Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-06-29

Sometimes, when lying in a shady nook, where
there was no sound but the hum Of insects. far
away from the paths of men, he used to cry out,
d" Miriam Miriam" and wet the grass with his
tears, as if he were really entitled to enroll him
self amongst the sons of sorrow. Once. there
seemed to hover over him, amongst the branches
of the trees, a form Of beauty shedding smiles
of kindness upon him, and looking down with
compassion. He rose wildly and threw up his
arms into the air but the form had faded, and
yet voice that mixed with the rnstling of the
leaves pronounced his name, but in tones rather
rather Of pity than affection, He went noine
and threw himself into his fathcr'sarms, and
told him that aithAr he n.srst dfe or wed Miriam
the Shadow. The good old man could not at
first understand; but when he saw the piercing
eyes and haggard looks of his son, he became
convinced that madness had been the result of
much thought, and blamed himself as thee cause.
Yusof took to his bed and remained incapable
of motion for many days. The wisest physicians
were called in, and one prescribed one thing, and
another another. Some said that the heat of
the sun had been too great, and Others the damp
of the earth had been disastrous. All agreed
that the yonng man had lost his senses and his
health together. But in spite Of their sayings
and their medicines no good result was obtained.
At length there arrived in the city of Cairo
Persian doctor, who sent his servant about the
streets proclaiming that if there were any one
affected with an extraordinary disease he, and
he alone, could give relief When Han HANNA
heard the crier, he said, "Those who praise
themselves are wise because they beget conf
dencc; and have heard that it is the doctor,
and not the doctor's drugs, that gives health to
most people" So he called for the Persian,
and stated his sons case.
The Persian hummed and rolled his eyes, and
displayed certain instruments, and made use Of
words longer than his face, upon which Han
HANNA said to him, "Those things are unnec-
essary; we believe in thy power, and are in
want Of thy advice" The doctor laughed and
said, "What is the story of this young man."
When he had heard that he was in love with
Miriam the Shadow he pondered a little, and
gave his opinion in these words, Let Miriam
the Shadow be found" " Unhappy doctor ~
exclaimed Han IIamma,in passion, " is this then
the amount of thy wisdom "My father,''
replied the Persian, "wisdom is always nearer
at hand than folly and, if men would receive
it as it comes, they would not waste the greater
part of their lives in search after vain things
Ny expersence has told me that the Office of a
good counsellor is to remind those who are wan
dering in seach of rule Of action of their first
impression, which is often disdained because of
its simplicity. Thou hast thysef thought of
seeking for this Miriam; but, instead of doing
go. thou hast called in the sons of science. who
have made experiments on. thy son, and have in
creased their own knowledge at the expense of
his health. Go forth, my father, and travel and
see new countries, and show the wonders thereof
to Yusof, and porchance he will find that which
he secketh if not, he will find something else,
for the scarcher is always rewarded. He who
went into the desert to seek for mine of gold
found well in a valley, and settled himself
there, and became the founder of mighty pco-
pe.' Han HANNA saw the wisdom Of these
words, and embraced the Persian doctor, and
gave him robe of honor, and proclaimed him
in the city as the wisest of the disciples of Hip
ocrat. But when the people asked what won
derful medicines and powerful amulets had been
. made use of to bring back Yusof to courage and
strength, he did not tell them, for there is nc
value except in what is not known Yusof be-
ing told by his father that they must depart
and search through the world for this Miriam
the Shadow, at once found strength to leave BIZ
bed, and no longer considered himself neighbo
of death. The necessary preparations wer
made, and father and son soon set out on thei
travels. They went to the Lai@, and yisitc'
; the Coptic cities thereof, and sojourned in tn
desert. Then returning, they voyaged by wa.
of Alexandria and Syria, and stationed in al
the cities from Damascus to Aleppo. Still, how
ever, Miriam was not found, and Yusof, thoug
there was no longer any fear for his life, remain
ed sad and melancholy. They returned, afte
years absence, to Cairo, where they found til
Persian physician again there, on his way bac
from India. He had cured, he said, the sovel
eign of the Moguls of fever, by means of
: pocket-handkerchief, bought for two piasters i
tho bavaar and had, in consequence, becom
$ possessed of 50 much wealth that he was abou
y to return to his country, in hopes of marryin
8 the youngest daughter of the Shah. And th
!, Miriam !" said he, pinching Yusofs pale checl
n The young man sighed and blushed, for he wa
# now ashamed of his weakness before staanger
8 cit will be good" said the physician-wht
Il now that he was about to abandon the practit
is Of medicine, began to recommend ispatients
!, Providence, of which he had not thought before
g possibly deeming it unnecessary" it will
d good" he said, =" to make pioas pigrimag
S Go to the Church of the Apparitions on s
y Gerge's day. Who knows but that the sain
Il may be able to do that which the art of ma
n cannot accomplish! Han HANNA smiled, an
II the Persian, who understood his thoughts, sale
d Even in this case advise what should hay
e been thy first care. Perhaps, it we rememb'
d well, we have all forgotten to ask blessing fro
above at the commencement Of our most eag'
a pursuits. We pray for rain and sunshine, whie
s is distributed for others as well as ourselves
h but we do not pray to be wise, because we thin
10 We are so slready." He determined to folio
le the Persian's advice, and this is how it haI
e pened that, on the eve of st. Georges day, b
lie boat arrived within hearing of the great can
'e of pilgrims assembled to see the Apparition
IF the Saints.
F" Although the Persian's words had been mer
| ly xxord, ~ .,.u,o J,;oo hotI, c,fhar md q,