American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-05-31
LANCASTER, OHIO, THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 81, 1855


himself out on his plank, became inseisi-
ble to everything; for, like all persons Of
few ideas, he had happy knack Of falling
to sleep eztempOre.
The next morning they proceeded on
their journey, and soon came to river
which brought them to full stop, for there
was no bridge, and this happened long be-
fore ferry-boats were invented, and the
water was too deep to be forded by the lit
tie dwarf
DO you know the reason why rivers
never flow up hill?' asked Fadladdin.
Not exactly answered the other.
They can't-they are opposed by the
force of gravity. But, being ignorant of
this, how do you know they can't flow up
hill?'
why, because have seen hundreds of
rivers and brooks, and never saw one run
up hill in my life. learnt it from expe-
rience.'
'Pish what is experience to scientific
eduction? If had never seen river
in my life, or if there was no such thing in
existence, should have known that it
could not have overcome the great princi-
pie of gravitaton.'
'Then what would have been the use of
your knowledge, my good friend? But
don't let us stand talking here, but follow
up the river till we find some means ofget-
ting over.'
4 remember said Fadladdin, from
reading an ancient classic, that there is
bridge over this river somewhere, and if
we can find it, | will give you a demon
stration that knowledge is power, for if l
had not known of this bridge how could
we ever get over the river
Accordingly they passed up the banks
Of the river, the little dwarf beguiling the
way by giving the giant history of the
progress of bridge building, the various
materials of which they were composed,
the manner in which they were put to-
gether, and various other particulars. He
was Interrupted by their coming to where
a bridge had certainly been, at some time
or other, but nothing but ruins marked
where it had been.
'Thereh exclaimed Fadladdin; there it
is, and how should we have found it but
for my knowledge of fancient history? Will
you tell me after this that knowledge is not
power
Very well, replied the foolish giant;
there certainly has been bridge here at
some time or other, but it is not here now,
and your knowledge is of little use to us
at present However as you know all a
bout bridge making, suppose you set to
work; here are all the materials ready
Come, begin; there is no time to lose.'
'Pshawp exclaimed Fadaddin. You
talk like goose, as youare. know how
bridge ought to be made, ,butth is very
diAerent from making one
'HemP quoth the giant. knowledge is
power Saying which, lie put the little
dwarf in his pocket, and wadcd across the
river without difficulty.
Pursuing their journey, night overlook
them on an open plain, without house or
landmarks to be seen, but the moon was
at the full, the stars twinkled bright, and
they found no difficulty in pursuing their
way. The dwarf beguled the time by
treating Wapwallop with lecture on as
tronomy. He told him of the laws that
governed the stars, the planets, and all the
host of heaven which now had their eyes
upon them. He went on to explain the
process by which vapors and clouds are
formed, and was proceeding to still high
er matters, when suddenly they found
themselves in utter darkness. A black
cloud had gradually enveloped the moon,
obscured the stars, and spread over the
entire armament. Itwas dark as pitch,
and they stumbled about among rocks,
briers and pitfalls until the little dwarf was
quite exhausted, and would proceed no
further He sank down to the ground,
and called on the giant for help.
MY dear friend said Wapwallop, you
understand all about the moon, the stars
and the clouds; why don't you exert lit
tie ofyour power over them, and send the
clouds about their business, that we may
find our way out of this quagmire into
which have just plunged, ankle decp?-
Come, bestir yourself, and set this matter
right
'AhP sighed Fadladdin, in a feeble
voice, for man with two heads, you GER
tainly have less brains than justly comes
to your share. Igovern the planets, the
stars and the cloudsl You might as well
set a fly to guide the chariot of the sun.
Truly you are great blockhead, like all
other giants l have ever read of. l don't
believe you have sense enough to make a
marriage lawful
'HemP quoth the giant. knowledge is
certainly power-there is not the least
doubt of it,
Saying which, he put the little dwarf in
his pocket, and managed at length to stum-
BILE upon forest, where they agreed to
rest their weary limbs for the night. All
was darkness, rendered more intense by
the thick branches of the trees; and the
dreary silence was only interrupted by the
bowling of tigers, wolves, aud other beasts
of prey, gradually gathering around on
every side. The little dwarf crept close to
the giant, and, feeling himself now quite
safe, and havingrecovered from his fatigue,
began to instruct the giant in the instincts,
habits and character of the various ami
mails that were prowling around. He told
him how many species of each there were,
and in what they differed from each other,
and finally talked Wapwallop fast asleep.
But he was soon walked up by the out
cries of Fadladdin, and, looking around, it