Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-06-24


child. Nureddin was very glad of his acquain-
lance, gave him his big purse to keep for him,
KEEP, the little one for pocket money, and walk
ed about as usual. At length, one day when
his pocket cash was out, he called on the old
man, Out not finding him in his shop, ne sat
down to wait for him. Just then Persian
passed, mounted on mule, and accompanied
by slave swhite as The kernal Of the acron in
its rind, as the silver in the mine, as the Jerboa
in the desert The Persian delivered her to the
crier, .who placed her in seat OF ivory, inlaid
with gold, and lifted up the veil that covered
her face, (which shone like a STAR She was set
I'D at $50 dinars, with the condition that she
was TO approve of her future master. The bid
ding rose like lightning to $50. Are you sa-
tisfed, owner? said the crier-I am. But then
the condition. The crier pointed out the high
est bidder to the slave. He was an emacialed
old man.
"Crier," said she, you must be a fool to think
of selling me to this old fellow, who has more
than once been obliged to put up with the bit
terest reproaches from hisWife.' The old man
flew into violent passion. Rascally crier
(said he) hast thou brought this impudent hussy
hither to insult mel The crier took the slave
by the hand, and said 10 her, 'Have som. consi-
deration! this man is the chief of the merchants
$50 much the BETTER said she, 'onc must begin
/. with reading lessons to the highest. Vol ii
PIP 200, 2ol.
After several other persons had bid for her,
at last she spied Nureddin. "See,' said she to
the crier, giving him glimpse of a ruby ring,
i will give thee this, if thou canst prevail on
that young man to purchase me- The crier
comes up to Nureddin: page OF poetry tells us
how he was dazzled with her beauty Nured-
din approached the slave, and after little talk,
bid the $50 dnars, which, with the pitcher Of
wine to the crier and tue duty 10 government,
exactly cut out his 1000 dinars; SO he had his
beautiful slave (who was Frank, by the way
and not farthing in the world. He took her
home: she thought his lodgings very shabby;
that ne excused by saying that Cairo was his
home, and that he was but a stranger here
well, then, will endeavor to accustom myself
to il till YOU return to Cairo, out first Of all let
good dinner be provided for me- Nureddin
had no money. Go borrow said she. Nu-
reddin went TO his friend, The old colour mer-
chant. The Colour merchant was amazed at
his folly at throwing away 1000 dnars on a
slave, when the best, he said might be bought
for 200. He advised him, however, to keep her
for that night, and 10 think himself well off il
he got 200 for her in the morning. He lent
him, meantime, fifty silver drachms, charging
him by all means to loose no time in getting
rid of her. Wien Nurreddin got home, the
slave desired him to lay out half the money in
provisions, and the remainder in silk of differ
ent colours. Nureddn did SO, and cooked the
provisions; they supped and chatted till he fell
asleep. The slave then took huswife made OF
tait-leather out of her pocket, drove couple Of
nails in the wall, and began to work girdle
with the silk, and when she finished it she re-
tired to rest by his side.
Next morning when they had said their pray
ers, the slave Showed Nureddin the girdle she
had made, end bid him sell it, He actually
gets twenty dinars for the giIdle. upon my
SOUL says he, Il never knew better trade than
| this. 1t is more profitable TO make such cir
dies than to be great merchant.
Nuieddin paid his old friend his debt, who
wished him Joy Of the treasure he had got, and
spoke no more Of selling her; and Maria (,he
name of the girdle- maker) worked away every
night, and every day brought in 90 dinars. At
last she desired him to buy silk of six colors;
and she worked him a Northumberland that
was the admiration and envy Of the whole city.
To shorten the story, this handkerchief attract
ed the notice Of on old squint-eyed Frank whom
Maria particularly detested, but to whom Nu-
reddin was induced in fit of intoxication 10
sell her.
1t is now time 10 inform the curious, that Ma
ria was the daughter Of grea, king of the
Franks She had the best of educatons, had
learned every kind of elegant work, and was,
as may well be supposed, sought in marriage
by number oil priucrs, who regned over ISL
ands. But her father would not part with her,
though he had plenty OF sons. Al length she
was afflicted by a severe illness, and she made
vow if she recovered, TO perform pilgrim
age 10 convent famous among the Franks
On her voyage. thither, she was taken by Ma
homedan corsalr, who carried her and all her
,retinue to The city OF CairN an, where she was
bought by Persian merchant who was a
eunuch. She attended him in long and dam
gerous illness, and he promised at her request
never to sell her but to such "a master as she
should herself approve of The good Persian
moreover instructed her in Islamism, and then
sold her at Alexandria.
When the king, her father, heard Of her cap
tivity he was greatly afflicted Hesent knights
and pa,riarchs in every direction in search OF
her, but all to no purpose: AT length he sent
the squint-eyed Frank, who was his minister of
police, and the devil incarnate at the business
Of espial.' who found her, as we have seen; and
brought her home sorely against her will. Nu-
reddin, on his part, was equally dlsconsolate:
every thing he saw recalled Maria to his mind,
and he was on the verge Of despair, when an