" But let us now join yonder group," added
Mr. Seymour, " who seem impatient for our ar-
rival."

" Thank you ! sir," said George. " You have
interested me so much in yonder bust, that I will
try and learn ipore of the great, though unhappy
poet, whom it resembles."



^



THG LITTLE GREEKS. 73



THE LITTLE GREEKS.
A TURKLSH TALE.
** Allah* is just !" exclaimed the old Turk,
Ibrahim, as, with his naked sword in his hand, he
moved leisurely through the principal street of
Scio, a lovely town, situated on an island of the
same name, which belong;? to Greece.
But a sad prospect met bis eyes, as he looked
on the scene around him. That morning's sun
had risen on a beautiful town, filled with buildings
of white marble, and ornamented with gardens,
planted witli orange, lemon, almond, and fig trees,
where tlie rose and jessamine, wHb other flawering
shrubs, grew together in such abundance, that it
might have been called the garden of the earth.
Now, all was changed ! In an hour when they
least expected it, the inhabitants of Scio were
staitled by the noise of distant cannon, and before
the unhappy Greeks could lay hold of their arms,
fifty tliousand Turks broke Ibose, Kke savage
beasts, upon them. Their costly houses were
burnt to ashes ; their gardens were laden with the
bodies of the dead and dying ; and as Ibrahim,
the Turk, stopped by a marble fountain, and bathed
his hot brow witli the refreshing water, a heavy sigh
burst from his heart; for, although the old man ha-
ted the Greeks, he was moved to compassion,

♦ The Turkish appellation for iVi© I>«\\^»

7 \,



74 SOCIAL EVENINGS.
