Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-12-25

arose, long before the rest of his family were
stirring, and issued forth into the open air with
a light step and a happy. countenance. lie
gazed around himaudthe objects seemed altered.
They did not wear the same appearance as for
merly. The armament above him seemed clear
er aud brighter; the meadows around him we're
more verdant, and their grassy covering had as
sumed a greener hue; the warbling OF teathery
songsters sent to his heart u more delightful
thrill; the spires and building of the neiShbor-
ing city appeared less dusky and inhospitable;
and more intensely did the fires of faith and
gratitude glow in his soul. With feelings ola
devotional character, he entered his dwelling.
and awoke his beloved ones to ajoyful and am
pie meal. They gathered eagerly around him,
the two boys climbing upon his knees, ire in
FAINT nesting in its mothers bosom, and tbs rest
pressing closely to their parents; and their little
eyes sparkled as the homely fire entered their
famished stomachs. They thought not of the
quality of what they ate; it was food, and that
was enough. Happy was that group. The
young members of it %rejoiced, because they
were supplying their natural wants, and the
parents were blessed in the felicity of their chill
dren. Having finished their hearty meal, all
commenced to pass their time in the customary
manner, except Amrad, who Immediately wen
ded his way to the city, not, however, for the
purpose of seeking employment, but for prepar'
ing to remove his family to more respectable
and comfortable quarters.
And now let us turn to Bahia Dabalha. 1t
was late in the morning when Bahia recovered
from the effects of the proceeding nights de-
bauchery, and of the opiate which had been adj
ministered to him. The sun was almost at the
meridian, as he stretched himself slowly upon
his bed, and, opening his eyes, became half con-
scious of his situation. He raised himself, and
sat upon the side of his bed, with a dull, per-
picked, and inquisitiv0 dir, US though he could
not satisfy himself of the realities of his situa-
ton, and something was wrong, yet he was at
a loss to detect it. The rays of the sun poured
full and bright into his chamber, although
it was his custom to rise long before that lumin-
airy peered above the horizon. This WAS
strange, but to account for it puzzled him.
There was q vague consciousness in him that
he could not account for this, and could clear
up the mystery in which he felt involved, by n
single fact; but to discover that fact defied all
his efforts. Something unusual seemed to have
occurred, but what or how had entirely escaped
his memory. He sat for sometime hoping that
intuition would reveal it to him, and then des-
pairing ofsuccess by this means, he began to
trace up the events ofthe few proceeding days,
with the view of obtaining the desired informa-
ton by connecting one fact with another. He
remembered well that he had started out the
morning before-his want of employment du-
ring the day-his meeting with Amrad on his
way home, and with M%ustapha. Their CONVEX
sation ut the time REQUIRED to him with perfect
freshness; and the departure of the former, and
his own walk with Mustapha were distinctly
recalled. Then their meeting with travellers,
and their entrance into the inn, and the joyful
meal, were successfully brought to his mind.
Here, however, there was a pause; the chain of
events seemed broken; memory appeared to re-
fuse any further assistance. But by continued
effort and earnest thought he was enabled to
%recollect the departure of their entertainers
from the table, and the Introduction of the wine,
but he could accomplish nothing more. lie
pressed his hand upon his brow, closed his eyes
to shut out all other subjects, compressed his
teeth with inteDseness ofthought, but it was all
in vain. Confused images of the many persons
who had entered the room, and of the glasses of
liquor, which he and his companion had swal-
lowed, met his vision. All beyond was dark;
and he knew not how or when he had arrived
at his hOme, or by what agency he had been
conveyed to his couch. His clothes had not
been removed from his body, and this assured
him that he could scarcely have retired by his
own exertions. But there was something vague
connected with this affair, which, by n species
OF instructive prompting. he believed it FAR
more important to discover than the mode of
his return. To accomplish this he toiled for
some time, and then in despair he arose to
rush into the street, and relieve himself of the
present incubus by returning to his daily occupa-
ton.
As he arose, his eye fell upon a new iron
chest, which stood in the opposite corner. nc
SB'"5 "NoAA II h+LA1 bflulI9s ulu US III pOuCu-
cd the lid, the form of the old man, his words,
and promises, appeared wildly before him.-
His hands trembled with eagerness as he raised
the lid, and q thrill of rapture pervaded his
frame ut the sight of the contents. Ten large
bags displayed themselves, n appeared to iii
the chest. lie raised one with some difficulty,
and on opening it, he gazed in ecstacy upon
the bright gold which glittered within. He
poured it out upon the floor, and toasted his
soul upon the rich pile. Then piece by piece
he weighed it on his finger, and returned it into
the bag; and as the last piece dropped in he
mutteredi in vague surprise, "a thousand pieces
As he tied up his treasure he continued to utter
inarticulate expressions of establishment ming
led with qualification; but as he was about to
return 1t to its place, he was struck with fresh
wonder aud joy as he discovered that a Sec
ond layer of bags was placed beneath Che first.
Successfully he poured forth, counted, and res
tored his riches to their receptacles; the dark
ness of evening fell upon him ore he terminated
his labor. He unused upon the singular man
ner in which his money had been acquired; he
thought ofthe greatness of his possessions: but
still he was not satisfied. He had examined
piece after piece of gold until he found himself
the master of 10000 pieces; and vet that was
not enough. He grieyed after the last bag
had been counted, that there were not more to
count-that the sum had not been doubled
That he had not wished for 10000 nieces. Tho