Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-05-25
A MERCHANT OF BAGDAD.
AN APOLOGIZE.

The beautiful Eastern story below, from the
pen of John Hawkesworth, an old English wri-
ter, has lost none of its freshness by time, Those
readers who are familiar with it, will receive it
as an old friend and to all it will teacff a les
son of life as useful now as when it waspenned
Frdzer's Magazine pronounces it "one of the
finest Eastern Apologies ever written, and a
better Christmas story than Mr.. Dickens -
Carazen, the merchant of Bagdad, was emf
nent throughout all the East for his avaricc and
wealth. 1t was remarked, that when he was
diligent he was thought to be generous; and he
was still acknowledged too be inexorable just.
But whether in his dealings with men he dis
covered per6dy which tempted him to put his
trust in in gold, or whether in proportion as he
accumulated wealth he discovered his own i'm
portance to increase, Carazen priced it more as
he boarded it up; gradually lost the nclina-
tion to do good, as he acquired the power and
as the hand of time scattered the snow upon his
head, the freezing influence extended to his bo-
som.
But though the door of Carazen was never
opened by hospitality, nor his hand by COM
passion, yet fear led him constantly to the
mosque at the stated hours of prayer; he per-
formed all the rites of devotion with the most
strupnlous punctnality, and had twice paid lis
vows at the temple of the Prophet That de-
votion which arises from the love of God. and
necessarily includes the love of man, as it con-
meets gratitude with bcnifcence and exalts that
which was moral to divine, confcrs new dignity
upon goodness, and is the object, not only of
affection but of reverence. On the contrary,
the devotion of the sefsh, whether it be thought
to avert the punishment which every one wishes
to be inflicted, or to insure it by the complica-
tion of hypocrisy with guilt, never fails to ex-
cite indignation and adherence. Carazen, there
fore, when he had locked his door, and, turning
round with o look of suspicion, proceeded to
the mosque, was followed by every eye with
silent malignity; the poor suspended their sup
plcation when he passed by; and ttasssa he
was known by every man, yet no man saluted
him.
Such had long been the life of Carazan, and
such was the character which he had acquired
when notice was given by proclamation that he
was removed to a magnificent building in the
midst of the city, that his table should be
spread for the public, and that the stranger
should be welcome to his bed The multitude
soon rushed like torrent to his door, where
they beheld him distributing bread to the hun
cry, and apparel to the naked-his eye soften.
cd with compassion, and his check glowing with
delight. Every one gazed with astonishment
at the prodigy, and the marmur of innumera.
Bile voices increasing like the sound of approach.
ing thunder, Carazan beckond with his hand
attention suspended the tumult in moment
and he thus gratifed the curiosity which hat
procured him audience:
"To Him who touches the mountains anG
they smoke, the Almighty and the most Merci
full, be everlasting honor. He has ordained
sleep to be the minister of instruction, and hi
visions have reproved me in the night. As
was setting alone in my harem, with my laml
burning before me, computing the product o
merchandise, and exulting in the increase Of my
wealth, fell into deep sleep, and the hand o
him vino dwells in the third heavens was upo,
me. beheld the Angel Of Death coming for
ward like whirlwind, and he smote me befor
| / could dapricate the blow, At the same mo