limbs on the ground. From this eminence he could behold the waters of the mighty stream; and he saw it bear along numberless little boats, peopled, some with votaries of pleasure, some with slaves of business. He turned his eyes to the city, and here too he saw multitudes of beings crowding the streets, and hurrying along in different directions, all active in the pursuit of something. "Ah! mortals," said Ahmrad, "you are all seeking happiness. I too have sought her, but she is not to be found. I have enjoyed riches; but she cannot be bought with gold. I have received honors and the favor of my Prince; but she dwells not in the temple of fame. My desires have been satisfied with the charms of beauty; the choicest meats have been prepared on my carpet, and all the spices of Arabia set before me; I have even disobeyed the prophet, and pleased my taste with rich and costly wines; but happiness comes not to the couch, nor to the feasts of sensuality. I have devoted my whole life to the search of happiness, but she is a phantom; and when you think to embrace her, you only clasp at transient and fruitless joys. I will be deceived no longer, but leave the deceitful world, and hide myself in solitude, that I may be no more mocked in this vain pursuit, or enticed by vanity and a lie." With these murmurs, Ahmrad sunk on his grassy seat, and fell into a trance. Immediately a charming vision appeared to him. A beautiful female robed in white, and holding a mirror in her hand, stood by his side and said, "Ahmrad, arise." Ahmrad rose up, and, supposing her to be one of the Houris, bowed his head to the earth three times to adore her. "I am TRUTH, Ahmrad," said she, "and am sent to enlighten you. Look in this mirror, and hereafter you will reverence TRUTH."

Charmed with the soft accents of this beautiful vision, Ahmrad turned his face to the glass, and beheld an immense plain extended before him. "This is the great field of human life,” resumed his divine instructress; "behold there the pursuit of mortals; learn wisdom from their errors; follow virtue and be happy.”

fing with false gems. What appeared her f very beautiful, but it was a mask, and conce real features, which were frightful. Her mann graceful, but wanton; and with the flattery tongue she pursuaded men to forsake virtue, her festive, but thoughtless train. She was a moreover, by a number of emissaries and com who were continually employed in beguiling 1 titude, and seducing them into her path. T tendants, although they seemed pleasing en first, as they proceeded onwards in the road, fast for the worse, and soon became odious. was Intemperance, who appeared healthy and and deceived many with her mirth; but before advanced far on the road, she became bloate eyed, stupid, and insensible. Prostitution, in bloom, with naked charms, and smiling face, an on her lips, she with enticing lust and young beguiled many; but soon she changed to p withered cheeks, with haggard looks, and feeb ly frame. Avarice; she was mistaken for pr and prudent gain; but, as she changed not ments till they became filthy rags, and starved with fasting, she grew hideous to behold. Proj disguised as merriment, beguiled some by imp

and foolish jesting; but ere long, her mouth grew black and foul, and with noxious breath tainted the air with imprecations. Infidelity too was here, with gloomy brow, and fell despair rolling wildly in her eyes, preaching oblivion.

Such were the companions of those who went on in this road. Its borders were decorated with flowers, tempting to the eye, and more luring to passengers than the other, which was only adorned with a plain and pleasant green, and which also was rougher and more broken, especially in the beginning. But Ahmrad saw that the flowers, which bloomed so gay and flattering, were deceitful, that many of them were poisonous, and tainted those who plucked them with loathsome disease; others faded as soon as they were gathered, and instead of yielding a pleasant flavor, became so offensive and nauseous, as to be immediately thrown away. There were likewise serpents and noxious reptiles concealed along these borders, which often wounded the passengers; wasps and hornets too infested the flowers, and stung the hands that were incautiously, or impatiently reached out to gather them.

As the company proceeded along the road, the prospect before them appeared less inviting than when they first entered it; what was smooth, and gay, and gladsome, began now to appear rough, and cheerless, and gloomy. Their companions were also changed; instead of mirth and glee, discontent and wrangling were heard among them; and though they all strove hard to be merry, and sometimes deceived themselves with laughter, yet pleasure never reached their joyless hearts.Several of those who at first cheered and enlivened their society, had left them and gone the other way. Innocence forsook them at the parting of the roads, and friendship being very soon insulted by treachery, also withdrew and fled away.

Now at the end of each of these great roads was a temple; but being at such a distance, they were indistinctly seen. On one of these was inscribed, in letters of gold-THE TEMPLE OF HAPPINESS. On the other

was written, surrounded with dark and gloomy hieroglyphicks-The Temple of Misery. The company who had taken the left were marching towards the latter. They had flattered themselves, and their deceitful conductress had told them when they entered this road, that it lead to happiness, and that the building, of which they had but a glimpse, was her temple; and although now they had some fears that they were deceived, yet as this temple appeared to be covered with a mist or shade, so that they could not see its true character and marks, they still hoped it would prove what they expected, and that they should find happiness there. Many however were discouraged, and wished to go back again, and change their route; but this was impossible, the resistless hand of Time met them and prevented their return. There were some cross paths, it is true, that led, advancing onwards, into the other road, and which Time did not bar against them. But these were blind paths, full of briars and bushes; and some evil habit, mad desire, or ruling appetite and passion, was found at each avenue ever ready to oppose them.

Thus Ahmrad saw with grief and compassion this erring multitude of his fellow beings led by vice and deceived by false and vicious pleasures, until they started with horror at a full and fatal view of the Temple of Misery; and when their deluding guide had no longer the art to conduct them voluntarily, the vultures of remorse, the scorpions of conscience, and the sword of Justice, combined to drive them into it.

"This, O Ahmrad," said the celestial maid, who held the mirror of Truth, "this is the end of Vice; but turn now your eyes to the other road, and see the companions of Virtue." Immediately he obeyed, for he was glad to relieve the distressess of his heart, by turning from a scene of such wretchedness and woe.

The companions of Virtue were few, but Ahmrad saw that their guide was heavenly. She had no false ornaments, nor any thing about her that could deceive. Her attire was plain, but bright and pure as the morn

ing cloud that hovers over Mount Taurus, or as the snow it scatters on its brow. The road they had chosen was indeed rough, it was even sometimes strewed with thorns. But if any of the travellers here chanced to receive a hurt, immediately their smiling guide gave them a secret balm which healed their wounds, and soothed their hearts to pleasure. This was the balm of conscious rectitude.

Its borders, at first, afforded but few flowers, and these not of the richest hues, but they gave a fine perfume, and when gathered, did not decay, but retained their freshness, and were forever sweet.

As the company proceeded gently and cheerfully along the path, it became smoother, the prospect before them brighter, and the borders began to bloom; all who passed received equal delight; flocks of harmless birds enlivened the scene, and cheered the way with their artless notes: all was harmony, all was love. Innocence accompanied virtue, and cheerfulness walked by their side, and filled the air with incense. Thus they advanced towards the temple with the golden inscription, which now appeared bright to their view, and needed not the sun to shine upon it, for its lustre was its own. As they drew near, soft music saluted their ears; white robed peace, with a dove in her hand, came to meet them, and happiness, beaming with love, and breathing soft raptures, stood with outstretched arms to receive and welcome them to her abode.

Ahmrad was now overwhelmed with delight, and he fell down to clasp the feet of the heavenly vision; but she was gone. He looked around; he saw nothing but the river and the city, and the busy multitudes he had before observed. Yet strongly impressed with the vision of Truth, he rose up, bowed his head three times to the ground, with his face towards the east, adored Truth, and resolved to practise Virtue.