True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-12-10
The Treasure of Rampsinitus.

DldcKWoOu contains The following version
Of the old but excellent story OF Herodo-
tus, about the treasure of the Egyptian
King, Rampsinitus
Rampsinitus had more money Than
he knew what TO do with, SO he ordered
stone building to be made, one of the
walls of which was joined to an outer
wall of his own dwelling. Wishing to
make all safe, he ordered the building 10
be made without an entrance, 50 that the
treasure being built in could never be
got out again without pulling down the
wall. The architect, however, thinking
it pity that the treasurs should be Of
no use 10 any oae, and that The king
would scarcely perceive certain amount
Of subtraction, devised stone in the wall,
which was in appearance as fast as the
rest, but really moved by secret spring,
and thus supplied his necessities from
time to time from the kings hoard. This
went on for all his life. On his death
bed the old scoundrel instead of repent
ing, let his two sons into the secret Of the
movable stone, consoling his conscience
with the aatlering JUNCTION that he was
thereby securing a livelihood for his chill
dren without greatly hurting any ONE
The sons felt themselves in duty bound to
help themselves. in accordance with their
fathers wishes. But they were moi so
fortunate as he was, for one day the new
king took it into his head to pull down
the wall and have look at his treasure.
What was his astonishment when he saw
that good part of il had been spirited
away. All the seals were safe, and
there was no window, door, or chimney.
He thought his father must have made a
mistake as to the original amount so lie
plastered the hole up again, and opened
II somUrimu after, second time. The
treasure had suffered further Gimi.
mutton. However, he set man traps
among the Golfers, built the place up
again, opened it again, and found, not a
man, but mans body, with the leg fast
in a gin and the head gone; still there
was no sign Of entr ance or exit.
Rampsintus now thought he had hit
on device to catch the theft. He hung
up the body in public place, and set
guards by it. ordering them to appreherd
any one they might see making demon
strations Of grief before it.
The mother of the dead man was hor-
rifed at this exposure Of the corpse, and
so after making some difficulties, her re-
viving son determined to rescue it. He
provided himself with several asses, and
loading them with skin Of wine each,
drove them on till he came to his brothers
corpse, and those who were watching it.
Then he managed to unfasten two Or three
of the skins SO that the wine ran out, but
in such manner that it seemed acciden-
tai. This part Of the story shows of how
old origin is the image breaking dodge,
said to be still sometimes practsed in the
streets Of London. Then he began beat
ing his head. and cursing his stars. as moi
knowing which ass was losing most wine,
and being, consequently, in a difficulty
which way to run to The rescue. The
| guards, in high gee, and thinking it a
good joke, all ran to fetch vessels to catch
the wasting wine, while he pretended to
be in passion with them, and began
abusing Them, which, under the circum
stances, amused them sill more. Hav-
ing thus got them into high good humor,
he ended by appearing to make it up and
giving them one Of the skins to drink
When they were royalty drunk, and all
asleep, he stole away his brothers. carcas
and not content with the completeness O.
this job, left all the guards with thei,
whiskers shaven off The king when h,
heard Of the stealing away Of the corpse
was in a greater rage than ever, but h
kept it 10 himself, and was determined
to find out the theft al any price.
Rampsinitus employed his daughter d
the detective, and she, watching her op
portunily, extracted confession from II,
culprit, and Immediately after she haC
heard it, seized him by the arm. H,
was prepared for this, and ran away
leaving false arm in her hand. Th
). confession was in answer 10 the question
wha. was the wlckedest and wsest thin
he had ever done. The wickedest thin
he allowed 10 have been beheading hi
brother, when be was caught in the trap
t 10 prevent recognition, and the wises
r thing making the kings guards drunk an
, carrying of the hody. This new escap
. brought he kings rage TO "A climax, and
evapOrated in admiration of the exceedin
a cleverness Of this prince of artful dodger:
: So he made a proclamation promising
free pardon, and all kinds of tavors beside
: if the party would disclose HIMSELF
The theft trusted The king, and the kin
g rewarded him by giving him his deIectiy
daughter. in marriage, considering hir
a worthy Of that honor, as being the mos
knowing of all men; for that the EgyE
. tians were the shrewdest of mankipC
4 and he was the shrewdesl Of Egyptians
k9- A Yankee doctor has recently &c
, nm n remedv for hard times. Il cOnsis