pusses and sea-cows were heard howling in the water at Three Rivers, where none of these fish had ever before been found; and the noise which they sent forth resembled not that of a ny known aniınal.

"Over the whole extent of three hundred leagues from east to west, and one hundred and fifty from south to north, the earth, the rivers, and the coasts of the ocean experienced for a considerable time, although at intervals, the most dreadful agitation.

"The first shock continued without intermis sion for half an hour: about eight o'clock in the evening there came a second, no less vio lent than the first, and in the space of half an hour were two others. During the night were reckoned thirty shocks."

AN EASTERN TALE.

In the neighbourhood of Mecca, lived an industrious peasant, whose name was Aboukir he had three sons, named, Almoradin, Dagandi, and Halif; they were educated in a relig ious observance of all the precepts of the law; they shared with him in all his labours, and by their joint endeavours, they all four procured a subsistence adequate to their desires. Aboukir, when he was dying, called his three sons to his bed side, and addressed them in the followlowing words: "My sons, live in constant un

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ion, and cultivate with care the farm I leave you; it will abundantly supply you with all the necessaries of life; let the book of glory be your chief study, the delight of your souls, and the chief object of your attention: In all the various casualties of life, depend upon it alone; my life draws near its end; I already behold the angel of death approach; farewel; remember the advice I have given you; adore the great Creator of the universe, and revere Mahomet his prophet. Having uttered these words, he expired, and his sons buried him with true filial piety. For some time they followed the wise advice he had given them; but one day as they were to work on their farm, a question was agitated among them; the dispute was concerning what was most desirable, and what would be the first wish of each. Almoradin, as he was of an aspiring temper, declared that power was the chief object of his desires. Dogandi, who was of a more sordid turn of mind, owned that his wishes centred in the possession of wealth, and Halif sighed for the enjoy ment of beauty. No sooner were these different wishes uttered than a genii appeared to them, and addressed them as follows; sons of Aboukir, your wishes were heard; I am a genii, he that presides over fortune, and will engage to procure you the accomplishment of your wishes; if you do not wish to retract them, as mortals often wish, for what in the end proves the cause of their destruction.-The three brothers persevering in their wishes, the

genii presented them each with a talisman, whereon was engraved certain magick charac ters, and bid them repair to Bagdad. Almoradin, had not long resided there, till by virtue of the talisman, he attracted the notice of the Caliph Haroun Al Raschid, and was by him sent to govern a distant province, which being attacked by the Tartars, he defended it bravely, and repulsed them with great slaughter; this raised the jealousy of the Vizier, who afterwards found means to persuade the Caliph, that the intention of Almoradin, was to make himself a party,and shake off the yoke of obedience. Hereupon Al Raschid, who was extremely jealous of his authority, sent for him to Bagdad, and without hearing him speak in his own defence, caused him to be beheaded.

. Dogandi, after having acquired great riches by commerce, at last perished in a voyage which he made in quest of new gain.

The fate of Halif was perhaps more wretched than either of the two brothers; he marri→ ed the beauteous Rouschern, and for some time their felicity was mutual and extreme; but the fiend Jealousy, which so often changes the hap piness of lovers into bitterness, at last put an end to their bliss.

.

One of the chief persons in the court of Bagdad, Ogloufcan, having seen Rouschern, and being enchanted with her beauty, found means by corrupting the slaves of Halif, to procure several interviews with his wife, who dazzled by his elevated station, forgot her fidelity to her Husband.

Halif having one day seen Ogloufcan retire from his wife, fell upon her in a transport of rage, plunged a dagger in her breast, and immediately after stabbed himself in despair. Thus did these three brothers owe their de struction to the completion of their own wishes

The moral of this tale teaches us, that we

should always adhere to the precepts and admonitions of our parents, and not presume of ourselves, to direct the Almighty,by wishing for a change from the situation wherein he has thought proper to place us, and such as he has judged us fit for.

TALKERS AND HEARERS.

He flies the spot― alarm'd with dread,

Lest Thirsis should begin to read.".

So unwilling are men to be hearers in society; and we find, invariably, throughout society, that it is precisely those who will not listen one moment to the narrations of another, who require the most profound attention, and unwearied nods of approbation, for their own.

The perfect hearer should be composed by the same receipt the Duc de Sully gives for mak ing a great statesman. He should have lit

tle feeling and no passions.

The hearer must never be drowsy; for noth ing perplexes a talker, or reader of his, own works, like the accident of sleep in the midst of his barangue and I have knoiva a French

talker rise up and hold open the eyelids of a Dutch hearer with his finger and thumb.

An hearer must not squint. For no lover is so zealous as a true talker, who will be perpetually watching the motion of the eyes, and always suspecting that the attention is directed to that side of the room to which they point.

An hearer must not be a seer of sights. He must let an hare pass as quietly as an ox; and never interrupt a narration by crying out at the sight of an highwayman, or a mad-dog. An acquaintance of mine lost a good legacy by the ill timed arrival of a coach and six, which he discovered at the end of an avenue, and announced as an acceptable hearing to the pride of the family. But it happened to be at the very time the lady of the house was relating the critical moment of her life, when she was in the greatest danger of breaking her vow of celibacy.

An hearer must not have a weak head; for though the talker may like he should drink with him, he does not choose that he should fall under the table till he himself is speechless.

He must not be a news-monger; because times past have already furnished the head of his patron with all the ideas he chooses it should be stored with.

Lastly, and principally, an hearer must not be a wit. I remember one of this profession, being told by a gentleman, who, to do him justice, was a very good seaman, that he had rode from Portsmouth to London in four hours, asked "If it was by Shrewsbury clock." It