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 II.

THE POMEGRANATE KING.

HERE was once a Mahárájá, called the Anárbása, or Pomegranate-king; and a Mahárání, called the Gulianár, or Pomegranate-flower. The Mahárání died leaving two children: a little girl of four or five years old, and a little boy of three. The Mahárájá was very sorry when she died, for he loved her dearly. He was exceedingly fond of his two children, and got for them two servants: a man to cook their dinner, and an ayah to take care of them. He also had them taught to read and write. Soon after his wife's death the neighbouring Rájá's daughter's husband died, and she said if any other Rájá would marry her, she would be quite willing to marry him, and she also said she would like very much to marry the Pomegranate Rájá. So her father went to see the Pomegranate Rájá and told him that his daughter wished to marry him. "Oh," said the Pomegranate Rájá, "I do not want to marry again, for if I do, the woman I marry will be sure to be unkind to my two children. She will not take care of them. She will not pet them and comfort them when they are unhappy." "Oh," said the other Rájá, "my daughter will be very good to them, I assure you." "Very well," said the Mahárájá, "I will marry her." So they were married.

For two or three months everything went on well, but then the new Rání, who was called the Sunkasí Mahárání, began to beat the poor children, and to scold their servants. One