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bed to see the moon and stars moving in the heavens. One evening he was walking with two or three boys and girls of about the same age as himself. The full moon was shining in the sky, and a great many thin clouds were flying before the wind.

4. The children began to dispute among themselves whether it was the moon or the clouds which floated along. The other boys and girls said "they were sure that the clouds were still, and that it was the moon which moved."

5. Peter insisted that the moon had no sensible motion, such as they thought, and that it was the clouds which passed so swiftly. But his reasons produced no effect upon the minds of his companions, till he tried the following plan:

6. He took them under a large tree, and bade them look at the moon through the branches. They now saw that the moon seemed to stand still between the same leaves and branches, while the clouds sailed far away out of sight. They were then obliged to admit that Peter was right in what he said, and that they were wrong.

LXXXVIII. THE OBSERVING JUDGE.

PART I.

1. In a district of Algeria, distinguished by a name which, being translated, signifies the fine country, there lived, in the year 1850, an Arab chief or sheik, named Bou-Akas, who held despotic sway over twelve tribes.

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2. Having heard that the cadi," or judge, over one of thesc twelve tribes, administered justice in an admirable manner, and pronounced decisions worthy of King Solomon himself, Bou-Akas determined to judge for himself as to the truth of the report.

3. Accordingly, dressed like a private individual, without arms or attendants, he set out for the cadi's town, mounted

on a docile Arabian steed. He arrived there, and was just entering the gate, when a cripple, seizing the border of his mantle, asked him for alms.29

4. Bou-Akas gave him money, but the cripple still maintained his hold. "What dost thou want?" asked the sheik; "I have already given thee alms."-"Yes," replied the beggar; "but the law says, not only thou shalt give alms to thy brother,' but, also, thou shalt do for thy brother whatsoever thou canst.'"

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"Well; and what can I do for thee?"-"Thou canst save me - poor, crawling creature that I am! - from being trodden under the feet of men, horses, mules and camels, which would certainly happen to me in passing through the crowded square, in which a fair is now going on."

6. "And how can I save thee?". -"By letting me ride behind you, and putting me down safely in the marketplace, where I have business."-"Be it so," replied the sheik. And, stooping down, he helped the cripple to get up behind him; which was not accomplished without much difficulty.

7. The strangely-assorted couple attracted many eyes as they passed through the crowded streets; and at length they reached the market-place. "Is this where you wish to stop?" asked Bou-Akas. "Yes."" Then get down." -"Get down yourself."-"What for?"-"To leave me the horse."

8. "To leave you my horse! What mean you by that?"-"I mean that he belongs to me. Know you not that we are now in the town of the just cadi, and that if we bring the case before him he will certainly decide in my favor?""Why should he do so, when the animal belongs to me?"

9. "Do you not think that when he sees us two,— you with your strong straight limbs, so well fitted for walking, and I with my weak legs and distorted feet,- he will decree that the horse shall belong to him who has most need of

nim?"-"Should he do so, he would not be the just cadi," said Bou-Akas.

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10. "O! as to that," replied the cripple, laughing, "although he is just, he is not infallible." "So!" thought the sheik to himself, "this will be a capital opportunity of judging the judge." Then turning to the cripple, he said aloud, "I am contentgo before the cadi."

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LXXXIX. THE OBSERVING JUDGE.

PART II.

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1. ARRIVED at the tribunal, where the judge, according to the Eastern custom, was publicly administering justice, they found that two trials were about to go on, and would, of course, take pre-ce'dence of theirs. The first was between a ta'leb, or learned man, and a peasant.

2. The point in dispute was the taleb's wife, whom the peasant had carried off, and whom he asserted to be his own. better half, in the face of the philosopher, who demanded. her restoration. The woman (strange circumstance!) remained obstinately silent, and would not declare for either; a feature in the case which rendered its decision extremely difficult.

3. The cadi heard both sides attentively, reflected for a moment, and then said, "Leave the woman here, and return to-morrow." The learned man and the laborer each bowed and retired, and the next case was called. This was a difference between a butcher and an oil-seller. The latter appeared covered with oil, and the former was sprinkled with blood. The butcher spoke first, and said:

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4. "I went to buy some oil from this man, and, in order to pay him for it, I drew a handful of money from my purse. The sight of the money tempted him. He seized me by the wrist. I cried out, but he would not let me go; and here we are, having come before your worship, I hold

ing my money in my hand, and he still grasping my wrist."

5. Then spoke the oil-merchant: "This man came to purchase oil from me. When his bottle was filled he said, 'Have you change for a piece of gold?' I searched my pocket, and drew out my hand full of money, which I laid on a bench in my shop. He seized it, and was walking off with my money and my oil, when I caught him by the wrist, and cried out 'Robber!' In spite of my cries, however, he would not surrender the money; so I brought him here, that your worship might decide the case."

6. The cadi caused each to repeat his story, but neither varied one jot from his original statement. He reflected for a moment, and then said, "Leave the money with me, and return to-morrow." The butcher placed the coins, which he had never let go, on the edge of the cadi's mantle. After which, he and his opponent bowed and departed.

7. It was now the turn of Bou-Akas and the cripple. "My lord cadi," said the former, "I came hither from a distant country. At the city gate I met this cripple, who first asked for alms, and then prayed me to allow him to ride behind me through the streets, lest he should be trodden down in the crowd. I consented, but when we reached the market-place he refused to get down, asserting that my horse belonged to him, and that your lordship would surely adjudge it to him who wanted it most.”

8. Then spoke the cripple. "My lord," said he, " as I was coming on business to the market, and riding this horse, which belongs to me, I saw this man seated by the roadside, apparently half dead from fatigue. I offered to let him ride with me as far as the market-place, and he eagerly thanked me. But, on our arrival, he refused to get down, and said that the horse was his. I immediately required him to appear before your worship, in order that you might decide between us."

9. Having required each to make oath to his statement,

and having reflected for a moment, the cadi said, "Leave the horse here, and return to-morrow." It was done, and Bou-Akas and the cripple withdrew in different directions.

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1. ON the morrow, a number of persons, besides those immediately interested in the trials, assembled to hear the judge's decisions. The taleb, or learned man, and the peasant, were called first. "Take away thy wife," said the cadi to the former, "and keep her, I advise thee, in good order." Then turning towards an officer, he added, pointing to the peasant, "Give this man fifty blows." He was instantly obeyed, and the taleb carried off his wife.

2. Then came forward the oil-merchant and the butcher. "Here," said the cadi to the butcher, "is thy money; it is truly thine, and not his." Then pointing to the oil-merchant, he said to his officer, "Give this man fifty blows." It was done, and the butcher went away in triumph with his money.

3. The third cause was called, and Bou-Akas and the cripple came forward. "Wouldst thou rec'ognize thy horse among twenty others?" said the judge to Bou-Akas. "Yes, my lord."-"And thou?"-"Certainly, my lord," replied the cripple. "Follow me," said the cadi to BouAkas. They entered a large stable, and Bou-Akas pointed out his horse amongst the twenty which were standing side by side.

4. "Tis well," said the judge. "Return now to the tribunal, and send me thine adversary hither." The disguised sheik obeyed, delivered his message, and the cripple hastened to the stable, as quickly as his distorted limbs allowed. He had quick eyes and a good memory, so that he was able, without the slightest hesitation, to place his hand on the right animal.

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