand, you talk so wild? The pine-trees spread their dusky roof, bleak I was confirmed last Easter, half maid and lay the glittering sand, half a child, Until one Sabbath morning at the parish But since you are so stubborn-no, no; I never church I stood, could And saw, amid a throng of maids, the little Unless you guess what's written in my little scarlet hood. scarlet hood." "I cannot, fairest Hilda," quoth I with mournful mien, While with my hand I gently, and by the maid unseen, Snatched from the clustering wavelets the brightly flaming thing, And saw naught there but stitches small, crosswise meandering. "There's nothing in your hood, love," I cried with heedless mirth. "Well," laughed she, "out of nothing God made both heaven and earth; But since the earth to you and me as heritage was given, I'll only try to make for you a little bit of heaven." THE NATIVES OF TAHITI. [Guillaume Louis Figuier (born 1819), a emits a strong, heavy smell, attributable, in a great measure, to incessant rubbings with cocoa-nut oil. Their step wants confidence, and they become easily fatigued. Dwelling on a soil where alimentary products, once abundantly sown, harvest themselves without labor or effort, the Tahitians have preserved soft effeminate manners, and a certain childishness in their ideas. The seductive attractions of Tahitian women have been very charmingly painted by Bougainville, Wallis, and Cook, but Lesson assures us, on the contrary, that they are extremely ugly, and that a person would hardly find in the whole island thirty passable faces, according to our ideas of beauty. He adds, that after early youth all the females become disgusting, by reason of a general flabbiness, which is all the greater because it usually succeeds considerable stoutness. There is room for believing that the good looks of the race have deteriorated in consequence of condis-tagious diseases since the first European navigators landed in this island. A very fortunate inheritance is the magnificence of its vegetation and the mildness of its temperature. tinguished chemist and scientific writer, was born at Montpellier, France, and educated in his native town under his uncle, Pierre Oscar Figuier, professor in the School of Pharmacy. He has been a constant contributor to various scientific papers, and was for some time scientific editor of La Presse, and subsequently of La France. Amongst his scientific works we may mention: Exposition et Histoire des Principales Découvertes scientifiques modernes (1851-53), Histoire des Merveilleux dans les Temps modernes (1859-60), Le Lendemain de la Mort, on la Vie future selon la Science (1872), Les Races Humaines (1871). Most of his works have been translated into English and other European languages. From the latter work we extract.] Tahiti and the whole group of the Society Islands are almost exclusively inhabited by the same branch of the MalaysioPolynesian race. The natives of Tahiti are all, with scarcely an exception, very fine men. Their limbs are at once vigorous and graceful, the muscular projections being everywhere enveloped by a thick cellular tissue, which rounds away any too prominent development of their frames. Their countenances are marked by great sweetness, and an appearance of good nature; their heads would be of the European type but for the flatness of the nostrils, and the too great size of the lips; their hair is black and thick, and their skin of light coppercolor and very varying in intensity of hue. It is smooth and soft to the touch, but Tahitian girls before marriage have full legs, small hands, large mouths, flattened nostrils, prominent cheek-bones, and fleshy lips; their teeth are of the finest enamel, and their well-shaped prominent eyes. shaded by long, fringed lashes, and sheltered by broad black eye-brows, beam with animation and fire. Too early marriages and suckling, however, very soon destroy any charms which they may possess. Their skin is usually of a light copper-color, but some are remarkable for their whiteness, particularly the wives of the chiefs. Family ties are very strong among the Tahitians. They have great love for their children, speak to them with gentleness, never strike them, and taste nothing pleas ing without offering them some of it. The women manufacture cloth, weave mats or straw hats, and take care of the house. The men build the huts, hollow canoes, plant trees, gather fruits, and cook the victuals in under-ground ovens. sentially indolent, the Tahitians generally go to bed at twilight. Es All the members of the family live huddled together in the same room, on mats spread upon the ground; chiefs, alone, reposing upon similar textures stretched on frames. The siesta is also one of their |