The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-04-28
CHAPTER w.
STABLE POLITICIANS.

Napoleon changed the world and made
presents of crowns. Stryk became the
servitor of one of these crowns, aud was
the recipient Of the greatest honors. No
man was now republican. Every one
now bent before the new power. Indeed.
no one would acknowledge he had ever
been republican, but each protested he
had never yielded to the delusion which
had SO generally prevailed. Every one
considered it shame not always to have
been royalist.
Il consider it no shame" said Stiyk,
when some alterations and disputes had
arisen between his best friends on this
topic, 81 believe you all had the popular
influenza, when it prevailed. and should
the same weather return you would again
be seized with the same complaint, it is
very possible"
What !" cried they. altogether, " do
you think US such weak and miserable
sinners ? Truly, for my own part, am
not easily infected with false political
notions, however much in vogue they
may be-"
I" You remind me-" said Stryk, of a
legend of certain Sultan of Egypt
which | have heard. This Sultan had
decided tendency towards skepticism,
and took pride in his unbelief. Nothing
was more ridiculous to him than the ac-
count given in the Koran of the Prophet
Mahomet's celestial visit. According to
the blessed Koran, the divine prophet
lay one morning in bed, when the angel
Gabriel bore him from thence through
paradise, hell, and all the seven heavens.
He there saw and heard everything
which transpired. held ninety thousand
conversations with God himself, and all
IN SO short space of time, that the
prophet found his bed warm on his re-
turn, and pitcher Of water before his
couch which he had overturned on COM
mencing his aerial flight, had not ceased
flowing on his return. The Sultan was
one day deriding the absurdity of this
narrative in the presence ofa Turkish der
wise, who had the reputation of great holi-
ness, and of having the power to work
miracles. He observed that he could
cure the Sultan of his incredibly, if
that monarch was willing to conform ex-
actly to his directions The dervise was
taken at his word, and the commander Of
the faithful was taken to tub which was
filled to the brim with water. The whole
court was present, and surrounded the
tub with feelings of great curiosity The
monk requested the prince to immerse
his whole head in the water and Instantly
withdraw it. The Sultan did So Scarcely,
however, had he so plunged his head into
the water than be found himself entirely
alone at the foot of mountain, near the
sea side. His horror can easily be imag-
ined. He cursed the treacherous der
wise, and swore never while he lived to
forgive the master sorcery which had
been practised upon him. But curses
were of no avail. He was obliged to
submit to his fate, and at that moment
he chanced to observe some persons in
the forest. They were wood cutters, and
directed him to town which was situa-
ted on the other side Of the mountain
lie gained it only to perceive that he
was on the Caspian Sea. far away from
his native land, where he was known by
no one, and where he did not dare to say
he was sultan of Egypt. After many
adventures, he gained the favor of
wealthy man and was welded 10 his love-
ly daughter. She blessed him with four
teen children = seven sons and seven
daughters. AT length his wife died, and
for many years, in consequence of yari-
Gus mistortunes, care and sickness. he
suffered the greatest misery. and at
length was obliged to beg his bread from
street to street OF the city. He shed bit.
ter tears when he compared his present
deplorable circumstances with the pomp
and magnifcence that formerly surround
ed him in his Egyptian palace. and he
considered his lot as divine dispense.
tion and chastisement for his obstinate
unbelief in regard to the blessed Koran.
He therefore resolved, as an act of PEN
anoe. to make pilgrimage to the p,oph-
cts tomb. at Mecca. though he would
be obliged to beg his way thither. He
for tunately aecomnlishad hiS nilorin,,o,