The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-07-13

MISCELLANEOUS.
THE TARrARS TALE.
80
BY MISS PARDOE.

In the famous city Schamachie, the CAPT
lived merchan, named Ali, who. from his
immense wealth, was considered the second
karoon. lie traded with the Franks in raw
aud wrought silks, and the wove colions of
the west with the Musco, lie dealers III furs,
leather and metals with the Tar'ars in
horses aud with the Jews-may their IA
Tiers graves be defed in gold aud silver,
brocades and weapons, woolen goods and
tapestry: In short, there was no caravan
passed in and on, of the city, in which the
metc chan, Ali had not large venture; and so
favored was he by the Prophet, that he
seemed to live only to prove the faIlacy Of
the proverb, which says tina, for every pearl
Of mjce that sees the sun, the diver must de-
scend a score of times to the bottom Of the
ocean. Certain it i, that, as often as he
dipped his right hand into the howl OF for
tune. he drew up the gem from the Depth
Moreover, the merchant had soma
youth Of pride ana promise, and of a dispo.
si,lon SO gentle, that it seemed as though he
had been nursed by the Peris, and fed with
the honey dew that the early bee rifles from
the rose. Even as the azure veil Of the fir
mamen, hides The ten thousand hours who live
amid the sunbe ms, SO did his modesty con-
ceal from all. save a chosen few, the divine
perlec,inns of his nature.
Mohammed, for that was his name, was
one day walking in the pleasant and fertile
environs Of the city, nnsIng over the ruined
wall OF the southern quarter which was so
demolished by Shah Anbas, and sighlng in
the genlleness Of his spirit at the cruel effects
of violence, when the slowly sinking sun,
pillowing its golden brow on lis cushion Of
crimson and purple, warned him to return TO
the house OF his father III time for the even
ing meal.
As he passed slowly along one Of the mar
rowest and least frequented streets OF the
city, his ear was suddenly outraged by the
voice of anguish; and advancing anXlously
in the quarter whence 1t came, he saw an
old man of stern aspect, who, with ierocious
gestures, was urging on the walls guard TO
tear Il Young and beautiful female, whose veil
had escaped in the struggle, from the arms OF
her aged parents, while she rent the vaulI
of heaven with her cries and suppl'ca'ions.
Mohammed sprang forward like the light
footed deer before the tread Of the hunter, and
at once inquired the cause Of this iron-hear ed
violence as the maiden turned aside hel
graceful head with blush which threw u
new sunlight over her beauty. The story
was snon lolI The father Of the young hour
was the debtor OF the hoary sinner who st"oc
by, enforcing this deed OF darkness and his
child was about tn be torn from him, and solo
into slavery, in default OF other payment.
The voice Of sorrow was turned inlo tina
OF joy, and The hap y father laid the forehead
OF thanksgiving III the dust Of gratitude, a.
Muhammed, out Of the abundance OF hi,
generosity, paid down The required sum. am
freed the beautiful Zohara from the grasp o
her captor. But, alas the son OF Hall hat
but transferred the chain Of slavery 10 his ow,
heart and when. in obedience TO The oil,
mans prayer, he passed the threshold of thu
father Of Zohara. and saw her mother weep
ing at his knees, while the maiden hersei
slo"d by III her young loneliness partially
shrouding her face in the folds Of her robe
he felt that the sun Of his earthly sky woui1