the case to him. "When I pronounced sentence last
night, it was but in play," said he. "But this is not play. A man's
life is at stake, and I dare not pronounce sentence upon him."

To this request the Caliph agreed. "Abul Hassan, you have condemned
yourself," he said. He then bade the guards take Abul Hassan away and
execute him according to the law.

Before the wretched man was hanged, however, he confessed his guilt
and told where he had hidden the thousand pieces of gold that belonged
to Ali Cogia.

After Abul had been led away the Caliph caressed and praised the lad
for conducting the case so wisely and with so much judgment.

"As for you," said he to the Cadi, "you have not shown the wisdom I
demand from my judges. Learn from this child that such cases are not
to be dismissed lightly, but to be inquired into with judgment and
care. Otherwise it may go ill with you."

The Cadi retired, full of shame, but the Caliph ordered that a hundred
pieces of gold should be given to the boy and that he should be sent
home to his mother with honor.

OH!

A COSSACK STORY

There was once a man who had one son, and he was so lazy that he would
not work at all. The father apprenticed him to a tailor, but the lad
went to sleep between the stitches. He apprenticed him to a cobbler
and the lad only sat and yawned instead of driving pegs. What to do
with him the man did not know.

"Come," said the father one day, "we will go out into the wide world.
It may be that somewhere or other we will find a master who can make
you work."

The lad was very good-natured. "Very well," said he, "I am willing";
and he arose and stretched himself and yawned, and then he was ready
to set out.

The father put on his cap and took a staff in his hand, and then he
was ready, too.

The two of them journeyed along together, in step and out of step, and
after a while they came to a deep wood. When they were well into it,
the father grew so weary that he had to sit down and rest.

"Oh! what have I done that I should have such a lazy son!" he cried.

At once a little old, wrinkled, weazened man, all dressed in green,
with a green face, green hair, and a green beard stood before them.

"Why did you call me," said he, "and what do you want?"

"I did not call you," answered the man.

"But you did call me, for I heard you. Did not you call 'Oh'? And that
is my name."

"I sa