Year: 1870

serpent-for it was Umamba!


The young prince then told how his
brothers had, one by one, been slain, and
that he alone had escaped a like fate by
being disguised in the loathsome form OF a
serpent which he was compelled to wear
until freed from his vile imprisonment by
the daring of one who loved him. Even
now the spell was not wholly broken for
if she still dared to wed him, he had pow
er to reveal himself to her alone in his
true form, while he must continue to ap-
pear as a serpent TO all other eyes
Proudly and courageously did the young
damsel promise to wed him, despite bis
unhappy fate; and resuming his serpent
form, Umamba hastened with her to his
father, who fondly welcomed the beautiful
girl as the betrothed of his much-loved
child


1t was now time to commence the we'd
ding march, for it is the custom among
the Kafrs for the young girl first to visit
the house of the man whom she intends
to marry ; and if the betrothal is accom-
plished, the groom then takes her with
much pomp back to her fathers house,
where the marriage ceremonies are com
pleted by a great feast.


The wedding procession was formed
with loud rejoicing, and at its head was
Unsimba with his betrothed but the as
tonished youths jeered when Umamba also
appeared among them, claiming his right
to accompany his beautiful princess back
to her father, and demand her as his wife.


The King anxiously urged the jewellers
to march slowly in consideration of the in
frmities of his unfortunate son but the
gay youths and maidens soon neglected
his orders, and Umamba and his betroth-
ed were left far behind. AS soon as the
procession was out of sight, and the prince
was safe from observation, he divested
himself of his serpent skin, and the lovers
|joyously proceeded on their way rejoicing
in their mutual affection, until they near
iedthe yrfngc governed u the e
princess when Umamba clothed himself
again in his horrible shape; and the de-
voted princess entered her fathers pres
ence amid the jeers, disgust, and dread of
all the people of her nation.


Bravely did she withstand all the i'm
portunities of her parents, aud firmly did
she adhere to her determination to wed
the hideous snake, although her compan-
ions fled with dread aud aversion at his
approach. The King, her father, unable
to alter her purpose, lavished honors and
welcome upon Unsimba, aud preparef q
great feast to celebrate the happy choice
of his eldest daughter; but the youngest
princess insisted upon sharing the honors
of her sister, and took her due place at the
feast with her betrothed husband at her
side.


Cries of derision and horror were utter
ed by every tongue. and the damsel was
condemned for her monstrous choice but
amid universal execration she calmly as
sumed her station at the dance with the
abhorred. serpent-form still at her side
Then, through the clamor and indigna-
ton, a voice powerful, but gentle, was
heard. saying, Lay your hand upon mep'
The princess recognized the voice and
obeyed. She turned and laid her hand
gently and lovingly upon her serpent, ahd
in an instant a beautiful youth clasped her
in his arms, proclaiming to the astounded
assembly, that the charm which had SO
long bound him was at length broken. =
The devoted love of the maiden had freed
him, and he would never again be COM
PEELED to assume the degraded form of
Umamba the Snake.


RsT Rev. Henry Ward Beecher lately sent
the following note to the proprietor of the
New York Ledger:


Mn Dear Mr.. Bonner-I have Just recelv-
ed a curious letter from Michigan, aud | give
it to you uerbatim:


"OwAsso CITY, Mich, 1870


APRIL FOOL"


| have heard of men who wrote letters and
forgot to sign their name, but never before
met case in which man signed his name
and forgot to write the letter. H.. B.


ESA boy eight years old, in one of
the public schools, having been told that a
reptile ''is an animal that creeps," on be-
ing asked to name one on examination
day, promptly and triumphantly replied,


"a baby"


EYTom Hood died composing-and
that, too, humorous poem. He is said
to have remarked that he was dying out
of charity for the undertaken, who wished