front of it."

"Do you mean to tell me that those animals have all been looking at
themselves and finding fault with their own looks?" asked the horse,
with his eyes nearly popping out of his head.

"Of course," said the cat. "Can't you see that Billy has smashed the
looking-glass?"

"Well, that is the best I ever heard," said the horse, laughing, "but I
wish I had known that was a looking-glass before Billy broke it. I
should very much like to know how I look."

"You might not have recognized yourself; the others didn't," said the
dog.

--F.A. WALKER.

THE BARBER OF BAGDAD

ACT I

PLACE: Ali's barber shop.

TIME: Morning.

WOODCUTTER: I have a load of wood which I have just brought in on my
donkey. Would you like to buy it, good barber?

ALI: Well, let me see. Is it good wood?

WOODCUTTER: The best in the country.

ALI: I'll give you five shekels for all the wood upon the donkey.

WOODCUTTER: Agreed. I'll put the wood here by your door.

(Lays wood at door.)

Now, good sir, give me the silver.

ALI: Not so fast, my good friend. I must have your wooden pack saddle,
too. That was the bargain. I said, "All the wood upon your donkey."
Truly, the saddle is wood.

[Illustration: Ali and the woodcutter with the donkey]

WOODCUTTER: Who ever heard of such a bargain? Surely you cannot mean
what you say? You would not treat a poor woodcutter so. It is
impossible.

ALI: Give me the saddle, or I'll have you put in prison. And take
that--and that--and that!

(Ali strikes the woodcutter.)

WOODCUTTER: Ah, me, what shall I do? What shall I do? I know. I'll go to
the caliph himself.

ACT II

PLACE: Caliph's Palace.

TIME: Hour later.

COURTIER: My lord, a good woodcutter is at the door and begs leave to
come into your presence.

CALIPH: Bid him enter. There is none too poor to be received by me.

(Courtier goes out and returns with woodcutter, who kneels and kisses
the ground. Then he stands with arms folded.)

CALIPH: Tell me, good man, what brought you here? Has any one done you a
wrong?

WOODCUTTER: Great wrong, my lord. The rich barber Ali did buy a load of
wood from me. He offered me five shekels for all the wood on my donkey.
When I had put down the load, I asked for my money, but he refused to
pay me until I had given him my pack saddle. He said the bargain was
"all the wood on the donkey," and that the saddle is wood. He said he
would put me in prison if I did not give u