The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1854-12-01

hausted for me TO remount and ride. | had no
money, and could not, moreover, find fodder to
sustain him; SO / was reluctantly compelled to
part with him for fre dollars to a Betiown-
Very much did / regret the necessity of parting
with an animal which had carried ne nearly
1900 miles.
Ofthe scanty population 800 continued to
die daily. The residency was still held there;
but strict quarantine forbade my ginning ad-
mlttance there, and put up for the night in a
stable near it. An old gardener was the only
person | met there, and he was bemoaning his
father aud two sons. | was not aware of this
second visit of the plague; bat, having got into
the city, and having no friends, could not a.
gain quit it. ] therefore took up my lodging in
an old Khan, where lived economically retir-
ed, as my income compelled me to do
When all symptoms of the raging pestilence
had disappeared, and the waters Of the river,
which made a second visit 10 the city, bad a
gain subsidized to their former level, | Quilted
nay dwelling 10 seek, as | strolled forth amidst
the now desolate city, such Of my friends as
pestilence and the food had spared. 4 las how
small the number TO receive my greeting ~ hole
streets were depopuated by the one calamity
and overhrown by the other. entered several
OF the dwellings which yet remained Standing
/ What varied, what hideous scenes presented
themselves to me In some, the reputed
wealth of their former possessorS had attracted
the rob5er hordes to which have before alluded
and ali Of value had been carried of. Several
! struggles had taken place, between the invaders
and the poSseSSorS, for that which perhaps in
hat few brief hours would probably be less
than droSs to either.
Just within the entrance hall of Georgian
merchant, with whom was acquainted, there
/ lay the bodies OF slave and one of these rob-
bers. In the left hand of the latter was a rich
kalean. The slave, IN intercepting his progress,
bad been shot through the body, bat bad after
wards, It would appear, retained sufficient rner-
gy to plunge bis dagger into the heart OF his
opponent. They had both fallen together, and
must have expired at nearly the same time, for
they lay side by side-the countenance of the
robber tnrned upwards and hideously distorted,
( that OF the slave placid and mild, although his
right hand still retained its hold of the home
stricken dagger.
! fraversed my way through those apartments
that had escaped the Spoier. | wound through
halls and along passages which had formerly
resonnded with the busy din OF human voices
and human feet. Nov iow changed the Scene,
No sounds follow the ear but the almost noSe-
less echo OF my steps. Silent now and deserted
was that banquet hall; more melancholy still
the reflection that it was not again doomed to
be filled by those guests who had taken their
departure but yesterday night, to return with
renewed zeal on the morrow. They had retir-
ed to partake their last rrpose.
The bright and brilliant hue Of costly dvans
was nod dimmed By the accumulated dust OF
months A few chebOuqueS, their bowls par
tally filled, were reclining against the cush-
ions. beside them were left the ha!ffniShed
coGee-cups, with their fiagree covering of gold;
and the fancy could not but picture the host,
on the first symptom Of the malady, rising sud-
denly and staggering to his couch, from whence
death alone " as again to summon him.
There was an Armenian merchant with whom
| was acquainted, who had the good fortune 10
possess daughter, the most lovely being ] had
ever cast eyes upon. She was rather above
than below the middle height: bat her form was
OF such exquisite proportion, that her superior
height was not perceived till she stood by the
side Of others Her hands and feet were ex-
tremeiy small; her neck long and tapeIing.-
When intelligence of the plague first reached
Bagdad, had seen her stand over her younger
sister, TO whom she was passionately attached,
and with arms folded over her breast, her eyes
cast upwards and flashing through their vet
darkened fringes, as she fervently invoked hpa-
ven's blessing and protection on her and then
thought had never heheld c0untenance more
truly or Justly entitled TO be- called heavenly.
Some months had elapsed after our first ac-
quaintance. before | as made aware that Mir
lam was but waiting the return Of a Young c0un-
tryman from Aloppo, 10 be united 10 him; and
preparations were in progress for that event.
when plague for the present put stop 10 ALL
The family established quarantine; and | had
since heard TO more Of them.
The gate, as | now approached the house,
was closed struck my staff against it several
times without attracting attention, and, with a
conclusion that lis inmates had shared the fate
OF bot too many others, | was turning away
with sigh, when the wicket opened slowly, |
and the feeble voice Of the old merchant bade
me enter. grasped him by the hand he
spoke not but, reckoning me to follow him,
slowly tottered up the stairs. looked around
he was alone.
''Your daughter Miram?" said 7, in fall
tering voice. The spell was broken-the old
man threw himself on chair and gave vent to
flood of tears as these chased each other
down his venerable beard, he sobbed so piteous-
ly, that was fearful il would put an end al
once TO him and his sorrow. What moclerv
it would have been to have offered words in
consolation! ! remained gazing on him in ST.
lence. To my great relief, he at length calm
ed himself in measure, and in broken sem
tences conjured me TO forgive fathers weak
ness.
"You," said he, go Frank, are the first per-
son have seen, except those who for months
were immured within these baleful walls
R,,t t,rnn,,nI