t suffer even if he
lose his eyesight entirely. Be so just, O khan! as to order one of his
eyes to be put out and spare mine." To this the khan also agreed, and sent
for the musician. The fifer admitted that he shut both eyes when he played
his fife; whereupon the khan ordered one of them to be put out, and
declared that he only left him the other as a proof of the great mercy,
justice and forbearance of khans.

This little bit of burlesque, short as it is, is full of delicate
satirical touches. The prompt attention given to the complaint of the
robber, who of course has no rights whatever in the premises; the
readiness of the khan to infer malice on the part of the plundered
Lesghian; his unique conception of the _lex talionis_ as a law which may
be satisfied with anybody's eye; the cool assumption that because the
unfortunate fifer occasionally _shuts_ both eyes he ought in strict
justice to _lose_ both eyes, and should be duly grateful to the merciful
khan for permitting him to keep one of them,--are all the fine and skilful
touches of a bright wit and a humorous fancy.

GEORGE KENNAN.

OF BARBARA HICKS.

I.

When I looked under her bonnet I perceived a face that was more to my mind
than any face I had ever before seen. Perhaps it was wrong for me to think
so much about a face; but it was borne in upon me that such a well-favored
countenance must of necessity come from a still more well-favored manner
of life; for a face, to me, is only the reflex of the inner workings of
Life, and to this day I doubt if I could sit down and describe fully the
shape or moulding of any one particular feature of that face, for it was
not the _face_, but the expression that formed it, that inclined me toward
it. I was a stranger in the place, and but newly come, and my name had
forerun me in kindly writings from many friends, so that I may often have
been mentioned in households where I had never been seen. But I went to
Barbara Hicks's father, and informed him how considerably my mind inclined
me toward his daughter, and that I would, if he permitted me, ask to be
better known unto her. "Thee is over young to think of marriage, friend
Biddle," said he.

I felt a burning sensation mounting to my face, and I could only say in
reply, "Verily. But the heart of youth is lonely--more so than the heart
of age, and it looks upon all Nature for companionship."

"Thy mingling with the world's people has made thee glib of tongue,"