Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1857-07-01
n HAPPIN e. s.;
THE MERCHANT OF BALSORA.

ABOU DEN ADHEM ktHay hioS ihSAS'''S'
Awoke one night from deep dream of peace,
And saw within the moonlight of his room,
Making it rich, like lily in bloom,
An angel writing in a book of gold
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the presence in the room he said
{ What writest thou?' The vision raised his head,
And in voice made all of sweet accord,
Answered, the names of those who love the Lord
And is mine one q Ben Adhem asked Not So,
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low
But cheerily still, pray thee, then,
Write me as one who loves his felow-men.'
The angel wrote, and vanished The next night
He came again with great wakenng light,
And showed the names whom love ofGod had blest;
And 10 BEN ADHEM's name led all the rest!
Leigh Hunt.
Among the merchants of Basora, Abou
Ben Adhem was distinguished by his wealth
and honesty. No man was more upright in
his dealings, or more punctual in his pay
ments; he was honored and respected; bis
warehouses were filled with rich goods and
the profits he derived from his occupation
were immense. For the most costly silks
and embroidery, application was made to
Ben Adhem, and the sultan and mobiles be-
slowed on him their favors. And the mer-
chant was supposed to be happy. But when,
on some sudden flood of prosperity, he was
told that he ought to be the happiest Of men,
he shugged up his shoulders, and answered
with sigh
Abou was an upright man; he was pune
tual in his payments, because his purse was
always full, and he had no occasion to bid his
creditors call again. Punctual himself, he
expected every body with whom he had deal
ings to be as punctual in their payments to
him. He was devout man; he went to
mosque as frequently as the most pious inhab-
itants of Balsora and was as fervent in his
prayers. He never failed to return thanks to
Allah, for any good fortune that might befall
him. One day some expensive silks, which
he expected would have proved Improbable,
were purchased by the sultan, and he realiz-
ed considerable more than he ever anticpat-
ed. He returned thanks to heaven, and i'm
mediately after his thanksgiving he gave Or
ders for the imprisonment of two debtors who
had failed in their payments. They were
imprisoned by his orders and bastinadoed.
Abou was called upon to subscribe to a
fund for some charitable purpose; he consider
ed it to be his duty to give his mte and he
was happier after he had contributed to the
charitable fund than he ever was before. He
felt assured that Allah approved of his con-
duct A poor christian, who had been en-
ployed by benevolent merchant, then de-
ceased, came 10 state of destitution to Abou's
gate, and begged for food. Abou Ben Ad-
hem ordered that the christian dog should be
driven away, and instead of bread he receiv-
ed the lash.
And Abou wondered that he was not hap
py. He was wealthy, esteemed and honored.
His stores were filled with goods of great val
ue; his Golfers were we'll supplied; and his
only child was the fairest and most admired
of all the maidens of Balsora.
1t was the deig hit of her life to administer
to her fathers happiness. But Ben Adhem
was not happy. His days were passed in a
fruitless longing for some indefinite and uuim-
agined pleasure, and his nights were those of
troubled, but not dreamless sleep. Once he
beheld in vision the gates of Paradise,
through which thousands of happy souls were
entering in, but when he approached, the
gates silently closed, and the songs of JOY he
had previously heard were changed into low
and distant murmurings.
Ben Adhem awoke; the dream troubled
him, and he tried to recollect what offences
he had committed that were still unrepented
of-what work of righteousness he had left
undone. But he could not charge himself
with sught.
Zaide, his daughter, met him at the first
meal with fearful eyes. Abou embraced his
child, and besought her to disclose the cause
of her grief. She was beloved by an honest
but humble youth, who was elevating him.
self day by day, in fortune and reputation,
by his perseverance and integrity, and Zaide
had given him love for love. And when Ben
Adhem asked his child what caused her tears,
she confessed to him that she loved.
swell, my dear child" replied the mer-
chant, clasping his daughter to his breast,
"mv day Of life is drawing to its close-the
sun has gone down, and the coldness and
darkness of night are approaching; it is fiji
that thou shouldst have some one to protect
thee, when am gone. And who is he thou
lovestY
"Alas! my father; I fear thou wilt visit
me with thy displeasure," replied Zaide.-
He is of inferior fortune"
That is to be regretted, Zaide. 1t woul1
have better pleased me, hadst thou fixed thy
! hearts affections unon one who was eoual tC