the gates of Mecca. The column was at the first formed eight abreast, but they finally crowded through the gate in as great numbers as could squeeze between the pillars. There was a wavy monotony in the appearance of their march-'painfully pleasing' yet grand upon the whole. To those who witnessed them, they had the appearance of an army of Lilliputs, and they have left behind them such a scarcity of small food that one might think that Pharaoh's locusts had been on a visit here. It is absolutely unknown to any one (as it was impossible to count them) how many children congregated together on this interesting occasion, but it is variously estimated that from twenty to thirty thousand landed from the boats. The day passed off very pleasantly with them, no accident whatever having occurred. เ escorted him to the right of the line where he was re- bay, which had attempted to cross her bow. The crew of the schooner sprang on board the steamer, to a man, but on being satisfied that their boat was not materially injured, were put on board their own craft together with a passenger from the S. T. who vainly endeavored to regain the steamer. We understand that at the time of the collision an Irish deck hand was at the wheel, who is neither commissioned to act as pilot nor capable of acting so. It has often seemed dangerous to us that the pilots of our boats should make a practice of leaving the wheel in the charge of inexperienced men, while they pass to the forward cabin and drink. And we feel satisfied that this is a habit unknown to the owners of the boats as we have observed it omitted when they were on board. If it is necessary that these pilots should drink strong liquors, in all conscience let them do it while their boats are at the dock. RECEPTION OF THE PRESIDENT AT N. YORK.-This affair, got up' with such general accord, passed off on Tuesday last with unusual eclat. The military assemSTATEN ISLAND POLICE.-It is time that our citizens BATTLE OF CHIPPEWA.-Yesterday, the fifth of July, bled at an early hour and in unusual numbers. Major do something to protect themselves from the many outra was the twenty-fifth anniversary of this gallant battle. Generals Van Buren, Sandford and Lloyd, joined their ges they are liable to by the ingress of disorderly strang-On the third of July, 1814, a detachment of the 25th incommands, and awaited the president's landing at the ers on public days. On the fourth of July the crowd fantry took possession of Fort Erie, but were relieved by battery. The light infantry companies on Staten Is- forced their way past the gates of the Quarantine ferry a small guard of artillery. On the fourth, the army, land belonging to Gen. Van Buren's command, escorted and took possession of the boats (in many cases without consisting of the 9th, 11th and 25th regiments advanced the general and his staff up to the city and took up a po- paying fare) in dangerously large numbers. The boats to Chippewa; and on the 5th they engaged the enemy sition in the line. The 11th regiment of artillery fired were crowded throughout the day, averaging five or six on the plain. The battle of Chippewa, it will be rememthe "president's salute" during the landing and joined hundred passengers each trip. On another occasion, bered, was one of consummate military skill, where the the line just in time for the review. The review was within a few months, an armed mob from New York brigade under Scott performed almost miracles of discimost admirably conducted, both on the part of the Pres- took violent possession of the steamboat Samson, and pline. The Americans received the opposing fire at ident and the line. The march extended from the bat-threatened the lives of her officers. They cast considarms support," and did not return it until they could tery up Broadway to Chatham street, through Chatham see the whites of their enemies' eyes, when they levelled street and the Bowery to Broome st. through Broome street to Broadway, and down Broadway to the Park. The column passed the President on review in front of the City Hall, at about half past five, and were dis missed. ance. We do not remember any occasion on which the military of New York have made a more imposing appearWe noticed with much admiration the movements of the Independence Guards, whose soldierly deportment and exact discipline seemed to have excited the admiration of all the tacticians with whom we spoke of them. But by far the most showy corps on duty was Captain Vincent's command of Light Guards. They have made their appearance this summer with the tall bear-skin Prussian cap, which, notwithstanding the simple objection of being too warm for July, (be that upon their own heads) is a great addition to their uniform, and looks remarkably well in line. Captain V. has brought them to a higher state of discipline than perhaps any equal number of men in our, so called, regular army, unless we except the regiment of dragoons