lieu magnificent jewels of massy gold, of five times the size, with which the latter was heartily content. They took care not to linger within reach of accidents, but made off to enjoy their wealth undisturbed in 5 other countries. The Moor returned to Africa, to his native city of Tangiers, and the Gallego, with his wife, his children, and his donkey, made the best of his way to Portugal. Here, under the admonition and tuition of his wife, he became a personage of some 10 consequence, for she made the worthy little man array his long body and short legs in doublet and hose, with a feather in his hat and a sword by his side, and laying aside his familiar appellation of Peregil, assume the more sonorous title of Don Pedro Gil : his progeny grew up a thriving and merry-hearted, though short and bandy-legged generation, while Señora Gil, befringed, belaced, and betasseled from her head to her heels, with glistening rings on every finger, became a model of slattern fashion and finery. 15 20 25 As to the alcalde and his adjuncts, they remained. shut up under the great tower of the seven floors, and there they remain spellbound at the present day. Whenever there shall be a lack in Spain of prying barbers, sharking alguazils, and corrupt alcaldes, they may be sought after; but if they have to wait until such time for their deliverance, there is danger of their enchantment enduring until doomsday. From "Alhambra." WASHINGTON IRVING. THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN. Hamelin Town's in Brunswick, By famous Hanover city; From vermin was a pity. Rats! They fought the dogs and killed the cats, And bit the babies in the cradles, 5 10 And ate the cheeses out of the vats, And licked the soup from the cooks' own ladles, Split open the kegs of salted sprats, 15 Made nests inside men's Sunday hats, And even spoiled the women's chats At last the people in a body To the Town Hall came flocking: ""Tis clear," cried they, "our Mayor's a noddy; "And as for our Corporation-shocking "To think we buy gowns lined with ermine "For dolts that can't or won't determine "What's best to rid us of our vermin! "You hope, because you're old and obese, 5 "To find in the furry civic robe ease? "Rouse up, sirs! Give your brains a racking "To find the remedy we're lacking, "Or sure as fate, we'll send you packing!" At this the Mayor and Corporation 10 Quaked with a mighty consternation. An hour they sat in council, At length the Mayor broke silence : 15 66 It's easy to bid one rack one's brain- Just as he said this, what should hap 20 At the chamber door but a gentle tap? "Bless us," cried the Mayor, "what's that?" (With the Corporation as he sat, Looking little though wondrous fat; Not brighter was his eye, nor moister 25 Than a too-long-opened oyster, Save when at noon his paunch grew mutinous For a plate of turtle green and glutinous) "Only a scraping of shoes on the mat? 66 Anything like the sound of a rat 30 Makes my heart go pit-a-pat!" "Come in!"-the Mayor cried, looking bigger: His queer long coat from heel to head Quoth one: "It's as my great-grandsire, 66 Starting up at the Trump of Doom's tone, 10 "Had walked this way from his painted tombstone!" 15 He advanced to the council-table : And, 66 Please your honors," said he, "I'm able, 'By means of a secret charm, to draw "After me so as you never saw! "On creatures that do people harm, "The mole and toad and newt and viper; A scarf of red and yellow stripe, To match with his coat of the self-same cheque; And his fingers, they noticed, were ever straying As if impatient to be playing Upon this pipe, as low it dangled Over his vesture so old-fangled.) 66 5 Yet," said he, "poor piper as I am, "In Tartary I freed the Cham, "Last June, from his huge swarms of gnats; "I eased in Asia the Nizam "Of a monstrous brood of vampire-bats: "Will you give me a thousand guilders?" 15 Into the street the Piper stepped, As if he knew what magic slept Then, like a musical adept, 20 To blow the pipe his lips he wrinkled, |