The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-09-06

Ntl ~ va lii' III wv 'sl't lilB
this faculty, which levels mountains,
dries seas, fills " valleys, and creates
at the least touch paradise in the de-
scrt. During his first days journey,
Siibbi was indebted to his Imagination
for immunity from hunger and thirst !;
but on the second morning he was fain
to have recourse to the provcrbial hos
pitality Of his country-men, and beg II
little bread to preserve his stomach
from a complete collapse. The more he
pondered on his situation, the less en-
viable did it begin to appear. Who
would be the purchaser Of the gem he
had found? Might he not be suspected
of having stolen it, he bastinadocd upon
the solcs of his feet till he should be
half dead? Who would give credit to
story Of the ci3tern and the ruined city?
"Vcrily," though he, "thcy will say it
is an imposture; and may be condemn
ed and put to death as Il thief" Being,
nevertheless, persuaded that nothing
can happen but what is written, he
himself with the reflection,
that if he were hanged, it could only
be in accordance with destiny. On,
therefore, he went, and in due !imc ar
rived at Cairo.
In that great city, which, in miniature
represents the whole cast, he found II
caravansary suited to his wants, and
entering, was waited on by Il young
woman, who served all travellers, cs-
pecially the poor and humble, fOrchari-
ty. At first, he had some thought of
his secret to her, and taking
counsel Of her-and well would it have
been for him had he done so-but he re-
ilectcd that the owners of great wealth
are surrounded by Snares, and that this
woman might be in league with the
children Of the wicked. Accordingly,
he accepted her kindness, held his peace,
and departed on the morrow, bcstoWing
on her nothing but his blessing, which,
in fact, except the gem, was all ne had
to bcstow. With many doubts and
much trembling hoapproachcd the shop
Of Il lapidary in the southeastern angle
of the great bazaar; and, taking out ,hC
Jewel from his bosom, which he did
with the air and aspect Of n convicted
thief, he presented it to the master, and
inquired what he would give for it. WhC
jcwcllor was one Of those crafty UnC
cruel men who built up their own opu
lcECc on the ruin of others. He immc
diatoly said to himself: "'lhis Arab i
Il robbcr, who has broken into somt
mosque and stolen this marvellous opu
from the sacred treasury. ! Will threat
en- 10 &kc him before the cadi; con
scious Of guilt, he will effect his Escape
and the gem will become mine" En-
the delight impaired by this guilt.
scheme could not repress the jcwclier'
admiration for the extraordinary bcaut.
of the opal, amid the strcaks of who's
clouds the cunning hand ofsomc ancinn
cngravcr had interviewer, rs il were
the letters of the Great Name.
S;ibbi, though no proficient in pEysiOg
nomy, yet saw enough in the jeweller'
face to warn him Of his danger, an,
while he turned around ANA loudly gavt
orders to a slave to fetch the Ed(i, o
police magistrate, thcpoor Arab snatch
ed the opal from the jewellers hand
and rushed forth into the street, followed
by the wicked master of the shop, an,
whole posse ofsluvcs shouting "'lhieI
thicr!'
Sibbi's worst fears now prcsentc,
themselves to his mind, and lent wing
to lis feet. Dnshinn along withou
looking before him, he ovcrthrow thro
donicys, two blind men, and an ol,
female cake seller, who called him pi
and an inGdel. and preferred sundr,
accusations against his innocent mother
now in her grave. Sibbi needed he
not, but plunging into the crowd, h
found himself in the midst of Il process
ion of drrvishcs who struck him wit
the palms of their hands for interrupt
inc their public dcvotions. I.scupin
from these ostcntutious penitent,, Ii
sllpucd into n dark passage, but upol
cnrrrin~ If IFS further extremity int
fine street. he found himself face TO fac
with the iewcllcr, who was in the yer,
act ofhvjnr hi. complaint before th
vor
uIIo ", rycIoimrd thcwretch. "bchol
4b.ro i, tl,rthjcr. .ciyn him. and yu
win frd ,hcceu uron hisuersop.n y
An aged derylsh. with long whit
beard and majestic countcnancc, stoo,
nv chance close 70 ,sibbi rs the words G
this accusation were uttered. lie di,
not sneak, but giving tha Arab Il loul;
unpc-cpjycd Of the hvstanders. held hi
hand half omen hy his side. Under
.ondipp hi, meaning. s,ilbi nut In
ouo, into hi, hand. uron which, cain
and ,upnrturhad thp Gcryish passed ON
Reduced to his original pcnury Slbl
Sal,