class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">"Leading a fine lion by a chain"
"They set forth on their journey"
"The rain fell in torrents"
" 'Give me a drink of water' "
"They ran here and there"
" 'Sleep, my son, while I keep watch' "
"A beautiful young woman appeared"
"Every morning Ahmed looked in the cup"
"Ahmed sprang upon the figure"
" 'Ask for anything in reason' "
"A brass vessel full of round white stones"
"Lived in a sheltered valley"
"Abdul Karim was lost in wonder"
"Priests were calling the people to prayer"
"The noise and bustle of the crowded streets"
" 'Two hundred krans!' repeated Abdul Karim"
" 'Get out of my shop!' "
" 'Here are eight krans' "
"Came in sight of his cottage"
"He hid most of the treasure"
" 'Is this fish male or female?' "
"Begged that he would accept the fish"
" 'The matter is closed' "
" 'Are you a human being or a beast?' "
"The fisherman fell on his knees"
"His bag laden with money"

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THE CAT AND THE MOUSE

The Cat and the Mouse

Showing how one may be lost in wonder at the story of the cat
and the mouse, when related with a clear and rolling
voice, as if from a pulpit.

CCORDING to the decree of Heaven, there once lived in the Persian city of Kerman a cat like unto a dragon—a longsighted cat who hunted like a lion; a cat with fascinating eyes and long whiskers and sharp teeth. Its body was like a drum, its beautiful fur like ermine skin.

Nobody was happier than this cat, neither the newly-wedded bride, nor the hospitable master of the house when he looks round on the smiling faces of his guests.

This cat moved in the midst of friends, boon companions of the saucepan, the cup, and the milk jug of the court, and of the dinner table when the cloth is spread.

Perceiving the wine cellar open, one day, the cat ran gleefully into it to see if he could catch a mouse, and hid himself behind a wine jar. At that moment a mouse ran out of a hole in the wall, quickly climbed the jar, and putting his head into it, drank so long and so deeply that he became drunk, talked very stupidly, and fancied he was as bold as a lion.

"Where is the cat?" shouted he, "that I may off with his head. I would cut off his head as if on the battlefield. A cat in front of me would fare worse than any dog who might happen to cross my path."

The cat ground his teeth with rage while hearing this. Quicker than the eye could follow, he made a spring, seized the mouse in his claws, and said, "Oh, little mouse, now will you take off my head?"

"I am thy servant," replied the mouse; "forgive my sin. I was drunk. I am thy slave; a slave whose ear is pierced and on whose shoulder the yoke is."

"Tell fewer lies," replied the cat. "Was there ever such a liar? I heard all you said and you shall pay for your sin with