“Now you have done it,” said the horse, who had been watching all the time from his stall.  “All the animals will get out and run away.”

“What are you talking about?” said the dog, who was laughing so hard he could scarcely talk.  “There are no animals in there.  That is a looking-glass; you see yourself when you are in front of it.”

“Do you mean to tell me that those animals have all been looking at themselves and finding fault with their own looks?” asked the horse, with his eyes nearly popping out of his head.

“Of course,” said the cat.  “Can’t you see that Billy has smashed the looking-glass?”

“Well, that is the best I ever heard,” said the horse, laughing, “but I wish I had known that was a looking-glass before Billy broke it.  I should very much like to know how I look.”

“You might not have recognized yourself; the others didn’t,” said the dog.

—­F.A.  WALKER.

THE BARBER OF BAGDAD

ACT I

PLACE:  Ali’s barber shop.

TIME:  Morning.

WOODCUTTER:  I have a load of wood which I have just brought in on my donkey.  Would you like to buy it, good barber?

ALI:  Well, let me see.  Is it good wood?

WOODCUTTER:  The best in the country.

ALI:  I’ll give you five shekels for all the wood upon the donkey.

WOODCUTTER:  Agreed.  I’ll put the wood here by your door.

(Lays wood at door.)

Now, good sir, give me the silver.

ALI:  Not so fast, my good friend.  I must have your wooden pack saddle, too.  That was the bargain.  I said, “All the wood upon your donkey.”  Truly, the saddle is wood.

[Illustration:  Ali and the woodcutter with the donkey]

WOODCUTTER:  Who ever heard of such a bargain?  Surely you cannot mean what you say?  You would not treat a poor woodcutter so.  It is impossible.

ALI:  Give me the saddle, or I’ll have you put in prison.  And take that—­and that—­and that!

(Ali strikes the woodcutter.)

WOODCUTTER:  Ah, me, what shall I do?  What shall I do?  I know.  I’ll go to the caliph himself.

ACT II

PLACE:  Caliph’s Palace.

TIME:  Hour later.

COURTIER:  My lord, a good woodcutter is at the door and begs leave to come into your presence.

CALIPH:  Bid him enter.  There is none too poor to be received by me.

(Courtier goes out and returns with woodcutter, who kneels and kisses the ground.  Then he stands with arms folded.)

CALIPH:  Tell me, good man, what brought you here?  Has any one done you a wrong?

WOODCUTTER:  Great wrong, my lord.  The rich barber Ali did buy a load of wood from me.  He offered me five shekels for all the wood on my donkey.  When I had put down the load, I asked for my money, but he refused to pay me until I had given him my pack saddle.  He said the bargain was “all the wood on the donkey,” and that the saddle is wood.  He said he would put me in prison if I did not give up the saddle.  Then he took it and drove me away with blows.