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POETRY.

THE SEASONS. Hiii'od by warle on the wing, v Wreatlied with blossoms, conietli Spying, ELrively infant,doubly dear ; ' ' ,Hcruld ofthc glowing year; Raisod from natiir‘c's bed ()l‘dcath, \Velcorne is thy balmy breath, I - Like the firstfund thrill oflovc, ylire its higherjoys we prove. Quardcd by the rosy hours, - 'Midst the breath and bloom offlowcrs, 5 Like the rush ofapt delight . - W'ben tw‘o ardent lit-arts unite, » in the chariot of'tlin sun , Comietli uSiiiinor, gracious one l Field and forest, hill and stream, ,Radicut with her l'crvid beam. «Vinita! on a braving brow/c, ’.\iidsi n li2:|l'-.~llil\'\'er from the trees, U'er the purple heatliy wold, Russel-grove, and field of gold, Grneted by the roaper’ii luy ' Autumn comes—honeatli her away Luscious fruits, nutritious grain, 'Load the tree and clothe the plain.

Riding on the tempest’s car, vThro‘ugh a snow storm, first and fur, ()‘er the troubled, foaming main, .River bound in icy chain, Naked globe, and leafless wood, ‘i’inter comes, in burly mood, , Surly, sullen, and austere, Frowns the patriarch of the year. ' sages:

flitvraturv.

‘ABYSSINIAN FESTlVl'l‘lES 0F EASTER. ,(From Major Harris’s new work, ‘ The Highlands quthiopi'a.’)

Easter Day, instead of being celebrated on the Sun- day following the first full moon alter the vernal equinox, is by the Christians ofAbyssinia kept one lunatiou later. On its recurrence, countless crowds, decked out in their gayest apparel, filled every avenue and enclosure ofthe palace; and long files of slaves, with jars, baskets, and trenchers, hurrying to and fro from the kitchens and magazines, proclaimed the extensive nature of the pre- parations making for the regal entertainment.

At eight o’clock, the doors ofllie great hall were thrown open, and a burst of wild music from the royal band, ushered in the company to a spacious barn-like apart- ment, the dingy aspect of which formed a strong con- trast to the galaxy of light that illumines regal hospitali- ty in Europe. Holding hiin festival to the entire adult

opulation ol'tlie metropolis, who for six weeks past had subsisted on cow-kail and stinging nettles, the king re- clined in state within a raised alcove, furnished with the wonted velvet cushions and tapestries, and loaded with silver ornaments—the. abridgnicnt of ancient [Eiliicpic magnificence. Priests. nobles, warriors, baalomaals, and pages, stood around the throne, which was flanked by a long line of attendants, bearing straight silver falchions of antique Roman model, belonging to the different churches Bull hides carpeted the floor; and the lofty

_walls of the chamber, although destitute of architectural

decoration, were hung throughout with a profusion of richly-emblazoned shiel‘tls, from each of which depended a velvet scarf or cloak ofevery hue and colour in the rainbow.

A low horse-shoe table of wicker-work, supported up- on basket pedestals, extended the entire length of the hall. Thin unleaveued cakes of sour tefl', heaped one up- on the other, served as platters. Mountains ofwheaten bread, piled in close coniiguiiy, and strewed with frag- ments of stewed fowls, towered twoand three feet above the surface of the groaning board. Bowls containing a decoction ofred pepper, onions. and grease, were flank- ed by long-necked decanters of old mead ; and at short intervals stood groups of slaves carrying baskets crani- med with rocking collops of raw 'flesh, just severed from the newlyoslain carcass. '

Taking their seats in treble rows upon the ground, the .crowded guests were each previded with his own knife, fashioned like a reaping-hook, and serving, him equally in the battle-field and at the banquet. Four hundred voracious appetites, whetted by forty days ofirksomc ab- stinence, were constantly ministered to by fresh arrivals of quivering flesh from the court-yard, where oxen in quick succession were being thrown downand slaugh- tered in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Barillés and capacious horns filled wtth hy- dromel ofintoxicating age were rapidly drained and re- plenished under the eye oftlie monarch; ' eunuchs, with the females pertaining to the royal kitchen,