recruited by Captain W. W. Tompkins, the founder of the fine corps of Tompkins Blues, from which the Light Guard was a slip-to use a Floral technicality. The Tompkins Blues seemed to have lost nothing in discipline since we saw them last fall, and, indeed, the whole line presented an appearance gratifying alike to the civilian, the patriot or the soldier. Captain Christopher's company from Factoryville pleased us unusually well on this occasion, as did also the Richmond Co. Guards under Captain Mersereau. They were away from home, and every man seemed disposed to do credit to himself and his officers. But we must particularize no further. Our page would be filled in noting down all those little matters, creditable or otherwise, which we observed during the parade. THE CIVIC CORDIALITES extended to the President by the citizens of New York, reached him even at Newark, on his way here. On his landing, the North Carolina fired the proper salute, and the Committee of citizens who met him at Newark erable quantities of fire-wood from the dock into the wa- ACCIDENTS ON THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY.-On the 4th instant, we regret to notice that serious accidents occured on board of three of the steamboats belonging to this ferry, viz. the S. T. the Samson and the Bolivar. The Samson left the island at about half past three o'clock with about seven hundred passengers, and, when opposite Bedlow's island the promenade deck gave way with about 250 persons on it, and perhaps 300 beneath it. Two persons were precipitated into the water, but rescued-two others, Mr. J. Chambers and Mrs. Miles, instantly killed-Mr. Moses Henriques was much injured, and has since died of his wounds-Mr. D. E. Paton and four others were badly hurt, but are expected to recover. The steamboat Bolivar left the island just at night-fall with a crowd of passengers, and on the way up a young Englishman who was leaning carelessly against the rail of the gang-way, pressed the bar from its place and fell into the water. The engine was immodiately stopped, and boats were lowered, but all exertions to recover him proved unavailing, and after a fruitless search the boat proceeded on her passage. The S. T. just about dark ran foul of a small schooner in the three effective volleys and charged with such decisive effect as to prevent the remnant of the enemy from rallying. The force employed was just sufficient for a really handsome battle, and although the enemy had the advantage of choosing his position, the army of Scott made up all deficiencies with superior skill and discipline. It was celebrated on this Island by the only surviving captain of the line, who fired a salute of twenty-five guns from the heights of Staten Island, and went to bed most gloriously in pursuance of a pledge made to his old compeers-now no more. HARLEM RAIL ROAD ACCIDENT.--About ten o'clock on the morning one of the locomotives attached to the cars of the Harlem Rail road company having proceeded as far down as Union Park, accidentally ran off of the rails while the engineer was preparing to cross the switch and prepare the engine to receive the returning train of cars. While the agent and others in the employ of the company were endeavoring to replace the locomotive, the boiler burst, and killed two persons on the spot. William Spencer, the engineer, and Geo. Johnson his son-in-law, were the persons killed, and Mr. Robert Matherson, Mr. Whigham, one of the Collectors, and five others were severely scalded or wounded. The Coroner held an inquest upon the two bodies, and returned a verdict accordingly. The President received company at the New York City Hall on Friday the 5th, between eleven and two o'clock. but the corpse of the rich man mellows the soil where it When a poor man dies, his loss is felt by his offspring falls; and his heirs exult in the realization of their hopes. SERIOUS AFFRAY.-On the fourth there was a fight between some firemen, in which five persons were stabbed. Samuel Burlock and Edward Upson were dangerously, and George Trencher, John Torry, and James Sumner slightly wounded. Trencher belonged to No. 30-the others to No. 2. Joel Kelly, one of the rioters, was arrested and held to bail. SELECT MISCELLANY, The Empress of France. BY J. H. PERKINS. She in the working of whose destiny The man of blood and victory attained When a few centuries shall have thrown their shadows upon the strange fortunes of Napoleon, and given to every thing about him the tinge of romance, the story of his first wife will seem rather a fable than a fact; she 'why not quit war, turn ambition out of your councils, "Josephine," said he, "it is France demands the sa- Are you sure of that, my lord ?" said his wife "have you proved your heart to the bottom? is it not ambition which prompts you to seek reasons for repudiating me? for think not I misunderstand you: are you sure it is the love of France?" Every word she spoke touched him to the quick, and, rising hastily, he replied-" Madam, I have my reasons, good evening." 