Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-07-31
From the TaiisDlGH.
MIRA: AN ORIENTAL TALE.

1t is a amortifying subject to those who are pos
sossed Of wealth and power, that there are bless
ings which wealth cannot purchase, nor preroga-'
tive command; yet, without which, aifiuence is
worthless. and power without use. 1t is OF little
account to be powerful if we have not heal'h; or
rich, if we have not contented mlnd'
Amonootbers whom experience had taught this
unpleasant truth, was the great Shah Abbas, the
actual ruler of one of the finest, richest, and most
extensive provinces of Persian, and imaginary
Brother of the Sun, and Uncle to the Moon
The magnifcence of his palaces, the multitude
of his attendants and the costiness of his equpa-
ges:-the number of his armies and their Prov
ess in the feld-were the wonder, admiration,
and envy of all his royal contemporaries.
And vet Shah Abbas was unhappy.
Then he added fresh beauties to his old pala-
ces, and he caused to be erected, new ones, still
more splendid he increased the number OF his
retinue and of his armies-his mandates, issued
more peremptoriy than ever, were executed more
rgidly, and his subjects wondered and trembled
at the great power of Shah Abbas.
Still he was discontented; yes, he who dwelt
amid the spendor and luxury of palacCs,-by
whose permission, merely, thousands lived, was
more unhappy than thepeasant in his humble cot,
who only wore his beard, as it were, by license
and subject to the will of tyrannical caprice.
Having at last discovered that those who were
the executors of his power or the servants of his
luxury, could neither procure him happiness, no.
inform him how or where it might be obtained
Shah Abbas summoned together the wise men o
his court-those whose lives had been passed il
the study of wisdom, and the requirement of thC
theory of virtue.
"Tellme, ;" said the Prince, ,"ye, who have spen
many years in the pursuit of wisdom, and hav'
reaped the fruits of labor and experience-wha
is necessary to constitute happy man!'
Three days were allowed the sages, for the pre-
paraton of their answers; and he who gave L
one that was satisfactory, was promised reWar
worthy of the propounder of the question.
The hope of reward was great-but the fear {
punishmentwas greater; estate unwelcome truth
might incur the displeasure of one whose wor
was life or death; risk they all very CAREFUL
avoided; for when the day came for the deliver
of their answers-they were unanimously agree
in the opinion that to be happy, man must
powerful and rich-even as Shah Abbas.
If the Prince had no reason to expect dfferel
answers, he felt little satisfaction in those whiC
were given.
NOW, IL was Ill OpGll CouIt tldt ll0 tlloNOio
the wise men were delivered, and ithappened, tn
among the persons present, was travelling De
wish; one of class to whom devotion gran
what pomp and etiquette would deny-a free
cess to the palaces and counsels of eastern king
Nosooner had the sages concluded theirg gowlr
and eloquent depicturngs of the happiness OF HI
who is powerful and rich, than the listening DE
wish abruptly broke the silence that ensued:
"Had wealth and power constituted a hapl
being, his own feelings would have left the gre
Shah Abbas no reason forenquiring the subje'
since he would have known that to be great a
powerful was to be happy. Few words may 81
flee to describe, as well as language can do
what it is to be perfectly happy-the change of
single word may do it;-it is to be perfectly goo
but if Shah Abbas would know further of hum
happiness let him learn of Mira, of the Peac
full Valley--for he is always happy"
As it is permitted to the oriental Dervlshes
enter, without invitation or apology, and il