' clad in gala dresses and striped cotton robes, passed and repa sed continually with interminable supplies of bread, to rebuild the demolished fabric on the uprisnig of each

i ‘. satiated rou . ,--_ _. A..-” W” Acuiugthe Igreat doors were thrown open, and another- a Harpers and Ed:

set entered, amid the increasingdin.

and strings of

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prevailed throughout thecity. 'Tlie carousal continued until dark, by which time the bones of three hundred and fifty steers had beenjpicked—countless measures of wheat had been consumed—and so many hogsheads of potent old hydromel had been drained to the dregs, that, saving the royal and munificent host, scarcely one sober individual, whether noble or plebeian, was any where to be seen. It is indeed a fortunate circumstance for the foreigner, thatthe nation, with their present crude instruments, is not infected with a musical mania. Melo-

tracted labour; and her deformed bantling having not yet acquired sufficient strength to exert his lungs as a public nuisance, the silence of night is rarely disturbed by the sleep-dispelling uiiiistrelsy which closed the fes- tivities oftlie Abyssinian Easter.

The British embassy, on horseback, were marshalled to a gay Turkish pavilion, which had been purposely erected below the royal inspection tower—a small roofed building, resembling a sentry-box, or the judge’s stand on a country race-course, ocoupying a raised plat- form immediately within the palacc enclosure. Gav cloth hangings enveloped this cage, and carpets and rugs of all colours covered the top of the rude wall, for some distance on either side. The usual paraphernalia of silver-embossed velvet floated at the king’s feet. The chiefs ofthe churches, and the civil oflicers of state—a gorgeous band—were arranged along the platform, whilst a motley crowd ofmaiiy thousand spectators stood closely packed over the plain below.

Dense masses of cavalry were in readiness at the fur- ther extremity ofthe parade, _to perform the pageant of the day. At: the distance ofoueihandred yards from the imperial stand, a stack of tall dam-:53 willow slaves towered over the bright green turf which extended far and wide in front. Around it were squatted files of war- riors, ensconced under their round shields like the tor- toise beneath his shell—the charge of sundry huge cul- verins, of inordinate dimensions, being divided betwixt every three. The muzzle rested overithe shoulder of one, a second worked the butt, and a third was prepar- ed, with blazing brand, to fire on the signal given. The review commenced by the advance of the body guard, consisting entirely of fusiliers. Divided into four bodies, consisting each/of about one hundred men, they moved slowly forward, shooting the usual war cho- rus, in imitation ofthe voice ofthe lion, and were kept in line by the vigorous application ol'the rattan. Nume- rous bangles, the reward of distinguished gallantry, glit- tcred throughout the band, and the fixed bayouets, here- tofore unknown in Southern Abyssinia. gleamed brightly in the sunshine. Gaining the prescribed distance, the wai riors crouched on the ground, as ifto receive cavalry. A grey-headed but energetic veteran sprang to the front, danced during some time in a variety ofuncouth capers, and, uttering a bowl such as might be conjectured to issue from the lungs of the demon in the wolf’s glen, discharged his piece. The signal was followed by a running fire along the entire line, when the remaining companies, advancing in succession in the same order, performed the same evolutions, and all marched ofl',dan- cing and singing, to the outer ring.

The Master of the Horse next advanced with his glit- teringsquadron ofpicked household cavalry—the flowerof the Christian lances. He was arrayed in a parti-coloured vest, surmounted by a crimson Arab fleece, handsomely studded with Silver jets. A gilt embossed gauntlet en- circled his right arm from the wrist to the elbow. His large 'and horse-trappings glittered with a profusion of silver crasses and rlevices, and he looked a stately and martial warrior curvetiug at the head of his tried troop of well-appointed lancers.

