of locusts, and tried to get at the corn; but the hole was so small that only one locust could pass through it at a time. So one locust went in and carried off one grain of corn; and then another locust went in and carried off another grain of corn; and then another locust went in and carried off another grain of corn; and then another locust went in and carried off another grain of corn; and then another locust went in and carried off another grain of corn; and then another locust went in and carried off another grain of corn; and then another locust went in and carried off another grain of corn-" He had gone on thus from morning to night (except while he was engaged at his meals) for about a month; when the king, though a very patient king, began to be rather tired of the locusts, and interrupted his story with: "Well, well, we have had enough of the locusts; we will suppose that they have helped themselves to all the corn they wanted; tell us what happened afterwards." To which the story-teller answered, very deliberately, "If it please your Majesty, it is impossible to tell you what happened afterwards before I have told you what happened first." And so he went on again; And then another locust went in and carried off another grain of corn; and then another locust went in and carried off another grain of corn; and then another locust went in and carried off another grain of corn." The king listened with admirable patience six months more, when he again interrupted him with:"O friend! I am weary of your locusts! How soon do you think they will have done?" To which the story-teller made answer: "O king! who can tell? At the time to which my story has come, the locusts have cleared away a small space, it may be a cubit, each way round the inside of the hole; and the air is still dark with locusts on all sides; but let the king have patience, and, no doubt, we shall come to the end of them in time." Thus encouraged, the king listened on for another full year, the story-teller still going on as before: "And then another locust went in and carried off another grain of corn; and then another locust went in and carried off another grain of corn; and then another locust went in and carried off another grain of corn," till at last the poor king could bear it no longer, and cried out: "O man, that is enough! Take my daughter! take my kingdom! take anything-take every thing! only let us hear no more of those abominable locusts!" And so the story-teller was married to the king's daughter, and was declared heir to the throne; and nobody ever expressed a wish to hear the rest of his story, for he said it was impossible to come to the other part of it till he had done with the locusts. The unreasonable caprice of the foolish king was thus overmatched by the ingenious device of the wise man. ABRAM AND ZIMRI.-CLARENCE COOK. Abram and Zimri owned a field together- They plowed it with one plow, and in the spring One night, before the sheaves were gathered in, And counted in his mind his little gains, Down to the field, and add to his from mine." So he arose, and girded up his loins, Went down the mountain path, and found the field, Now, that same night, as Abram lay in bed, Out to the field, and borrow from my store, So he arose and girded up his loins, And went down softly to the level field; The moon shone out from silver bars of clouds, The dark leaves waved and whispered in the breeze. So Abram, guided by the doubtful light, Passed down the mountain path and found the field, And added them unto his brother's heap; So the next morning with the early sun Then Abram came down softly from his home, Then Zimri rose, and caught him in his arms, Back to their homes, and thanked their God in prayer That he had bound them in such loving bands. A COQUETTE PUNISHED. Ellen was fair, and knew it, too, She cheated these and taunted those, 66 A clown could take her eye?" But whispers through the village ran Edgar did love, but was afraid Till from his lips the maid should learn At length, one morn to take the air, Edgar had nerved his bashful heart He drove, nor slackened once his reins, Nor house, nor tree, nor shrub was near At last one desperate effort broke Recounted past attendance o'er The maid in silence heard his prayer, And said, ""Tis time for you to know "Your penetration must be dull Your wife? ha, ha! upon my word, I never dreamed of such a thing!" The lover sudden dropped his rein "The linch-pin's out!" he cried; He said, and handed out the fair; "What mean you, sir?" the maiden cried, To leave me here without a guide? Nay, stop, and take me home." "What! take you home!" exclaimed the beau; 66 "Indeed, my dear, I'd like to know How such a hopeless wish could grow, Or in your bosom spring. What! fake Ellen home! ha, ha! upon my word, The thought is laughably absurd As any thing I ever heard I never dreamed of such a thing!" |