that these are much finer melons,' says I, 'than you usually can procure; therefore, the lowest price that I can take,' says I, 'is'" 66 Why, your says I's are much worse than Ali's you know's. Leave them out, if you please, and proceed with your story," cried the pasha, with increased ill humor. 6 15. "I will obey your highness, if possible. I stated the lowest price, and she lifted up her veil. 'I have an idea,' says she, as she allowed me to look upon one of the prettiest faces in the world, that they are to be had cheaper.' I was so struck with her beauty that I was quite speechless. 'Am I not right?' says she, smiling. "From you, madam,' says I, 'I can take nothing; put as many in the basket of your porter as you please.' She thanked me, and put into the basket all that I had handed down. ness. 16. "Now,' says she, 'I want some dates, the best and finest that you have.' I handed some down that would have been admired by your high'These, madam,' says I, are the best dates that are to be found in Cairo.' She tasted them, and asked the price. I mentioned it. They are dear,' says she, but I must have them cheaper,' and again she lifted her veil. 6 17. "Madam,' says I, 'these dates are much too cheap at the price which I have named; it really is impossible to take less. Observe, madam,' says I, 'the beauty of them; feel the weight, and taste them,' says I; ‘and you must acknowledge,' says I, ‘that they are offered you at a price which,' says I”— 18. "Holy Prophet!" cried the pasha, in a rage; "I will hear no more of your says I's. If you can not tell your story without them, you shall fare worse than Ali.” "May it please your highness, how will it be possible to know what I said, unless I point out to you what I did say? I can not tell the story without it." 17. "I'll see to that," replied the pasha, in a savage tone; and making a sign, the executioner appeared. "Now, then, go on with your story; and, executioner, after he has repeated says I three times, off with his head! Go on." 18, "I shall never be able to go on, your highness. Consider one moment how harmless my says I's are to the detestable you know's of Ali. That's what I always told him. 'Ali,' says I, 'if you only knew,' says I, 'how annoying you are! Why, then,' says I" At this moment the blow of the cimeter fell, and the head of Hussan rolled upon the floor, the lips still quivering with motions which would have produced says I's, if the channel of sound had not been so effectually interrupted. Adapted from Marryat. XCVIII.-EVENING IN ITALY. THE HE moon is up, and yet it is not night— Where the day joins the past eternity; While, on the other hand, meek Dian's crest Floats through the azure air-an island of the blest. 2. A single star is at her side, and reigns With her o'er half the lovely heaven; but still Yon sunny sea heaves brightly, and remains Rolled o'er the peak of the fair Rhaetian hill, As day and night contending were, until Nature reclaimed her order :-gently flows The deep-dyed Brenta, where their hues instill The odorous purple of a new-born rose, Which streams upon her stream, and glassed within it glows. 3. Filled with the face of heaven, which from afar Comes down upon the waters; all its hues, From the rich sunset to the rising star, Their magical variety diffuse : And now they change; a paler shadow strews Its mantle o'er the mountains; parting day Dies like the dolphin, whom each pang imbues With a new color as it gasps away, The last still loveliest, till-'t is gone-and all is gray. Byron. XCIX.-ESCAPE FROM A PANTHER. ELIZABE LIZABETH Temple and Louisa Grant had gained the summit of the mountain, where they left the highway, and pursued their course, under the shade of the stately trees that crowned the eminence. The day was becoming warm; and the girls plunged more deeply into the forest, as they found its invigorating coolness agreeably contrasted to the excessive heat they had experienced in their ascent. The conversation, as if by mutual consent, was entirely changed to the little incidents and scenes of their walk; and every tall pine, and every shrub or flower, called forth some simple expression of admiration. 2. In this manner they proceeded along the margin of the precipice, catching occasional glimpses of the placid Otsego, or pausing to listen to the rattling of wheels and the sounds of hammers, that rose from the valley, to mingle the signs of men with the scenes of nature, when Elizabeth suddenly startled, and exclaimed, "Listen! there are the cries of a child on this mountain! Is there a clearing near us? or can some little one have strayed from its parents?" "Such things frequently happen," returned Louisa. "Let us follow the sounds; it may be a wanderer starving on the hill." 3. Urged by this consideration, the females pursued the low, mournful sounds, that proceeded from the forest, with quick and impatient steps. More than once the ardent Elizabeth was on the point of announcing that she saw the sufferer, when Louisa caught her by the arm, and, pointing behind them, cried, "Look at the dog!" The advanced age of Brave had long before deprived him of his activity; and when his companions stopped to view the scenery, or to add to their bouquets, the mastiff would lay his huge frame on the ground and await their movements, with his eyes closed, and a listlessness in his air that ill accorded with the character of a protector. 4. But when, aroused by this cry from Louisa, Miss Temple turned, she saw the dog with his eyes keenly set on some distant object, his head bent near the ground, and his hair actually rising on his body, either through fright or anger. It was most probably the latter; for he was growling in a low key, and occasionally showing his teeth, in a manner that would have terrified his mistress, had she not so well. known his good qualities. 5. "Brave!" she said; "be quiet, Brave! what do you see, fellow?" At the sound of her voice, the rage of the mastiff, instead of being at all diminished, was very sensibly increased. He stalked in front of the ladies, and seated himself at the feet of his mistress, growling louder than before, and occasionally giving vent to his ire by a short, surly barking. "What does he see?" said Elizabeth; "there must be some animal in sight." 6. Hearing no answer from her companion, Miss Temple turned her head and beheld Louisa standing with her face whitened to the color of death, and her finger pointing upward with a sort of flickering, convulsed motion. The quick eye of Elizabeth glanced in the direction indicated by her friend, where she saw the fierce front and glaring eyes of a female panther fixed on them in horrid malignity, and threatening instant destruction. 7. "Let us fly!" exclaimed Elizabeth, grasping the arm of Louisa, whose form yielded like melting snow and sunk lifeless to the earth. There was not a single feeling in the temperament of Elizabeth Temple, that could prompt her to desert a companion in such an extremity; and she fell on her knees, by the side of the inanimate Louisa, tearing from the person of her friend, with an instinctive readiness, such parts of her dress as might obstruct her respiration, and encouraging their only safeguard, the dog, at the same time, by the sound of |