The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-10-22
SELECT Y.AEB,
THE sULTAN's BEAR.


THE sultan being one day rather out of
sorts sent for his Jewish physician man
very eminent for skill in his profession, and
not less distinguished by his love of his
own nation and his desperate enmity to the
Christians. Finding that his patient had
not really much the matter with him, and
thinking little gossip would not only be
more agreeable, but more likely TO do him
good, than any medicine which could be pre-
scribed, the doctor began to discourse on
the very familiar topic Of his highness's fa-
vourite bear, which was lying at his feet,
and whose virtues and abilities he was never
tired of extolling.
'You would wonder said the sultan, mot
only at the natural sagacity Of the creature,
and the tact which he shews in a thousand
different ways, but at the amount of know
ledge he has collected, and the logical cor
rectness with which be uses it. He is really
a very knowing beast The jew politely
acquiesced in all this and much more but
al length added: 1T is well that such Q
clever animal is in such good hands. If hii
extraordinary talents are not developed tC
the utmost, they are ct least not perverted
and made a bad use Of
Z II hope not indeed, said the sultan. 'But
what do you mean by his talents not being
developed or In what way would they b
likely to be perverted In bad hands z
Pardon me, said the jew i have spo
ken rashly before your sublime Lighness-.-
such things should not be talked Of ! but l
is natural that, although I know very littl'
about them, should consid.r the practic'
and the purpose bad when they belong L
what consider bad people: at the SAINT
time, IL your sublime highness thinks fl tC
tolerate them, 1t is not for your faithful slave
i. 10 say word about it. should be sorry
that your sublime highness should not tx
tend TO your Christian subjects the same
toleratiOn and paternal kindness my OWL
people erioy.
What IL the world do you mean z said
the sultan. What have the Christians tc
do with my bear =,
Nothing at all,' replied the Jew with
- great earnestness; and he added, with Q
sigh, that is the very thing am thankful
for. Il is such remarkable creature, that
/. there is no saying what might come Of It.
'Come of what y said the sultan.
why said the Jew, in q humble and
very confidential tone, your sublime high
ness is of course aware, that among the
many curious secrets the Christians possess,
they have one which enables them TO teach
bears to read.'
You don't say so q exclaimed the sultan
How do they c0ntrive it q
'Ah,' replied the Jew with an internal
shudder, that is more than can tell YOU
sublime highness. / don't suppose that
half-a-dozen Of your subjects, except them.
.o1u.. 80 n1ro,a of tta e ooS nd fovv oxrou
among the Christians know the secret.
only obtained the little knowledge have BY
accidental circumstances, which put me up
on the inquiry; and ] was long while beforC
could feel perfectly certain that they act
ually did the thing. Hoo they did it, and
sDky, have never been able to learn. 1t Il
one Of their greatest secrets, one Of theil
deepest, and therefore, / suspect, one Of theil
most pernicious mysteries. do not suppose
that any man among them would confess L
to save his life-not even the old patriarch
II he were put to the rack
81 1T is very strange said the sultan, afte
pause.
'ao flt Is wonderful. said thephysician viii
much emphasis.
What Is the harm Of itr exclaimed th,
sultan abruptly after pause. why SHOULD
not bears read as we'll as men, Il they ar,
capable Of leaFningf
Most true and most wisely said : repiieg
the dew. 'lt they were taught 70 read gooC
boolEa, u would probably mend their man
ners. But II that were all, why should
there be 20 much mystery about Z Z VII,
should these people do L q secretlv. AM
deny it 50 stouty7' aud again hs sho,,l hi,
head, and shuddered. But being faIIv ,,e,
suaded that be had gained Sic point. Il,
thought itsafest to change The subject /. an
accordingly he did 80 e SION IS las had ern
phatically and earnestly ensTealed the sui
tan not TO say word Of the secret he has
been led TO impaTt. or, ct al events. not Z,
let il be known that he had given any ID
formation on the subject.
When the doctor was gone, the sultaY
fell into q reveFis un the advantages ans
disadvantages Of HE bear learning 70 read
! When 10 vent 70 bed, the same train o
thought kept him awake and after sleep
lessnights he sent early II the morning fo
the patFinfch The venerable Mar Kuse
lost no time in obeying Tie summons TAX
ing his paiEiarehal staR II his.hand, aut
followed b. bic TIVE deaeons With tIieil
heads bare, and their hands crossed on thei