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Boar had more than once met them in such a manner that they had no wish to lie in wait for him. When the Boar caught sight of the Tailor, it ran at him with foaming mouth and whetted tusks, and was about to throw him to the ground, but the active hero sprang into a little building which was near, and up to the window at once, and in one bound out again.

The Boar ran in after him, but the Tailor ran round outside and shut the door behind it; thus the raging beast, which was much too heavy and clumsy to leap out of the window, was caught. The little Tailor called the huntsmen that they might see the prisoner with their own eyes. The King was now, whether he liked it or not, obliged to keep his promise, and give the hero his daughter and the half of his kingdom. Had he known that it was no hero, but a little Tailor who was standing before him, it would have gone against the grain even more than it did. The wedding was held with great splendor and small joy, and out of a Tailor a king was made.

After some time the young Queen heard her hus band say in his dreams at night,

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Boy make me the jacket, and patch the pantaloons, or else I will rap the yard-measure over your ears." Thus she found out in what state of life the young lord had been born, and next morning she begged her father to help her to get rid of her husband, who was nothing but a Tailor. The King bade her be easy, and said,

"Leave your bedroom door open this night, and my servants shall stand outside: when he has fallen asleep, they shall go in, bind him, and take him on board a ship which shall carry him into the wide world." The woman was satisfied with this; but the

King's armor-bearer, who had heard all, was friendly with the young lord, and told him of the whole plot.

"I'll look after that business," said the little Tailor. At night he went to bed with his wife at the usual time, and when she thought he had fallen asleep, she got up, opened the door, and then lay down again. The little Tailor, who was only making believe be asleep, began to cry out in a clear voice," Boy, make me the jacket and patch me the pantaloons, or I will rap the yard-measure over your ears. I smote seven at one blow. I killed two giants, I brought away one unicorn, and caught a wild boar, and am I to fear those who are standing outside the room?"

When these men heard the Tailor speaking thus, they were filled with a great dread, and ran as if the wild huntsman were behind them, and none of them would dare anything further against him. So the little Tailor was a King, and remained one to the end of his life.

BALLAD OF THE TEMPEST

JAMES T. FIELDS

WE were crowded in the cabin,
Not a soul would dare to sleep-
It was midnight on the waters,
And a storm was on the deep.

'Tis a fearful thing in winter
To be shattered by the blast,
And to hear the rattling trumpet
Thunder, "Cut away the mast!"

So we shuddered there in silence,-
For the stoutest held his breath,
While the hungry sea was roaring,
And the breakers talked with Death.

As thus we sat in darkness,

Each one busy with his prayers,
"We are lost!" the captain shouted,
As he staggered down the stairs.

But his little daughter whispered,
As she took his icy hand,

"Is not God upon the ocean,

Just the same as on the land?”

Then we kissed the little maiden
And we spoke in better cheer,
And we anchored safe in harbor
When the moon was shining clear.
1 Copyright, 1880, by James T. Fields.

THE HISTORY OF ALI BABA, AND OF THE FORTY ROBBERS KILLED BY

ONE SLAVE

FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS

I

THERE once lived in a town of Persia two brothers, one named Cassim and the other Ali Baba. Their father divided his small property equally between them. Cassim married a very rich wife, and became a wealthy merchant. Ali Baba married a woman as poor as himself, and lived by cutting wood and bringing it upon three asses into the town to sell.

One day, when Ali Baba had cut just enough wood in the forest to load his asses, he noticed far off a great cloud of dust. As it drew nearer, he saw that it was made by a body of horsemen, whom he suspected to be robbers. Leaving the asses, he climbed a large tree which grew on a high rock, and had branches thick enough to hide him completely while he saw what passed beneath. The troop, forty in number, all well mounted and armed, came to the foot of the rock on which the tree stood, and there dismounted. Each man unbridled his horse, tied him to a shrub, and hung about his neck a bag of corn. Then each of them took off his saddle-bag, which from its weight seemed to Ali Baba full of gold and silver. One, whom he took to be their captain, came under the tree in which Ali Baba was concealed; and, making his way through some shrubs, spoke the

words, "Open, Sesame." 1 As soon as the captain of the robbers said this, a door opened in the rock, and after he had made all his troop enter before him, he followed them, when the door shut again of itself.

The robbers stayed some time within, and Ali Baba, fearful of being caught, remained in the tree. At last the door opened again, and the captain came out first, and stood to see all the troop pass by him. Then Ali Baba heard him make the door close by saying, "Shut, Sesame." Every man at once bridled his horse, fastened his wallet, and mounted again. When the captain saw them all ready, he put himself at their head, and they returned the way they had

come.

Ali Baba watched them out of sight, and then waited some time before coming down. Wishing to see whether the captain's words would have the same effect if he should speak them, he found the door hidden in the shrubs, stood before it, and said: "Open, Sesame." Instantly the door flew wide open.

Instead of a dark, dismal cavern, Ali Baba was surprised to see a large chamber, well lighted from the top, and in it all sorts of provisions, rich bales of silk, stuff, brocade and carpeting, gold and silver ingots in great heaps, and money in bags.

Ali Baba went boldly into the cave, and collected as much of the gold coin, which was in bags, as he thought his asses could carry. When he had loaded them with the bags, he laid wood over them so that they could not be seen, and, passing out of the door for the last time, stood before it and said: "Shut, Sesame." The door closed of itself, and he made the best of his way to town.

1 Sesame (pronounced séssamy) is a small grain.

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