The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1855-08-02
The English Merchant and tho
Saracel Lady.
BY GRACE GREENWOOD.

In the reign Of Henry. the First Of
England. called Beauclerc, or Fine
Scholar, for be was actually SO well
learned that he could write Ii $ own name
"a great attainment for kjng in those
days there lived III London Il rich younls
merchant named Gilbert a Becke,.
In that simple old time. the wonders of
science and art. among which We walk and
live Ju.t as If they had alwaA been-jike
the trees, the flowers, tbs sky and tile
stars--were never thought Of or dreamed
OF. except by the great poets who may be,
with their prophet eyes, looked away inlo
the far future, and saw them looming up
above the coming ages, like mount IN
peaks IN the distance 1T landscape -
Then the great oceans could heave tnd
swell. and roar, aud rage and toss the
mad foaming waves up at the SKY, a. II
to def, the great G u AID tbcn obedient
TO his will grow quiet and sm0o h again.
year alter year, without one sin dc ship
venturIng over thfir vast expansc-to be
made AFRAID Of their siole.ce. 0r n tered
by their calm-ad all the commerce OF
the world was scarcely equal 0 that o.
The smallest and poorest kingdoms Of our
times. Then. gong to sea wa, consiIeled
more perI.us than going to battle veyl
gers n,ver failed - make Their wills and
set their worldly afftrs IN order, be,y e
weighing anchor and Ealing for foreign
parts. 70 be sure. il hiss lately seemed
very much IS though we were fast i, 8u
back To those old doubtful dangerous tim 5
hose dark ages Of naygau n. I'd TIA /
after all our wonderful lnprov' menls IN
discoveries. we cen count but very /. lle
upon safe and perop> voyages
But to fetura 10 Gilbert cHet. IL
WIS thought a brave adteu urous man
when he left hts cornlor. ab|e Eogh,h home.
and sale for the Hoy Land, to traae
with the rich Syrians for satins. velvet ard
gems, which be meant o hItg To England
and sell at great pr fit, He PROBABLY al
cuated by this speculation 10 double his
fortune. AMI perhaps be alb TO buy 4 Il.
and SO become one OF the nob S ii the
Land, aud live in brave castle, where Ms
won receive tie king aud couri, and
en- ertan them in prluee'y sy le. Ia
alas titles aud royal guest, were not f9f
him, and al the castle he was ever 10 Y
claim 70 was such n "cissle IN the alr,
as any one ofus may build. IL aas taken
prisoner b. the Turks. rubbed Of his ship.
sold as slave. fettered aud set at work III
the palace gard MS Of Mahnoud, errib,,
fierce eyed. black hearted big turbanel
Saracen chief
1t was a very hard fortune. that Of poor
Gilbert. He was obliged 10 toll f.om
morning till night, q gging and spad ng
planting and wedding, and all the willie
with the disadvantage of not knowing much
about the garden business, and of h wing
heavy chain dragging and clanking Al
his ankles. You may depend hat he ielt
that if he could get safe back to England
he would never more aspire to castles aud
titles, nor trouble himself if the king and
court never should eat good dinner or
shake their heels at ball again
But often out Of our greate,t mis- forlune
comes our best good and happiness
hope and joy often follow times Of fear
and sorrow, as beautiful ranbows are
made out of storms that have Just Oar ken
ed tie sky and beaten down the flowers.
One evening just as the muezzein WIS
calling all the pious Mussulmen to pray
ers, Gilbert Beoket stood leaning against
a palm. resting little from his daily toll,
and thinking longingly of bis county and
home. just then, young Saracen lady
OF marvellous beauty called Zarira, chaac-
ed thai way on her evening w~lk, and was
very much struck By the appearance OF
the strangen In truth, as Gilbert stood
there leaning SO gracefully agsinst the
palm. with bis pale face cast down. and
..is soft auburn hair half yelling his sad
eyes-to say nothing Of his long golden
eye lashes. and his curling sken nous
tache, he was very handsome and IN
teresting young man, and in spite Of the
gardeners dress and that slavish chain,
looked AS proud and noble as prince
Zarina thought 50. and though very
modest and timid, drew nearto speak a.
few kind words 10 him. He looked up
at the sound of her light step, and,
for the first time for mary months, he
smiled. gladdened BY the light Of her
beautiful innocent face.
The ballad does not tell Just how these
two became acquainted, but it is certain
they soon grew to be excellent friends, AMI
managed to meet OF en-, and h I'VE long
walks and talks in the shaded bowers OF
Mahmond's gardens. They first talked /
OF the birds and fowsrs. then OF the stars
and the moonlight. then Of love. and hen
al God. Gi bert told Zarina re the Chris