Away with her!' exclaimed Crackback; we 'll see who's the goose now! Convey her to the lowest dungeon of the fortress, and there let her await my royal will and pleasure. Am I not Caliph ?' 'Most assuredly!' replied the Vizier, bowing obsequiously.

So I am, Grand Vizier,' continued the sometime cobbler,' and you are a true and loyal subject; and as a token of my gratitude, for the intelligence you have brought me, I'll find you in shoes for a year to

come.'

Your highness is too good.'

'No I a'n't,' interrupted Crackback; I know what I'm about, I guess.'

'Will it please you to proceed to the seraglio?' asked Selim. 'Oh certain by all means! But stop; let me shut up shop.' Selim made a motion to the troops, who suddenly divided, and between the ranks a tall and stately elephant advanced.

Eh what's all this?' demanded Crackback, not a little alarmed at the appearance of the huge animal. You don't expect me to climb up to the top of that crittur, do you?-'cause if you do, you're almightily mistaken, I can tell you.'

This was Haroun's favorite beast,' replied the Vizier, and you are to ride, as his successor.'

Shadrew, my Vizier,' said he, 'I've some idea of treating my friends; I don't mean our old comrades, but high families of distinction in Bagdad. Where is a good place for a spree?'

May it please your royal insignificance,' replied Shadrew, 'the harem is just the place.'

'So it is!' replied Crackback; and do you go and invite all the wives which Haroun used to own, to be present; and tell them we shall make use of their lower hall.'

Away went Shadrew, as he was bid; and in a few minutes returned, saying that all the women were so overwhelmed with grief, at the loss of their beloved lord, that they intended to shut themselves up for a month, but that Crackback was welcome to the use of their hall.'

'So they won't do as I want them to, eh?' said the Caliph. Well, let 'em work; we'll have their hall, any how, and raise such a row in it, that they'll be thunderin' glad to come down, for the sake of keeping the peace.'

cers. Mirth and hilarity reigned; the hall resounded with joy. The night waxed late; the company were nearly all obliviously fuddled, and half of them were reposing beneath the table. The Caliph sat at the head, and by his side his faithful sycophant, Shadrew. Few, indeed, were able to resist the sleepy god, who had stolen unperceived into the room. Here and there an eyelid opened, and from beneath the shade, something glistened for a moment, like a coal, and the next, a heavy fall, and a loud snore, frequently mingled with the sound of breaking glass, and falling seats, told that another and another had joined their comrades under the table.

Suddenly the clock struck two. The sound came like a dirge upon the ears of the remaining company. Crackback was standing on his feet, one hand resting upon his seat, in the endeavor to balance his body, while the other, not exactly steady, was trying to raise a glass of wine to his lips, while he stammered out a toast. It was a ludicrous scene. Not more than a dozen retained their places, and of these a goodly portion were not certain where they were.

'My friends,' ejaculated Crackback, 'here 's confusion to Ali! May he be

At this juncture, when not a voice but the Caliph's was audible, a solitary trumpet, waking the night with its echoes, sent its piercing peal into every corner of the room.

'Good God! what's that?' exclaimed Crackback; ‘Grand Vizier, go to the door!'

But the Grand Vizier was just at that moment seized with an extraordinary fit of deafness. Another and another peal rang through the streets; the clattering of a horse's hoofs upon the pavements was heard; then the door of the hall was thrown wide open, and a man, armed cap-à-pie, stalked in.

'Oh Lord! I'm done for!' cried Crackback. Who-who are

'Now, then, prepare yourself for battle, while I go and alarm the city,' said Selim. 'The enemy, to the number of ten thousand, are now beneath the walls. Gird on your sword, and show yourself to the people. Lead them on to victory, and your name shall be a watchword to certain conquest.'

'Here's a pretty how-de-do!' soliloquized Crackback; 'I go out and fight! I'll see him hanged first! They may use my name for a watchword, if they like, but as to using my body, they sha n't. I'll look on at a safe distance, and see 'em fight; and if the enemy retreat, why then I'll come up and help 'em chase 'em; but as to fighting myself, of course that 's all gammon. What do you say, Shadrew? Eh? Yes, I say so, too,' replied Shadrew, rubbing his eyes.

That's just my way of thinking,' continued Crackback, forgetting that Shadrew had only waked up in time to hear the concluding words of his soliloquy; ' you 're a philosopher, Shadrew; you are one of the wise men, you are.'

'Is all ready?' cried the stentorian voice of Selim, appearing at the door. Come, your soldiers are assembled, and impatient for battle. They cry loudly for the Caliph, and refuse to follow any other leader.

'Let 'em cry,' said Crackback.

'Come,' said Selim, impatiently, are you resolved?'

Escaped!' he thundered; 'search the room; and if he has indeed vanished, all your lives shall pay the forfeit !'

'Here he is!' cried an officer, seizing the unfortunate cobbler's legs, and dragging him from under the table where he had secreted himself.

'Is this the fellow who offered a reward for my head?' said the Bashaw, looking down upon the little cobbler with the utmost contempt; away with him to the bow-string!'

'Oh, good Bashaw! just let me say my prayers, and take leave of my wife!'

Bring the bow-string!'

He

Crackback struggled with the officer, and in vain essayed to bite the string. It was wound around his neck, and firmly pulled. shut his eyes. A single gasp, and all was over!

CRACKBACK started to his feet, and rubbed his eyes. Where was he? There was his shop, his bench, and his tools; there was the sun streaming through the diamond hole in the shutter; there were the shoes upon the floor, which he had worked all night to finish; and in the next room, he could hear his wife singing at her work. He had been asleep; it was all a dream! He had never been Caliph ; he had never suffered the bow-string; and he was again plain Crackback, the cobbler. Allah be praised! The Caliph's post was one of danger!'

A knock at the door startled him. It was his neighbor come after the shoes.

'Have you heard the news, Crackback?' asked the visiter; 'the Caliph's treasury was broken open yesterday afternoon, while the household were at prayers, and all the coffers of gold and jewels stolen !'

In an instant, the two merchants flashed upon his mind. He said nothing, but so soon as his customer left him, he went in search of his wife, and inquired where the two merchants were, who had supped with him the night before.

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They went off last night, without touching the bed,' was the reply.

Allah be praised! I was afraid they were still here. who robbed the Caliph !'

'Tis they

He never

From that moment, Crackback was an altered man. again repined at his lot, nor desired to become a Caliph. In a few months, Zilla died; and although he shed a few natural tears at his loss, yet he survived her many years; and when at last death visited his door, he carried down to his grave the reputation of having been for fifty years the best cobbler in all Bagdad.

VOL. XIV.

A LAWYER'S DECLARATION.

Ан me! thy beauty, with severe control,

Has brought its action against every sense,
And served its sweet subpoena on my soul,
To which, alas! I dare not take defence!

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