Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-10-05
THE MOON OF THE MOUNTAINS
DY EMERSON BENNETT.

Three brothers, named ShafrAs, we're one day
walking along one of the principal streets Of
BAg1ad, in Asiaie Turkey, when the eldest sud.
denly stopped, end said, pointing to a stranger
on the opposite side:
Behold tho Afghan, whom we have SO long
sought in vain!"
Then 10. him no; escape uo again! replied
the other tSO; and all shree ran over to the
stranger, who looked around In surprise and
alarm.
"GOd is God--feaF nOt!' salutsd the eldest
brother. "Is Is Sbsf as Of Bissora, whom thou
dIdst once seek, to dispose OF great diamond,
called Moon Of the Mountains and other pre-
cious slopes. These are my brothers, who
reiolce with me to have found thee, because we
nov wish 10 plrchase."
"Alack for ye, good masters, am 10 Logger
the owner OF those glitterlng treasuses!"
| "Wbat hast thou done with then2p
"AllGh be praised! have az last lust sold
them to the Jew Motdeesi of this city"
"At what prIce"
"Sixty.aVo thousand piasteEs and fuo span
Of horses
"ThOu wass fool and MordecaI kusyem
rCjoined SbafrsP, With Oh snery sueer. al
would have given thee doRblew
"God ia great-~thou dldst have ihez offered
thee for hSlf-apd more fool thou that thou
dldst not purcha, then"
"Because | thought thee 8 thief, and ny
conscience forbade. But let the past 20. Where
lives Mordecai the JeW7"
"I will show ye, good masters-ao shall there
be no i'll will between us."
The Afghan led the way, and pointed out the
reeidence Of the Jew, on the bank of the river
TIgris. The brothers then parted from the
Afghan with friendly words, and the eldest
went in 10 bargain with the Jew.
"Son OF larael," he said lu tone of a,t.
terry. to tho present owner of the royal gems,
/" thou hast In Thy possession diamond called
the moon Of the Mountains, a sapphire called
the Eye Of Allah and several other precious
stones, which thou didst lately purchase of
wandering afghan, who oame not BY them hon.
estly. do not seek to take them from thee
unfairly, but Will give thee good recompense on
:hy hargain.H
"How much7" inquired the Israelte, with
the hard, eager look of one who knew hia own
businGss aud the value OF what he held.
"Tnou dicet give eixsy five thousand pIssters
and o span Of hosrss-I will give thee seventy.
6ve thousand and take the rick"
81 will noe endapger thee by selling" re.
turned the other, with covert eneer.
81 will double thy purchase money" said
Shsfras
Tbs Jew lsughed-a cold, hard, knowing
laugh.
''Nn. for . million will sell to thee" he
rejoined. "Go thy way! thou knowest not Che
value Of what thou wouldst buy"
The Armenian departed, cursiDg the Jew iu
his heart
"He knows too much for us--he will not sell
--lhe jewish dog" said Shafrss, with bitter
anger, on rejoiniDg bis brothers.
"Then we must take!' returned the youngest,
with significant look, which he saw mirrored
in the eyes Of his elder kusmen.
They went away aud laid their wicked plsuI
together. The night following, Mordecal the
Jsv was awakened from his sleep 30 ,fud the
knives Of three murderefs aud robbers at bis
breast They speedily dispatched !him, and
threw his dead body from window OF his own
dwelling into the river Tigrls. They then
ssiEsd oil bis jewels and money, and got safely
away, without creating an alarm. Who cared
sbont the murder Of a single, lonely Jew 10 the
city Of Bagdad2 ,
bro,hors met by chance the Afghan stranger.
'.Whas luck my msstersf" ho Inquired.
"Gud is GOO! ard Mahometi is dis Peophet.''
. replied the eldest. "The Jewels are ours; and
in our tent, to.day, jast witbous the limits Of
che city" -
The transporting stranger weutwI.h them 10
their tent, In secluded spot, on the bank OF
the Tigris, above The city aud thero ate Bile lasl
meal They carried deadly poison with them,
/ and Mingled IL with his food. They then rob
bed anu cast his dead body into the river,
Saving; a.s ,o,e el..9. =
"Go, fool, and Join the dog of Jewl thus
do We destroy all dangerous knowledge Of the
/ precious stonee." 4~ g ~ 81 Fesasn1
D They then gathered up their tent mounted
!. their camels, and FASTENED away to deaes
}. place, where they halted to examine theiI
treasures and make division OF their spoils. :
0 The money was soon equally divided, and with
out words. Not 90 the jewels, which were Q