* * * *

ARABIAN NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS IN OUR OWN TIME.--The Arabs, who have
among them most imaginative and finished _improvisatori_, compare the
elegant movements of a beautiful bride to those of a young camel. The
_Thousand and One Nights_, like most clever fables, have some foundation
in fact, as is well known to the friends of the Arabian man of rank, who
keeps his professed story-teller as an indispensable part of his
establishment. African travelers relate that these friends will assemble
before his tent, or on the platform with which the house of a Moorish
Arab is roofed, and there listen night after night, to a consecutive
history, related for sixty or even one hundred nights in succession. The
listeners on such occasions have all the air of being spell-bound,
especially while hearing some of their native songs, which are
frequently extemporized, full of fire, and appealing with irresistible
force to the passions. "I have seen," says Major Denham, "a circle of
Arabs straining their eyes with a fixed attention at one moment and
bursting with loud laughter; at the next melting into tears and clasping
their hands in all the ecstacy of grief and sympathy."--_Leaves from the
Diary of a Naturalist._

* * * * *

THE LAST YEAR'S LEAF.

The last year's leaf, its time is brief
Upon the beechen spray;
The green bud springs, the young bird sings
Old leaf, make room for May:
Begone, fly away,
Make room for May.

Oh, green bud smile on me awhile,
Oh, young bird, let my stay--
What joy have we, old leaf, in thee?
Make room, make room for May:
Begone, fly away,
Make room for May.--_Philip Taylor_.

* * * * *

DIVINATION BY THE BIBLE AND KEY.--This superstition is very prevalent
amongst the peasantry of this and adjoining parishes. When any article
is suspected to have been stolen, a Bible is procured; and opened at the
1st chapter of Ruth; the stock of a street door key is then laid on the
16th verse of the above chapter, the handle protruding from the edge of
the Bible; and the key is secured in this position by a string, bound
tightly round the book. The person who works the charm then places his
two middle fingers under the handle of the key, and this keeps the Bible
suspended. He then repeats in succession the names of the parties
suspected of theft; repeating at each name