A Moorish Legend

A Spanish Moor, beingon tho eve oí setting out on a pilgrimagc to Mocea, intrusted all his money to a man who had hitherto borne a reputation of unblcmished property. His fortunes consisted of two thousand pesants. On his return he was not a little surprised when the roputed honest man denied all knowledge of himself or mooey. The pilgrim entered a complaint against him, cntreated thejudge to help him to his property, and took tbe oath on the truth of his statement but arw vain 1 The oíd man's good name outweighed all he could say ; the plaintiff was nonsuiteJ, and went away d despair. Presently he met an oíd woman who was toddling along wi;h the help of a htaff. Touched by the ptrangt-rs grief, she stopped himj hailed him in Allah's name, bid him take heart, and, having listened to his unvarnished tale, said : "be of good cheer. young man. Muybe, with Allah's aid, I shall get bauk your gold. Doyoubuy a chest and till itwith sand or mould; only let it be botina with iron, nnd well locked. - Then chooce thrco or four discreet men and come to me. We shall succeed, never foar. The Spanish Moor followed her advice punctually. He carne with four friends, bringing a chest vvhich the strongest porter could senreey drag along. 'Now, follonyne,'" said the oíd woman. On reaching the door of the supposed honest man, she went in ivith the Spaniard's four {rienda, bidding the latter wait belovv, and not niake his appearance until the chest had been caried up staire. She now stood in the presence of the ïypocrite, -when she introdueed her bur companions, saying : " Behold ! here are Rome honest Spaniard8 about to make a pilgriinago o Egypt. Their treasures are boundess. They possess, among other hings, ten chests f uil of gold and eilver, hey knew not where to stow it aw:iy iibt at present. ïhcy would trust them o safe hands for a time ; so I, well cnowing your honesty and unsullied reputatitin, have brought them hither. Pray fullfill their wishes." Meantime she had the heavy chest irought in, which the pretended hsnest man gloated over with greedy looks. [Jut just then the despoiled pilgrim rushed in, impetuously chiiming boek úa two thousand pesants. The faithless depository was frightened ; and lest the young man should reproach liim with his treachery in the presence of the strangers, who would then take their chest with its untold treasures away, which he had already determined to appropriate to hirnself, he cried out to the Moor : " Be welcome ! I was almost fearing vou would never come back, and was Duzzled what I should do with the two housand pesante. Allah be praiscd ! who has brought you back safe ? Here is whatbelongs to you." The Spanish Moor went away with his treasure as triumphant as though he was carrying off so much booty. The old woman begged the master oí ;he house to put this first chest in a safe place white she went and ordered the rest to be sent. She thon sheercd off with her four companions, and of course thcy never returned.