and saluted him, but he only slightly bowed his head. I asked him why he sat so still; but, instead of answering me, he made a sign for me to take him upon my back and carry him over the brook. 6. I believed him really to stand in need of my assistance, took him upon my back, and, having carried him over, bade him get down, and for that end stopped, that he might get off with ease; but, instead of doing so (and I laugh every time I think of it), the old man, who to me appeared quite decrepit, threw his legs nimbly about my neck. He sat astride upon my shoulders, and held my throat so tight that I thought he would have strangled me, and I fainted away. 7. Notwithstanding my fainting, the ill-natured old fellow kept his seat upon my neck. When I had recovered my breath he thrust one of his feet against my side, and struck me so rudely with the other that he forced me to rise up against my will. Having arisen, he made me carry him under the trees, and forced me now and then to stop, that he might gather and eat fruit. He never left his seat all day; and when I laid down to rest at night he laid himself down with me, holding still fast about my neck. Every morning he pinched me to make me awake, and afterward obliged me to get up and walk, and spurred me with his feet. 8. One day I found several dry calabashes that had fallen from a tree. I took a large one and, after cleaning it, pressed into it some juice of grapes, which abounded in the island. Having filled the calabash, I put it by in a convenient place; going thither again some days after I tasted it, and found the wine so good that it gave me new vigor, and so exhilarated my spirits that I began to sing and dance as I carried my burden. The old man, perceiving the effect which this had upon me, and that I carried him with more ease than before, made me a sign to give him some of it. I handed him the calabash, and, the liquor pleasing the palate, he drank it off. There being a considerable quantity of it, he soon began to sing and to move about from side to side in his seat upon my shoulders, and by degrees to loosen his legs from about me. Finding that he did not press me as before, I threw him upon the ground, where he lay without motion. I then took up a great stone and slew him. 9. I was extremely glad to be thus freed forever from this troublesome fellow. I now walked toward the beach, where I met the crew of ship that had cast anchor to take in water. They were surprised to see me, but more so at hearing the particulars of my adventures. "You fell," said they, "into the hands of the old man of the sea, and are the first who ever escaped strangling by his malicious embraces. He never quitted those he had once made himself master of till he had destroyed them, and he has made this island notorious by the number of men he has slain." They carried me with them to the captain, who received me with great kindness. He put out again to sea, and, after some days' sail, we arrived at the harbor of a great city, the houses of which overhung the sea. 10. One of the merchants, who had taken me into his friendship, invited me to go along with him. He gave me a large sack, and, having recommended me to some people of the town who used to gather cocoanuts, desired them to take me with them. "Go," said he, "follow them, and act as you see them do; but do not separate from them, other wise you may endanger your life." Having thus spoken, he gave me provisions for the journey, and I went with them. II. We came to a thick forest of cocoa-trees, very lofty, with trunks so smooth that it was not possible to climb to the branches that bore the fruit. When we entered the forest we saw a great number of apes of several sizes, who fled as soon as they perceived us, and climbed to the tops of the trees with amazing swiftness. The merchants gathered stones, and threw them at the apes on the trees. I did the same; and the apes, out of revenge, threw cocoanuts at us so fast, and with such gestures, as sufficiently testified their anger and resentment. We gathered up the cocoanuts, and from time to time threw stones to provoke the apes; so that by this stratagem we filled our bags with cocoanuts. I thus gradually collected many cocoanuts, which brought me a considerable sum. 12. Having laden our vessel with cocoanuts, we set sail, and passed by the islands where pepper grows in great plenty. From thence we went to the Isle of Comari, where the best species of wood of aloes grows. I exchanged my cocoa in those two islands for pepper and wood of aloes, and went with other merchants a-pearl-fishing. I hired divers, who brought me up some pearls that were very large and pure. I embarked in a vessel that happily arrived at Bussorah; from thence I returned to Bagdad, where I realized vast sums from my pepper, wood of aloes and pearls. I gave the tenth of my gains in alms, as I had done upon my return from my other voyages, and rested from my fatigues.-The Arabian Nights. 2. DEFINITIONS.-I. Ca lăm'i ties, great misfortunes. In'cli na'tion, desire. 3. Roc, a monstrous bird of Arabian mythology. It is said to have been capable of carrying off an elephant and devouring it. 4. Dextěr'i ty, skill. 5. Măr'i ners, sailors. 6. In firm', sickly; feeble. 7. De crep'it, worn by age. 8. Nim'bly, quickly; lightly. 9. Căl'a bash'es, large gourds. IO. Vig'or, life; activity. 11. Ex hil'a ra'ted, made cheerful; enlivened. 12. Păl'ate, taste. 13. Ma li'cious, spiteful. 14. No tō'ri ous, noted (in a bad sense). 15. Těs'ti fied, showed; evidenced. 16. Re şent'ment, anger; displeasure. 17. Strǎt'a gem, trick. LESSON XXXIX. Marmion and Douglas. Sir Walter Scott. Of all English poets and novelists, perhaps there is not one more widely known and loved than Sir WALTER SCOTT. To read his works is to form a real friendship with the author. Scott was born in 1771 in Edinburgh. The details of his infancy, his lameness, his schoollife, and his adventurous boyhood, and his real struggles in life form an interesting and heroic story. He was familiar with all grades of society and humanity, and his novels give a clear and comprehensive view of life at that time. The first years of his literary career were devoted mainly to poetry, but when Byron rose before the public the popularity of Scott's verses began to wane. It was then that he devoted himself to novel-writing. The work begun for fame was continued for other motives. All the vast fortune which he had made as a poet had been swallowed up in a business venture with other parties, and Scott found him self not only penniless, but in debt. With true heroic greatness he set to work with his pen to earn enough to meet these obligations, and in four years he passed over to his creditors seventy thousand pounds, but the task was too much-his brain had been overtaxed; his friends finally persuaded him to rest, but it was too late. He died in Abbotsford in 1832. Not far advanced was morning day, He had safe conduct for his band, The ancient earl, with stately grace, But Marmion stopped to bid adieu: Though something I might plain,” he said, But Douglas round him drew his cloak, My manors, halls, and bowers shall still Be open at my sovereign's will, To each one whom he lists, howe'er |