out it, all your writing, arithmetic, grammar, and geography, will not raise one above the common level of a clown.

Thom. There are so many pursuits that are very useful, that if we were disposed to improve our time to the best advantage, I think we could employ it much better than in learning to dance. We will suppose, for instance, that you learn the trade of a carpenter; I would ask you if it would not be necessary to understand figures, so that you might be able to keep your own accounts; and so much geometry as to be able to measure heights and distances, superficies and solids? Would it not be very convenient to know a little of history, in order to acquaint yourself with the various orders of architecture, and where they had their origin? If you were shown a picture of St. Peter's Church, or a plan of Grand Cairo, would you not like to know enough of geography to tell in what part of the world they are situated?

Hen. These are subjects which cousin Tim says never are agitated in the fashionable circles which he visits. And so I bid you good bye. AMERICAN PRECEPTOR.

SECTION VIII.

The Vicar of Wakefield's account of the Adventure of his son Moses, when he sent him to the fair to sell his colt. 1. ALL this conversation however, was only preparatory to another scheme, and indeed I dreaded as much. This was nothing less than, as we were now to hold up our heads a little higher in the world, it would be proper to sell the colt, which was grown old, at a neighbouring fair, and buy us a horse that would carry single or double upon an occasion, and make a pretty appearance at church, or upon a visit.

2. This at first I opposed stoutly, but it was as stoutly defended. However, as I weakened, my antagonists gained strength, till at last it was resolved to part with him.

3. As the fair happened on the following day, I had intentions of going myself; but my wife persuaded me that I had got a cold, and nothing could prevail upon her to permit me to go from home. 'No my dear,' said she, 6 our son Moses is a discreet boy, and can buy and sell to very good advantage; you know all our great bargains are of his purchasing. He always stands out and higgles, and actually tires them till he gets a bargain.'

4. As I had some opinion of my son's prudence, I was willing enough to entrust him with this commission: and the next morning I perceived his sisters mighty busy in fitting out Moses for the fair; trimming his hair, brushing his buckles, and cocking his hat with pins.

5. The business of the toilet being over, we had at last the satisfaction of seeing him mounted upon the colt, with a deal-box before him to bring home groceries in. He had on a coat made of that cloth they call thunder and lightning, which, though grown too short, was much too good to be thrown away.

6. His waistcoat was of gosling green, and his sisters had tied his hair with a broad black ribbon. We all followed him several paces from the door, bawling after him, 'Good luck! good luck!' till we could see him no longer.

7. Towards evening, my wife and a gentleman of our acquaintance, being engaged in a conversation that appeared likely to become unpleasant, I changed the subject, by seeming to wonder what could keep our son so long at the fair, as it was now almost night-fall.

8. 'Never mind our son,' cried my wife; 'depend upon it he knows what he is about. I'll warrant we'll never see him sell his hen on a rainy day. I have seen him buy such bargains as would amaze one. I'll tell you a good story about that, that will make you shake your sides with laughing. But, yonder comes Moses, without a horse, and the box at his back.'

9. As she spoke, Moses came slowly on foot, and sweating under the deal-box, which he had strapped round his shoulders like a pedlar. "Welcome! welcome, Moses! well, my boy, what have you brought us from the fair?''I have brought you myself,' cried Moses, with a sly look, and resting the box on the dresser.

10. 'Aye, Moses,' cried my wife, that we know, but where is the horse?'-'I have sold him,' cried Moses, 'for three pounds five shillings and two-pence,'-' Well done, my good boy,' returned she, 'I knew you would touch them off. Between ourselves, three pounds five shillings and two-pence is no bad day's work, Come, let us have it then.'

11. I have brought back no money,' cried Moses again. 'I have laid it all out in a bargain, and here it is,' pulling out a bundle from his breast; 'here they are; a groce of green spectacles, with silver rims and shagreen cases.'' A

groce of green spectacles!' repeated my wife, in a faint voice. And you have parted with the colt, and brought us back nothing but a groce of green paltry spectacles!'

12. Dear mother,' cried the boy, 'why won't you listen to reason? I had them a dead bargain, or I should not have bought them. The silver rims alone will sell for double the money.'-' A fig for the silver rims !' cried my wife, in a passion: 'I dare say they won't sell for above half the money at the rate of broken silver, five shillings an ounce.'

13. 'You need be under no uneasiness,' cried I, ' about selling the rims, for they are not worth sixpence, for I perceive they are only copper, varnished over. What,' cried my wife, 'not silver! the rims not silver !'-'No,' cried I, no more silver than your saucepan.'

14. And so,' returned she, we have parted with the colt, and have only got a groce of green spectacles, with copper rims and shagreen cases! The blockhead has been imposed upon, and should have known his company better! There, my dear,' cried I, 'you are wrong; he should not have known them at all.'-'If I had them,' returned she, 'I would throw them in the fire.'

