one grave.'

And so they were.

[From Ungarische Mahrchen.]

The Death Of Abu Nowas And Of His Wife

Once upon a time there lived a man whose name was Abu Nowas, and he was
a great favourite with the Sultan of the country, who had a palace in
the same town where Abu Nowas dwelt.

One day Abu Nowas came weeping into the hall of the palace where the
Sultan was sitting, and said to him: 'Oh, mighty Sultan, my wife is
dead.'

'That is bad news,' replied the Sultan; 'I must get you another wife.'
And he bade his Grand Vizir send for the Sultana.

'This poor Abu Nowas has lost his wife,' said he, when she entered the
hall.

'Oh, then we must get him another,' answered the Sultana; 'I have a
girl that will suit him exactly,' and clapped her hands loudly. At this
signal a maiden appeared and stood before her.

'I have got a husband for you,' said the Sultana.

'Who is he?' asked the girl.

'Abu Nowas, the jester,' replied the Sultana.

'I will take him,' answered the maiden; and as Abu Nowas made no
objection, it was all arranged. The Sultana had the most beautiful
clothes made for the bride, and the Sultan gave the bridegroom his
wedding suit, and a thousand gold pieces into the bargain, and soft
carpets for the house.

So Abu Nowas took his wife home, and for some time they were very
happy, and spent the money freely which the Sultan had given them, never
thinking what they should do for more when that was gone. But come to an
end it did, and they had to sell their fine things one by one, till at
length nothing was left but a cloak apiece, and one blanket to cover
them. 'We have run through our fortune,' said Abu Nowas, 'what are we
to do now? I am afraid to go back to the Sultan, for he will command
his servants to turn me from the door. But you shall return to your
mistress, and throw yourself at her feet and weep, and perhaps she will
help us.'

'Oh, you had much better go,' said the wife. 'I shall not know what to
say.'

'Well, then, stay at home, if you like,' answered Abu Nowas, 'and I will
ask to be admitted to the Sultan's presence, and will tell him, with
sobs, that my wife is dead, and that I have no money for her burial.
When he hears that perhaps he will give us something.'

'Yes, that is a good plan,' said the wife; and Abu Nowas set out.

The Sultan was sitting in the hall of justice when Abu Nowas entered,
his eyes streaming with tears, for he had rubbed some pepper into them.
They