Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-01-12
Motives to Contentment.
or, comRou THE SILK WEAVER, AND ALI
THE BAKER.

| SAhNEs hUC CClCbtdtCu CdotCth
relates the best tale on this subject we ever
perused. In his published travels, he says,
1t was told me by celebrated story-teller
in Damascus. He was an Arab; at every
pause he made, which was about once in
ten minutes. my interpreter repeated faith
fully what he had said" II was as follows
In small town on the coast Of Syria,
lived silk weaver in great comfort. with
his wife and three children. Allah, who
saw the simplicity OF his heart. blessed his
labors; and he too gave praise TO the High
est, and had health and contentment, and
those of his household loved him. But it
came to pass, that one morning. as he was
seated at work, at his window that looked
out on the sea, the love Of riches entered
into his heart, and then its happiness pass
ed away like a dream. He fixed his eyes
on the vessels that were passing EDWARDS
near TO where he sat, and for a long time
did not cast them down again on the web
of silk that he held. which dropped from
his hand 10 the ground. The tears fell
from his eyes; his wife saw it. and said,
"Why weepest thou, my soul what is
come to thee this day ?" "They CO." he
said. "they go, each to its own distant
land. loaded with wealth. that will make
many families happy. o, that one OF these
banks was bound for the poor home OF
Comrou the silk-weaver." She picked up
the silk web from the ground, and said,
" Son Of tho weaver Mashil. art thou mad
pursue thy work, for such wild desires will
only lead to poverty and want !" With
that she threw it toward him. He looked
at her vexed and angrily, and for the frs,
time thought that her face was not comely,
or her form beautiful. The pining after
riches is like the hand Of disease his fam
! lily wept when they looked on his pale face
and wasted frame. One day, as he was at
work in the chamber Of his house that
stood on the edge Of the sea, so strongly
was he moved by these consuming thoughts
and desires. that he broke in pieces the
web Of silk that he held. rushed out OF the
house, and wandered wildly along the shore
He saw vessel preparing TO leave the por,
. -hastened on board-and took passage
for the land to which she was bound, with
out needing where il might be. The yes
sci sailed all night and the following day
and night and when the third morning
> dawned, they saw the shore before them.
Sick and weary of the voyage, the weav-
er implored TO be set on shore even in a
strange land, rather than sail any farther I;
his request was granted, and in a short
| time boat conveyed him to the beach,
u He gazed sadly around. for the place was a
desert. There was high mountain be-
fore him, and he fastened TO ascend il on
4 reaching the sumr,it, to his infinite Joy he
' saw clear and beautiful pool Of water, for
!, he was nearly dead with thirst and wesri-
4 ness. Looking eagerly around, be sspied
Il small stone drinking-vessel Of curious
d form. lying useless by the side Of the pool
e he filled il to the brim, and raised il to biz
v lips. What was his establishment as he
|. drank, TO hear the sound Of money rafting
in his vest He tore il open Oh, wha
n was his rapture. to find ii filled with golt
chequins Again he filled the stone yes
IL sci. and drank deep, again he heard the de
is licious sound, and saw the CLEAN Of thu
d gold, dearer than the light Of the eyes o
p his youngest born. He seized them ant
10 pressed them to his soul, convinced that h,
,e had thus found source Of endless riches
"a for as often as he drank, so often the mon
IN ey came with the draught. He stood mo
tioness by the side Of the lonely pool. an,
O. lifted up his eyes, and blessed Allah alou,
for his mercy-that he had regard to tn
rs desire Of his soul.
IL II was now time TO depart, for the SUI
he was setting its last rays were cast on
Ill city that was not far distant, and thther
lis bent his steps, first placing next his heal
n the goblet, and tying his sash tightly owe
il. In few days he purchased hous,
cir and hired servants in that city, and bougl
as horses Of the purest blood Of Yemen.
if- the close Of the day he loved TO walk
lie his garden, and afterward fair slaves waite
'er on him, for he thought no more Of h
, a humble though beautiful wife and b
Try sweet children. But in the Town on Il
10 say, Azrael has taken from Us Il
en light Of our eyes," and their friends al
ire sorrowed with them.
ire II so happened-for nothing in this wor
oft should astonish us-that his neighbor d
APP baker, who had lived on the other side
lcs the street, was seized also with the thin
lch Of riches. His trade was gainful
gs, loaves were the best and whitest in 4
ed, whole town, and the sunrise and sun:
ps, still found him nj the mouth Of bis owe
smilingly serving his customers praisi
his busting wife, who was ever at his sit
yht, and pleasantly on his lips. But now, Il
'rer slow gathering Of wealth no longer satsfi
the him; he prayed Allah that he would
IN crease il more rapidly One day lie
oil something hard in his hand, and on Loo
IVY, ing closer, found il was gold mahmoud
IN He put il on the shelf, and wanting Sol
to meat for dinner, went to the butchers, p
I. IN chased some, and received the change
nan What was his surprise, to find the mahm,
YER die once more in his vest on his return
De Again and again he changed it. and still
mem found that il ever multiplied itself, q
eral would be 10 him n source OF slow, but II
'h" er-endng aflluence. He concealed
emotions, even from the wife Of bis boso
,,va and though he followed hiu business as U
',sn, al, il wns evident TO all that his views ~
cal. elevated beyond IL; his carriage was m
hon, constrained aud his words and smi
that used to fall like the dew on the he
,;o, were now few and cold. This secret
,ha, like siifed FIRE within him; he took