The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-07-10
NOURADIN AND FATlMA.
AN EASTERN TALL

In one Of the most beautiful yallies that
lies upon the borders of the capital of the
East. lived Jezdad, an inofensive shop
herd; he had bit one child, and having
been bereft of his wife for many years,
his whole stock Of tenderness was bestow-
ed on Fatima. Though fortune had not
been lavish Of her gifts to the father OF
Fatima, yet he wanted not the necessarles
or comforts, of life; his cottage was clean,
and furnished with every thing useful; his
fields and flocks supplied them With food
and raiment. Fatima was coarse in her
person, but she was cheerful and good
natured: She rose with the feathercd song
sters and while performing the duties o:her
station, carolled forth some simple ditty in
wild untutored notes. Her whole study
was to please Her fathef, and to prepare
his meals. She never repined at hard la
bour. and a smile from Jezdad was lie d
cordial to revive her epirits. Wien OPP
pressed with fatigue, she would assist, un
asked. in the most laborious employments;
and at eve, by the pale light Of Cynthia;
she would lightly trip with her young com
panions, while her father played on the
ilagel.t. The mind of Fatima was rs calm
as the delights of Paradise. lo7
One day she was sent to the grand, Wis
ier's with fruits for his favourite, and was
conducted by an etinuch into the garden,
where the beautiful Semira was feposing
on bed orroses, clad in all the pomp OF
magnificence, while two slaves were fan
ming her to rest. Fatima had never be-
fore seen ought but simplicity. She was
filed with wonder and astonishment ut the
surprising beauty and grandeur of Semira,
and as she gazed, envy and discomfort
crept into her hitherto guileless bosom. y
She returned home with mind totally
changed from what it was; her rural pas
| times no more delghted--labour Was now
A trouble She had been awitncss to the
ease and incidence of fSemiya; if she caught
1limpse other own shadow the stream,
she turned from it with horror and disgust.
/ Her days were joyless, and her nights
spent in moaning and bewaling her unhap
nv lot. The color fed from her cheeks,
and she became the picture OF despair. q
One evening, deSfto the solicitations Of
her voting companions, she retired to q
tb,ck grove, and, inattentive to the distant
notes o of the flagelet, thus found vent for
her grief -, -
ooh! wretched Fatima, unhappy maid!
WIN was born to know so hard fate, to
eat the bread of labor and sleep upon
neosnnt's ho,nely couch! while Semira is
surrounded with splendor, rs served by
kneelng slaves aud sleeps on bed'7oi
down! And why has nature denied me
those rayisbing beauties it has So bounti-
July showered on her; her eyes SO spark
ling, her lips so tempting red, and then
thcr hand and arm so finely turned, so del
icatoly white. Oh! why wss ! not lovely
as Scmirn, and favourite to the grand yfs-
ieri But my own being rs intolerable, ]
will no longer bear it, but. in yon iimpid
stream lose at once myself and The remcm|
brancc of Semira." She rose from the
ground, ard was Fastening toward the
brook, when the genii Nouradin thus ad-
dressed her:
"Thy complaints arc just, Oh Fatima!
and if thou wilt rclinquish thy home, and
orsakc thy father, thou shalt enjoy the ut
most extent of thy wishes" a. fosl q
Fs.ima complied, and the genii toheb-
inr her with his wand, and sprinkIi6g her
with mistick water, she was transformed
into beautiful virgin, and was conveyed