“A year had scarcely elapsed before I had acquired a considerable fortune.  I quitted my new establishment, returned to the city, and purchased merchandize of all descriptions.  I prepared a great quantity of this favourite liquor, to which I owe all my wealth.  I sent it to all the cities of Persia, and into the most distant countries.  Heaven seemed to smile on my exertions.  A beautiful widow, aged twenty years, saw and loved me; I was not insensible to her charms.  We made mutual vows of attachment, and marriage crowned my happiness.

“We have acquired this charming retreat, and reside here during the most beautiful season of the year, amongst our good friends, who, in partaking our pleasures, add to them the charms of their society.

“How many times, dear Osmyn, have my thoughts been occupied with thee!  Often have I said, in the midst of my prosperity, Where is my brother?—­where dwells Osmyn?  No doubt the invaluable secret he possesses has gained him an immense fortune, and raised him to the pinnacle of honour.  But I see that in these times happiness, tranquillity, and perhaps riches, are more easily obtained by humble and modest employment, than by splendid abilities.  In the course of my transactions, I have met with vexations and disappointments.  Sometimes my Sherbet has been imitated; but the fraud has always been discovered, and the intrigues of my rivals have added to my reputation.  At length I have found that it is easier to satisfy the caprice than the judgment of mankind, and that those who could not understand the merits of a clever work, would readily agree upon the subject of a delicious and agreeable beverage.”

Thus spoke the good Zambri:  he strove affectionately to console Osmyn.  The two brothers separated no more; and, thanks to the receipt for preparing Sherbet, they lived long together amidst the pleasures that wealth commands, and the still more true and solid happiness procured by peace and friendship.

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THE NATURALIST.

BOTANY OF SHAKSPEARE.

At a recent meeting of the Medico-Botanical Society, a very interesting dissertation on the medicinal plants which occur in the plays of Shakspeare, from the pen of Mr. Rootsay, of Bristol, was read, and excited considerable attention.  The hebenon henbane alluded to in Hamlet, the mandragora, the various plants so beautifully alluded to in Romeo and Juliet, and in other dramas, were the subject of the inquiry, and much classical information was displayed by the ingenious author in the illustration of the subject.  We hope to report more respecting this very interesting paper to our readers.

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THE CUTTLE-FISH.