71.-MAN NEVER SATISFIED. JAMES KIRKE PAULDING was born at Pleasant Valley, New York, August 22, 1779. He struggled hard to gain an education, and deserved the success which at last crowned his efforts. Among his best works are The Backwoodsman, Merry Tales of the Three Wise Men of Gotham, Life of Washington, and The Dutchman's Fireside. One of his favorite modes of writing was to embody in a short story some piece of practical wisdom or sound morality; of this, the following extract is a good example. His works are marked by a peculiar vein of humor, and are very attractive. He died April 6, 1860. 1. ONE night, as Haroun Al Raschid was perambulating the streets of Bagdad in disguise, accompanied by his vizier and his executioner, in passing a splendid mansion he overheard, through the lattice of a window, the complaints of some one who seemed in the deepest distress, and, silently approaching, looked into an apartment exhibiting all the signs of wealth and luxury. On a sofa of satin embroidered with gold and sparkling with brilliant gems he beheld a man richly dressed, in whom he recognized his favorite. boon companion, Bedreddin, on whom he had showered wealth and honors with more than Eastern prodigality. He was stretched out on the sofa, slapping his forehead, tearing his beard, and moaning piteously, as if in the extremity of suffering. At length, starting up on his feet, he exclaimed in tones of despair, "O Allah, I beseech thee to relieve me from my misery and take away my life!" 2. The Commander of the Faithful, who loved Bedreddin, pitied his sorrows, and, being desirous to know their cause, that he might relieve them, knocked at the door, which was opened by a black slave, who, on being informed that they were strangers in want of food and rest, at once admitted them and informed his master, who called them into his presence and bade them welcome. A plentiful feast was spread before them, at which the master of the house sat down with his guests, but of which he did not partake, but looked on, sighing bitterly all the while. 3. The Commander of the Faithful at length ventured to ask him what caused his distress and why he refrained from partaking of the feast with his guests in proof that they were welcome. "Has Allah afflicted thee with disease, that thou canst not enjoy the blessings he has bestowed? Thou art surrounded by all the splendor that wealth can procure; thy dwelling is a palace, and its apartments are adorned with all the luxuries which captivate the eye or administer to the gratification of the senses. Why is it, then, O my brother, that thou art miserable?" 4. "True, O stranger," replied Bedreddin, "I have all these. I have health of body; I am rich enough to purchase all that wealth can bestow; and if I required more wealth and honors, I am the favorite companion of the Commander of the Faithful, on whose head lie the blessing of Allah, and of whom I have only to ask to obtain all I desire, save one thing only."—" And what is that?” asked the Caliph.-" Alas! I adore the beautiful Zuleima, whose face is like the full moon, whose eyes are brighter and softer than those of the gazelle, and whose mouth is like the seal of Solomon. But she loves another, and all my wealth and honors are as nothing. The want of one thing renders the possession of every other of no value. I am the most wretched of men; my life is a burden, and my death would be a blessing." 5. "By the beard of the Prophet," cried the Caliph, "I swear thy case is a hard one. But Allah is great and powerful, and will, I trust, either deliver thee from thy burden or give thee strength to bear it." Then, thanking Bedreddin for his hospitality, the Commander of the Faithful departed with his companions. 6. Taking their way toward that part of the city inhabited by the poorer classes of people, the Caliph stumbled over something in the obscurity of night, and was nigh falling to the ground; at the same moment a voice cried out, "Allah preserve me! Am I not wretched enough already, that I must be trodden under foot by a wandering beggar, like myself, in the darkness of night?" Mesrour, the executioner, indignant at this insult to the Commander of the Faithful, was preparing to cut off his head, when Al Raschid interposed, and inquired of the beggar his name, and why he was there sleeping in the streets at that hour of the night. 7. "Mashallah!” replied he; "I sleep in the street because I have nowhere else to sleep; and if I were to lie on a satin sofa, my pains and infirmities would rob me of rest. Whether on divans of silk or in the dirt, it is all one to me; for neither by day nor by night do I know any rest. If I close my eyes for a moment, my dreams are of nothing but feasting; and I awake only to feel more bitterly the pangs of hunger and disease." 66 8. "Hast thou no home to shelter thee, no friends or kindred to relieve thy necessities or administer to thine infirmities ?"—"No," replied the beggar; "my house was consumed by fire, my kindred are all dead, and my friends have deserted me. Alas, stranger, I am in want of everything, health, food, clothing, home, kindred, and friends. I am the most wretched of mankind, and death alone can relieve me.”—“ Of one thing, at least, I can relieve thee," said the Caliph, giving him his purse. "Go and provide thyself food and shelter; and may Allah restore thy health!" 9. The beggar took the purse, but, instead of calling down blessings on the head of his benefactor, exclaimed, "Of what use is money? It cannot cure disease." And |