Forming line at the distance of halfa mile, and ap- proaching the willow pile with a musical accompaniment from a mounted band of kettle-drums, the squadron halted, and the leader, coaching his lance, advanced in front. Whilst putting his well-broken charger through all the evolutions ofAbyssinian manégz, he vaunted his prowess in arms, recited the prodigies of valour perform- ed iii the serVice of his royal master, and proclaimed his continued good faith and future bold intentions—his followers, at intervals, like the Romans, of ol 1, respond ing their assent by the loud clatter oflancc against shield. The harangue concluded, his spears were darlied upon the ground, and the chieftain, drawing his broad two-edged falcliion, brandished it in the air: ” Tack— atoo, Loola, Loala, Gummao, Sik, ()onuah,” he vocifer- ated, as he dashed his~heels into the flank of the pran- cing steed. An instantaneous bowl, and independent discharge of culverins, answered the signal, and the wild troop swept past at a gallop to the further extremity of the parade.

Thirteen governors. clothed in spoils stripped from the

the chase, passed sucBessi'vely in order of review. Deck- ed in embimnh'uf‘biood—rings, feathers, bracelets, and gauntlets, with shining coronets and chains ofsilver,

dy has hardly recovered from the throes of a most pro-i

lion and the leopard, with other conspicuous trophies of

ND

, . PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND ADVERTISER.

CHARLOTTETOWN. SATURDAY, ’APRIL 20, 18,441..

'not improbable that these, having made the circuit of the palace enclosure, now swelled the pageant by appear- ing a second time on the stage. Others, dismouuliug, ‘performed various evolutions on foot—ancient heroes ;with gleaming falchions of truly portentons dimensions Lcapering and striding before the line, until, on a signal ymade by the culverins, they vaulted again into the sad- 'dles, and dashed onward over the greenswrird, now fast fading under the tramp of hoofs. ' -

Last of all camethe‘ tall martial figure ofAbogftz Mar- etch, chief of all the. tributary *Galla in the South, at the head of his Abidchu legion, who closed the display of barbarian tactics. Three thousand in number, the sea of wild horsemen moved in advance to the music of 1 the kettle-drums, their arms and decorations-flashing in the sun-beam, and their ample white robes and long 'sahle braided hair streaming to the breeze. At the shrill whoop oftheir warlike leader, with the rushing sound ofa hurricane, tho glittering cohort clattercd past the royal stand, and the moving forest of lances disappeared under a cloud ofdust.

From eight to ten thousand cavalry were present in the field, and the spectacle, which lasted from nine in

l

.told our sultan until the appointed time comes when he

~joyed the pleasure of the moment, without thinking (if

inprning until five in the afternoon, was exceedingly Wild and impressive. Did the warriors who this day re-i counted their valorous achievements before the monarch, possess hearts of a measure with their good weapons and 5 strong Spears, they could not fail to prove the means of extensive power and conquest under the control of an as- piring chief; but such, unfortunately, is not the case, and the speed ofthe stout hardy steeds thatthey bestrode is loo frequently exerted in the wrong direction.

The ceremony of burning the stack of willow stares commenced shortly after this exhibition, and, superin- tended by his Majesty in person, terminated the proceed- ings oftlie busy day. Shrouded from the rude gaze of the populace under the nocturnal veil, the ladies of the royal harem danced and clapped their hands together, as their white ghostlike figures moved in circling pro- cession around the pile so shortly to be committed to the flames. Then followed a rush of torch-bearers from various quarters, mingled with the corps of Aferoch, and all reeling underthe effects of strong old liydromel. Three hundred flower-decked fasces, displayed bright and fresh in the morning, but now withered and faded, were with savage shouts and yells cast simultaneously on the pyre, and a burst of lurid glare, which revealed all that was passing, at once proclaimed their ignition. Thousands crowding round the fast-increasing blaze, added their tribute, andjoined in the din ofvoices. Black crosses to repel the Devil were described on‘the forchcad with the charred wood, in the struggle to obtain which hard blows were dealt lustin about, and many of the competitors were even forced into the pile. 'l'helegend asserts that on the discovery of the Holy Cross by the mother of Constantinethe Great, she caused beacon fires to be lighted on all the high hills of Palestine, upon be- holding which a general shout ofjoy was raised by the people of Constantinople. In imitation hereof, wild songs and yells of triumph from the inebriated Christians of Short now completed the turmoil and confusion, and with the crackling red flames that curled up the tall dry staves, ascended high into the starry vault of heaven in honour of Saint Helena.

