The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-08-05

' '' ''"' iouC odCk 10 the palace, fOl-
lowed by the acclamatons of the multitu]c
who were loud in their praises of his beauty,
the elegance of his speech, his unboundcd
mnn'ilccncc, and the splcndor of his atten-
dance. Every day he visited the coflce-bousc
and gave two hundred pieces of rold 10 ,be
master: two hundred to the servants and dis
trlhutcd SIX hundred among the bercars But
the Nizier's son, overcome with cb,cr;, ,t
Ills defeat, remained at home, where in few
days, he sirkencd and died. These tLiprs
coming to the Nizicr'S ear, he felt a great de-
sire % see the foreign prince, whose wealth
and generosity were the talk of all Earhdad
ana as he believed hmSelfto be the greatest
chess payer IN the world he determined TO
challenge him to game lie thcrcurou Wis.
itcd the oiicc-hou>c, where he had not rc.
manned long when the wood-cuttcr made his
appearance, IN even greater s;lcn,.or than be-
tore. This was in accordance with ,b. IN.
strur''onS OF Znhcy,!rh, who was informed
'ot all that had taken place lie at once ar
reiicd the Nlzicr's challenge to play. for a
stake OF two thousand pieces of gold After
Il hard fought battle the Viz;cr was fairly
beaten bat the wood-cu,tcr paid him the two
thousand pieces Of gold as If hc had lost the
game. gave away another thousand as usual
and retired to his palace.
The Nizicr took his defeat 50 much to
heart, that his cha.rn combined with Grief
'or 'He loss OF his son. carried him oil in a
few days. 1hls circumstance brought the
whole history to the ears of IIaroun N-Ra>-
end himself. who was Immediately seized
with strong desire TO play chess with the
foreign prince. no, doubling but that. as he
had always beaten bis Nix;cr. lie wou,J l,
more than match for his new antagonist
Accordingly he sent an officer 10 the ralarc
OF the wooi-cul!cr. with a message that Tie
commander Of the Faithful desired 10 of, r
hi> Hospitality 20 the son of the foreign kim.
BY Z"h,yd,h'> advice lie accepted the i,vi-
tiii"n. ana the officer speedily returned to
llaronn A!-Ea>chid, TO whom he gave such a
description Of the nagniiiccnce o: the new
palace that the Ca.iVll> mouth lccan to WI
ter. and hr exclaimed BY Allah I mus,
look a tbs. No nan who has not tic rirc
OF solomon on his finger. shall srrpa<> me in
my own capital In short time the wood
cutter arrived. attircd in such s,lcn,,or that
the DAY seemed brighter .or his appearance
and attcndcd ly forty black slaves. in dresses
OF crimson silk. with turbans of white and
cold and golden swords hv their sides. They
formed a double row from the cunr. ward To
the 'hrone-hail where the Calirh sat. and up
the avenue thus formed the wood-cuttcr aI
vanrcd. preceded hv two slaves in dresses of
rlothot->ilvcr. who placed at the Cali,h> feet
two crystal "o!let> filled with rul,ics and en-
c'ald> OF nmcn>e size. The Caliph. delight
ed with this superb present. rose. embraced
TIE supposed prince ard seated him " his
'!!r. From tie grcat wealth DISPLAYED hv
the wood-cui;cr. and Tie perfect grace and
prorrie,v of his manners. the Caliph suspect
Cd that he was no less parsonage than the
son of the King of Cathav
After a Handsome rcpa~t had been served.
the Callph proposed game of chess. stating
that he had heard much of the princes skill
in playing. ''At:cr shall have played with
You. . Commander of the Faithful" said
the wood-cuttcr; You will hear no more of
my skill" The Caliph was charmed with
the modr>'v Of this speech. and the comrli-
mcnt TO himself. and they Immediately bear
TO play. The wood-cuttcr although he mirlt
easily have beaten tn" Calirh, suffered the
latter to win the first game, which put him
into the best humor possible Bat when the
second game had been PLAYED and the wool
cutter was the victor he perceived that the
Caliph'> face became dark, and his good hu-
NOR was gone. 'Iou are too generous to
your servant, O Caliph." said he had YOU
not gwen me this success rs an cnconrane-
mcnt. | >hould have lost a second time" At
these words I!aroun smiled, and they PLAYED
a third game, which the wood-cuttcr pur-
poSclv allowed him to win. Such was the
counsel given to him by Zubey,lch, who said
."lt thou permittest HIM to win the first
game, he will be so well pleased. that thou
mayst venture to defeat him on the second
game. Then, when he has won the third
game, thy having been once victorious will
magnify his opinion Of his own skill; for
where we never suffer defeat, we at last re-
yard our conqucsts with indifference"
The result was precisely as Zubcvdch had
predicted. The Calph was charmed with
he foreign prince, and in few days made
nm his Vizicr The wood-cutter filled his
EXALTED station with dignity and Judgment,
md became at once great tavOrite with the
people of Baghdad. The month of obedience
which he had promised to Zuhevdch was now
lrawing to close, when she said to him -.
Cease to visit the CaIiph, and do not leave
he palace tor two or three days. When the
Jaliph sends for thee, return for answer that
hou art ill., She fortsaw that the Caliph {
would then come and see his Nizier. and gave I
he wood-cuftcr complete instructions, con- {
ernng what he should say and do
Haroun Al-Raschid no sooner heard Of the S
Illness Of his Vizier, than he went personally {