were accustomed to make. Their murmurs cathe to the Emperor's ears. He loved his people and was willing to do all in his power to fatisfy their juft defires. He therefore affured them that he intended upon the next feaft of the Lanterns, to exhibit one of the moft glorious triumphs that had ever been feen in China. The people were in raptures at his condefcenfion; and on the appointed day, affembled at the gates of the palace with the most cager expectations. Here they waited for fome time without seeing any of thofe preparations which ufually precede a pageant. The lantern with ten thoufand tapers, was not yet brought forth; the fire works, which usually covered the city walls, were not yet lighted; the people once more began to murmur àt this delay, when in the midft of their -impatience the palace gates flew open and the Emperor himfelf appeared, not in fplendor fplendor or magnificence, bnt in an ordinary habit, followed by the blind, the maimed, and the ftrangers of the city, all in new clothes, and each carrying in his hand money enough to fupply his neceffities for the year. The people were at firft amazed; but foon perceived the wisdom of their king, who taught them, that to make one man happy, was more truly great, than having ten thousand captives groaning at the wheels of his chariot. "How truly generous and noble was the conduct of the Emperor," said Mifs Ulfter; "how I envy his triumph when furrounded by the maimed, the blind, and the ftrangers. But ladies, I peg pardon for the interruption, it is yet early and our good Governefs will perhaps favour us with another ftory." THE THE PENITEN T. A TALE IN the neighbourhood of Damafcus lived a gardener, whofe name was Abdullcander: his only poffeffion was a small garden, and its produce his only fubfiftence: though it barely supplied him with the neceffaries of life, yet he murmured not: thankful for the little he had, the much he wanted gave him no regret. He prayed fervently at the ftated hours prescribed by the prophet, repeated his Bifmillah duly, and carefully obferved the appointed feafons for ab. ution. One One day a dervis flopped at the door of his cottage, and begged a little refreshment : the charitable Abdullcander, with great chearfulness, fet before him some dried figs, and a jar of milk. The dervis, after his repaft, infifted on Abdullcander's acceptance of a mark of his gratitude, and throwing down a purse instantly disappeared. When Abdullcander opened the purfe he found in it ninety nine chequins in gold, the fight of which dazzled and confounded him. He now began to have an idea of the value of money, and all his care was to make the ninety nine chequins an hundred. This point was foon gained; but his defires encreafing with his poffeffions, he continued to employ his flock, and fucceeded beyond his hopes: he removed into the city, enlarged his dealings, and by indus trious perfeverance acquired an immenfe eftate. But the defire of wealth took full pof feffion feffion of his heart, he grew more languid in his devotions, and more careless in the obfervation of the external duties of his religion, till at length he lost the sense of divine favour. Thus after many years affluence and fplendor, a fevere fickness warned him of the approach of the angel of death. Remorfe for his ingratitude to heaven, now deeply touched his heart. His contrition was lafting and fincere. He looked on all his gain as lofs, and all his poffeffions as the fnare of his foul. He fent for a codgee, and made his will, in which, after providing generously for his relations, he left the remainder of his fortune to charitable uses; and inferted a claufe, that as foon as he was dead, his corpse should be ignominioufly dragged on a hurdle, thrice round the town, preceded by the cryer, who fhould proclaim with a loud. voice, "This is the carcafe of the ungrate ful |