THE COBBLER OF BAGDAD,

The correspondent to whose pen the reader was indebted for the faithful and huniorous NewEngland sketch, entitled 'Eastern Lauds,' has, in the following story, engrafted the industrious yankee upou the stately oriental, in a manner scarcely less felicitous.

Eos. KNICKERBOCKER.

6

During the reign of Haroun the Third, whom may Allah bless! there resided in one of the principal streets of Bagdad, a bandylegged Mahommedan, who rejoiced in the appellation, as his signboard signified, of CRACKBACK, Cobbler to the Caliph and Royal Family.

Every summer's day, from morning till night, did he make the neighborhood resound with the clack of his hammer, keeping time, the while, with a lively whistle, occasionally varied by a snatch of some favorite bacchanalian chorus, learned at the café to which he was in the habit of resorting, when his day's work was over. Rising every day with the lark, he applied himself faithfully to his task, until the lengthening shadows warned him of the advent of the convivial hour. Then, doing up his 'work, he would lock his little shop door, and before his head rested upon his scanty pallet, he was generally minus half of his day's earnings. But what cared he for that ? What,' he argued, “is the use of life, if it is not to be enjoyed while it lasts ?' He was the best cobbler in all Bagdad, and having never disappointed his customers, when he promised their shoes and sandals, he was never idle, and always commanded the best prices. No one could drive a peg, or mend a rip, like Crackback. His taste was consulted upon all state occasions, when his high mightiness the Caliph desired to sport a new aud peculiar fashion, and the delicate jobs of the harem were invariably given to him. l'ame spread his name to the remotest corners of the kingdom. Strangers inquired at once for his shop, and went away in ecstacies; orders crowded upon him from distant provinces, for the 'Royal Crackback shoes.'

Perhaps you think our cobbler must have been the happiest man in the kingdom? Alas! not so. He was the most miserable dog upon the face of the earth. His wife was the pest of his existence; an unmitigated termagant; a domestic tyrant, who only lacked the power, to rule the nation with a sceptre of iron, even as she governed her own household. It was an evil day for the artizan, when he made · Mrs. Crackback' of his neighbor Ali's daughter. No sooner had she set her foot upon the threshold of her future home, than she resolved to rule the roast. I shall show how she kept her resolution.

One evening, being hurried with extra labor, Crackback had been induced, by the promise of a tempting sum, to forego his customary visit to the café, and to stay at home, that he might finish a pair of shoes, which were to be worn the next day at a sumptuous wedding. Sharp and quick fell the blows of the hammer, as with a lively heart he bent to his toil. By the fire, sat his loving spouse, boiling an egg for his supper. For a few days past, she had treated him with extraordinary kindness. Neither had now spoken for some minutes. * Crackback, my dear,' said she at length, get me some more wood ; the fire is getting low.'

Zilla, my darling, I'll see you hanged first!' responded the cobbler; a pretty time it will be, when I get these shoes done! I wonder how the world would get along, if every man was ordered about by his wife, as I am by you.'

Contrary to his expectations, no answer, either in the shape of a word or a blow, was returned; and Crackback, encouraged, by these tokens, to believe that his wife's sense of duty was gaining the ascendant, ventured another remark.

'I say, my love, what a confounded old fool I was, ten years ago,

come next week.'

'Not the least doubt of that, in the world, my dear,' was the reply; but why then, in particular?'

Because I showed the world, just about that time, what a silly coot I was, in marrying you!'

Splash came the scalding water, from the pan in which the egg had been boiling, full in the face of the unfortunate cobbler, who, roaring with pain, clutched his stool, and hurled it through the air, in the direction of his wife.

'Here! silence, good friends! or the Caliph shall hear of this!' exclaimed a voice close to their ears.

Crackback and his antagonist turned in astonishment, and beheld, standing in the door-way, two strangers, of commanding presence, habited in loose travelling dresses, covered with dust.

'Whence come ye, good Sirs, and wherefore are ye here?' asked the cobbler, when his surprise had a little abated.

'We are merchants from Damascus, on our way to China,' responded the foremost; we are but newly arrived in your goodly city, and would crave a night's lodging, for which you shall be amply remunerated.'

You mistake, Sirs,' replied Crackback; 'I keep no hotel.'

'I have slept sounder beneath the thatched roof of an humble citizen, than when reposing under a gilded canopy,' said the stranger. Can we abide here until the morning?'

'My accommodations are but scanty.'

Hold your tongue!' interrupted Zilla, strengthening her argument with a secret pinch. They 'll pay us a good price in advance, before they see the bed, and then if they do n't like it, they can.do the other thing.' Then turning to the strangers, she said, with a bewitching smile, 'Ye are welcome, Sirs; enter, in Allah's name, and peace be with you! Crackback, my dear, water and towels. Get 'em quick!' she added, in a whisper, or I'll send this hammer at your head!'

When the strangers had washed themselves, our hero set before them his frugal fare, which was no sooner devoured, than a purse of gold was placed in the hands of Zilla, by the principal merchant, in payment for their food and lodging. Delighted with the sum, which far exceeded her highest expectations, she made an excuse to leave the room, and hastened to exhibit her prize to a gossiping neighbor, and speculate upon the character of her company, leaving her husband to entertain them, as best he might.

'You appear to be the happiest couple I have met for many a day,

said one of the merchants, with a shrewd smile, as Zilla left the house.

'Oh, yes,' responded Crackback, in a low tone, not quite sure that she was out of hearing, only we do have our little difficulties once in a while. Excepting that, I believe we pass as pleasant a life as any in Bagdad.'

