The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1846-08-20

Mirza "industry will Aoon supply the loss;
besides, have not home 10 shelter me
from the storm; and child 10 bless that
shomo With her affection and her smile?"
Shah Abbas offered at that time nothing
against the method in which the peasant
comforted himself under his loss, but he re-
tmened TO his palace with his opinions little
shaken. He had indeed begun 10 act, as
though a aconyert TO the doctrine Of The peas
ant on the subject Of an internal principle of
happiness. He no longer sought for pleas
ure ina merciless exer!on Of prerogative; ;
and was in more than one instance induced
to expend his wealth in acts of secret BEN
eHcence, that neither contributed to 10 beau
tifying his old palaces, nor TO the building Of
new ones.
A few nights after the last visit ofthe king
to the Peaceful Valley, band of ruffians set
fire to Mirza's cottage and carried offby brute
force, his daughter; and the peasant for tho
first time in his life, quilted the valley, and
sought the palace Of Shah Abbas, to beg the
assistance Of the Prince in recovering his
child
He presented himself at the gates of the
palace, but instead Of obtaining the audience
he cravsd, he was thrpEn into gloomy dun
geon.
AT midnight the disguised Prince visited
him in the prison. "Unhappy, unfortun ate
man. said the Prince, "surely your trust in
Heaven has been misplaced.'
"Not so," said the peasant, "it is all that
is now left me ;--if that could be taken from
me, lshould be the most unhappy Of men,"
"And can houseless man, childless pa
rent,-one over whom, the anger Of merci-
less Prince too, impsnds--be otherwise than
unhappy?n
"That my heart bleeds for my lost child,
is true, indeed; that it throbs with lndgna-
ton a. the cruel tyranny Of the king, is ike
wise true; but my trust in Heaven is not dos
troyed; how can be unhappy, if through
the gloom Of this place, a ray Of heavenly
hope shines on my soul!--if yet believe
that all which has happened, is the will Of
one who is all powerful and good? They
have burnt my cottage-they have stolen. my
child, but that which is soihbin, they can
not deprive me Of To him who has borne
the losses which have borne, the loss Of
life is a gain,--for it restores to him oil that
was fvalue.o
Since the need of consolation was denied,
the disguised Prince did no, attempt to offer
any; Sat leftihe peasant, with an assurance
that he would see him on the morrow, in the
presence Of the king.
The morrow came, and the prisoner was
brought into the presence of Shah Abbas;
and at once recognised the traveller and Wis
Itor at his cottage in the Peaceful Valley
Mira knelt in the presence of the Prince.
"Rise, Mirza," said Shah Abbas, "and be-
hold in me the robber who deprived you sl
all that man could deprive you Of, but not oI
happiness; ;--youI focks snd your cottage
will restore; but the pride Of your heart and
your home--your daughter, mus, henceforth
IF have her assent and your's-be The par.
ticipator Of that happiness whicha Prince frs
found in peasants homo. Bring forth YOU
precious chargew
AT these words door beside the throne
was opened, and the peasants daughter wa;
in an instant in the arms of her father.
The great Shah Abbas had never again oc
casien TO trouble the sages Of his court fo
the definition Of a happy man.