ing him repeated stabs in the belly: the enraged shark, after many unayailing efforts, finding himself overmatched in his own element endeavored to disengage himself; sometimes plunging towards the bottom, sometimes rolling on the surface of the waves. The crew of several surounding vessels beheld the unequal conflict, uncertain from which of the combatants the streams of bloods had flowed, till at length the shark, much weakened by the loss of blood, made towards the shore. The sailor, now flushed with the hope of victory, pushed his foe with redoubled ardor, and by the help of an ebbing tide, dragged him on shore, ripped open his bowels, and having united the severed carcase of his friend, laid both parts of the body in one hospitable grave. HOSPITALITY REWARDED. The Czar Ivan, who reigned over Russia about the middle of the sixteenth century, frequently went out disguised, in order to discover the opinion which the people entertained of his administration. One day, in a solitary walk near Moscow, he entered a small village, and pretending to be overcome with fatigue, implored relief from several of the inhabitants., His dress was ragged; his appearance mean; and what ought to have excited the compassion of the villagers, and ensured his reception, was productive of refusal. Full of indignation at such inhuman treatment, he was just going to leave the place, when he perceived another habitation, to which he had not applied for assistance. It was the poorest cottage in the village.-The Emperor hastened to this, and knocked at the door; a peasant opened it and asked him what he wanted. I am almost dying with fatigue and hunger,' answered the Czar. Can you give me a lodging for one night?' 'Alas! said the peasant, taking him by the hand, you will have but poor fare here; you are come at an unluckyLime; my wife is in labor; her cries will not let you sleep; but come in, come in; you will at least be sheltered from the cold; and such as we have, you shall be welcome to.'-The peasant then made the Czar enter a little room full of children; in a cradle were two infants sleeping soundly; a girl three years old, he, from the physiognomy of this child, that he will be quite fortunate; he will arrive, I am certain, at great preferment.'-The peasant smiled at this prediction, and that instant the two eldest girls came to kiss their new-born brother, and their grandmother came also to take him back. The little ones followed her; and the peasant, laying himself down upon his bed of straw, invited the stranger to do the same. In a moment the peasant was in a sound and peaceful sleep; but the Czar, sitting up, looked around and contemplated everything with an eye of tenderness and emotion -the sleeping children and their sleeping father. An undisturbed silence reigned in the cottage— 'What a happy calm! What delightful tranquillity!' said the Emperor. Avarice and ambition, suspicion and remorse never enter here. How sweet is the sleep of innocence!'-In such reflections, and on such a bed, did the mighty Emperor of all the Russias spend the night! The peasant awoke at break of day, and his guest taking leave of him, said, I must return to Moscow, my friend: I am acquainted there with a very benevolent man, to whom I shall take care to mention your kind treatment of me. I can prevail upon him to stand god-father to your child. Promise me, therefore, that you will wait for me, that I may be present at the christening; I will be back in three hours at farthest. The peasant did not think much of this mighty promise; but in the good nature of his heart, he consented, however, to the stranger's request. The Cza door was ing to his to dischar |