15. 'There again you are wrong, my dear,' cried I 'for though they are copper, we will keep them by us, as copper spectacles, you know, are better than nothing.'

16. By this time the unfortunate Moses was undeceived. He now saw that he had indeed been imposed upon by a prowling sharper, who, observing his figure, had marked him for an easy prey. I therefore asked him the circumstances of his deception. He sold the horse it seems, and walked the fair in search of another.

17. A reverend-looking man brought him to a tent, under pretence of having one to sell. Here,' continued Moses, we met another man very well dressed, who desired to borrow twenty pounds upon these, saying that he wanted money, and would dispose of them for a third of the value.

18. The first gentleman, who pretended to be my friend, whispered me to buy them, and cautioned me not to let so good an offer pass. I sent for Mr. Flamborough, and they talked him up as finely as they did me; and so at last we were persuaded to buy the two groce between us.'

SECTION IX.

Dishonesty and Deception unmasked.-The story of Ali Cogia, merchant of Bagdad.

1. THERE lived at Bagdad a reputable merchant named Ali Cogia, of a moderate fortune; contented with his situaticn, and therefore happy.

2. It happened that a venerable old man came to him, and with a severe look, reprimanded him for not having made a pilgrimage to Mecca. Ali Cogia knew, that as a good mussulman it was his duty to undertake such a pilgrimage, but he had contented himself with determining to set about it on some distant day: when that day came, he was never without an excuse to postpone his journey, and renew his resolution.

3. This reproof awakened his conscience. He converted his substance into cash; half of which he laid out in merchandise, to traffic with as he journeyed. The other half he deposited in a jar which he filled with olives, and requested a friend of his to suffer it to remain in his warehouse, till the caravan should return from Mecca. He mentioned it as a jar of olives only, without saying a word of the money at the bottom of it. Noureddin, which was the name of his friend, very obligingly gave him the key of his warehouse, and desired him to set his jar where he pleased, promising it should remain untouched, till his re

turn.

4. When the caravan was ready, Ali Cogia sat out for Mecca, where he performed very exactly all those ceremonies which are observed at that holy place. The duties of his pilgrimage being completed, he went to Cairo, and from thence to Damascus, trading all the way to considerable advantage. Having a great desire to see the world, he went to other celebrated cities, taking Jerusalem in his way, that he might view the temple, which is looked upon by all mussulmen, to be the most holy, after that of Mecca. In short, he took so long a journey, that seven years elapsed, before he returned to Bagdad.

5. All this time the jar of olives stood undisturbed in Noureddin's warehouse. But it so fell out, a few days before Ali Cogia came home, that the wife of Noureddin chanced to wish for some olives. This brought to his mind the jar his friend had left with him so long ago. He determined to open and examine them.

6. His wife in vain represented to him how base and dishonourable it was to meddle with any thing left in his hands as a trust. Noureddin was obstinate: he opened the jar, and found all the olives at the top were mouldy. Hoping to find them better at the bottom, he emptied them all out, and with them, turned out the bag of gold which Ali Cogia had deposited there.

Noureddin was a man whose general conduct was specious. He was exceedingly careful to preserve his reputation. But in his heart he was a slave to avarice: and like all other very covetous men, he was as honest as his interest obliged him to be. At the sight of so much money he determined to seize it, and finding it impossible. to replace the old olives, so as to appear as they were before he opened the jar, he threw them away, and filled it with new ones.

8. When Ali Cogia arrived, his first care was to visit Noureddin. This traitor affected great joy to see him again after so long an absence: and of his own accord offered him the key of his warehouse to fetch his jar.

9. When Ali Cogia had conveyed the jar home and turned it out, he was surprised to see that his gold had been taken away. He returned to Noureddin, and endeavoured, by friendly reasoning to prevail with him to do justice. The base merchant was callous to every consideration of that kind. He concluded that as Ali Cogia could produce no proof of his having lodged treasure in the jar, his own general fair character would bear him out against one who had been absent so long, that he was almost unknown in his native city. Nor was he mistaken.

10. The Cady, hearing Ali Cogia's complaint, called upon Noureddin for his defence; who said, 'it is true that Ali Cogia, seven years ago, at his own request left a jar in my warehouse, which he told me was filled with olives. I never saw the jar. He carried it thither himself, left it where he pleased, and found it in the same place, covered as he left it. He did not place it in my care as a treasure. He has no witness to prove that he put a treasure in it. Might he not as well have demanded a jar of diamonds? in short, I declare that I never had this money, or even knew there was any in the jar; this I am ready to declare on my oath.'

11. The Cady finding Ali Cogia could bring no testi