stay her lofty flight, and swoop down upon the world again: whenever this happened, I was interested in her conversation.

2. She adverted more than once to her lost sway amongst the Arabs, and mentioned some of the circumstances that aided her in obtaining influence with the wandering tribes. The Bedouin, so often engaged in irregular warfare, strains his eyes to the horizon in search of a coming enemy, just as habitually as the sailor keeps his "bright lookout" for a strange sail. In the absence of telescopes, a far-reaching sight is highly valued; and Lady Hester Stanhope had this

power.

3. She told me that on one occasion when there was good reason to expect hostilities, a far-seeing Arab created great excitement in the camp by declaring that he could distinguish some moving objects upon the very farthest point within the reach of his eyes; Lady Hester was consulted, and she instantly assured her comrades in arms that there were indeed a number of horses within sight, but that they were without riders. The assertion proved to be correct; and from that time forth, her superiority over all others, with respect of far sight, remained undisputed.

4. Lady Hester related this other anecdote of her Arab life. It was when the heroic qualities of the Englishwoman were just beginning to be felt amongst the people of the desert, that she was marching one day along with the forces of the tribe to which she had allied herself. She perceived that preparations for an engagement were going on; and upon her making inquiry as to the cause, the Sheik at first affected mystery and concealment, but at last confessed that war had been declared against his tribe on account of its alliance with the English princess, and that they were now unfortunately about to be attacked by a very superior force: he made it appear that Lady Hester was the sole cause of hostility betwixt his tribe and the impending enemy, and that

his sacred duty of protecting the Englishwoman whom he had admitted as his guest, was the only obstacle which prevented an amicable settlement of the dispute.

5. The Sheik hinted that his tribe was likely to sustain an almost overwhelming blow, but at the same time declared that no fear of the consequences, however terrible to him and his whole people, should induce him to dream of abandoning his illustrious guest. The heroine instantly took her part; it was not for her to be a source of danger to her friends, but rather to her enemies; so she resolved to turn away from the people, and trust on help to none save only her haughty self.

6. The Sheiks affected to dissuade her from so rash a course, and fairly told her, that although they (having been freed from her presence) would be able to make good terms for themselves, yet that there were no means of allaying the hostility felt towards her, and that the whole face of the desert would be swept by the horsemen of her enemies so carefully as to make her escape into other districts almost impossible. The brave woman was not to be moved by terrors of this kind; and, bidding farewell to the tribe which had honored and protected her, she turned her horse's head and rode straight away, without friend or follower.

7. Hours had elapsed, and for some time she had been alone in the center of the round horizon, when her quick eye perceived some horsemen in the distance. The party came nearer and nearer; soon it was plain that they were making towards her; and presently some hundreds of Bedouins, fully armed, galloped up to her, ferociously shouting, and apparently intending to take her life at the instant with their pointed spears.

8. Her face at the time was covered with the yashmack, according to Eastern usage; but at the moment when the foremost of the horsemen had all but reached her with their spears, she stood up in her stirrups, withdrew the yashmack

that veiled the terrors of her countenance, waved her arm slowly and disdainfully, and cried out, with a loud voice, "Avaunt!" The horsemen recoiled from her glance, but not in terror. The threatening yells of the assailants were suddenly changed for loud shouts of joy and admiration at the bravery of the stately English woman, and festive gunshots were fired on all sides around her honored head.

9. The truth was, that the party belonged to the tribe with which she had allied herself, and that the threatened attack, as well as the pretended apprehension of an engagement, had been contrived for the mere purpose of testing her courage. The day ended in a great feast, prepared to do honor to the heroine; and from that time her power over the minds of the people grew rapidly. Lady Hester related this story with great spirit; and I recollect that she put up her yashmack for a moment, in order to give me a better idea of the effect which she produced by suddenly revealing the awfulness of her countenance.

Definitions..-2. Ad vērt ́ed, referred, alluded to. To advert is to turn aside to take notice of something in connection with the main matter in hand, but with no intention of dwelling upon it. 4. Ăm'i ea ble, peaceful, friendly. Amicable is the more formal word. Friendly is positive in its force, while amicable may denote scarcely more than the absence of quarrel. 6. Allay'ing, subduing, checking. 7. Fe ro'ciously, fiercely. 8. Yash'mack, a covering for the face, worn by women in Arabia and other parts of the East to conceal their features. It is fastened around the head by a band, and descends below the chin.

NOTE.-Lady Hester Stanhope was a niece of the celebrated William Pitt. She was highly accomplished, but very eccentric in her manners. About 1780 she went to Syria and assumed the dress of a native of that country. She obtained some influence over the desert tribes; but, having lost her money and the means of bribing them, her power was also gone.

39. THE INVITATION OF WISDOM.

1. DOTH not wisdom cry,

And understanding put forth her voice? 2. In the top of high places by the way, Where the paths meet, she standeth;

3. Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,
At the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:
4. Unto you, O men, I call;

And my voice is to the sons of men.

5. O ye simple, understand subtilty;

And, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. 6. Hear, for I will speak excellent things;

And the opening of my lips shall be right things. 7. For my mouth shall utter truth;

And wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing crooked or perverse in them. 9. They are all plain to him that understandeth, And right to them that find knowledge.

10. Receive my instruction, and not silver;

And knowledge rather than choice gold.

11. For wisdom is better than rubies;

And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto her.

12. I wisdom have made subtilty my dwelling,
And find out knowledge and discretion.

13. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil :
Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way,
And the froward mouth, do I hate.
14. Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge:
I am understanding; I have might.

15. By me kings reign,

And princes decree justice.

16. By me princes rule,

And nobles, even all the judges of the earth. 17. I love them that love me;

And those that seek me diligently shall find me. 18. Riches and honor are with me;

Yea, durable riches and righteousness.

19. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my revenue than choice silver.

20. I walk in the way of righteousness,

In the midst of the paths of judgment:

21. That I may cause those that love me to inherit sub

stance,

And that I may fill their treasuries.

22. The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old.

23. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Or ever the earth was.

24. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; When there were no fountains abounding with water. 25. Before the mountains were settled,

Before the hills was I brought forth:

26. While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the beginning of the dust of the world.

27. When he established the heavens, I was there:

When he set a circle upon the face of the deep:

28. When he made firm the skies above:

When the fountains of the deep became strong:

29. When he gave to the sea its bound,

That the waters should not transgress his commandment:
When he marked out the foundations of the earth:

30. Then I was by him, as a master workman:
And I was daily his delight,

Rejoicing always before him;

31. Rejoicing in his habitable earth;

And my delight was with the sons of men.