The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1853-05-21

lOdl, tudt ne mlHnt cOH'lnut Ills journey ana
reach a neighborin. town. But Hanna stop
ped his kafila and clothed and fed him, and
gave him money, and set him upon a mule,
his own spare mule, white, and fit for king
and took him all the way to Damascus,
where he set him down in the street without
so much as asking his name, his country or
his faith.
The poor stranger was jew, 4vho came
many years afterwards to Egypt, and recog-
nized his benefactor He was also magician,
who discovered the secret thoughts of those
with whom he convcrscd; so he said one day
to Hanna
There is mighty sorrow within thee: for
| see the signature OF regret upon thy brow,
near the right temple"
81 regret not to have child replied the
merchant.
NAY" said the jew. thy grief hath rcla-
ton to thing past. Tell me thy story,and |
NAV be of service.
Hanna told his story; and the jew forth
with went away, and burned perfumes. and
uttered words, and wrote symbols, and wrest-
led with the keepers of the unknown. When
he came back to the merchant, he said, 81
have not discovered all | wish to know but
thev tell me that if thou canst find the whi>-
perrin" tree, it will speak to thee Of Ll.bet
and her child"
The jew could give no further information;
but Hanna. who believed. began forthwith to
make cautious Inquiries about the whispering
Tree He questioned not only the people of
Cairo, but wrote to all his correspondents in
various parts of the world. asking them about
this strange thing. Indeed, he went about
catechi>ing the world in general respecting
the mysterious Whispering Tree. But he
got no information. All replied that they
were ignorant Nobody had heard of tree
that whispered. Year after year Hanna per
sisted in inIuring of every stranger who ar
rived from various provinces, whether he
knew ANYTHING about the Whispering Tree,
until time passed and strength began TO fail
When all his friends We're tired OF hearin.
him ark the same question. and he became
tired of asking it, despair was frequent visi-
tor with him.
One day he was at tizn"h.ln garden drink
ing coffee with his friend Malck, and listen
in. to the hubhlIn1 of his watcr-pipc, when
along the path leading from the pyramids
appeared roming a string OF laden camels ac-
companicd by many men.
'Is it the caravan from Muurzuk:" inquir-
cd Hanna.
"Nav," replied M.Irk; that caravan came
in the week past: and know not from wha,
country this arrival may be-
They went to the garden gate, moved by
curiosity; and waited until the forerunncrs
of the caravan came by.
Their costume was that of the sons of the
desert, except that around the head was a
wrapper, which cntollcd both the brow and
the mouth, lcavin. little more than the eye.
exposed.
They are the Muthclamcen," said Malek
land come from the deserts towards Bcdel
cs-Soudan; but of what tribe We shall onl,
learn by asking"
Then he raised his voice and said Il
strangers, merchants; from what country ,ant
with what merchandise"
The man addressed muttercd from beneath
his muller, From Agdaz, in the land of A
hir, with gold-dust and ivory, and rcmnan
OF slaves, the strong and the sturdy, the res
have persisted by the way
So saying, he passed on.
Hast thou ever heard of this country =
=, inquired Hanna. but little" said Malek
"lt Is not country of commerce; and | can
not understand why they should have com.
this way"
As he spoke youth ofplcaSant countenance
ridiu. Oh camel, with his mouth uncovered
' came slowly towards them.
20 young man, cried Hanna, ,as if obcyin,
sudden inspiration, thou comest from un
known lands over wonderful regions. Per
chance thou canst tell NE OF the Whisperin:
Tree"
1T is a Mama" replied the youth, strikin;
p with his heel the neck of his camel, and caus
ING it to turn out OF the line and stop; IAN,
: what,my tather,ls the reason of thy curiosity:
G lis long story" replied Hanna; but il
S thou wilt alight and rcpose thy<ct after til,
: fatigue, will relate it to thee
: The young man leaped down, called to
black man who had followed him on foot t.
: take care of the camel and entered the gar
= den with the two old men.
!, When he had heard the story of the mer
chant, the young stranger said: My story i
| similar to thine, o my father Thou art seek
1 ing what thou hast perhaps never SEEN an
: seeking for what has only appeared to me i,
a vision. come not of the Muthelalnccn of
Q Agdaz. My father was merchant of Egypt
who travelled with me into the land of Taebs
OF wise men aud maglclans, and dying left m,
there, child. Now it happened year az,
that dreamed a dream, and 10 maiden of
1 SURPRISING beauty came and bent over me
1 like lily over pool of sleeping water, ben