out-rivalled the pictures of the "Arabian Nights."

A real prince might be happy if he could only get in. Some of them
have taken years to bring to such a state of perfection; now, a little
addition is made here, and then a slight alteration there, until it is
finished, and the happy pair set off to take possession of the fairy
palace. But they never enter it: the more eager they are to get in,
the more confused they become as to the position of the doorway; one
thinks it is at the front, the other fancies it must be at the side,
and every time they go around the house seeking the entrance, by some
mysterious means the house seems further from them, and another effort
is necessary to reach it. How tiresome! but they must be in, for
storms begin to gather, and they are not prepared for them; the wind
blows and whistles as if calling up other evil forces for mischief;
night, like a dismal monster in a black cloak, and barefooted, is
coming on; the pretty castle is fading out of view among the darkening
objects around,--quick! quick! we must be in, for the hour is wild. On
they hurry, and in their haste, they find an open door and enter; there
is shelter and rest for them, but when daylight comes they open their
eyes, and lo, the lovely castle is gone, and the home is a weaver's
cottage!

There is no doubt that Abe and his young wife played their part at
castle-building, like most others in their position, and like others
they found it a great deal easier to erect than inhabit. However,
there is this to be said for them, which cannot be said for all, they
had fortitude to endure their lot without complaint; and though their
castle was but a very little cot, it was commodious enough to hold
them, and left room for a variety of joys and sorrows as well.

At the time when they were married, Abe was working as a cloth-finisher
in a mill near Almondbury common, but not long afterwards, the work at
this place failed, and he, with a number of others, was thrown out of
employment. This was a sore reverse, for which they were ill-prepared.
If trade had been good in the neighbourhood, he could easily have
obtained work under some other master, but alas! the reasons which
induced his employer to discharge his men, operated with others in the
same way, and consequently left no opening for Abe.

What was to be done? Ah! that was the inquiry which often passed
between Abe and Sally in their little home. The bread-winner was