The mountain Democrat., 1863-07-11
xaxdI, or the vwsm Of Truth.

with their warm breath her glowing
cheeks, yet Zaydi joyed in the smiles Of
q sweet infant. Nature had blessed It
with . thousand charms health bloomed
on its check and gamboled in every limb /;
beauty had clothed it with her ever
changing robe of lOveline0s E; and genius
adorned the fair forehead with an undy-
ing halo. Happy, happy days! Zaydi
and her young child rose with the morn,
light fell their footsteps over the fragrant
dews, and eve still found them bounding
with an untired delight; but, alas one
day, when gazing with a mothers fond
and innocent pleasure on the youthful
Anne, Zaydi perceived faint, black spot,
in the center Of her darling's forehead.
Trembling with alright, she few to the
sage Abeothenon, and beseeched him to
come to the relief of the little sufferer.
Abeothenon listened to her prayer, and
FASTENED to the child. While observing
her, he behed the spot deepening and
widening until it almost overspread her
whole forehead. With a stern look,
turning to the affrighted mother he said
when, by the blessing of the great
and merciful Allah, you flrst clasped your
Ame, then an infant, in your arms.
pray ed you for the presence Of the good
fairy Bennethi, to sprinkle its fair fore
head with the pure and limpid water Of
the well of truthp"
Blushing with shame and confusion,
Zaydi answered:
"Oh, mighty Abeothenon. elated with
the Joy of a mother on clasping her first
born, I forgot the beneficent fairy; and,
beholding my child endowed with so ma
ny bright and glorious charms, awoke
not to the recollection Of my guilt till
thou hast recalled it to NY memory"
Rash woman!" said the sage, "too
soon wilt thou reap the reward Of thine
error :" and, turning from the weeping
mother, he slowly retired.
Heavily passed the hours to Zaydi.
No longer joying in the chase, she lay
listleSs and languid on her raised and
fragrant mats, gazing upon the suffering
Ane. Each day the black spot deepened
in hue. Stung with the recollection of
her guilt, and wrought almost to mad
ness, Zaydi threw herself upon the
ground, and prayed with an almost bro
ken heart, that the plague-spot might be
removed from the forehead of her dar-
ling child. Rising from her devotions,
she beheld mist moving on the bosom
of the water; and, as she watched the
phenomenon, with languid and careless
curiosity, it slowly unfurlcd, and a slight
and beautiful form stood before her. In
q sweet and plaintive voice, like the soft
murmurngs Of hidden stream, it said:
behold, Zaydi, have listened TO thy
prayer; by repentance and long travail,
thou mayst obviate the guilt which has
plunged you into such an abyss Of
misery"
JoyfulIy Zaydi welcomed the good
fairy, for she knew it was Bcnnetbi, "
the guardian Of the we'll OF truth.
kind and generous Bennethi," said
Zaydi, "by what deep penance may l
atone for my follyG Think not that l
will shrink from its performance. Oh,
blessed Allah have I not sorrowed with
more than mortal grief Speak. Ben
nethi; the wretched Zaydi entreats thy
mercy |"
MANY ard dangerous are the snares
that will surround you," said the good
fairy; but if, with firm and penitent
heart, you persevere in the path Of duty
and repentance. like the cool stream to
the fninting traveller, will the reward Of
thy toll restore thy dropping soul. The
we'll of truth lies many thousand leagues
beyond you-high and rocky mountains
must be traversed. and valleys dark and
gloomy to the sight; yet shrink not, nor
turn from thy path, though pleasure with
her ever changing garb, beckon you
from shady groves and glittering palaces.
Vain Illusions, shadows Of the imagina-
ton, heed them not" continued the good
fairy, placing on Zaydi's finger plain
crystal ring " but in the hour of trouble,
danger, or despair, gaze on this talisman,
and repeat what is thereon recorded with
firm and trusting heart. And now
take the young child by the hand-delay
not-each moment will but increase the
evil. Go and l will meet thee at the well
of truth"
On saying this, the fairy disappeared
amid the deepening shadows Of the even
ing. Zaydi, clasping Ame'S hand, com
menced her9 perilous journey. Rugged
was the way, yet Zaydi dropped not
she heard at night the roaring Of raven
Gus beasts and the shrill scream Of :he
hyena; but, undismayed, she toiled on,
nor turned aside, though many fair and
fragrant groves, filled with the sweet
notes Of Thousands of birds, met her hot
and heavy gaze. Sometimes from the
bosom of shady spot, groups Of young
,rrnothad NTH rncac 11vitn1
with welcome gestures, the weary trav-
eler. Zaydi looked at her child, and
passed on. After many months Of toll
and anguish, Anne and her penitent moth
er threw themselves beneath the shadow
Of noble tree, and endeavored to snatch
few moments repose. They slept, nor
awoke till Zaydi felt the cold and Shiny
folds of 4 serpent intwlning her. its
fierce, yet beautiful eyes, fixed on hers
with malicious and piercing look; she
trembletl and endeavoFej to fly, but more
firmly the envenomcd creature enclosed
her in its folds; another moment and the
enraged reptile wonid have inflicted a
deadly wound on the struggling Zaydi,
when suddenly she recalled to recollec-
ton her ring; looking at it, she beheld
and read aloud the tjllOwing sentence ::
Fear not; but trust in Providence
wherever thou mayst be-" instantly
pierced by an arrow from hunters bow,
the serpent, uncoiling his huge folds, fell
lifeless upon the earth. With a grateful
heart, Zaydi pursued her way ; and after
innumerable dangers, arrived at the top
of lofty mountain, whence, from afar,
she behcld the bright and placid waters
of the well of truth, sparkling in the
rays OF the ast.setting sun. joyfuiiy
they pursued their way, and, at the Gloss
of another day. Zavdi and the vounq