66 surer. He took a rapid survey of all the individuals who had solicited this office; but not one in his mind appeared worthy of it. He was absorbed in these reflections, when in passing by a mosque, he perceived a miserable wretch seated on a stone. He approached this man, who rose, and extending his hand, said to him," Have pity, my lord, on an unfortunate who is perishing of hunger. "Begone," replied the caliph, harshly," and carry elsewhere thy importunate complaints, I have nothing to give thee." The unbappy man sighed deeply, and placed himself again upon the stone, expecting there to be obliged to pass the night. In the mean time the caliph, having formed his design, let fall as if by accident, at the feet of the poor man, a parse full of gold, and departed from the mosque. He had scarce advanced a hundred paces when he heard a voice calling to him, "My lord, my lord, stop!" He return ed and saw the poor mendicant. "What is it thou wouldst have?" said he to him, "I repeat it, I have nothing to give thee." No," replied the unhappy wretch," but I have a purse to restore to you. There it is." "How! you have not kept it?" "Ah! my lord! in keeping it I should have lost much more than I should have gained." "How is that!" " I should have gained my fortune, but I should have lost my integrity." "Answer me, who art thou?" "My lord, I am the son of an honest merchant of this city. My name is Adula. My father, by his industry, supported a numerous family. Unforeseen misfortunes destroyed his hopes, and brought on him irremediable ruin." "What misfortunes ?". "The grand treasurer of the caliph ordered of us a very considerable quantity of merchandise; we were obliged to borrow to enable us to execute his orders. He refused us payment for our goods, and we have lost every thing. My father, driven to the necessity of selling his house and effects to satisfy his creditors, died of grief, and I am reduced to solicit alms till some one will furnish me with employment." Employment!" said the caliph, "thou wishest then for employment? 'Tis well, follow me, and to-morrow I will find means to provide an occu 66 pation for thee." The unfortunate followed without knowing whither he conducted him, and inwardly cherishing very humble expectations. On his arrival at his palace, the caliph said to the persons that surrounded him," Clothe that man in rich garments, place him in a magnificent apartment, and let twenty slaves attend upon him!" This command is punctually obeyed, and the poor Adula has changed his costume before he has recovered from his astonishment. To-morrow, Adula," said the caliph, "thou must present thyself before the divan. Go and take repose in thy apartment; resign_thyself without fear to the balmy influence of sleep. To-morrow I promise to employ thee." Adula sinks on his knees, but cannot find words to express his gratitude and his joy. All that has passed appears to him as a dream, and he is fearful he shall awake and find the illusion dispelled. He is conducted to a superb apartment, where twenty slaves respectfully attend his commands. The next morning at an early hour he received an order to appear at the divan, but in the same dress in which he was found seated on the stone before the mosque, and imploring the compassion of the pas"Alas!" said he, 66 sengers. my good fortune has been but of short duration." He was conducted to the presence of the caliph, who, seated on his throne, gave audience to his ministers and the nobles of his court. The poor Adula prostrated himself with his face to the earth, and there remained immoveable, like a statue thrown from its pedestal. "Rise, Adula," said the caliph, "I have promised thee an occupation, and I will give it thee." Then addressing himself to those around him: "I have been a long time seeking to replace my grand treasurer; I was desirous to place in this important situation, an honest man, who would prefer integrity to fortune. In vain have I sought for him amongst those clothed in rich garments, I have found him in rags, and I have chosen him. Shew to him the respect due to his rank. I will humble to the very dust, the first who shall fail in respect towards this man, whom I respect as I respect virtue itself. And thou, Adula, attire thyself in garments conformable to thy fortune, and to thy dignity. Return afterwards to me, and I will instruct thee in the duties of thy office. Did I not promise to give thee employment?" Thus was the poor Adula suddenly invested with the office of grand treasurer of the empire. The caliph Almanzor never had cause to repent of his choice. In a short time he saw his coffers replenished with immense treasures. The inhabitants of Bagdad, the inhabitants of the provinces, in a word, the whole empire, united in blessing the just and mild administration of the virtuous Adula. Almanzor, after a time, began to grow weary of all the base flatteries of his favourites; he deeply felt the want of a friend sufficiently courageous and faithful to speak to him the