Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-09-24
WHO Is CoNTENTED'


wisest of all the followers of the Prophet
and the Oracle of the chief Mufti OF Stam
boul, was sitting in shady grove by tn
side of bubbling fountain, on the shores
of the Bosphorus, trying to find out the tru'
road to happiness, in order that ne nigh
benefit his fellow-creatures by communlca
ting the discovery, his speculations were in
terrupted by man richly clothed, who ap
preaching, sat down and sighed heavily
CRYING out at the same time, ooh! Allah,
beseech thee to relieve me of life, or the bur
dens with which it is laden"
Almoran, who was sort of amateur o.
misery, because it afforded him the pleas.
ure of administering consolation approach.
ed the man of sorrow, and kindly inquired
the cause of his griefs. cart thou in want
of food, of friends, of health, or any of those
comforts of life that are necessary to human
happiness or dost thou lack the advantage
of experience, or the consultations of SYM
pathy? Speak, for it is the business of my
life to bestow them on my fellow-creatures.' y
"Alas" said the stranger, 81 require none
of these. | Ihave all and more than | want
of every thing. have all the means OF
happiness but one, and the want of that rem
ders every other blessing of no value"
81 adore the beautiful Zulema but she
loves another, and all my riches and hon
ors are as nothing. am the most misera-
BILE of men; my life is burden, and my
death would be the greater of blessings"
Before Almoran could reply, there ap-
preached poor creature clothed in rags.
and leaning on his staff, bowed down to the
earth with load of misery. He sat down
moaning, as if in great pain, and casting his
eyes upwards, exclaimed, "Allah, be my
star, for have none other!"
The Dervish went to him and kindly said,
"What aileth thee, poor man, Perhaps it
may be in my power 10 relieve thy distress
es. What wantest thou -
Everything" replied the beggar; "health,
food, kindred, friends, home-everything.
am an outcast and wanderer, destitute
of every comfort oflife. am the most mis-
cradle of mankind, for in addition to my
own suferings, | see others around me rev.
elling in these luxuries for lack of small
portion of which am perishing."
At this moment third man approached,
with weary steps and languld look, and
casting himselfdow by the side of the foun-
tain, stretched out his limbs at free length,
and yawnlng desperately, cried out, "Allah!
what shall | do what will become of me !?
l am tired of life, which is nothing but a
purgatory of wants, that when supplied, on
ly produce disappointment or disgust"
Almoran approached and asked, "What
is the cause of thy misery2 What wantest
thou?
~ want want" answered the other
II am cursed with the misery of fruition.-
l have wasted my life in acquiring riches
that brought me nothing but disappointment,
and honors that 10 longer crafty my pride,
or repay me for the labor of sustaining them.
l have been cheated into the pursuit of
pleasure that turned TO pain in the enjoy
ment, and my only want is that have
nothing to desire. have everything | wish,
and yet enjoy nothing
Almoran paused few moments, utterly
at loss to find remedy for this strange
malady, then said to himself, "Allah pre-
serve me- see it is all the same whether
men want one thing, every thing Or moth
ing. 1t is impossible to make such beings
happy, and may I eat dirt if trouble my
self any more in so vain pursuit" :"
Then taking up his staff: he went on his
way.-Litcrary World.