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

when, instead OF some QUE WHO neeueu my seE'
vi-rs. beheld n gray-bearded pilgrim, and
hcsrd him demand my charity. He seemed
fatigued with his journey, and ] made him vel
come to my impoverished roof" Thus Anrad
continued, relating to the caliph all which had
haupened to him on that CYentful night of his
Introduction to the reader.
As soon as his narrative was finished, the ca
Iiph exclaimed, "TrLly, Allah is all great and
al lust. and thou hast deserved thy reward"
then, turning to the one who stood next Am
rad he said, tive will now, BAHIA Dabalha,
hear from thee an explanation of matters equal
IL mysterious, but much less pleasing. You,
also. Il appears, must have been suddenly en-
riched, for although you are, in appearance, in
A low degree Of poverty, yet. this does not cor
respond with the report that you have many
thousand gold pieces. and much less with the
statement of my own officers, who have beheld
YOU counting bag after bag as you drew them
from YOUR pOnderous chest We have sent for
YOU that we might hear how this immense
wealth came into your possession" With pale
cheek and trembling limbs the miserable miser
narrated his meeting with the travellers, de-
scribcd the appearance of the old man, and his
ueculiar power, and all the other circumstances
attending his good fortune, with which We have
already been made acquainted.
When he had finished, the caliph turning to
the third one, exclaimed, in stern and whitening
tones, "Fron you, in conclusion, we demand al
explanation Of things still moro strange; even
of the cause which have enabled n poor cobbler
of Bagdad to spring from his poverty to the
endowment of the pleasures which viSieTS alone
experience, and to set at defiance the wishes of
the commander of the faithfuP himself" The
person thus addressed was filled with terror
The accusation, so unexpected, and for which
he was so unprepared, struck him with wonder
and apprehension. For a moment his fear de-
prived him Of the power Of speech, but, know
ing the inpetuosity of his sovereign, and that
any delay might exhaust his patience, and &C.
casion the loss of his own life, he Immediately
commenced an explanation with which he hoped
10 satisfy aud appease the caliph. ~ can add
little to what you have just now heard. The
one beside me has already told you that about a
month ago, while returning discOntentedly TO
our homes, we met two travellers, who, in re-
turn for our services in conducting them to an
inn, RECALLED us with a good supper and an
abundance of wine. You know that while we
indulged in the pleasures of the cnlivening bowl,
hour after hour flew away, and we continued to
imbibc draught upon draught, until every one
had left the inn except an old man who occupied
the farlheSt corner of the room. You are also
aware that, when almost Supplied in senses, we
invited him TO join us that he possessed the
singular power of granting to others any wish
they might make, and was willing to exert it
for our benefit. My companion has in addition
acquainted you with the manner in which he
took advantage of this power of our guest, and
il now remains for INC 70 explain how it was eX-
erted for my interest. l have already said that
my condition at the time rendered me incapable
Of thought or reason, and when the old man
asked for my wish, as | had always coveted
gaiety and splendor, answered that / waited a
palace and %luXuries. He said that all should be
mine, and then gave inc n ring possessing the
mysterious property of compelling all before
whom l should hold it, to yield obedience to my
commands"
As ustapha reached this part of his narrative,
and while he was declaring the attributes of the
ring, the thought struck him that If he had I'M
consciously set at nought the orders of the
sovereign, it must have been by its virtue, and
that the same agency would enable him not
merely successfully to resist, but likewise to
control the caliph. All this passed through his
mind ere he had finished the last sentence, and,
without pauSing, although he had not fully re-
solved to try the experiment, he raiscd nlott his
hand ON which sparkled the mystic ring, eX-
claiming, this is the old mau's gift" The
murmur Of surprise, and the instantaneous pros
tration of the assembly, determined him in his
course, and, with a confident air and unShrink-
ing audacity, he continued, with this l have
entered the palace Of a visor! with this | have
procured all that my appetite can desire with
this ] have treated your commands lightly, aud
with this will and do / now order you from
your tIrOne!" AShe pronounced the last words
he stepped towards the throne, as though he eX-
pected its occupant to shrink from him in terror;
but deathly was the ,Pallor which overspread
the countenance Of Mustapha as n laugh of pity
Ing contempt escaped the caIiph's lips, aud
sPringing from his scat, while his form was
drawn up to its full height, and his hand sought
the hilt of his fCimetcr, he exclaimed, ''ThOu
SenselcSs fOoll from this moment thou art the
the victim of pcrdition. Know, for thy con-
tent, that thou art as impotent rs the breath
which thou hast just wasted. Learn that the
ring with which thou didst hope TO reduce me
to subsection, is my own Signet ring. l was
the old man whom you met at the inn. l heard
your impious discomfort, your sinful accusa-
tons of Gods justice when you stood with Am
rad at the corner Of the street. 1 supplied you
all with the objects of your wishes, and allot-
ted a month during which you might pursue
Your own courses: but your time has expired
and you are now in my power, to be dealt with
according to your deserts. Upon you, Musta-
pha, who could rail at the extravaganza Of my
atluent subjects, and yet exhaust in a month the
ample revenues of a vizier, L pronounce death.
ion, BAHIA Dabalha, who could pirate of your
knowledge Ofthe manner in which money should
be spent, and yet starve yourself when in the
possession of thousands, must ere sunset, be
beyond the limits of my Kingdom; but thou,
Anrad Muldilla, from this moment art my chief
Ilz'er, and even that high office, with all its
llnOOrc md oIy,-t.rn.. 2, tHk u. ,,Nos anyr,E al af