Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-10-03
Translated from the French for the N. y. Mirror.
THE SULTAN AND HIS yIZIER.

An eastern sultan, who was Tar from bclng
a tyrant in his general way, got one day very
much out of temper. All the courtiers kept
aloof as soon as they saw clouds OH the WIS.,
age of the Brother OF the Sun; but one care.
less attendant came near him abruptly, ant
committed some slight offence. His high
ness broke out in a torrent of rage, aud order
cd the offender to receive the bastinado
forthwith, and then TO be impaled in front ol
the gate of the palace.
Lord of the faithful = said his honest vi
zicr, let the fulfilmeDt of thy commands be
delayed, while relate thee story The
sultan gave a mute surly sign OF assent
whercupon the vzier began to relate the
following tale, for which be 1t remarked, he
drew on his invention, not on memory:
"A wealthy and benevolent mussulman hat
a slave, whom he wished to make happy, s,
he gave him his freedom, and presented him
moreover. with good ship loaded with cost,
merchandise. The bondman, now free from
his fetters, set sail joyfully for his native
country but suddenly storm arose, ano
flung him on the shore Of an unnhabited
island. His vessel went to pieces, and h.
was left to bemoan his sad fate on The des-
crt beach. At first he saw no traces of hu-
man abode, but, as he left the shore anu
journeyed farther on, he saw the walls and
towers Of large city in the distance. JOY
fully he bent his steps towards 1t, and hardly
had he reached the gates, when he was me-
md welcomed with shouts Of JOY. Countless
inultitudes Of the inhabitants surrounded him
bowed their faces TO the dust, aud cried, as
with one voice, 'long live our sultan" The
poor shpwrecked freeman besought them
not to make sport of his misery but he was
assured by the rejoicing multitude, that these
honors were paid him in sober earnest-
Spite of his struggles, he was lifted by force
into q splendid chariot, and conducted 10
palace glitteriDg with gold and Jewels
Here he was dressed by oficious attendants
in royal robes, while crowd OF grave, dig
Diiied looking old men, who declared them.
selves to be the great officers OF state, did
him homage as their sovereign, and vowed
eternal fidelity. So, whether he liked 1t or
not rule he must. lie was little used, a.
your highness may Imagine, to managing the
affairs Of great people, and would have cut
but sorry figure had 1t not been FOR wise
and aged vizIcr, who always gave him pru
dent counses TO aid his inexpcrence.
Tell me, vzier,' so the monarch not long
afterwards addressed his sIge adviser, 'iel
me how is il that ], a poor irlendless slran
ger, have been made a great king, and lei
me know when this munmery is to end"
Mighty sultan said the vizier, all the in
hsbitants of the island, whom thou takest foi
men, are only spirits The king shuddcred
under his royal robes, but said nothing, and
the vizier proceeded. we are, however,
always under the government Of a mortal,
who is sent US from time to time, by the
great lord Of all, to rule over us. As soon as
he lands among us, he is pointed out as our
future ruler, aud we are told at the same
time, how long he is to wear the crown
This, however, is never told our sultan, until
the appointed time comes when he Is to lay
down his dignity. When that time comes,
he is suddenly dethroned, and dressed IN Il
coarse and unsightly garment and carried
away TO barren desert island
The sultan trembled once more from head
10 foot, and asked If his predecessors had
been told like him, what sad fate awaited
them.
.They werc oil told Of it, said the wise
vizier, but they made no good use OF their
knowledge. They enjoyed the pleasures ol
the moment, without thinking OF the future.
So the iirBc for their reinforcement came
upop them before they had made the slightest
preparation for rendering their future lite u
The desert island an agreeable one.'
w NV, Cuu tudt Ut uouts bohSt WV e"'N'
ishcd sultan.
'Surcly il can was the answer mo one
hiuders thee from now, at this very moment.
beginning To plant colony on the barren
island. which ~ to be thy future habitatioD.
u thou ducst this, lis barrenness will be
chan d to beauty, thou wilt be joyfully re-
cived when gong T. dwell upon it, and
hcve, regret The splcndvr thou has left be
hind tltre. Pm hasten. hnsipn. NJ such Is thl
intention! Feeble mnn is msster of the pre-
sent moment only, the coming one belongs
10 destiny.
Tho prudent sultan did not, like : is predr
ccuors. turn deaf ear To the warning vV,ce oi
lis good vizicr withuut loss OF time be zen
lsIge number Of his beet aud most vahinbl
subjects io tho desert island, and commando,
their to prepare pleasant retreat against bi.
coming. Therefore, when he Was de,hroned