rrowed countenance, and awfully
warned him, as he valued quiet days, and slumbering nights, to shun the
dangerous pursuits in which he had engaged. Mr. R---- took his advice, and
thought little more of the matter, until some time after when he was
staying with his friend Mr. S---- at the ---- consulate at Alexandria. Mr.
S---- almost as intelligent a gentleman as Mr. R----, had lost some silver
spoons, and it was determined perhaps to frighten the servants of the
house into confession, or perhaps, (and what is just as likely,) for a
frolic and the indulgence of Mr. R----'s well known curiosity, to summon a
conjuror, or wise man. There happened to be a famous magician, lately
arrived from distant parts of Africa, then at hand, and he came at their
call. This man asked for nothing but an innocent boy under ten years of
age, a virgin, or a woman quick with child. The first of the three was the
easiest to be procured, and a boy was brought in from a neighbouring house,
who knew nothing at all of the robbery; in case his age should not be
guarantee sufficient, a sort of charm was wrought, which proved to the
professor's satisfaction that he was free from sin. The magician then
recited divers incantations, drew a circle on the floor, and placed the
boy, who was rather frightened, in the middle of the circle. Other
incantations were then muttered. The next thing the magician did, was to
pour a dark liquid, like ink, into the hollow of the boy's hand; he then
burned something which produced a smoke like incense, but bluer and
thicker, and then he desired the boy to look into the palm of his hand,
and to tell him what he saw. The boy did as he was bid, but said he saw
nothing. The magician bade him look again; this second time the boy
started back in terror, and said he saw in the palm of his hand a man with
a bundle. "Look again," said the magician, "and tell me what there is in
the bundle."

"I cannot see," said the boy, renewing the investigation, "but stop," he
added after a moment, "there's a hole in the handkerchief, and I see the
ends of some silver spoons peeping out!"

"Look again--look again, and tell me what you see."

"He is running away between my fingers!" replied the boy.

"Before he goes describe his dress, person, and countenance."

The boy looked again into his hand.

"Ay, tell us how he is dressed," cried Mr. S----, who had become more than
half serious, and anxious to know who had purloined his spoons.