language of truth, which so seldom meets the ears of kings; but where can he find such a man? How will he be sure of him, and be able to distinguish truth from falsehood, when the speaker has so much interest in deceiving? After having for a long time reflected on the means he should employ to discover this phoenix, he chose the following method. TO BE RESUMED. PROVERBS OF THE FINLANDERS. THE good man spareth from his peck, but the wicked will not give from a bushel. The wise man knoweth what he shall do, but fools try every thing. There is no deliverance through tears; neither are evils remedied by sorrow. The wise man gathereth wisdom every where; he profiteth by the discourse of fools. When the morn breaketh forth, I know the day which followeth : a good man discovereth himself by his looks. The work is ended which is begun; there is time lost to say, what shall I do? The tool of the industrious man is sharp; but the ploughshare of the fool wanteth grinding. The stranger is our brother; he who comes from afar off is our kinsman. For the Pocket Magazine: AN ESSAY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES. Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Is bound in shallows, and in miseries. Shakspeare. HOW important is it to embrace the first opportunity that occurs, for effecting that which it is either our duty or our wish to perform! It is generally, I was about to say invariably, the best, and frequently the only, one. Short-sighted man either sees not the moment, and thus it passes by; or, not satisfied with the prospect which it presents, he neglects it, and looks forward for a better how often is he disappointed! yet who notices the example, in order to avoid falling into the same error? Idleness or carelessness deprives him of the power, and interest or avarice of the inclination, to take advantage of it. Agrippa told Paul, after his eloquent and beautiful defence, that "almost he persuaded him to be a christian." Yet it does not appear that he did embrace the faith-most probably he deferred the time, and lost the opportunity. A king is informed that a messenger is arrived with important intelligence, and requires an immediate audience; but, wishing not to interrupt with serious thoughts, the pleasures in which he is engaged, he defers it till the morrow. It is then too late. The enemy, who was to have been announced as approaching, is now at his gates. A merchant has notice of a favourable port for speculation; but he awaits accounts confirmatory of this notice. In the mean time another seizes the opportunity, invests his capital, embarks with his purchases, rides prosperously over the deep, arrives at the critical moment, and-makes his fortune. Then the first, receiving his confirmation, makes his investment, perhaps at considerably advanced rates, sails with it, and (if he escape the dangers of the sea) arrives at the desired port; but to his great mortification, he finds the golden moment is gone by, the market is overstocked, and that the produce of his goods will barely bring him back again, to lament his tardiness, and begin once more where he began twenty or thirty years before; at the time too when he should think of retiring from the cares of business, to the calm enjoyment of his well-earned wealth in rural quietude. The soldier lets slip by him the favourable time; and the preferment his services merited, is conferred upon a more fortunate, though, perhaps, far less deserving candidate. The honest husbandman hoping to-morrow will prove as fair as to-day, leaves undisturbed that which, being damageable, ought to be removed the first moment he is able, and does that which might be done with equal advantage a month afterwards. morrow, contrary to his anticipation, is unfavourable, and leaves him to lament the injury he might have prevented. The A Instances without number might be produced, were it necessary, to prove the importance of taking advantage of the first favourable opportunity. truth which, though generally acknowledged, is but very seldom acted upon. For many things a proper time may be chosen. A favour should be asked at a time when the donor is in a pleasant mood-just after receiving good news, or after a feast, when the cravings of nature are sa tisfied, and good humour excited by the exhilarating power of the juice of the grape. Au unpleasant order should be enforced at a moment, when the person who is to execute it, is warm with gratitude for a favour conferred. But that moment omitted, the favour might appear too great a condescension, the order too revolting to be executed, and, therefore, both might be refused. Let us then endeavour always to take Time by the forelock, and never permit him to steal by unobserved, which he will do if he can. To strive to seize him when he has once passed by would, in all probability, be as fruitless as it would be for us, after having caught a fish, and let it fall into the water, to jump into the stream ourselves, with the hope of regaining it. R. F. |