Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-02-07
From the .9sidtic Journal.

THE LARGE LIE AND THE LITTLE lie.
A merchant was going through slave
market one day, and happened to see a
broker holding boy by the ear for sale,
and calling out, who will purchase
voath accomplished, sensible, and faith
III, for one hundred dirhumse why,
nv coed SIR said the merchant, 6 | sus-
pect YOU must be crazy, for il your boy
possess the qualities you mention, he is
worth thousand dirhums.' o. said the
broker, you see him shining and take
him Tor silver, but II you were acquainted
with his failing, you would probably find
him copper Pray what is his falling,
said the merchant, and what do you
think the cause Of il ? He tells every
year, said the broker. a great lie and
a little lie, and each OF these consider
as very serious evil 'Pesh, pooh = said
the merchant, Il look upon this as mere
triae.' lie accordingly purchased the boy
and toUk him into his service, aud find
Sng him expert and skilful in duty, placed
him at the head Of his servants. But it
happened some tiDe after, that the mer-
chant, accompanied by several Of his
acouaintahces, went out to his garden,
and sen, the boy home about sunset TO
bring him his ass; but the boy, as soon
as he approached his masters house, rent
his clothes, and threw dust upon his
head, and exclaimed, o alas, alas, my
master the lord Of nv bounty" Tic
merchants wife concluded, from his APP
pcaranCe, that some misfortune had hap
Dened to him, and said, alas, boy, what
is the meaning of this outcryP All y
replied he, the roof OF the house has
flllsn in upcn my master and crushed
him to pieces with all the other mer-
chants the wives of the merchants,
who happened to be invited there BY
the lady of the house, as soon as they
heard the report OF the slave, beat their
faces in despair, aud began to run to-
wards the garden, but the boy got before
them aud entered it, tearing his clothes,
like frantic person, and throwing dust
nm his head, in, the same manner as he
had done before the women. The mer-
chants, su priced at his appearance, ask
ed the cause Of ms distress. All! De.
lisve,' he replied, spark OF fire escaped
frrm the hands Of one of the maid-ser-
wants, and has set fire to your house, and
7 do not think there is single chlld that
has not been burned to death, nay not
enc even Of your maid.servants, nor one
Of YOUR wives The merchants, hearing
this. ran out, all distracted: one weep
i, for his sister and wife, the other Tor
the daughter of his relation: but, when
they got abost half way home both par
ties met on the road, and every one saw
tneir trend safe, ard discovered that the
whole was a trick played upon them by
the lying vsrlet. What has tempted
you,' said his master, to this act p
DO you not kaOw,' replied the boy,
taat / was bound TO tell you every wear
q Q, eat lie and little One.' Well, said
The merchant. and under what class must
4 place tide PRESENT. Is this the large lie
ar the little one p 20 this is the little
lie,' repned the boy the ,arge one you
shalt have ny and uy !" This little lie,'
sad tue merchant, will answer my put
pose. nov give you your liberty; SO
se, oil, aud iud some other person of
more consequence 10 PRACTISE your large
lie upUn.'