Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1856-02-16

frequently Oh LIE HappiHess ~ H'eesihS,
while the attendants played on their
lutes, or sang songs Illustrative of their
situation. The shadows Of night were
coming on, when a peculiar sound at the
outer gate announced that the father OF
the maiden, whose name was Leilah, had
come 10 visit her. So Haj Hamed was
thrust uncereinoniously forth and was
awakened from his dream of happiness
amidst the deepening gloom of the for
est. Ha returned bowed down and
heavy>heafted to the encampment.
Many tt oughts kept him awake FOR
many hours; it was not until the sky
that stretched between the mountain tops
overhead had begun to whiten, that at
length, overcome by fatigue, be fell
asleep. Pleasant visions spake beneath
bis eyelids. When he awoke, the tents
were struck, the cameIs were laden, and
the people were filing off. "Why this
hurry !" he cried. "Was not this a
pleasant place to tarry in? Time is
eternal. There is no need to hasten
from the Present, which is joyful, to the
future which is full of danger" Several
merchants thought he was jeering them
for their philosophy of the previous day,
and FASTENED to complete their arrange
ments, and follow the caravan. Haned's
came's had been laden by his servants,
and were ready to proceed. He hesitat-
ed a moment; but remembering his debt
to Kodadad, cried, 'March !" and went
away his heart fall Of new recollections.
His journey was prosperous, but tedi-
GUS. VIII en- the caravan reached Dams
ascus, the market was found to be en-
numbered with merchandise, and sales
were with difficulty effected. Month
after month passed away most OF Ha-
med's bales still remained on his hands.
The fifth month from the time of his de
parture had arrived, and he was begin
ming to despair of being able to meet his
engagements. AT length, however, a
merchant about to proceed to Bagdad,
made him an advantageous offer for the
whole of his stock, and he was enabled
to depart. after having realized a good
profit. Several accidents and DELAYS oc-
Cured on the journey; but the caravans
reached the valley, on march from Tar
sus, on the eve of the day when Hamed
had promised payment to Kodadad.-
Most Of the merchants Immediately
rode forward to glad their families aud
friends; but our young merchant, feeling
bis love for Lellah revive with intensity,
determined to spend that day 10 endeav>
oring 70 obtain an interview with her.
He wandered into the mountains, en-
deavuring to follow the same track as
before; but although he several times
imagined he recognized the trees and
the rocks, his seares Was unsuccessful
All was wild and seemingly uninhabited.
He called aloud "Leiiah!' but the
echoes only answered, "la la ."-no no:
and wien night came, he knew not
which way to turn. So he sat down
beneath a huge sycamore to wait pa
tiently until the morning.
When light came, lie remembered his
promise to Kodadad. He was to paw
the hundred dinars at noon. He deter
mined to hasten to Tarsus on foot over
the mountains, for he knew the general
direction in which it lay. Many hours
Of travel lay before him; but he was
light Of foot, and at length beheld in
the distance the miaarets Of the city.
and the winding course OF tie river. Sud
denly the landscape darkened. Clouds
seemed to come out of every valley, and
to inundate the plain. The rain fell
the wind blew. lie FASTENED onward,
clutching the leather purse in which he
carried his wealth, and invoking the as
sistance Of tue prophet. When he reach
ed the banks of the river, he heard,
through the mist, II muezzin proclaiming
the hour Of noon rom the distant mosque
The waters were turbulent. No ferry
boat was in sight. 1t was impossible to
cross. Hal Hamed prayed and an idea
came to his mind. He plucked a large
reed, and hallowed it, and placed therein
a hundred pieces of gold, and tied other
reeds to il, and loated this raft upon the
stream, and confded it to the mercy of
God.
Now it happened that Kodadad, re-
membering Haj Hamed's promise, had
gone to his kiosque that day to wait for
his money. The wind blew; the rain
fell. The debtor did not appear. ave
must allow him an hours grace, for the
storm is Violent" said Kodadad. The
muezzin ehanted the hour of noon. The
merchant called to his slave to bring
another pipe. Presently, a bundle Of