THE SULTAN AND HIS VlZlER. An eastern sultan, who was far from being a tyrant in

his general way, got one day very much out of temper. All the conrtiers kept al \of as soon as they saw clouds on the visage of the Brother ofthe Sun; but one care. less attendant came near him abruptly, and commuter some slight ofl'ence. His highness broke out into a tor-l rent of rage, and ordered the offender to receive thol bastinado forthwith, and then to be impaled in front of the great gate of the place.

“ Lord of the faithful l” said his honest vizier, “ letf the fulfilment ofthy commands be delayed, while I relate thee a story.” The sultan gave a mute, surly sign of as- sent, whereupon the vizier began to relate the following tale, for which, be it remarked, he drew on his invention, not on memory:

“ A wealthy and benevolent mussulman had a slave whom he wished to make happy, so he gave him his freedom, and presented him, moreovor. with a good ship, loaded with costly merchandize. The bondman, now free from his fetters, set sail joyfully for his native country; but suddenly a storm arose, and flung him on the shore ofan uninhabited island. His vessel went to pieces, and he was left to bemoan his sad fate on the de- sert beach. At first, he saw no traces of human abode, but, as he left the shore and journeyed further on, he saw the walls and towers ofa large city in the distance. Joyfully be bent his steps toward it, and hardly had he reached the gates, when he was welcomed with shouts ofjoy. Countless multitudes of the inhabitants sur- rounded him, bowed their faces to the dust. and cried, as with one voice, ‘long live our sultan.’ The poor ship-wrecked freedman besought them not to make

I from the German, for the New York Mirror.

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ii.

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[No. 355.

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always under the government‘ofa mortal, who is sent us, from time fotime, by the great Lord of all, to rule over us. As soon as he lands among us, he is appointed our future ruler, and we are-told, at the-same time, how long he is to wear the crown. This, however, is never'

is to lay down-his dignity. When that time comes, he is suddenly dethroned, dressed in a- coarse and unsightly garment, and carried away to a barren desert Island.” The sultan trembled once more from head to foot, and asked if his predecessors had been told, likeahitn, what a sad fate awaited them. i " They were all told of it," said the wise-vizier, “ but they made no good use of their knowledge. They en-

tlie future. So the time for their detlironement came upon them before llley‘hnd made the slightest prepara- tion for rendering their future life in the desert island an agreeable one.” i

“ Why, can that be done ?” asked the astonished ‘ sultan.

“ Surely it can,” was the answer. “ No one hinders. thee from now, at this very moment, beginning to plant a colony on the barren Island, which is to be thy future habitation. If thou does! this, its barrenness will be changed to beauty, thou wilt be joyfully received when thou guest to dwell upon it, and never regret'the splen- dor thou hast left behind thee. But hasten, hasten, if such isthy intention! Feeble man is master of the presgpt niomcutonly—the coming one belongs to des- nnv.

“The prudent'Sullan did not, like his predecessors, turn a deaf ear to the warning voice of his good vizier; without loss oflime he sent a large number of his best and most valuable subjects to the desert Island, and commanded them to prepare a pleasant retreat for him against his coming. Therefore, when he was dethroned, and forced, as others had been, to visit the abode of bar- renness, he found it fertile, and pleasant to look upon, and full of hlooniing flowers and sweet fragrance; and there he lived forever in cheerfulness and peace, for he knew that this was his final resting-place, and that he had no further change or accidentto fear. And here my tale eridetli," said the vizier, and was silent. r

‘ And what is the meaning of all this,’ said the calipb, impatiently; ' what is the hidden meaning of thy long- winded story? It contains, I suppose, some useful moral reflection; but, if it does, it is so carefully con- cealed, that 1 cannot find it. Speak more clearly !’

