The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-06-26

iutcs, or sang songs Illustrative OF their situ-
alton. The shadows of night were coming
! on, when a peculiar sound at the outer gate
ann ounccl that tile father OF the maiden,
whose name was lciIah, had como to visit
! her So, Ilaj lIamcd WAS thrust unccrc-
mononsly forth; AMI WIS awakened amid
the deepening gloom of the forest. lie re-
turnc,l, bowed down and heavy hearted, to
/ the cncampmcnt.
Many thoughts kept him awake for many
: hours; it wHs not until the sky that stretch
cd bctwiyt the mountain tops overhead had
begun to Written, that ut length, overcome
with fatigue, he fell asleep. Pleasant Wis
ions spaic bcmcath his cyeIi,ls. When he
uwokr, the tents were struck, the canels
were laden, and the people were filing off,
! "Why this hurry!" lie cried. "Was not
! this pleasant place to tarry in? Time is
eternal. There is no need to hasten from
the present, which is joyful, to the fnture,
which is fnll of danger" Several merchants
thought he was jccring them for their phi
loSophy OF the previous day, and h;,stcncd
to complete their arrangements and follow
the caravan. lIMmeds camcls had been
laden by his servants, and were ready to
proceed. He hcsitatcd u moment; but, re-
mcmbcring his debt to kodadad, cried,
"March :" and went away with his heart
full of new rccollections.
Ihc Journey WAS prosperous but tedious.
! When the cavern reached Damascus, the
market was found to be encumbercd with
merchandise; and sales were with difficult
ty effected. Month after month passed n
way; most Of Iiaincds bales still remained
on his hands. The fifth month from the
time Of his departure had arrived, and he
was beginning to despair of being able to
! perform his engagements. At length, how
ever, merchant about to proceed TO bag
dad, made him IN advantageous offer for the
whole of his stock, and he was enabled to
depart, after having realized a good profit.
Several accidents and delays occurred on the
journey; but the caravans reached the val
ley, one march from Tarsus, OH the eve of
! the day when llamcd had promised pay
ment to kodalad. Most Of the merchants
imnediatcl y rode forward to glad their fam
lilies and friends; but our Young merchant,
feeling his love for Lciluh revive Will, intcn-
sity, determined to spend that day in CHI
dcavoriug to obtain an interview with her.
lie wandered into the mountains, cnleavor-
ing to follow the same track us before; but
although he several times imagined he rec
ognizcu the trees and the rocks, his search
was unsuccessful. All was wild, and seem
! ingly uninl,abitcu. lie called aloud "Lcl-
ah!" but the echoes only answered, "Ia
la!"-no, no and when night came, he
knew not which way to turn. So lie sat
down beneath Il hinge sycamore to wait pa-
tiently until morning.
When light came, lie remembered his
promise 10 kodadai. lie WIS to pay the
! hundred dinars at noon. lie determined
10 hasten to Tarsus on foot OH foot over the
mountains, for he knew the general direc.
| ton i'll which it lay. Many hours of travel
were before him; but hs. was light of foot,
and at length bchcd in the distance the
mlnarets OF the city, ana the winding course
of the river. Suddenly, the landscape dark
ened. Clouds seemed to come out of every
valley, aud to nundate the plain. The rain
fell the wind blew. Lie hastencd onward,
clutcling his leather purse in which he car
rled his wealth., and invoking tic assistance
Of the Prophet When lie reached the
banks Of the river, lie heard, through the
mist, muezzin procIaiming the hour Of
noon from distant mosque. The waters
were turbulent. No ferry boat was in sight.
1t was impossible to cross: Hal IIanlcd
prayed and ua IDEA came to his mind. lie
| Pluckcd large reed, and followed it. and
placed therein II hundred pieces of gold, and
tied other reeds to it. and tioatel his raft up.
on the stream, and confiled in the mercy of
God.
| Now, it happened that 'Kodalad, rcmc,n-
bering Hal ll;Ine,fs promise, had gone to
his ksosquc that day, IL; wait for his money.
The wind blew; tile rain fell The debtor
did notappear. ave. must allow him an
hours grace for the storm is violent" said
kodadad. The muczzin clanted the hour
Of noon. The merchant. called to his slave
to bring another pipe. Presently, bundle
of reeds came floating along the misty wa
,ters; black boy STOPPING forward seized
them rs they passed. He was about to
cast them away again, when the unusual
weight prevented him. Master" "~said he,
"this is a reed of lead" The merchant
who wished TO pass the time, told him to
break the reeds. lie did so, and 10! hun
pieces Of goltfelI suddenly upon the pave.
ment Of the kiosquc."
This story which is told in many differ
ent ways, illustrates the Oriental idea Of
mercantile probity. = Turkish merchants. in
their dealings among themselves, are IA
nous for keeping their engagements with
scrupulous exactitndc ; and tile example of
1 lIaj Ilamed is often cited as mo,lcI. OF
course it is understood that the debt, in all
| good golden dinars, came to its destination
in some miraculous way; the Prophet being
always deeply interested in the good deeds
OF ms servants. The young merchant was
hoe nHishoat his reward. His credit
was infatdfe unlimited. But not: only 60 :;
Kodadaa insisted on giving him his dauol,
ter IN marriage. Apdsit will surprise none
but sysry matter of.faaet people-to whom we
Edo not address this Observation-Disclosures.
Der stnrpd out to 81 the same verys ;mny',.
dent sLoilah, whose fssei1ation ,sl,ad tsassriv
caused Haj Hanaed todislionor his va,baI @
promissory note. We learn, moreover
| that SHE settled down into most prud.nt
and exemplary wife--which relieves ,onr