The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1867-04-09
BLUNDERING BRIGHT


ted plans; hence it often happens that fools
pros per when men of talent fail.-Here Is
an illustrator:
A poor, simple peasant, of the name of
Benhassen, being heartily tired of hls daily
fare of brown bread and water, resolved,
whatever might be the consequence, to pro
cure for himself by hook or crook, even at
the expense of a broken head, three sump-
tuous meals. Having taken this courageous
aud noble resolution. the next thing was
to devise a plan to put it into execution :;
and here his good fortune befriended hun.
The wife OF rich ivory merchant in the
in the neighborhood of his cottage, hai,
during The absence of her husband, lost a
valuable diamond; she offered great re-
wards to any person who could recover it
or give any tidings of the jewel. But no
one was likely to do either; for three
eunuchS of whose fidelity she had not the
least doubt, had stolen it, The loss soon
reached our cIutton's ears.
"rll 90" cries he, "Il say am a conju
ror, and that | will discover where the gem
is hidden, on condition Of first receiving
three splendid meals | shall fail It's true
What theng shall be treated as an i'm
poster; my back and sides may say, How
dye do to the bastinad =, bat my hungr,
stomach will be filled"
To concoct his scheme and put it in
practice was but the work of moment
The merchant still was absent. The lady,
anxious for the recovery of her ring, accep-
ted the offered terms A sumptuous din
ner was prepared; the table was covered
with rich viands; expensive plates ofevery
sort were placed upon the sideboard. Allah !!
how he ate! An attentive footman one
of the secret thieves filled hir1 with sher-
bert; our conjurer, gorged exclaimed;
"'Tis we'll | have the frstm
The servant trembed at the ambiguous
words, and ran to his companions
"EIe has found Us out, dear friends" he
cried, "He is cunning man He said
he had the first. What could he meant
but me?"
1T looks like it." replied the second
thief I'll wait on him tonight; as yet
you may have mistaken his meaning
Should he speak in the same strain we
must decamp."
At night supper fit for caliph was
set before the greedy Benhassen, who filled
until he could eat no more. The second
footman watched him all the while. When
satisfied, he rose, eXcIaiming:
"The second is in my sack and cannot
escape me-"
Away few the atfrighted robber.
ave are lostr he cried, "Our heels
alone can save usr'
Not So" answered the third. "If we
f1v and are caught, we lose our heads. I'll
tend him at to morrows meal; and should
he then speak as before, Ill own the THEFT
to him, and offer some great reward to
screen us, from punishment, and that he
may deliver the jewel to the lady without
betraying u.s."
They all agreed. On the morrow Ben
hassan's appetite was stlll the same. At
last, quite full, he said:
my task is donei the third, thank Al
lab, is here"
"Oh," said the cnlprit, "behold the ring,
bat hide our shame, and you shall never
want good fare again"
BE siIeut" exclaimed the astonished
Benhassan, who little thought that what
he had spoken of his meals could have
made tie pluuderers betray themselves
"Be silent. have it"
Some geese were feeding before the win
dow, He went out and having seized the
largest, forced tie ring down its gullet, then
decirred that the largest goose had swaI
lowed the jewel The goose was killed,
the diamond found. In the meantime, the
ivory merchant returned, and was incred
uious,
"Some crafty knave, 0 wife, said he,
"either the thief himself or his aDettor has,
with a we'll concerted scheme wrought on
your easy faith. III provide him with a
mea, Iikeway."
No sooner said than done; between two
dishes the mysterious fare was hidden. The
false conjuror was told to declare what was
the concealed cheer on pain of being well
beaten should he fail.
"AIasr' he muttered out, "Benhassan,
thou art pig; thou art dead referring
to himself and calling himself names.
Gle is right" the merchant cried. give
him purse Of gold, | honor such talent as
his"
1t was pork in The dish Thus our
glutton, by three random speeches. gained
three hearty meals, heavy purse, comfort
for life and most brilliant reputation as
a cunning man,