d to the top of the steeple.

And there stands Medio Pollito to this day. And if you go to Madrid, and
walk through the streets till you come to the highest church, you will
see Medio Pollito perched on his one leg on the steeple, with his one
wing drooping at his side, and gazing sadly out of his one eye over the
town.

Spanish Tradition.

THE STORY OF CALIPH STORK

I.

Caliph Chasid, of Bagdad, was resting comfortably on his divan one fine
afternoon. He was smoking a long pipe, and from time to time he sipped a
little coffee which a slave handed to him, and after each sip he stroked
his long beard with an air of enjoyment. In short, anyone could see that
the Caliph was in an excellent humour. This was, in fact, the best time
of day in which to approach him, for just now he was pretty sure to be
both affable and in good spirits, and for this reason the Grand Vizier
Mansor always chose this hour in which to pay his daily visit.

He arrived as usual this afternoon, but, contrary to his usual custom,
with an anxious face. The Caliph withdrew his pipe for a moment from his
lips and asked, 'Why do you look so anxious, Grand Vizier?'

The Grand Vizier crossed his arms on his breast and bent low before his
master as he answered:

'Oh, my Lord! whether my countenance be anxious or not I know not, but
down below, in the court of the palace, is a pedlar with such beautiful
things that I cannot help feeling annoyed at having so little money to
spare.'

The Caliph, who had wished for some time past to give his Grand Vizier a
present, ordered his black slave to bring the pedlar before him at once.
The slave soon returned, followed by the pedlar, a short stout man with
a swarthy face, and dressed in very ragged clothes. He carried a box
containing all manner of wares--strings of pearls, rings, richly
mounted pistols, goblets, and combs. The Caliph and his Vizier inspected
everything, and the Caliph chose some handsome pistols for himself and
Mansor, and a jewelled comb for the Vizier's wife. Just as the pedlar
was about to close his box, the Caliph noticed a small drawer, and asked
if there was anything else in it for sale. The pedlar opened the drawer
and showed them a box containing a black powder, and a scroll written in
strange characters, which neither the Caliph nor the Mansor could read.

'I got these two articles from a merchant who had picked them up in the
street at Mecca,' said the pedlar. 'I do not