66 will be looked upon as we look upon Mary of Scotland, Her marble monument simply bears this inscription: 66 EUGENE AND HORTENSE TO JOSEPHINE." What a fund for future writers, is her character and fate; and what a lesson to all of us, whether in prosperity or in adversity. Revenge. Revenge is a kind of wild justice, which the more man's nature runs to, the more ought law to weed it out: for. as for the first wrong, it doth but offend the law, but the revenge of that wrong putteth the law out of office. Certainly, in taking revenge, a man is but equal with his enemy; but, in passing it over, he is superior; for it is a prince's part to pardon, and Soloman-I am sure,saith, "it is the glory of a man to pass by an offence.”– That which is past is gone and irrecoverable, and wise men have enough to do with things present and to come; therefore they do but trifle with themselves that labor in wrong's sake, but thereby to purchase himself profit, or past matters. There is no person doth a wrong for the pleasure, or honor, or the like; therefore, why should I be angry with a man for loving himself better than me? Hardened as Napoleon was, he had loved his wife and if any man should do wrong merely out of ill nature deeply and long. Her submission to his stern resolve, yet it is but as the thorn or brier, which prick and scratch her calm but mournful dignity, her unshaken love, because they can do no other. The most tolerable sort moved even him, and for a moment affection struggled of revenge is for those wrongs for which there is no law On that night which was to have been her last upon with ambition. He turned to embrace her again, but in to remedy; but then let a man take heed the revenge be earth, Robespierre fell. Had he fallen a few days ear- that moment her face and form had changed. He felt such as there is no law to punish, else a man's enemy is lier her first husband would have lived! had the tyrant's himself in the presence of a superior being. She led still beforehand, and is two for one. fall been one day later, Josephine would have been one him to a window and threw it open. A thin mist rest-take revenge, are desirous the party should know when Some, when they of the ten thousand victims whose names we have neved over the Scine and upon the gardens of the palace- it cometh: this is the more generous, for the desire seemer heard. But he fell on that night, and her destiny all around was silent. Among the stars then before eth to be not so much to do the hurt as to cause the party was accomplished. them, there was one far brighter than the rest. She point- to repent; but base and crafty cowards are like the arrow which flieth in the dark. ing friends that it was not so, that she should set upon that throne on the ruins of which the bloody Robes pierre then stood triumphant; and, when asked, in mockery, to choose her maids of honor as she was to be Queen, she did so; and they were her maids of honor when half of Europe looked up to her. She married Napolcon, and through her her husbanded to it. was appointed to command the army of Italy. Step by step they rose, till at last the crown rested on her head; the second part of the prophecy was proved true, and she began to look forward to that loss of power which had also been foretold, and which was to close the strange drama of her life. And he who wedded that child of destiny grew every day more grasping. In vaid did Josephine attempt to rule his ambition and chasten his aim; he was an emperor-he wished to found an empire-and by slow degrees to make himself familiar with the thoughts of putting her away. When the campaign of 1806 was at an end, hardened and narrowed, the General came back to his wife. His former kindness was gone-his playfulness was checked-he consulted her but seldom, and seldom stole on her private hours with that familiar love which had so often made her heart leap. She saw that her hour drew nigh. Sire," said she, "that star is mine-to it and not to yours was promised empire-through me, and through my destinies, you have risen-part from me, and you fall. The spirit of her that foresaw my rise to royalty, even now communes with my own, and tells me that your fate hangs on mine. Believe me or not. If henceforth we walk asunder, you will leave no empire behind you, and will die in shame, in sorrow, and with a broken spirit." He turned away, sick at heart, and overawed by the words of one whose destiny had been so strangely accomplished. Ten days were passed in resolves and | counter-resolves, and then the link that bound him to fortune was broken. Josephine was divorced-and, as he himself said at St. Helena, from that hour his fall began. Josephine was divorced-but her love did not cease; in her retirement she rejoiced at his successes, and prayed that he might be saved from the fruits of his foul ambition. When