Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-10-25

NO sooner ala tnelr eyes meet III iuii SdZe tildn
both felt faint at heart. The lady turned very
pale, and leaned her head upon the cushion; the
madens, raising the trembling liamed. led him
10 her side. They talked for hours; not of them
selves, but of love: and eXpatiated eloquently on
the happiness of meeting, whist the attendants
played their lutes, or sang songs illustrative OF
their situation. The shadows oinight were COM
ing on, when peculiar sound at the outer gate
announced that the father Of the maiden, whose
name was Leilah, had come to visit her. So,
Hal Hamed was thrust unceremoniously forth;
and was awakened from his dream of happiness
amid the deepening gloom Of the forest lie re-
turned bowed down and heavy hearted to the en-
clmpment.
Many thoughts kept him awake for many
hours it was not until the sky that stretched be-
twixt the mountain tops overhead had begun TO
whiten, that at length overcome with fatigue, he
fell asleep Pleasant visions spake beneath his
eveds. When he awoke. the tents were struck.
the camels were laden, and the people were fling
off ''Why this hurry ?'' he cried. "Was not
this pleasant place to tamy in? Time is eter-
nal. There is no need to hasten from the pres
ent, which Is joyful, TO the future, which IS luIl
of danger" Several merchants thought he was
jeering them for their philosophy OF the previous
day. and fastened TO complete their arrangements
and follow the caravan. Hamed's camels had
been laden by his servants, and were ready to
proceed He hesitated moment; but, renem,
berng his debt to Kodadad cried "March !" and
went away with his heart full of new recoilec-
tions.
The journey was prosperous, but tedious
When the caravan reached Damascus, the mar
ket was found TO be encumbered with merchan-
disc: and sales were with difficulty elferted.-
| Month after month passed away; most OF iamed =
bales still remained on his hands The MIN
month from the time of his departure had arrived,
and he was beginning 10 despair OF b ing able 10
perform his engagements. Al length, however. a
merchant about TO proceed TO Bagdad. made him
an advantageous offer for the whole of his stock,
and he was enabled TO depart, after having real
ised good profit. Several accidents and delays
occurred on the journey but the caravans reached
the valley. one march from Tarsus. on the eve OF
the day when Iiamed had promised payment to
Kodadad Most of the merchants immediately
rode forward to glad their families and friends /;
but our young merchant, feeling his love for Lei
ah revive with intensity, determined to spend
that day in endeavorlng to obtain an interview
with her. He wandered into the mountains, en-
deavorinr to follow the same track as before; but
although he several times imagined he recognised
the trees aud the rocks. his search was unsuccesS-
fnl All was wild, and seemingly uninhablted
He called aloud "Leilah !" but the echoes only
answered, ''la. lai"-no. no; and when night
came. he knew not which way to turn. 30 he
sat down beneath a huge sycamore to wait patient
ly until the morning.
When light came, he remembered his promise
to Kodadad He was to pay the hundred dlnarS
,nI o,to tD
foot over the mountains. for he knew the general
direction in which it lay. Many hours of travel
were before him hut he was light Of foot. and at
lenpth beheld in the distance the minarets of the
city. and the winding course of the river. Sud
denly, the landscape dlrkened. Clouds seemed
to come out of every valley. aad to inundate the
plain. The rain fell; the wind blew. lie has
tened onward clutching the leather purse in
which he carried his wealth. and Invoking the as
sstance of the prophet. When he reached the
banks of the river. he heard through the mist,
muezzin procaimng the hour of noon from dis
tant mosque. The waters were turbulent. No
ferry boat was in sight 1t was impossible to
cross. Hal Hamed prayed; aud an idea cane to
his mind. He plucked large reed, and followed
it. and placed therein a hundred pieces OF gold,
and tied other reeds to it, and fi,ated this raft
upon the stream. and confided in the mercy of
God.
Now, it happened that Kodadad, remembering
Hal Hamed's promise, had gone to his kloslue
that day, to wait for his money. The wind blew !;
the rain fell. The debtor did not appear. wv e
must allow him an hours grace; for the storm Is
violent" said Kodalad. The muezain chanted
the hour of noon The merchant called to his
slave to bring another pipe Presently, a bundle
of reeds came floating along the misty waters;
black boy stopping forward seized them as they
passed He was about to cast them away again.
when the unusual weight prevented him. ''Mas-
ter" said he, this is a read ofIead." The mer-
chant. who wished to pass the time, told him TO
break the reeds lie did 50, and 10! hundred
glttering pieces of gold fell suddenly upon the
pavement of the kiosque
This story which is told in many different
ways. illustrates the Oriental idea of mercantile
prabity. Turkish merchants, in dealing among
themselves, are famous for keeping their engage
ments with scrupuous exactiude; and the exam
Dle of Hal Hamed is often cited as u model. OF
course it is understood that The debt, all in good
Golden dinars, came to It's destination in some mi
raculous way; the Prophet being always deeply
interested in the good deeds al his servants. The
VOunU merchant was not without his reward
His credit was in future unlimited But not only
So; Koda rad insisted on giving him his daughter
in marriage And it will surprise none but very
matter of-tact ppople-to whom we do not address
this egend-that his daughter turned out TO be
the same very imprudent Leilah, whose fasclna-
ton had nearly caused Hal lIamed to dishonor his
verbal promisory note. We learn. moreover. that
she settled down into must prudent and eXem-
plary wfe-whlch relieves our mnd-for, except
under extremely Oriental circumstances, we
should not recommend her conduct for imitation.
A TnrGu WlrNEss.-We strongly suspect.