"Prove that I found anything," said I, angrily. "Young man," said the voice of the big man who was leaning on his cane, still looking at me, "it is as bad to lie about a thing as it is to steal. I saw you pick something up, and to me it had the appearance of money.” He struck his cane on the floor as he spoke, and grasped it firmer, as if to clinch his remark. "Yes," said the conductor; "and we don't want nothing of the kind here, and what's more, we won't have it; so hand over." "My fine fellow," said I, prepared for a crisis, "I know my rights, and, without admitting that I have found anything, I contend that if I had, in this public conveyance, which is as public as the street to him who pays for a ride in it, that which I find in it is mine after I have made due endeavor to find out its owner. Money being an article impossible to identify unless it is marked, if I had found it, it would have been mine-according to Whately, Lycurgus, and Moses.” "Hang your authorities," said he; "I don't know anything about 'em, but this I know, that money belongs to this Horse Railroad Company, and I'll have it. Ain't I right, Mr. Diggs?" addressing a gentleman with glasses on, reading the Journal. "I think you are," replied he, looking at me over the top of his spectacles, as though he were shooting from behind a breastwork; "I think the pint is clear, and that it belongs to the company to advertise it and find out the owner." "Well," I put in, "suppose they don't find the owner; who has it?" "The company, I should think," said he, folding his paper preparatory to getting out. 66 'That's it," said the conductor, taking up the thread as he put the passenger down "and now I want that money." He looked ugly. 66 What money?" I queried. "The money you picked up on the floor." I saw that I was in a place of considerable difficulty, involving a row on one side and imputation of villainy on the other, and studied how to escape. "Well," said I, "if, in spite of the authorities I have quoted, you insist upon my giving this up which I hold in my hand, the value of which I do not know,—I shall protest against your act, and hold the company responsible." "Responsible be blowed," said he, severely; "shell out." The people in the car were much excited. The fat man had risen up, though still in sitting position, and balanced himself upon his toes to get a better view. I unclosed my hand and deposited in the conductor's a round piece of tin that had been punched out by some tinman and hammered smooth, bearing a close resemblance to money! The disappointment of every one was intense. The conductor intimated that if he met me in society he would give me my money's worth, the fat man muttered something about my being an "imposture," several lady passengers looked bluely at me, and only one laughed heartily at the whole affair, as I did. It was a queer incident. MAIN HAZIR HUN.-M. E. WINSLOW. The following story was told to an American missionary by a shepherd lad, who thus accounted for the origin of a pure stream which rises on the brow of a high hill and thence flows downward to fertilize the valley of Chandra. The meaning of the words "Main Hazir hun" is Here am I. No rain, no rain; the long, hot hours rolled by, The parched leaves quivering clung; the crisp brown grass From morn till eve the hateful sunlight fell To fan the slumber of this princess fair. "What brought the messenger?" the princess said One morn, while braiding seed-pearls with her maid. "But heavy tidings, lady, such as be Not meet to give to bright ones like to thee. No bird of evil omen droops its wing Where Chandra's bright-plumed birdlet lives to sing." "Nay, but I bid thee tell me, I will know. Darest thou answer to thy mistress so? What but a painted banble to a king A crown that cannot full obedience bring? This pearl-wrought chaplet on my head I lay, "Well, princess, since thou wilt, thy people die At Sharda's cottage underneath the hill Death came and stretched his long arms lean and pale This morn the warrior Murtan, by whose might And none has strength to bear his corpse away." "But why, why, why!" the wondering princess cried, "Ah, lady, all are not princesses; know Long hours that night the princess waking lay, When morning dawned a queenly grandeur, new "Say, wisest counsellor, if say thou may, "Alas, fair maiden, little do ye ken Of what will meet the needs of starving men. To meet at once its great and fearful need, All would not for one hour the people feed." "Do what thou canst then, friend, take what thou will The fountains and the reservoirs to fill; A thousand slaves send to the mountains high Nor silken robe, nor broidered girdle rare.” "Fair princess," thus the vizier made reply, "Though we should drain the mountain torrents dry, "Is there no way?" the sorrowing princess said, While drooped as withered corn her bright young head. Yes, one," at length replied the musing sage, His dark brow bent beneath the snow of age. "Far in the mountains lives the awful Var, God of the water-courses; from afar He sends the rain; he cracks the parching earth, He bids the fountains rise eternally. Men say the god is angered, none may know "Wilt thou not go?" shyly, as, half afraid For shame the vizier dared not say her nay, |