THE ORIGIN OF TOBACCO. 25 



besides, be so ungrateful, and so soon 

 forget that I saved thy life ? " 



" There is no such thing as gratitude 

 upon this earth," replied the serpent, 

 " and if I were now to spare thee, either 

 thou or another of thy race would kill 

 me. By Allah, I shall bite thee ! " 



" If thou hast sworn by Allah, I will 

 not cause thee to break thy vow," said 

 the Prophet, holding his hand to the 

 serpent's mouth. The serpent bit him, 

 but he sucked the wound with his lips 

 and spat the venom on the ground. And 

 on that very spot there sprung up a plant 

 which combines within -itself the venom 

 of the serpent and the compassion of the 

 Prophet. Men call this plant by the 

 name of tobacco. Conte Arabe. 



CLOUDS. 



MORTALS say their hearts are light 

 When the clouds around disperse ; 



Clouds to gather thick as night, 

 Is the smoker's universe. 

 From the German of Bauernfeld. 