his son was born, she only wishIt was the evening of the twentieth of November-ed that she was near him to share his happiness; and, the court was at Paris in honor of the king of Saxony. when he went a prisoner to Elba, she begged that she Josephine sat at her window, looking down on the riv-might share his prison and relieve his works. Every arer and musing on the dark fate before her, when she heard Napoleon's tap at the door. She sprang to open it, using her usual exclamation-"Mon Ami!" He embraced her so affectionately thus, for an instant, her fears and woes scomed vaiu. She led him to the chair, placed herself at his feet, and looked up in his face, smiling through her tears. You are unhappy, Josephine," said he. "Not with you, sire." "Bah!" cried the Emperor quickly, "why call me 'sire?' These shows of state steal all true joys away from us." "Then why seek them?" said Josephine. The Emperor made no reply. Cosmus, Duke of Florence, had a desperate saying against perfidious or neglecting friends, as if they were unpardonable. "You shall read," saith he, "that we are commanded to forgive our enemics, but you never read that we are commanded to forgive our friends." But yet tho spirit of Job was in better tune: "Shall we," he saith "take good at God's hands, and not be content to take evil also?" and so of friends in a proportion. This is certain, that a man who studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well. Public revenges are for the most part fortunate; as that for the death of Cæsar, for the death of Pertinax, for the death of Henry the Third of France; and many more. But in private revenges it is not so; nay, rather vindictive persons live the lives of witches, who, as they are mischievous, so end they unfortunate. Poetry. Bacon The poetry of the imagination although it may glitter more, is neither so rich nor so glorious as the poetry of the heart. We have very few poets of the latter description. In childhood, and sometimes in youth, we are alive to the poetry of the heart. While the mind pure and artless, devoid of everything that can be termed sinful-free from anxious and corroding care, all nature appears to us very much as Eden appeared our first parents. Everything upon which we gaze seems to be good, and lovely, and beautiful. Our hearts claim ac ticle that he had used at her residence, remained as she You are now the first of men," she continued; by her bounty, ly impressed by every little event which takes place around us. To such poetry as this the gay inhabitants of another world are no doubt awake; and as they touch their golden harps, their souls seem to leap along the like incense to the great Source of love. In this world, poetry does not always mingle with devotion, though I think that a poetic sonl is generally impressed more easily with devout sentiments, than those minds which are of a more earthly cast. But I believe, that in the world to come poetry and devotion become melted into one-that we are rendered keenly and acutely sensitive to all with which we hold intercourse, and thus our bliss becomes heightened into continual rapture. Indeed, the representations of heaven, which we have in Scriptures, appear to have favored such an opinion. = The Ark of our Covenant. The following beautiful peroration closed the late half century Address of the Hon. J. Q. ADAMS, at New York: "The children of Israel, after forty or fifty years of toil and suffering, come to the verge of the promised land. When there Moses, as commanded by God, told them that when they had passed over Jordan they should build the altar of the Lord their God with whole stones, and charged the people, saying- These shall stand upon Mount Gerizim to bless the people, and these shall stand upon Mount Ebal to curse. After Joshua led them over Jordan, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law; and all Israel and their elders, and officers, and judges, stood on this side of the Ark, and on that side; half of them over against Mount Gerizim, and half of them over against Mount Ebal; and in that scene of sublimity, the most awful and tremendous of any that had happened on earth, he read all the words of the law, and the cursing and blessings according to all that is written in the book of the law. Illustrations of Science. The following extracts are made from a work recently published in London, " Illustrations of Science," by the Rev. H. Mosely. MUSK.-It is said that a grain is capable of perfuming for several years a chamber twelve feet square without sustaining any sensible diminution of its volume or its weight. But such a chamber contains 2,985,984 cubic inches, and each cubic inch contains a thousand cubic tenths of inches, making in all, nearly three bilitons of cubic tenths of an inch. Now it is probable, indeed, it is almost certain that each such cubic tenth of an inch of the air of the room contains one or more of the particles of the musk, and that this air has been changed several thousand times. Imagination recoils from a computation of the number of the particles thus diffused and expended. Yet have they altogether no appreciable weight or magnitude. the rest. METALLIC SOLUTIONS.