THE

AMUSING COMPANION;

OR,

INTERESTING STORY TELLER.

BEING A COLLECTION OF

MARVELLOUS, WONDERFUL, MORAL, SENTIMENT-

AL, HUMOROUS, AND INSTRUCTIVE

TALES.

From flower to flower, from tree to tree,
Culling of sweets-thus roves the bee;
Here in one fragrant heap we find
The quintessence of all combined.'

THE

AMUSING COMPANION.

BENEVOLENCE URGED FROM THE MISERY OF

SOLITUDE.

Carazan, the merchant of Bagdat, was eminent throughout all the East for his avarice and his wealth. His origin was obscure, as that of the spark which by the collision of steel and adamant is struck out of darkness; and the patient labor of persevering diligence alone had made him rich. It was remembered, that when he was indigent he was thought to be generous; and he was still acknowledged to be inexorably just. But whether, in his dealings with ́men, he discovered a perfidy which tempted him to put his trust in gold, or whether in proportion as he accumulated wealth, he discovered his own importance to increase; Carazan prized it more as he used it less: he gradually lost the inclination to do good, as he acquired the power; and as the hand of time scattered snow upon his head, the freezing influence extended to his bosom.

But though the door of Carazan was never opened by hospitality, nor his hand by compassion, yet fear led him constantly to the mosque at the stated

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