American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-07-12
ESTABLISHED In 1926
he English Merchant q ,heallslsfsesati Lady
nr onlor orLEr,,n.oaD. J.


10 the reign Of Henry the Fitsg 81 Eng
bad called .Beaueleres or Fine Scholarrfor,
he was actually 50 learned that be could
write his own name--a great attainment
for a king in those days-there lived in
London rich young merchant named Gil
bert Beckett. ..r
lie was thought brave and adventur-
Gus man when he left his comfortable En-
glisb home and sailed for the Holy Land,
TO trade with the rich Syrians for satins,
velvet and gems. which he meant 10 bring
to England and sell at great profit. He
probably calculated by this speculation to
double his fortune, and perhaps be able to
buy title aud SO become one Of the MOBILES
of the land, and liye in castle, where he
would receive the King and court and en-
trrtain them in princly style. But alasl
titles and royal guests were not for him,
and all the castle be was ever to lay claim
to was such castle in the air, as any
one Of US may build. He was taken pris-
oncr by the Turks. robbed Of his ship,so
as slave, fettered and set at work in the
palace gardens Of MahmouI. terrible,
Gerce,eyed. blarkbearded, big turbaDcd
Saracen chief.
IL was very bard fortune, tbat of poor
Gilbert He was obliged 10 toll from
morning to night, digging and spading,
planting and wedding, and all The while
with the disadvantage Of not knowing much
about The gardening business and Of hav-
Ing a heavy chain dragging and clanking
at lis ankles. You may depend that he
felt tbatif he could gel safe back to Eng
land be would never moro aspire to castles
and titles, nor trouble himself if the king
and court never should eat good dinner
or shake their heels a. a ball again.
But often out Of our greatest misfortune
comes our best good and happiness. and
hope and JOY often follows times of fear
and sorrow, as beautiful rainbows are made
out Of storms that have just darkened the
SKY and beaten down the flowers. One
eYening, just as the muezzin was calling all
pious Musscllnen to prayers, Gilbert
Beckett stood leaning against palm tree,
resting little from Lis daily toll and think
ing longingly of bis country and home
Just then, Young Saracen lady of mar
velou' beauty. called Zarina. CHANGED that
way on her evening walk, and was very
much struck by the appearance of the
stranger. lntralh. as Gilbert stood there
leaning SO gracefully against the palm.
with his pale face cast down, and his soft
auburn hair half veiled his sad eyes-to
say nothing Of his long golden eye lashes,
and his curling silken moustache, he was
a very handsome and interesting young
mai. and in spite of that gardeners dress
and slayish chain, looked as proud and no
bic as a prince, ..
Zarina thought SO. and though she was
very modest and timid, drew near to speak
a few kind words to him. lie looked up
at the sound of her light step and for the
first time in many months, he smiled glad
dencd by the sight of her beautiful inno-
cent face. .1 o.,
The ballad does not Just tell how these
two became acquainted, hut it is certain
that they soon grew to be excellent friends;
and managed to meet often, and have long
walks and talks in the shaded bowers of
Mahmoud's gardens, They first talked of
the flowers, then of the stars and the moon
light, then Of love ana then of God, Gil
bert told Zarina of the Christians blessed
faith and related all the beautiful and mar
relous sories Of our Lord Jesus, aud Ia
rina wondered and wept and believed.
Gilbert had learned the Saraceh Ian
guage end spoke it very well, but Zarina
did not understand English at all. The
first word that she cver spoke was
yes" which Gilbert taught her to say
when he asked herif she would be his
wife, whenever he could gain his freedom.
But mouth after month, a whole year 8ent
by, and Gilbert was still captive.
One DAY, when Zarina met her lover in
a shady garden walk, She said in a low,
gentle voice, and with her teuder eyes cast
down, "I am a Christian now. dear Gil
bert; I pray to God morning and night
Thou knowest I am an orphan. l love no
one in all the world but thee; then why
should stay here? why wouldst thou lin
ger longer in bondage? Le, us fly to Eng
land! God will guide rs safely over the
wide dark waters. for we are Christians,
and need not fear anything. l will meet
thee TO night on the sea-shore, and bring
gold and Jewels enough to purchase yes
sci and skilfnl crew, and when O, rpy
Gilbert, we are aiioat on the broad blue
sea, sailing towards thy home, thou will
bless me and 1ove me-wilt thou not?"
The merchant kissed the rnaden's hand
and promised to meet her on the stand al
the appointed hour and be did not fail
but long he walked the lonely shore and nc
light footed Zarina came fitting through
the deep night shadows and stealing to his
side, North, south, east and west he look
ed-but all in vain. TIE night was clear
the winds whispered low, the little waves
slid on the shining shore, aud seemed to in
vite him TO sail away over them to the grea
seas beyond-but the stars overhead twink
ed so nierriIy and winked SO knowingl,
that he had almost fancied they had be
trayed the story of his and Zarina's Low
and intended fight. AT length he bear
quick light step, and sprang forward wit
a Joyful cry. Alas! it was not Zarins, bu
her faithful nurse, Safe, who came to tel