Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-09-09
Tale in the Desert.

body -guard and mine was composed of eight
or nine as wild and picturesque looking Bedouins
as you would wish to see-true sons Of the des-
ert, and Ishmaehtes Of pure descent; there could
mol be much doubt about that.
They were faithful 10 me, however; and it was
pleasant 10 gallop day after day amidst this law.
less troop, sometimes conversing with the shek
in such Arabic as had contrived 10 pick up. and
at other times witnessing such feats of horseman-
ship as my guards pleased 10 exhibit for my amuse-
ment, or 10 practice for their own. In the heat
OF the day, we struck our tents (such tents y and
| Tested, as we did also at night. Our mid day
slumbe's were often the most profound and lhe
most prolonged.
One evening we had encamped as usual beside
| muddy fountain, secured our horses, lighted
fire, and drank our coffee. My guards were
/ seated around the fire smoking and falling, while
l made an effort TO sleep under cover of The tent
/ provided for my special pse 1t was all IN vain.
The shelk had advised me of the probability of
night attack from party of maraudefs, not of his
tribe, whom-he supposed to be in our neighbour
hood, but had begged me not to be alarmed, for
my lie was pecious in his sight, and safe in his
hands; he would defend me 10 the last drop of his
hearts blood
1t might be that half believed the report, and
more than hal distrusted nv respectable friends
bravery; or 1t might be that my siesta had taken
OF the edge of drowsiness, or that thoughts of
home kept my mind busy, OF that the coffee had
drunk served as an anti soporl6c, or that the loud
talk OF the Bedoulns disturbed ne In short,
could net sleep. and tired of naction, left my
tent and drew near to the FIRE, which was very
pleasant; for hot as are the days of desert travel
ling, the nights are often chilly
My guards made room for me as came near:
aud seating myself beside the she k, lighted nv
pipe, and looking at the grim countenance of the
ragged fellows around me, each of whom was
armed with pistols stuck into the bt Il and mus.
ket within reach of his hand, | wondered what
my friends in England would think, if at that
moment they had seen me-
My presence did not much disturb the louuaci-
ty Of my guards; but paid little heed 10 their
rapid conversation, till the shek turning suddenly
round upon me, exclaimed g
What strange men you Englishmen are! {"
SLOW so - asked. 'tWhy strange 20
"You never fast,'' said he.
''Noi often,' ] replied, laughing; that is
when we can get any thing to eat
My Arab friend laughed TOO, for that evening
we had suPped sparseJ from necessity; "but,"
SAID he, SIS 1t not part of your religion and''-
before could TepIy-'l don't think you have
any religion You don't pray; you don't give
aims; you do nothng''
This was a home thrust, and nv conscience felt
1t. had looked upon the poor fellows around
meas so bigoted in their faith and had considered
myself so completely in their power, that l had
deemed 1t prudent.to avoid every topic that might
rouse their passions In my solitary tent, at mid
dsv, had read the word of life; but had co n.
cealed with Jealous care from my guards the
knowledge that | carried about with me ''lhe
Christians Koran;" and when at morning and
night had commended myself in prayer TO God
my Maker, through Christ my Saviour, l had
drawn close around me the curtain of the tent, land
whisper low and learfully, lest | should be
| overheard. ''You have no religlon,'' SAID the
sheik; ''you don't pray; you do nothing
"God forgive me- thought. "The rebuke
Is not altogether unJust''
NOW we, continued my reprover-and he
went on boaslingly TO tell what their prophet re-
| CURED of them, and how faithful was iheir obed-
lence IN matters OF devotion, charity and sefde-
NAL; and while he spoke lifted up my heart to
God, and sought courage 10 bear feeble testi-
mony to his word When the sheik paused. nut
my hand into my bosom, and drew out New
Testament. 81 have religion | said. s'Would
you like to hear what it teaches me 90 these high
malters?''
Certainly; would tell him?'
BY this time the attention of all my guard was
directed to me. Their sparkling eyes were fixed
hereby, as thought, upon me, their dark vsages
looking more grim by the flashing fire around
which they were seated /; and their hands were
ready tograsp weapon that would speedily bring
down vengeance upon the head of the infide dog
who should dare 10 blaspheme their prophet.
"Lsten," said, as opened the New Tesla
| ment at the sixth chapter of the Gospel accord .
ing 10 81. Mathew. ''You speak Of aims giving;
hear what my Koran says about giving alns;''
and | rendered into Arabic the first four verses;
| tS'IakP hood hat do II. l. a
to be seen Of them." etc. When stopped.
looked up, and the dark countenances around me
were glstening, but not with anger
"Good! exclaimed the sheik; ''lhis IS very
| good go on
! gathered courage, and read again; "And
when thou prayest," etc. | read, translated as
read, 10 the fifteenth verse; Again | looked
AROUND me.
'Bisniah but this is wonderful! wonderfuI''
exclaimed one to another, strokng their black
boards; "wonderfu!'' nd every harsh and for
b'dden feature was soltened dow to quiet, calm
attention.
"More. more"
read on; Moreover, when ye fast" etc.
"bIsmrlah!' exclaimed the sheik again-"but
this is wonderful"
needed no further urging on. Verse by verse.
| paragraph by paragraph, read on to the close or
| tAC GACidiDdtlOES OF
wonder and appreciation.
Wonderful" said my swarthy friend the
sheik, when at length | closed the book; "but
this is wonderful! find achat good people uou
Christians ought 10 bel"
never, conlOed my friend, forgot. and hope
| never shall forget, the lessons taught me by that
desert fire. In the first place, | saw as hnd new
er bslore seen, that caution may degenerate into
cowardlce; and learned, in the second place
the enemies OF Christianity themselves being our
Judges-thaI if the professed followers Of Christ
were but in all things what they ought to be,
"like-minded one toward anot her, according to
Christ Jesns,' then would they "wilh one mind
and one mouth glorify God, even the father of
our Lord Jesus Christi and the constrained YER,
dIci OF The unbelieyiug world would be, "Nay, but
this is wonderful! - London Tract yMagazine.
EE The great Bridgewaier Will case, ia Eng.
land, has been decided by the house Of lords in "a.