The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-01-23
NO. .XL.


might have another boy, brother and
His happiness lie said, would not be
completed unless he had two fine chill
dren almost of the same age, of whose
future care he had already formed the
most brilliant anticipations. AS he had
done in the first instance, his wife re-
Piled; fYou shall have one 'impos-
sibIc! exclaimed the husband, at first
astounded. AS truly as Mahomet is
Our prophet Well replied Mehomct,
God is great, and it was thus that YOU
announced my first born At the end
of the month, she again declared her
self enciente, and the Pasha was the most
delighted Of men hut he was soon obliged
to set out for London, and left his wife at
! Constantinople to complete her accouch-
mcnt. This was all the Greek desired
and, using the same means as before,
she presented one fine morning to hef
assembled slaves and TO few persons
of her husbands family fine child Of
the male sex, who received the name
of Usnud Bey. After the lapse OF
few davs the child fell seriously i'll, and
was sent, by order Of the physicians, 10
! Pera, under the care of its governcss.
Pera, as every one knows, Is suburb
of Constantinople, inhabited by the mer
camille community and by European am
bassadors. Its air is purer than that Of
the city, and accordingly, young Usuud
was soon brought back in perfect health
] by hts govcrness, the same woman who
j had performed the office Of nurse at the
birth Of Belgrade Singularly enough,
however, an old black cnuch who had
brought up the Pasha, possessed his en-
tire confidence, and managed his entire
household. could by no means rccog-
nize Usnud Bey in the child that was
thus brought back, and in the presence
Of several slaves said to his mistress,
,. Well, my lady, if that child be Usnud
Bey, lie has become singuiarly altered
by his solourn at Pcra among the infidels.
The mother remained silent, and car
ricd off the child, directing a fierce
glance at the eunuch. Doubt had es-
tabiiShed itself, however, III the old
man's mind moreover he had been en-
lightencd with respect 10 his MISTRESS =
doings: he knew the whole history Of
Belgrade Bey, and the reason he had
not mentioned it to his master was that
at the time he discovered thc trick The
Pasha had already grown fond of the
title being whom he believed TO be his
son, and the cunuch had not courage 10
undeceive him. But two suppostious
children, 10 the first place, and then the
impudent substitution Of another child
for the one which had been received az
legitimate offspring, formed com
plcation of knavcrv to which the indig-
nant old man refused to render himself
an accomplice by remaining longer m
active. He bctook himself 10 Pcra,
and, proceeded step by step in his invcs-
legations with shat cautious prudence
and insinuatina ort'fcc so peculiar 10
the people OF the east, and especially ~
the inmates of the harem, he succeeded
in acquiring positive evidence OF the
death of the vcritable Usnud Bey, and
of the substitution Of child OF the
same age, purchased of parents in the
lowest grade of life. The eunuch then
returned, and, pointing TO the pretended
Usnud Bey, said to bis mistress: Mad
am, let me beg of you 10 send that child
back to his fathcr-Mossul, the fisher
man. know all At these words the
woman became livid, and lcit him, say
ing, 1T is well.
" Shortly before the time Of afternoon
prayer, she sent for the eunuch, and
was told that he was taking a BATH
No sooner did she hear this, than her
project was Immediately formed. The
old man, as VIC have said, was governor
of the Pasha S household, and, as such,
occupied a sumptuous apartment, to
which bath room was attached for his
private use: il was here that his mistress
sought him out The eGnuch was at
tended by two slaves; she dismissed
them with an imperious gesture and re-
mained alone with the old man. on
were determined to find it out, them
she said Yes, and did find tent
To whom have you spoke about what
you discovercd:' To no one yet, but
| shall write ~ my master How
much do you want TO hold your tongue:"
Nothing; lam determined to speak
! 'And to write:' Yes, mean 10 write.
Then take that to seal your letter with!'
At these words she threw moose round
the neck Of the wretchcd old man, and
commenced strangtng him. The cu-
much was feeble, and taken by surprise,
could offer bnt little resistance. He
struggled in vain; his assa ssin continued
to draw the fatal moose tighter and
tighter stil; and as she redou bled her
efforts, she exclaimed with the rage OF
fury, All! you wanted 10 know all
f-you shall know more than You bar
gained for. You sought for life did yon.
Now write TO your master! write old
| fool!' At the vociferations Of the as
sassin and TIE gronns Of the victim,
one offhe slaves returned into the apart
mcnt, and at the sight of the horrible
scene, rushed out and began crying all
overthe house ''The khanum (m:stress
of the house is murdering-the khanum
is strangling the cunuchn A scene of
: G.. 7