-Let one grain of copper be dissolved in nitric acid. A liquid will be obtained of a blue color; and if this solution be mingled with three pints of water, the whole will be sensibly colored. Now three pints contain one hundred and four cubic inches, and each linear inch contains at least one hundred equal parts distinguishable by the eye! each cubical inch contains, then, one million such parts, and the three pints of this solution one hundred and four millions of such parts; also each of these minute parts of the solution is colored, otherwise it would not be distinguishable from Each such part contains then a portion of the “Fellow countrymen, the ark of your covenant is the nitrate of copper, the coloring substance. Now, from Declaration of Independence; the articles of confedera-cach particle of this nitrate, the copper may be precipitation, whence came curses, is our Mount Ebal; and ted in the state of a metallic powder-every particle of your Mount Gerizim is the Constitution of the United which is less than the 104 millionth part of a grain in States. (Cheers.) Preserve it in your inmost souls as weight. a sign and blessing; bind it as a frontlet between your THE ATTENUATION OF GOLD LEAF.-One ounce of eyes-treasure it in your heart of hearts-think of it gold is equal in bulk to a cube, each of whose edges is when sitting down, when rising up, and walking forth five-twelfths of an inch, or nearly half an inch long, so to breathe the blessed air of heaven. Write it on the that, placed upon a table, it would cover nearly a quarlintels of your doors and gate posts-cling to it as you ter of a square inch of its surface, standing nearly half do to your earthly life-adhere to it as the cords of your an inch in height. This cube of gold the gold beater eternal salvation. So shall your children and your chil-extends until it covers 146 square feet; and it may readren's children celebrate this day fifty years hence with dily be calculated that to be thus extended from a surall, and more than all, the blessings which we enjoy; face of five twelfths of an inch square to one of a hunand with all the blessings that were promised and bes-dred and forty-six square feet, its thickness must have towed upon the children of Israel, for their obedience to been reduced from half an inch to the 290,636th part of the law of God." an inch. 1500 such leaves of gold placed upon another would not equal the thickness of the paper on which this The best plans cannot be executed but by good teach-book is printed." ers, and the State has done nothing for Popular Education, if it does not watch that those who devote themselves to teaching, be well prepared; then suitably placed, encouraged and guided in the duty of continued self-improvement, and lastly, rewarded and promoted in proportion to their advancement, and punished according to their faults. Cousin. Jerome Buonaparte. The newspapers notice the arrival at New York, of vre. Which wife? More than thirty years ago, Jerome himself visited this country, and married Miss Eliza Patterson, of Baltimore. She was beautiful accomplished, and of one of the first families in the country. Jerome probably gave her his young heart, and would have cherished her as its idol-but his heartless brother, then at the head of France and aiming at the head of the world, by the breath of his mouth, dissolved the union. Jerome had carried his beautiful bride to Europe, in the hope that Napoleon might be induced to consent to a connexion so honorable in itself, and so essential to a brother's happiness. But the Emperor would not see the lady, nor suffer her to land on the shores of France. A divorce was pronounced; Jerome, a mere dwarf in the hands of a giant, was married to the daughter of some petty Prince, whom it was the object of Napoleon to conciliate, in order, probably, to destroy. We do not, at this moment, recollect what was the subsequent history of the first wife or her child. We believe they are CURIOUS CAUSE OF WAR.-In the year 1005, some soldiers of the Commonwealth of Modena ran away with a bucket from a public well, belonging to the State of Bologna. This implement might be worth a shilling; but it produced a bloody quarrel, which was worked up into a bloody war. Henry the King of Sardinia, for the Emperor or Henry the Second, assisted the Modenese to keep possession of the bucket, and in one of the battles he was made prisoner. His father, the Emperor, offered a chain of gold that would encircle Bologna, which is 7 miles in compass, for his son's ransom, but in vain. After 22 years imprisonment, and his father being dead, he pined away and died. His monument is still extant in the church of the Dominicians. This fatal bucket is still exhibited in the tower of the cathedral of Modena, enclosed in iron cage. HARD CASES.