It would puzzle one to tell when you do not have your little difficulties, judging from what I saw, as we entered. Come, confess; she's a perfect virago — eh?'

terious departure. Crackback swore, by Allah and all the prophets, that they did not pass through the outer room, while his wife was as positive they did not go through the window, for they were all fastened on the inside, precisely as when she went in, on the previous evening, to make up the bed. The neighbors marvelled greatly; and as Zilla took no pains to conceal the purse, or to keep secret the manner in which she had obtained it, the story soon spread, and threw all Bagdad into amazement. Various were the surmises, but none of them satisfied either Crackback or his wife, who came to the conclusion between themselves that other than mortal means were used in conveying them so silently away.

One beautiful summer morning, not long after this occurrence, Crackback was as usual busily at work, on his bench by the little window which commanded a distant view of the Caliph's seraglio. Fast flew the stitches, while the hammer rose and fell with unwonted rapidity. Something, it was evident, had occurred, which did not happen every day. The cobbler was in tribulation. The strangers' gold had been spent to the last farthing; and worse than all, with the departure of the last coin, bis darling Zilla had relapsed into her old ways. That very morning, for the first time in a whole month, she had again resumed the reins of household government, and with whip in hand, had again given her husband a spice of her administration, by breaking the broon - handle over his back. The tears rolled slowly down his cheeks ; he sighed heavily, and hung down his head. Suddenly, with a manly effort, he checked his grief, and dashing away the drops with the back of his hand, set his teeth firmly together, and wished, once more, that he was the Caliph. At that moment, a heavy gun, from the topmost turret of the seraglio, sent its echoes through the streets and squares of Bagdad, shaking the town to its centre with the shock. Crackback started to his feet at the instant that a vivid flash, followed by a startling report, issued from the gun, and immediately the ponderous bell of the city guardhouse, which was seldom rung, save in case of alarm, commenced a slow and solemn toll, and the crescent of the Prophet, which floated day and night from the highest pinnacle of the seraglio, was lowered, and in its place a black flag fluttered, the plaything of the winds.

• Hallo! Zilla! Zilla! come here, quick! There's the deuce to pay at the seraglio!' ejaculated Crackback; something or other has happened ; such a running about! Shoe-leather will soon wear out, that's one comfort. I'll go out and hire a dozen journeymen, right away, now! And he left the house.

*Ah! Črackback,' exclaimed a neighbor, “bad news! Caliph, Haroun the Third, is no more!'

No! You do n't say so ! Do tell!' 'Yes, it is, alas ! too true; and where shall we find so good a ruler?'

Crackback said no more. He returned home, and immediately set about increasing his supply of shoes. He should sell,' he said, “a vast number, to be worn at the funeral.'

The cobbler was industriously plying his awl, when his attention was attracted by the distant beating of a drum; and in a moment after, the sound of a full band of music, playing a lively national air,

The good

was borne to his ears. Hastily throwing down his work, he put his head out of the window, and saw, at the upper end of the street, a long procession, moving in the direction of his dwelling. Somewhat puzzled to make out its meaning, Crackback pulled off his turban, that he might salute the Grand Vizier, whom he recognised in the van. They advanced slowly, until they arrived in front of his door; at that moment, a heavy discharge of artillery was fired from the turrets of the seraglio, the brattling trumpets sent forth a sonorous flourish, and the whole body came to a dead halt.

'I see it all,' whispered the cobbler to himself;' the Grand Vizier has stopped on his way to the mosque, to bespeak funereal shoes, for the royal household! Won't I strike for high prices! How are you, Grand Vizier?' he added aloud; how d' you do? Glad to see you.' What was his astonishment, when, instead of the expected patronizing nod, he saw the Vizier respectfully approach, and as he stepped forth to meet him, kneel and press the edge of his old leather-apron to his lips!

Health and prosperity ever be your lot!' exclaimed the Vizier, rising; may you live a thousand years! Shout, Long life to Crackback the First, Caliph of Bagdad!' And at the word, the air was rent with the voice of the multitude.

Crackback gazed for a moment in silence upon the Vizier and his attendants, and then, as if a new light had suddenly dawned upon him, replied: All this would be dreadful fine, if I was only Caliph ; but just stop your fooling, now, and tell me how many shoes you want, and when they must be done.'

May it please your High Mightiness,' responded the Vizier, deferentially, I trust you'll never make another pair of shoes. You are now Caliph of Bagdad, in place of our beloved Haroun the Third, may he rest in peace! who departed this world of woes this morning, at the second crowing of the cock.'

• Now you do n't? you do n't mean to say I'm really Caliph, do you?' said Crackback, doubtingly.

'Even so,' replied the Vizier. When the deceased Haroun felt his end approaching, he called me and the members of the household to his bed-side. 'Well-beloved Selim,' said he, I feel that I am dying. When I am gone,' and here his voice trembled,' I could desire that my respected friend, Crackback, the cobbler, should reign in my place. All the virtues of manhood, and the best qualifications of a Caliph, are in him combined.' Having said this, he fell back and breathed his last. Such was his will and pleasure, and who shall gainsay it?'

At this moment, Crackback's wife appeared at the door, when her husband, in great glee, informed her of the news.

'You're a goose!' she replied; what's the use o' lying?

I am, eh!' replied Crackback; 'very well, madam, you shall see. Here! a dozen of you there, obey my first order. Put that woman under arrest; she is a dangerous person, and jeopards the peace and safety of the state.'

Six of the soldiers immediately advanced to lay violent hands on Zilla, but it was not without a severe struggle that the termagant yielded to superior numbers.