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tle foundling. She is safe so long as the enemy who seeks her life cannot touch her. Farewell; be faith

ful-be happy."

With these words, the form melted into the night breeze, and the worthy Ben Hafiz returned home with his foster-child, who trotted by his side, one hand holding his, and the other her silver-feathered shoes. Their talk all the way was of the ugly old pedlar, and of the pretty shoes which saved her from his wicked intention to take her away. She never spoke of the blessed vision. No conversation on the part of her old fosterparents, whom she loved tenderly, could ever draw from her an observation concerning that heavenly guardian. She would at times sit for hours, her eyes glistening with delight, and features kindled into inexpressible loveliness and serenity, to all appearance listening to some sweet speech; and then she would suddenly turn to her amusement in her flower-garden, or to attend the affectionate Sherzaran in the simple duties of the cottage. These hours of silent communion most frequently occurred before she went to rest for the night.

CHAP. III.

TIME had rolled on since the last adventure of the little Narina with the ugly old pedlar-magician, and she had now attained the age of seven years. Pen cannot describe, and tongue cannot tell, the rare beauty of her face, or the delicacy and lightness of her form. In pretty timidity, restless playful action, and gentle demeanor, she resembled the antelope of the desert; while the mild and purely innocent expression of that

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almost perfect creature's eyes still continued the resemblance between them. Those of Narina were of that rich and deep azure which can be likened only to the heaven of a southern and torrid climate. They were a deep, deep blue, and when minutely examined, they impressed the beholder with a sensation amounting to awe; for the sweet wisdom of infinite goodness and benevolence had kindled them with that divine ray which distinguishes his immortal image from the limited and perishable beast of the field. She was a thoughtful and serious child in the midst of all her sweet playfulness and winning little pranks. She would retire, as it were, within the sanctuary of her mind, and fold up every outward appearance of consciousness, like a flower at nightfall, and commune with her own fancies: who has not observed and felt the deep beauty of an infant when serious and thoughtful?

Narina loved her guardians with more than common affection, and she was dutiful in proportion to her love; for love with obedience to the wishes of those we love, always goes hand in hand. But Narina never felt that she was the child of Ben Hafiz and Sherzaran. Her frequent communings with that heavenly visitor, and the strange yearnings of unerring nature, had taught her at this early age that she had other alliances than with those kind old protectors, much as she was bound to, and would fondle them. This constantly returning sensation imparted a dignity to her genuine demeanor; she looked like a little lady, and not an humble peasant.

One evening, as they were seated round their fire, preparing their last meal of the day, while a storm of thunder and lightning, mingled with a furious wind

A BEGGAR APPEARS.

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and rain, was raging without, they heard, amid the stilness in the pauses of the blasts, a low rap at the door, and a female voice, imploring help and shelter from the hurricane. The old dame, with the consent of her husband, rises to give assistance to the wayfarer; when, upon opening the door, a tattered beggar, drenched with rain, steps over the threshold, and begins earnestly to demand some food, and an asylum till the storm shall have ceased; and also a direction to the nearest town. Her sudden manner of entering the cottage did not escape the observation of Ben Hafiz; he, however, desired his wife to give her some of their own supper, and assist in drying her clothes at the fire, while he drew his seat close to the little Narina, keeping his eyes steadily fixed upon the stranger.

The storm continued to rage, and the guest, having finished a meal and dried her garments, related to her entertainers the history of all her travels, and concluded by informing them that she was then upon her way to the court of the king of Persia, for she had a message of great importance to deliver from the king of her own country, which nearly concerned the welfare of the Persian monarch, and which her master was unwilling to intrust to his ambassador, for fear of betrayal; that she was her sovereign's chief confidant, and had assumed this disguise that she might pass to the place of her destination unnoticed and unmolested. She concluded by thanking them for their hospitality, which she said should be richly rewarded upon her return from the palace; when a very different garb from that in which they then beheld her would be her portion; and, moreover, that a numerous retinue of attendants would be at her command. Before she departed, however, she requested leave to present to the little Narina

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the only gift she had at that time in her possession. It was a whistle of very ordinary appearance, but its qualities were described as greatly surpassing its supposed pretensions. By the use of this instrument, the possessor would be able to charm the fiercest beast, or the most deadly human foe. And if at any time she wished to know the true thoughts of any person who might address a speech to her, one simple note on this ill-favored little pipe would explain to her the secret intention of the speaker. By means of it, also, she could hold conversation with any friend, though separated from her in the most distant part of the world.

All this while Ben Hafiz had never withdrawn his eyes from the stranger, and consequently had observed that, from the moment she had taken her seat, her glances were from time to time directed towards Narina with a strange expression of fierceness and malignity, although all the time the other features of her face assumed a smiling and alluring form. When, therefore, at the close of her description of the virtues of this whistle, she reached forward to give it to his little darling, he put forth his hand to receive it of her. The stranger, however, withdrew the present, saying that it must be placed in the hand of the person for whom the gift was intended. "Then," answered Ben Hafiz, "it shall be equally useful to her, for as we are never separated, I can give her all the knowledge she may wish, respecting those who are removed from us, as well as the secret thoughts of her foes and if ever we should be surprised by any wild beast coming into our valley, I can equally well protect her as she can herself." Still the beggar woman sought to urge the gift upon the little Narina, and her kind protector as steadily and firmly resisted her endeavors. "Nay,

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then," said the stranger, "my purpose must be fulfilled;" and with these words she darted forward to seize the child; but the worthy Ben Hafiz was prepared for her, and at that same instant he had slipped the ring on to the finger of his foundling. With this action, the whole scene in their cottage underwent a total change. The apartment was instantly filled with a blaze of light, and between the child and the stranger stood the form of the silver dove glittering in the golden flood, while that again was instantly transformed to the same heavenly attendant who had constantly awaited their summons. The countenance and habit, too, of the beggar woman vanished, and instead of them appeared the figure of a man, with light gray eyes and yellow hair and beard. The spirit, with a face of deep anguish and resentment, uttered some words in a melancholy tone, not understood by the shepherd and his wife. And all the while the countenance of the stranger (who, against his will, was compelled to look at the vision) was alternately filled with rage, disappointment, and shame. When the strange words were ended, the light increased to a more intense degree, accompanied with a roaring as of a great conflagration, and in the midst a loud yet mild voice was heard, which dismissed the enemy of the little Narina; for although neither door nor window of the cottage had opened, the three inhabitants found themselves alone with their heavenly guardian, who, turning upon them a countenance glowing with love, gentleness, and approbation, again comforted the shepherd with these kind words:

"I now find, good Ben Hafiz, that you are to be trusted with the preservation of the little Narina. You have followed my instructions, and it is well that you