-To serve faithfully and not to please. To go on a journey to see a friend, and meet with a cold deception. To give a friendly warning, and have your motives suspected and your kindness requited with coldness or hatred. told by those who would give you neither counsel nor To do the best you can, and then be contemptuously advice, that you ought to have done better. and then to spend the rest of life in watching that forTo work hard half of one's life in amasing a fortune, tune just for your victuals and clothes. John Randolph once reproached Daniel Sheffy, a member of Congress from Virginia, with being originally a shoemaker, when Sheffy replied, "It is true I commenced the business of life a shoemaker. Had my colleague began his career in the same vocation, it is very possible he would have remained a shoemaker to this day." A person who had an extensive range of woodland connected with his pasture, very frequently had to spend an hour or two in looking for his cattle, and besides this, sometimes the cows laid in the woods without milking, which injured them in giving milk. This person, by giving his cattle salt at night when first turned into the pasture in spring, saon learned them to be punctual at the outlet of the pasture every night, and thus made a saving in time and milk of five or six dollars a year. He who earns his bread by healthful toil, need not envy the overflowing coffers filled with legal robbery.— It is among the farmers and mechanics that we find the virtues of the heart in all their healthful purity. It is to them we look to redeem our country's glory from the spirit of monopoly and selfishness, how so fearfully preValent among the American people. It is to them we look to preserve that banner from stain and dishonor which has told our glory and greatness to every whispering breeze, from India's spicy isles, to Greenland's frozen strand. Old Dominion. POPE'S WILLOW.-The first weeping willow in England was planted by Alexander Pope, the poet., He received a present of figs from Turkey, and observing a twig in the basket, ready to bud, he planted it in his garden, and it soon became a fine tree. From this stock, all the weeping willows in England and America origin ated. SELECT POETRY. The following beautiful and affecting requiem we extract from the Philadelphia Gazette. It is from the pen of its worthy editor, WILLIS GAYLORD CLARK, and betrays, doubtless, the deep sympathies of his heart, in the loss of one who was justly entitled to his untiring and fond affection, as the wife of his bosom. The hand of Providence has been lain heavily upon him and he has been made to feel the chastisement of a just God. A slight acquaintance with his accomplished wife, in connexion with our kindred ties, leads us to sympathize deeply with him in his bereavement at the same time trusting that she has gone to receive the reward which is reserved in heaven for the righteous. I SEE THEE STILL. I see thee still! Fulton Chron. Remembrance, faithful to her trust, I see thee still In every hallowed token round; This book was thine-here didst thou read- I see thee still! Here was thy summer noon's retreat, I sat and watched thy sad decay, I see thee still! Thou art not in the tomb confined; FORGET AND FORGIVE. Doubt, when radiant smiles are shining, Doubt, when clasping hands are twining, Doubt, when honied words are flowing, Doubt when blushes warm are glowing; But never doubt that truth sincere That glistens in the starting tear. Doubt, when mirthful tones invite thee, Doubt, when gayest hopes delight thee, Doubt, what'er is fondest, fairest, Doubt whate'er is brightest, rarest, But never doubt that truth can live, In hearts that suffer and FORGIVE. I Met thee and thy Brow was Calm. "A thing of Beauty is a joy for ever." I met thee and thy brow was calm, And smiles as careless in thine eye, From the Delaware Gazette. That mortal man should make her wait. Yet seems unconscious of their flight; And she will watch the path no more Where first his form will be in sight, And, were she summoned by his voice, To show how coldly she can meet him! Of weak emotion shall appear, No blush shall mantle on her cheek, And thinking thus, she proudly leans Lady, most beautiful thou art, And pride becomes thee in the crowd; But oh! with him who wins thy heart, Thou'rt fond-weak-any thing but proud. Resentment when he leaves her side, Betrays the depth of woman's love; And when she prattles of her pride, What but her weakness doth she prove? Why starts she now ?