‘ Know then,’ said the vizier. ‘the rich and benovm lent titan is God; the slave, to whom he gave freedom, a newly-horn mortal ; the island on which he lands, which he, at first, thought uninhabited, the world; his advisers, wisdom; the time of his government. his life, Ind the barren island to which he is banished the other world. ' The colonists he is permitted to send into it, to beautify it, are the good works that he performs in this life, Ind the careless rulers are those who get drunk with'tho pleasures of this life, without thinking on that which is to come. And now, commander ofihe faithful. ,snfl'er me likewise to point out the application of mystery. During the period of thy government, thou but dent. many colonists before thee to make green the face of tho desert island which is thy appointed resting place ; but all the labor they have performed will be in vain,,if thou shouldst take the life of a true and faithful servant for I trifling matter. Forgive him, even as thou hopest in God that he will one day forgive thee l' '

This bold reuionstrance induced the calipb tolay aside his anger, and pardon his innocent servant.-- Translated

SHORT REMARKS 0N MEN AND THINGS. ‘ ( From Macm'ah’s “ Book of flphorfam.”) Those who are most ardently solicitons of obtaining praise, and make the greatest efforts to attain it, are generally less successful than those who give themselves no trouble about the matter. The latter often do no. consciotu what procures this kind of incense; while the extreme care and anxiety of the former very often defeat the purpose they have in view—so perverser do people refuse a man what he longs for, and give him what he is indifferent about. ' ' Persons with small, fine, compressed lips, have go- nerally much sensitiveness of character, accompanied with great irritability, and a tendency to be finial and particular. ‘ , v Never judge ofa man’s honesty or talents by the oer.- tificates he produces. likely—or rather much more .so—to be false as true. The greatest knavc can at all times obtain them in proof of his integrity; and any illiterate blackhead may by their means make himself appear one of the. moat learned and accomplished men ofthe age. No degree

of kuavery or stupidity is the least bar in the way of, obtaining the most splendid and unqualified testimonials-$5 .

One ofthe greatest mysteries in the expression‘o‘ftbe human eye. It depends upon something beyond 'iviei'e

Such documents are just as _

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streaming from their clotted hair—tokens all of indi- vidual prowess in hand to hand combat with the king’s foes, the leader ofeach glittering cohort indulged in a long rambling barangue, ere shouting the signal for the charge. Many there were who wore the akoddma—I a massive transverse beam ofsilver projecting across the brows, and hung with a profusion ofchains and pen- dants, the reward for the slaughter of a Mohammedan of the low country. . '

An interesting, though perhaps not a very military, sight was witnessed as the hours drew on. The famished governors. judges, chiefs, nobles, courtiers, and digni- taries of the church,’who occupied the elevated‘platform on either siile of the royal box, unable longer to resist the calls of hunger, were suddenly to be perceived in the .act of employing theircrooked awards in reducing the dimensions of several sides'and flaps of raw beef, fur- nished by the king’s munificence, and ostentatioust disp

dlers played, danced and sang with untiring'perschrance;

and ever and anon one ofthe king’s female choristers

lifted up her shrill voice with the most extravagant pane- ‘gyric on the hospitality and munificence of her royal inflater, or burst forth into unqualifiedreulogy on the libe- > ,tality of his British. guests. _ ‘ , _ The royal band, which occupied the space vacant in

j} the centre between the tables, is composed of simple ,l :Lecds of various lengths andilees—the zmbilta having

'31 pqrforation to which the lips are applied.“ in the flute’ l

organisation, for I have seen the eyes of. two persons which in their structure and colour were, apparently, quite the same, and yet the ocular expression ofeach individual was perfectly different. Some owe the ex- pression of their countenance chiefly to the eye's, others to the mouth; nor is it, upon the whole, easy to soy . which feature is the most expressive. The intellect,{,r " believe, is more especially communicated bytho cyan, and the feelings by the mouth. I never knew “rim of imaginative genius who had not fine eyes.