Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-02-25
TRACING A PEDIGREE.

TRACING A PEDIGREE.
A shah of Persia had superb warehouse
brought to him for sale, and called his Off
GERS round HIM in front of his palace, to
Judge of the animals value gang of slaves
with their task masters, crossed the court at
the same time, and one of them, a Greek,
paused to look at the horse. "And what do
you think of the purchase ?" said the Shah,
rather conlemptuously. "The horse is a
good one, S,rc," replied the Greek "but !
will pawn my Iiie-whlch for slave is not
mucl1-tl,at he was sucked by an So
Sucked by an ass /! 1t was impossible y
But the owner of the s,ecd being sent for,
confirmed the statement. The mare who
foalded him had died, and a she ass, who
was in milk, had been his foster mother
"By the hump of the holy camel" exclaimed
the Shah, "the Christian dog has brains !;
give him half loaf Il day at the expense OF
the public" The Greeks penetration dis
lurbed the mind of the descendant of All: he
wards, among his ,r easures, he discovered "A
costly jasper. "Inshaah will have this
carved into spacious cup" said he, "irom
which will quall sllerbet to the honor of our
prophet and that Greek, he Of the ass,
shall do the work" Light of the sun ~
said the Greek, his task being proposed to
him, "this stone contains an animal" Allah
kerm ! This was too much But the
stone was sawed in two, and lizard was
found in the middle. "There is but one
God ~ said the Shah. "By the beard of
the Prophet upon which be eternal oil of
roses. Give him IA whole loaf day, at the
public expense" sad the Shah. Some
time after this his highncss the Shah was Sci
zed with doubt as to his own legitimacy
1t was nice point for "a kingto inquire mo ;
but yet he had misgivngs that Ali Moham-
med had not at all points been his progeni-
tor.
The Greek was this time privately sent
"You," said the Shah, modify, "you.
who rule the stars, tell me, ! command YOU
what was my father 2" 81 have no control
over the stars" replied the Greek, cor |
should scarcely have remained so long "A
prisoner but as far as can Judge from oh
servation. should take your Ilghness's
father to have been baker," On this the
Shah pondered more than ever. AT times
lie deeply blamed his mother. Once he
thought Of resgning the crown. At length
he once more ordered the Greek TO be
brought before him. q" Tell me, O Chris
tian, most accused !"said the Shah, "snce
| am the son Of Il baker, (may the eternal
ovens be his portion } tell me the particular
manipulation of flour to whom owe my be-
ing" -"Your Highness's command" re-
turned the Creek, "passes my capacity to
obey. l have no power over Genii, but de-
rive my knowledge, little as it is, from close
observation and comparison Of probab lilies -
"But how, unless by magic art," asked the
king, "could you know that my horse had
been nurscd by an ass - sit was because
such fostering IN my country, Sire,is not UNI
common and that horses SO nursed acquire
from imitation peculiar mode of carving
their ears" "BismiIlah but how did you
discover" returned the Shah, "ihat there
was lizard within the Jewell {" ST was.
your Highness, that | have before, in my
travels, seen such prodigics and that GER
tain opacity about the centre of the stone in
question, made me suppose The fact in this
particular case. 'Bui, whiskcr OF the Proph-
'el's cat" exclaimed the puzzled Prince,
"what could lead you to suspect that | am
the son of a baker?" "Parlon me, sire, but
it was "A circumstance in your Highncss's own
conduct" "ln my own conduct, slave p
Tell it, or, son of dog, this moment is vour
last" When first told your highness
that the horse you had bought had been nurs-
ed by an ass, your Iliehness commended my
knowledge and ordered half IA loaf Of bread
to be given to me-" 81 did," reioined the
Shah. "When second time, discovered
to your Highness that the globe of jasper
contained an animal, your Highness set nv
wisdom above that of your whole Court, and
ordered that should receive whole loaf
of bread" 81 did; but what of all this ~
cried the impatient Shah. On this, sire.
pondcred; and | SAID within myself, The
sons Of Kings pay good services with treas
ures, and with honors, with Jewels, with
high Offices, and with sums of gold lie
whose iarlhcst conception oflargeness is civ
ing loaf Of bread can be no other than the
son of "A baker" This hint afforded the Shah
good opportunity of proving his legirima-
cy, and Of course, succeeded.