Delaware patriot & American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1828, 1828-03-21


days. during which time you may easily escape to
some other city, and, with the money Il now pos
sess and the aid of my former occupation, we may
still obtain an honest liyel, h0od.'
.An honest LIVELIHOOD, repeated his lady, with
tscorn. Will thy cobbling, thou mean, and spirit
less wretch enable me to 60 to the Hermann
like the vile of the chief astIuoser? Hear mes
ahmed think only of discovering the kings trea.
sure. Thou hast just as good chance of doing SC
thou hadst Of finding the ruby. and the necklace
and earrings. At all eveats. | determined
that thou shalt not escape and shouldst thou ate
tempt to run away. will inform the kings officers,
and have thee taken up and put to death. even be-
fore the forty days expired. Thou knowess
me too we'll. Ahmed, to doubt my keeping my
/ word.-So take courage, and endeavor to make
thy fortune, aud to place me i'll that rank Of life to
which my beauty entities me =
The poor cobbler was dismayed at this speech:
but knowing there was no hope Of changing his
wites resolution, he resigned himself to his fate.
(. Well said he, your will shall be obeyed. All
| desire is to pas. the few remaining days Of my
life as comfortably as You know | am no
scholar aud have little skill In reckoning, so there
are forty dates; give NE one OF them every night
after have said my prayers, that may put them
in jar, and by counting them, may always see
how many vi the few days have TO live are
lgone
The lady. pleased at carrying her point, took
the dates, and promised to be punctual in doing
what her husband desired.
Meanwhile the thieves who had stolen the kings
treasure, having been kept from leaving the city by
fear OF detection and pursuit, had received accus
rate information, Of every measure taken to dis
cover them. One of them was among the crowd
before the palace OH the day the king sent for All
med and hearing that the coobler had Immediate
ly declared their exact number. he ran III fri.hc
to his comrades, and exclaimed, we are all fund
out Ahmed, the new astroldger, has told the king
that there are folt, Of US =
There need astrologer to tell that said the
captain Of the gang This Ahmed. with all his
simple good nature, is a shrewd fellow. Forty
chests having been stolen, he naturally guessed
that there must be forty thieves and he has made
good HIT that is all still it is prudent to watch
him, for he certainly has male sdne strange dis
coycres One of US must go tonight, after dark
to the terrace of this cobbler's house, and listen
!, to his conversation with his handsome wife; fur he
is said to be very fond Of her, and will, no doubt
tell her what success he has had in his enaeavcrs
to detect u.s.
+ Every body approved Of this scheme; and sooE
after night fall one Of the thieves repaired to the
terrace. He arrived there just as the coobIer had
finished his evening prayers, and his wife was CIV
ing him the first date .Ah!' said Ahmed, as he
took it,, there is one of the forty
$ The thief, hearing these words, FASTENED. in
CONSERVATISM To Tue guy, tHtth
moment he took his post, he had been perceived by
2 the supernatural knowledge OF Ahmed, who immee
diately told his wife that one of them was there
The spy's tale was not believed by his hardened
companions something was imputed to his fears :
he might have been mistaken; IN short, it was de-
!, termned to send two men the next night at the
e same hour. They reached the house just as All
med, having finished his prayers, had received the
: second date, and heard him exclaim, My dear
I,,;fn IN. nh thprp a rp two ut thpm.'
e The astonished thieves fed, and told their still
e ncreJulous comrades what they had heard. Tires
men were consequently sent the third night, four
e the fourth and so on. Being afraid of venturing
during the day, they always came as evening closed
: in, and just as Ahmed was receiving his date ;
: hence they all in turn heard him say that which
4 convinced them he aware OF their presence
] On the last night they all went, and Ahmed ex-
t claimed aloud, The number is complete 10 night
e the whole forty are here
0 All doubts were now removed 1t was lmrossi-
d Bile that Ahmed should have discovered them by
+, an, natural means. How could he ascertain the.
exact number and night after night, without one
y being mistaken Even the captain now yieieen: IN
S spite of his incredulity, ard declared his opinion
that it was hopeless to elude man thus gifted: he
I? therefore advised that they should make friend
! Of the cobbler, by confessng every thing to him,
and b. ibing him to secrecy by share OF the booty
" His advice was approved of; and an hdu before
u dawn they knocked at Ahfhed's door. The poor
man jumped out of bed and, snpposng the soldiers
IT were come to lead him to execution, cred out,
d Have patience. know what you are come for
1t is very unjust and wicked deed
" Most wonderful man : said the captain, as The
d door was opened, 'we are fully convinced thai
to thou knowest why we are come, nor do we neal
lie tojustify the action Of WHICH thou speakest Herr
are two thousand pieces Of gold. which we viii
give thee, provided thu wilt swear to say nothing
more about the matter
&c Saw nnthnu about it!' said Ahmed. Do you
L .a., an f..r ouch urnss xyrnnm am