The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-04-07

and tears.
THE CHRISTIAN AND THE ARaB.-Jour.
neying across the Arabian desert, Chris.
tian traveller was taught some things that
he did not know before or, if he once
knew had forgotten thtm. His tent was
pitched for the night. His guides, gcnu.
inc Bodouins, were around him. They
sat silently musing, each lost in hi. own
thoughts, when suddenly the sheik exclaim-
ed What strange men you EnglisAmen
are %
"How soH Why do you think Us
stranger
You never fast" said he.
"Not often, replied the traveller laugh.
ing'y; that is when we can get anything
to cat"
The Arab laughed too that evening
we had suppcd sparoely from necessity.
But" said he, 4" is i. not part of your
religion? You do not pray you do not
give aims you do nothing"
This was home.thrust, and my con.
science felt it. I had looked upon the
poor fellows around me as so bigoted in
their faith, and had considered myself 80
completely in their power, that I deemed
it prudent to avoid every topic that might
rouse their passions. In my solitary tent
at midday I read the word of life but I
had concealed with jealous care from my
guards the knowledge that I carried about
M the " Christians Koran )" and when
at morning and night I commended my.
self in prayer to God my Maker, through
Christ my Savior, I had drawn close
arond me the curtain Of the tent, and whi..
pered low and fearfully, lest I should be
overheard.
"You have no religion" said the sheik
"you do not pray you do nothing"
"God forgive me-" I thought. The
rebukc is not altogether unjust"
Nov we," continued my reprover
and he went on boastingly to tell what
their prophet required Of them, and how
faithful was their obedience in matters Of
devotion, charity and .elf.denial and
while he spoke I lifted my heart to God,
and sought courage to bear feeble testi.
mony to his word. When the shek pau.
sed, put my hand into my bosom, and
drew forth New Testament.
I have religion" I said. Would
you like to hear what 1t teaches on these
high matters
Certainly would I tell him ?"
BY this time the attention of all m7
guard was directed to me. Their quick,
sparkling eyes were fixed fercely, as I
thought, upon me, their dark visages look.
ing more grim by the flashing FIRE around
which they were seated and their hands
were ready to grasp weapon that would
speedily bring down vengsnce upon the
head of the in6dei dog who should dare to
blaspheme their prophet.
Listen" said, as I opened the Tes.
lament at the sixth chapter Of the Gospel
according to St. Matthew. you speak
of almsgiving hear what my Koran says
about aims :" and I rendered into Arabic
the FIRST four verses, Take heed that ye
do not your aims before men, to be seen
cf them" etc. When I stopped I looked
up, and the dark countenances around me
were glistening, but not with anger.
GOOD !" exclaimed the sheik I" this
is very good 60 on"
l gathered courage, and read again :
"And when thou prayest," etc. read,
trauslating as I read. to the fifteenth verse.
Again I looked around me.
Bismillah but this is wonderful
wonderful !! exclaimed ono to another
stroking their boards; wonderful !" and
every harsh and forbidd,ng feature wa.
softencd down to quiet, calm attention.
"More more"
I read on " Moreover, when 70 fast, ;
etc.
Bismillah I" exclaimed the shsik
"but this is wonderful !"
Ineeded no further urging on. Vsrs'
by verse, paragraph. by paragraph ! reat
on to the close of the chapter. interrupted
by the EXPLANATIONS of wonder and appro
baton.
"Wonderfulp p said my worthy friend