Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-07-01

Troubled as he was with his own matters, Ra
jeb could not look without pity on poor ass
which he saw on going out of doors, and which
was lying in little shed, munching some NOR
sells of straw that lay within its reach. Rajeb
who loved animals, approached to caress the poo
leatAskaIVed creature, which was all hide sore
al ass seemed sensible of the affection
shnVya to it. Prompted by his natural benevo
Nsce .Raieb then went away and h9ysht .,.eas
We OF barley, and almost forgot his own grief
in the pleasure Of seeing the ass fall to its foo(
with the liveliest joy. Afterwards he brough
it water to complete its meal. 1t is needless t.
say that Rajeb passed an unhappy night he lay
on the floor, and the vermin infesting the place
were sufficient of themselves to Danish sleep
Ia the morning the two relations brcakfasted OF
the relics of yesterdays meal, and the nephew
was about to take his leave. But his uncle
stopped him, and said, /" have an ass which i,
OF no use to me. 1t is all that remains to me
OF my substance, and if you wish "--Raiet
thought his uncle was about 10 make him pres
ent of his ass, but he was in error, for the ole
man proceeded" ifyou wish, you may go witt
me to the market and see me sell him"
Rajeb consented, and when they went to thc
stall of the ass, the young man again caresset
the poor animal. In return, it looked at him
with eyes full Of intelligence, and struck The
ground several times with its foot. Ra eb even
thought he heard it say, " Buy me-" Its look
at least, he thought, said SO.
On the way to the market, Rajeb reflected OF
the subject, and felt himself impnled to pur.
chase the ass by some involuntary feeling which
most people would have been disposed merely tt
call good nature or pity. AS the ass was young
and had no faults but those arising from starva
ton, several purchasers came forward. One
'offered 200 hundred piastres, another 30O and
at last the price mounted to 500. When Raiet
saw that his uncle was willing to take this, he
offered few pastres more, assured that he
would get the ass.
What do you want with the ass Z" said the
old man.
"Iam resolved upon having it," was all that
the nephew answered.
" All, well, said JousOff, with smile ofgreedy
pleasure, you must give me 1000 piastres, and
then it shall be =" -.....-.
RaJeb was shocked at the misers's demand
but the old man, seeing his nephew's anxiety,
would not bate of his exorbitant request and
he youth at last agreed and a bargain was
struck.
AS Rajeb had left all his money at Cairo, it
vas agreed that Jousof should 90 back with his
nephew to that city, and there receive the pur-
chase money. Accordingly, they set out, and
The ass with them. By the way, the creature
seemed to be inspired with fresh life, and gam
boiled and danced, as if 10 please his new mas
ter. Arrived at Cairo, Rajeb gave his uncle the
sum and entertained him handsomy
After a few days Jousoff departed and left his
nephew alone, The latter occupied himself in
making a good stall for his ass, and in tending
and cleaning it, by which means it soon became
quite new creature. AS for the mistress of hit
heart, Rajeb had almost givenup all Hope of her
The interval allowed him by the parents hat
expired, and the youth, now poorer than before
did not dare to present himself before them
Whilst matters stood thus, information wa
brought to him that his uncle had been founC
dea d by the road side, having been punderet
and killed by robbers. The young man shed {
tear for the sudden end of the miser, and theI
preparations to go to Tantah, to take up the de
ceased's Inheritance, though there seemed it'll
hope Of its proving great Notwithstanding therep
utation which Jousof had acquired for bein
rich.
Mounting his ass, Rajeb proceeded to TantaI
He put up the ass in its old stall, and went int
the house to search it. As he had almost eS
pected, not para was to be found not a yes
tige OF anything valuable was to be seen in an
corner Of the house. While Rajeb was prose
cutting his examination he was surprised by tn
continued whining and braying Of his as
Thinking he had neglected its wants, he wei
out several times, and put barley, straw and WI
Ter before it but the animal would not touc
them, and continued to stamp on the floor Of. il
stall with its fool. Rajeb's attention was /
length attracted to this movement, and the as
seeing this repeated it with increased yehemenc
Its master, scizng bar Of rusty iron whc
stood by, then commenced to turn up the grou1
where the ass struck. AS he did this, the animt
looked on with eyes glistening with eager plea
ure, and seemed as if it would fan say, $50 o
go on; it is there" At last Raieb came to a coffe
He turned ii out and behold! it was filled to owe
flowing with doubIoons, sequins and all sorts
precious coins. The youth hugged his treasure
but the ass would not yet let him rest. It struc
the ground in another spot with his feet; ar
Rajeb, on digging anew, found a second coh'e
filed with pearls, rubles, emerlds and oh
valuable gems.
The ass stamped no more, and Rajob hastene
TO secure his treasures and to get them transpo
ted to Cairo. He put them into two pannier
and although they were very heavy, the ass ne
er sIackened its speed, nor gave any signs
WEAKNESS, until it brought its burden to its ma
ter's door On the night of his arrival, Rajt
hastened to the house of his mistress. He WI
just i'll the nick of time, for an old Turk h,
seen her and offered the 5000 pastres to the p
rents. Rajeb, however, took the father hon
with him, and showed a part of his treasure
when the marriage was at once agreed on. III
young BRIDE proved to be really as virtuous
she was beautiful, and made Rnjob happy.
gave large donations to the poor on the occaaic