-why turns her head She smiles the moment he's in sight! The weary watcher can command No word to wound, no frown to chill, The silent pressure of her hand Assures him he is welcome still. I CANNOT DANCE TO NIGHT. Oh! when they brought me thither, They wondered at my wild delight, But would I were at home again, I cannot dance to-night. How can they all look cheerful? The dance seems strangely dull to me, But hark! at length he's coming, I hear his laugh distinctly now, He leaves that group of triflers, And with the smile I love to see, He seems to look for some one,⚫ Ah! is it not for me? No, no, 'tis for that dark eyed girl, I see her now return his glance; He passes me, he takes her handHe leads her to the dance. SONG. AIR." There's nae luck about the house." Hurrah! hurrah! for laughing love, Life's path where'er we roam; The stately form, the haughty brow, But the smile that parts the rosy lips, And the look of artless glee, That speaks the warm and cheerful heart, O, that's the love for me! Hurrah! hurrah for laughing love, A fig for those who sigh; Hurrah! hurrah! for the bounding heart, And the bright and sparkling eye! When weary I are I smoke my cigar, I think of thee dearest, And oh, how sighses! THE RICHMOND COUNTY MIRROR: WEEKLY PAPER PRINTED ON STATEN ISLAND, DEVOTED TO SCIENCE, LITERATURE, & NEWS. THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM. SELECT TALES. From the Knickerbocker. THE COBBLER OF BAGDAD. BY THE AUTHOR OF "EASTERN LANDS," &c. During the reign of Haroun the Third, whom may Allah bless, there resided in one of the principal streets of Bagdad, a bandy-legged Musselman, who rejoiced in the appellation, as his sign-board signified, of 'Crackback, Cobbler to the Caliph and Royal Family.' NEW BRIGHTON, JULY 13, 1839. as I am by you." Contrary to his expectations, no answer, either in the shape of a word or a blow, was returned; and Crackback, encouraged by these tokens to believe that his wife's sense of duty was gaining the ascendancy, ventured another remark. VOLUME III.-NUMBER XXIV, entered. Come, now; confess; she is a perfect virago, eh ?" "Good lord! don't talk so loud,' ejaculated the cobbler, "the devil is always near when you talk of him; and, just as like as not, she aint so far off but what she heard you, and if so but I must admit she is a reg 'I say, my love, what a confounded old fool I was, ular vixen, and hanging is too good for her. Oh, I ten years ago, come next week.” wish I was Caliph." "Well, The two merchants exchanged glances. what would you do if you were Caliph ?" asked the Not the least doubt of that in the world, my dear," Splash came the scalding water from the pan in which the egg had been boiling, full in the face of the unfortunate cobbler, who, roaring with pain, clutched his stool, and hurled it through the air, in the direction of his wife. "Do? What wouldn't I do? I'd - But no matter, I will never be Caliph." "You don't know that," said the merchant; "the Caliph may die to-morrow. It is possible, therefore, that you may yet realize your wish. Who knows?" Ay, who knows? Nobody, I guess," replied the "Here! silence, good friends, or the Caliph shall hear | cobbler. of this," said a voice close to their ears. The night waxed late, and, when Zilla returned, the Crackback and his antagonist turned in astonish-strangers desired to be shown to their bed, adding, that ment, and beheld, standing in the door-way, two strangers of commanding presence, habited in loose travel Every summer day, from morning to night, did he make the neighborhood resound with the clack of his hammer, keeping time the while with a lively whistle, occasionally varied by a snatch of some bacchanalian chorus, learned at the cafe to which he was in the habit of resorting when his day's work was over. Rising every day with the lark, he applied himself faithfully to his task, until the lengthening shadows warned him of the advent of the convivial hour. Then, doing up his work he would lock his little shop door, and before his head rested on his scanty pallet, he was generally minus half of his day's earnings. But what cared he for that?-ling dresses, covered with dust. What," he argued, "is the use of life, if it is not to be enjoyed while it lasts?" He was the best cobbler in all Bagdad, and having never disappointed his customers, when he promised their shoes and sandals, he was never idle, and always commanded the best prices. No one could mend a rip or drive a peg like Crackback. His taste was consulted on all state occasions, when his high mightiness the Caliph desired to sport a new and peculiar fashion, and the delicate jobs of the harem were invariably given to him. Fame spread his name to the remotest corners of the kingdom. Strangers inquired at once for his shop, and went away in ecstacies; orders crowded upon him from distant provinces, for the "roy-morning?" al Crackback shoes." Perhaps you think our cobbler must have been the happiest man in the kingdom? Alas, not so. He was the most miserable dog on the face of the earth. His wife was the pest of his existence; an unmitigated termagant; a domestic tyrant, who only lacked the power, to rule the nation with a sceptre of iron, even as she governed her own household. It was an evil day for the artizan, when he