Year: 1860

THE RUBY AND TIE coRE-sEED.


al was found in the bed of a river at the
island of Ceyion," said the Ruby to the little
grain of corn. "Ganem the slave found me,
and his eyes sparkled with JOY when he be-
held me; for was to all the other rubcs in
the bed as the morn is to the stars, The
slayc-owncr gave each year large reward to
him who found the tiHcSt ruby, and was the
largest and rcdlcst ever known. 1t took me
three hundred years to grow. Gncm took
me up carefully and held me TO the sun
which in my native place is brighter in win
ter than in this cold country at the height of
summer. | glistcncl like a red star. lie
carried me oil in triumph to his master, who
shouted for joy when he bchcld me; then he
gave Ganem large reward, set great price
upon me, and packed me up in an ivory cas-
kct. with SOFT feathers and down for me to
rest on, and all alonc-not like the common
rubics, that were piled up on top Of one an
other lie took me to the captain of a large
ship, and said: This is a fine ruby, fit for a
princcss' y


"IIe thought did not hear him, but | did,
end sparkled all the while; and as soon as
the captain was instructed what to do with
me, We sailed away. When we were half
way over tie sea, he took me from the case
and showed me to some beautiful ladies, who
Immediately fell longing to possess me; but
| was too costly for them: and great honors
awaited me in tho country you call England.
So came over the broad sea, and on the first
day after our arrival the captain took Inc to
the lapidary's, that might be put in gold,
and otherwise fitted for the service Of prin-
cess.


every body who saw me wondered at my
size and brilliancy, and | was given to the
most skilful workman TO be carved and pol
ishcd."


"That must have hurt you very much,
said the Corn-sced modestly, "to be carved
and polished into ali those squarcsr' ~


"Not at ALL said the Ruby: "it only shows
lis off the better 1t took the man three
weeks TO carve me; and the merchant TO
whom was sold came every day to see how |
was going on. When every thing was fin
ishcd, he took INC TO a place full Of gold and
silver and bright stoncs-but was the brigh-
test of all; and all the people in the street
stopped to look at me, czclainirg: "What
beautiful ruby!


"Onc day there came young lady, the
cairest had ever seen-perhaps you never
saw lady 2 said the Ruby, interrogatiycly,
to the Corn-secd.


"No," replied the Corn-soed; only the
village girls that came cleaning


"Well," answered Ruby, in the tone of
one who pridcs himself on knowing a thing
or two; well, a young lady is the most
beautiful thing in the world-cxcept rlby;
and this was tie most beautiful of all ladies,
and rcai princess. There was tall gentle
man with her, and saw at a glance HAT he
was in love with this princess. They bought
diamonds and cmeralds, the hest Of all there
were, and then my lorf7;hey all called him
lord--took the princess back to her carTiege;
but as he went out I caught las eye, and he
came back and looked at me, taking little
gold band out of case he had to measure
me by, then he purchased me for a large sum
Of gold, aud put me in the case with the
plain gold iand-this was called the we'd
ding-ring- We soon became friends.


/" | was taken home to a grand palace, and
my lord put little scrap Of paper by my
side, and told another lady to lay me on her
pillow: 50 at night, whenthey were all asleep,
was taken into her room and laid down be-
side her. All this while she slept, aal
<Ouid feel her soh warm breath. Once size