The Arkansas advocate., 1830-07-14

l bus uo you never SuIler from the devastations of the storm, or the rava- ges of the mountain torrent?' inquired Shah Abbas.
 We have the changes and vicissi- tudes ot seasons here, as well as else wheres answered Azim; :" and we some times experience what many who dwell on the other side of the mountains, call accidents: but which we believe to be the will of Allah; we know that he pur- poses the good of his children, and we dare not murmur at the way in which fle may choose to accomplish his ends whether by the sunbeam, or the storm: we know thatthe Visitations of His power are notiike the aimiess, wantoncruelties of an earthly Prince, but the exertions of omnlseient goodness. If we should be happy only when the sun smiles on oar valley, or when as now, the moon illumes it with her rays, we should find many opportunities of being miserable: i: whilst all is bright zDitlsa,, it matters not though the darkness and terror of the tempest may prevail soithom.''
 But, suppose you should lose all nat now makes yea happy. said the
 "l have a happy home in this cot re- joined Azim; t l have wealth in my focks that are feeding in the pasture around it; have treasure beyond price in the daughter of ny bosom; but Il happiness depended upon these out ward blessings-how could l now be naPpy2 knowing, as l do, that a few short hours, nay, few moments. uadg rob me of any of them-and that a few short years must rob me of all? If we endeayor to deserve the blessings of life, whilst they are good for us they will be continued-to forfeit them at fast is but triHe to pay for an inheritance of un- teasing bliss,o
 However just these sentiments might appear to the Prince, he was by means convinced that happiness was So entire Y independent Of outward cireulnsiai,- ces as Azim supposed; yet of one thing he felt assured on returning to his pa lace; thatpeither great power nor much wealth were requisite thereto. It was not long before the Prince again visited the Peaceful Valley, dis guised. as before. He met with the same kind welcome from the peasant and his daughter as he experienced OF his first visit.
 It Is well for me- said Azim, when the pleasures of frugal repast gave place to friendly converse, sst that truth was in the words ] spoke at our last meeting; since then it has pleased the All-wise topennit that should lose one portion of the blessings which were then mine; a band of robbers descended from the mountain, and drove off my focks: ] resisted, but in vain; and before my friends could rally to my assistance. the dePfedators had accomplished theirpur- pose.
 If you believe it to be the will of Heaven" said Shah Abbas, < that you should be robbed, was you not doing wrong in resisting those who were but the instruments of that willg
 Not so;" reioined the peasant-"i it IS permitted, nay, commanded by Allah, that we should resist injastice-he who does so, practises virtue; and if he re- sists in vain, loses not his reward; for surely he who dies in q good cause, gains peace of conscience; and if not in this world, in the world to come, happi- ness.o
 Yet surely your happiness must be less from the loss you have sustained,o said the Prince.
 ( I am poorer, but not less happy replied Azim; s.industry will soon sup ply the loss; besides have not still home to shelter me from the storm; and a child to bless that home with her alice ton and smiles?''
 Shah Abbas offered at the time noth- ing against the method in which the peasant eomforted himself under his loss, but he returned to his palace with his opinions little shaken.--IIe had in- deed begun to act, as though convert to the doctrine of the peasant on the subject of an internal principle of hap piness. He no longer sought for pleas ure in merciless exertion of preroga- tive; and was in more than one instance induced to expend his wealth in acts of secret benefcence, that neither contrib uted to the beautilying of his old pala- ces, nor to the building of new ones.
 A few nights after the last visit of the king to the Peaceful Valley. band of