made Mrs. Crackback of his neighbor Ali's daughter. No sooner had she set her little foot upon the threshold of her future home, than she resolved to rule the roast. I shall show how she kept her resolution. One evening, being hurried with extra labor, Crackback had been induced, by the promise of a tempting sum, to forego his customary visit to the cafe, and stay at home that he might finish a pair of shoes, which were to be worn the next day at a sumptuous wedding. Sharp and quick fell the blows of the hammer, as with a lively heart he bent to his toil. By the fire sat his loving wife boiling an egg for his supper. For a few days past, she had treated him with extraordinary kindness. Neither had now spoken for some minntes. "Whence come ye, good Sirs, and wherefore are ye here?" said the cobbler, when his surprise had a litle abated. We are merchants from Damascus, on our way to China," responded the foremost; "we are but newly arrived in your goodly city, and would crave a night's lodging, for which you shall be amply remunerated." "You mistake, sirs," replied the cobbler, "I keep no hotel." "I have slept sounder beneath the thatched roof of a humble citizen than when reposing under a gilded canopy," said the stranger. "Can we abide here till the "My accomodations are but scanty.' "Hold your tongue," interrupted Rilla, strengthening her argument with a secret pinch. "They'll pay us a good price in advance, before they see the bed, and if they don't like it then, they can do the other thing."Then turning to the strangers, she said, with a bewitching smile, "Ye are welcome, sirs; enter, in Allah's name, and peace be with you: my dear, water and towels. Get 'em quick!" she added, in a whisper, or I'll send this hammer at your head." When the strangers had washed themselves, our hero set before them his frugal fare, which was no sooner devoured, than a purse of gold was placed in the hand of Zilla, by the principal merchant, in payment for their food and lodging. Delighted with the sum, that far exceeded her highest anticipations, she made an excuse to leave the room, and hastened to exhibit her prize to a gossipping neighbor, and speculate on the character of her company, leaving her husband to entertain them as best he might. "You appear to be the happiest couple I have met for many a day," said one of the merchants, with a shrewd smile, as Zilla left the house. "Oh yes," responded the cobbler, in a low tone, not quite sure that he was out of hearing, "only we do have our little difficulties once in a while. Excepting that, I believe we pass as pleasant a life as any in Bagdad.” "It would puzzle one to tell when you do not have your little difficulties, judging from what I saw, as we they should depart early on the morrow. Their host conducted them into the next room, which contained the only bed in the house, and wishing them a "Good night and Allah's blessing," shut the door and left them to their slumbers. He then made up a couch of garments upon the floor for his wife, and, trimming his lamp, sat himself down to his work again, being determined to go without his sleep rather than disappoint his customer. Early in the morning, Zilla found her husband fast asleep on the floor, and snoring loudly, with the shoes at his side. He had kept his word; but at the last moment, sleep had claimed him. With something of compassion, she threw a cloak over him. and allowed him to slumber on, while she prepared breakfast for the strangers; which being done, she sat herself down to await with patience their rising. Shop after shop had opened on the street, and the sun was gilding the house-tops, but as yet there was no sound of stirring in the strangers' apartment. Another hour elapsed, and she ventured to tap lightly at their door. She listened, but no answer was returned.— Again and again she knocked, with the same success. Surprised, she lifted the latch, and the door gave way to her forcible pressure. Every thing in the room was precisely untouched. With fear and trembling, she hastened to the jug in the pantry, where she deposited the purse of money, together with her husband's earnings, and with a faltering hand lifted the cover. The gold was there, but the strangers had disappeared. Days, weeks, even a month had passed over the heads of the cobbler and his wife since the adventure with the merchants, and yet nothing had occurred which afforded them the least clue to their mysterious departure.The cobbler swore by Allah and all the prophets, that they did not pass through the outer room, while his wife was as positive they did not go through the window, for they were all fastened on the inside, precisely as when she went in, on the previous evening, to make up the bed. The neighbors marvelled greatly; and as Zilla took no pains to conceal the purse, or to keep secret the manner in which she obtained it, the story soon spread and threw all Bagdad into amazement. Various were the |