The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-10-22

anxious, was intensely curious 10 see wha
would come Of the matter and frequently
entered into conversation on the subiec
with his physician, who was on somewhat
different grounds, still more curious thar
himself. His sublime highness, however
who could not expect from Jew much in.
formation respecting the secrets and mys-
teries of the Christians, rather confined the
discourse between them to the physiologi-
cal part Of the subject, expressing his won
der--frst, that bears should be able to learn
to read and, secondly, that such capacity
was not more frequently cultivated, asking
him, withal, whether he had ever himself
heard bear read The doctor, in parlia-
meDtary fashion, blinked the question OBJ
serving that as it was done by secret pruc-
tees, aud no doubt for wicked purposes,
it was best to say as little as possible about
it. His sublime highness was not sltogeth-
ct satisfied, but comfOrted himself with
thinking that time would soon throw light
on the matter.
At length the day arrived when the BEARS
Proficiency was to be put to the test. The
sultan was seated on divan in his hall of
audience his ministers and officers of state
stood on either side and behind him knelt
his Jewish physician, who assumed that
position, because, although he would not
have failed, even at the hazard of his life,
to be present, yet he had no strict right to be
there and, moreover, he did not particu.
laTly wish to be seen in the business. All
were in breathless expectation when the
Christian procession entered. The patri-
arch walked first, with his crOsier in his
hand next came Titus, the tutor, bowed
down under the huge dictionary, which he
bere upon his back, secured by leathern
straps over his shoulders then followed
Timothy, leading by chain the carefully
m zzled pupil. This precautiOn was quite
necessary for, having been kept fasting
four-and twenty hours, the animal was i1
no good.humor, and would not have beer
50 quietly brought in, if it had not beer
closely following the favoTite book But, II
1faets the only trouble which Timothy had
was to prevent his eager charge from leap
! ing at the volume while it was vet on his tu
! tors back. The procession was closed by
Iporler, bearing the desk, who, unoer the di
rection Of Titus, placed it before the sultan
at such distance as would conveniently
enable the reader to stand between it and
! his sublime highness, who might thus SEE
, The book over bis favorites shoulder. I'll
ltus himself, thus relieved of his burden by
its transfer to the desk, went round into the
readers place, and opened the ample leaves
of the dictionary while, to the great amuse-
! ment of the sultan, Timothy was exertipg his
energies to the utmost to keep back the eager
pupil.
He seems fOndof his book, however, said
the sultan that looks WE'LL And all the
circle bowed assent.
il Atlength, having arranged the volume to
! his satisfaction, Titus received his pupil
from the hands of his colleague. The bear
stood up manfully to his task but it need
scarcely be said, he was sadly disappointed
! when he found that, unlike itself, the below
ed book contained no sweets not a mOrsel,
Though the often-lraveled, much-licked and
still. 6esmeared lines retained the well
known scent and SAVIOR He ran his nose
over one line after another, all down the first
page, then down the second, and then some
what impatiently turned the leaf.
well, cried the sultan, he certainly
seems to take great interest init himself !;
and he may understand 1t perfectly, for
aught know; but wish he would read
aloud. / should like to hear him. Will
you be so good as TO tell him so 2 he add
ed, addressing the patriarch.
The venerable Mar Yusef was puzzled,
and, as people often do when they are puz-
zled, he made bow, but could think Of no.
thing to say. Titus, however, promptly
dropped on his knees between the bear and
the sultan and addressing the latter, he
said: your sublime highness will hear
him presently be pleased to give him alt
tie time. Let him not be harshly Judged,
/ be is little timid and shy. This is his
first attempt In public
! As be said this, the deacon saw the twin
kle of the Jews eye over the sultan's shoul-
der. u was only for moment, and nobody
but Titus himself knew that he had seen It
at all, SO intently did he seem to be Occu-
pied in comforting and encouraging per-
haps we should say exciting, his pupil
The bear, however, being disappointed line
after line, and page after page, and only
stimulated and irFitated BY the scent and
the slighttaste which he could & ct by thrust
ing the tip Of his tongue through his muz-
gle, began 10 grOwl most awfully, as he still
went on mechanically, line after line, and
turned the leaves with increased Tapidity
and vehemence. This continued for some
time, until the pupil was evidently getting
into passion, and the tutor was growing
rather nervous, when the sultan showed q
disposition to speak, which Titus most
thankfully interpreted asan intimation that
the experiment had been carried far enough,
He Instantly quieted his pupil, not so much
BY the order which he gave, as by showing
him honey cake, which nobody else saw,
handed the chain TO Timothy, and prepsSred
to listen.
'As / observed before, said the sultan,
'he certainly does seem To take q vast inter
est in it himself; and I dare say he Under
stands it: but as TO his elocution, / must
saw that It seems TO me somewhat inaFticu-
late. The patriarch was puasled again, and
again be bowed, lower than before The
Jew chuekled, and whispered something il
the sultan's ear. But Titus was not dis
concerted. Falling agaitt on his knees, he
exclaimed sPardon me, your sublime
highness, We consider him . remarkably
good reader, an animal Of excellent parts
aud q pupil who does Us great credit. Il il
] tue, ss your sublime highness's discrimi'