The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1846-03-27

But Hakim saw not these beauties. He
was unconcious Of the present, aud Of the
past he was ignorant. His eye indeed
roved from one object to another, but
without seeing any thing, and his mind
was equally exclusive without dwelling oh
any one object. But his imag ination re.
maiued wide awake, excited as il was by
the fumes Of mis- pipe, reinforced by pill
Of opium, which Haki lin, being an absolute
tetotailer, was accustomed to swallow in
order to give additional zest TO his reve.
res. At length, BY degrees the entire
scene around him faded away, or at least
he became for time totally unconcious !
Of its existence as well as his own, and
the following pageant passed over his
mind.
1t seemed as if he was transported, he
knew not how, TO those times and regions
10 which mankind embodied their own
passions, feelings and appetites in the form
Of gods and worshiped monsters of their
own creation. Itchanced that he arrived
at the moment when Jupiter becoming
tired with the never ceasing complaints
of the human race concerning the unequal
distribution Of happiness, aud disguised
with their perpetual envy of each others
lot, had determined TO punish them in
most exemplary manner, by granting their
prayers and permitting them to exchange
lots with those whose situation in life they
considered most happy. Accordingly he
had commanded the goddess Fame to pro.
claim, by sound of trumpet to the utter.
most ends of the earth, that all those who
were disconiented with their lot, or en-
We'd that of others. should come together
a, the foot OF Olympus, bringing their
cares, anxieties, misfortunes and suffer-
ings in a sack. for the purpose of ex.
changing with those they most enyied.
! Quick as thought, and ere the long
echoes Of the trumpet had ceased TO re-
vertebrate among the recesses OF Olympus,
ii seemed to Hakim as if the entire hu'
man race was in motion. Myriads on my
riads came rushing onward, treading on
: each 9th er's heels and striving toget fore
most, that they might have the frs
choice among the mountains Of packs tha
s soon rose almost as high as the seat o
Jove. Amid the dim obscurity of vision
it was impossible for lIakim to remem5e
the vast diversity Of cases that presented
g themselves, or what infinite modes ant
II forms of real or imaginary suffering, oc
d casioned by an abuse Of the blessing be
'f slowed by providence, were huddled TO
l. gether in the mighty mass. A few onl
: were afterwards distinctly remembers
r, by him, and when there seemed to be o
'~ more coming, the goddess again sounde
'e her trumpet, proclaimng that all thos
who at the expiration of year becam
is dissatisfied with their exchange OF lott
le might return and resume that which the
B. had discarded.
D. The first who deposited their packs, ae
as cordiug to the recollection of Hakiu
ID were master and bis slave, who. by th
ID sovereign will Of Jove, exchanged lo'
10 with each other, and oth went their wa
~ rejoicing. Then came married ma
u aud bachelor, next a single and mar
ried woman; after them a chidless Cot
!, pie, and one bearing a large family; ne,
a king and beggar, followed by ric
te glutton and poor laborer; and then
I'd philosopher and fool. All these, an
he millions more, exchanged lots, and tripe
us away delighted with their new burthen
ne Last of all came a venerable old mai
at with long white beard flowing down upo
6, his breast, and a pale face, Scared viii
r. the deep lines of thought, as well as viii
ir the still deeper fnrrows of age. Even j.
ID piter appeared struck with his appearance
g, and questioned him as to the purport
w his visit.
e, 40, mighty Jove," exclaimed the o.
re man in faltering accents, 81 have passe
ed my whole life in study and travel.
Nv know all the past, have seen all the pre-
us ent, but Of the future am as ignorant ;
c. child unborn. Make me, beseech the
be as wise as the dead-let me know what
n. to come here after.
m % foolish and Prescriptions morta
IS thou art ignorant, with all thy wisdo
IS, and experience, of what thou askest'-
er X now est thou knot that all things are o.
IN daiDed by. Fate, and that thy knowlede
I'd will only make thee more wretched, b
II. showing thee q thousand evils thou cam
IN not avoid and rendered thee incapable
be enjoying the present, in the dread certain
,g ty of the future! But take thy wishi g.
I'd aud become wise as the dead"
te Al that m omeni the old man shudderet
ar and ran away as fast as bis feeble lint
be would permit, looking behind with glarin
- ewes, as if chased By thousand 6ends.