not to lose so rare a bargain, but purchase her himself and balk the chapmen.  He therefore called out to the appraiser, and asked him what she was going at.  The salesman replied, “At fifteen dirhams and upwards.”  “By the head of the Prophet,” exclaimed the wittol, “had I known that my cow was such a prodigy of excellence, you should not have caught me in the market with her for sale.”  Now it happened that he had just fifteen dirhams, and no more, and these he thrust upon the broker, exclaiming, “The cow is mine; I have the best claim to her.”  He then seized the cow and drove her home, exulting all the way as if he had found a treasure.  On reaching home he inquired eagerly for his wife, to inform her of his adventure, but was told she was not returned from market.  He waited impatiently for her return, when he sprang up to meet her, crying, “Wife, I have done something to-day that will astonish you.  I have performed a marvellous exploit!” “Patience!” says his wife.  “Perhaps I have done something myself to match it.  But hear my story, and then talk of cleverness, if you please.”  The husband desired her to proceed.

“When I went to market,” says she, “I found a man in want of thread.  I showed him mine, which he approved of, and having bargained for it, he agreed to pay me according to the weight.  I told him it weighed so much, which he seemed to discredit, and weighed it himself.  Observing it to fall short of the weight I had mentioned, and fearing I should lose the price I at first expected, I requested him to weigh it over again, and make certain.  In the meantime, taking an opportunity unobserved, I stripped off my silver bracelets and put them slily into the scale with my thread.  The scale, of course, now preponderated, and I received the full price I had demanded.”  Having finished her story, she cried out, “Now, what do you think of your wife?” “Amazing! amazing!” said he.  “Your capacity is supernatural.  And now, if you please, I will give you a specimen of mine,” and he related his adventure at the market.  “O husband,” she exclaimed when he had told his story, “had we not possessed such consummate wisdom and address, how could we have contrived means to repair our old house?  In future vex not yourself about domestic concerns, since by the exercise of our talents we need never want for anything!”

The exploits of that precious pair may be compared with the following:  An alewife went to the market with a brood of chickens and an old black hen.  For the hen and one chicken she could not find a purchaser; so, before leaving the town, she called upon a surgeon, to try to effect a sale.  He bought the chicken, but declined taking the hen.  She then asked him if he would draw a tooth for it.  The tooth was drawn, and he expressed his surprise on finding it was perfectly sound.  “Oh,” said she, “I knew it was sound; but it was worth while having it drawn for the old hen.”  She then called upon another surgeon, and had a second tooth