The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-03-15


A word spoken at random has often
proved of more utility than the best
concerted plans; hence it happens that
fools often prosper when men of talent
fail. Here is an illustration:
A poor, simple peasant, of the name
of Benhassan, being heartily tired Of
his daily fare of brown bread and wa
ter, resolved, whatever might be the
consequence, to procure to himself BY
hook or by crook, even at the expense
of a broken head, three sumptuCus
meals. Having taken this courageous
and noble resolution, the next thing
WAS 20 devise plan to put it into exc
cution; and here his good fortune be-
frended him. The wife Of rich ivory
merchant in the neighborhood of his
cottage had, during the absence of her
husband, lost valuable diamond ring,
she offered great rewards to any per-
son 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 small
est doubt, had stolen it. The loss soon
reached our glutton's ears.
"I'll CO." cries he "I'll say | am Il
cOnjuror, and that l will discover where
the gem is hidden, on condition of first
receiving three splendid meals. | shall
fail It's true. What then? | shall be
treated as an impostor; my back and
sides may say, 'How dye do" to the
bastinado, but my hungry stomach will
be filled -
To concoct hi, scheme and put it in
practice was but the work of moments.
The merchant still was absent. The
lady, anxious for the recovery of her
ring, accepted the offered terms. A
sumptuous dinner was prepared; the
table was covered with rich Viands; eX-
pcnsivc plates of every sort were placed
upon the sideboard. Allah! how he
ate! An attentive iootman, one of the
secret thieves, filled him sherbet; our
conjuror, gorged, exclaimed:
"'Tis well, | have the first :"
The servant trembled at the ambigu-
Gus words, and ran to his companions.
'Ile has found Us out, dear friend, ="
he cried. Gle is a cunning man. lie
said he had the first. What could he
mean but me?"
at looks like it," replied the second
, thief, "l'll wait on him to night; a,
yet you may have mistaken his mean
ing. Should he speak in the sam,
strain, we must decamp.n
At night supper fit for the calipl
was set before the greedy Behassan
who filed until he could eat no more
The second footman watched him al
the while. When satisfied, he rose eX
claiming:
"Thc seconds in my sack, and canno
escape me-"
Away flew the aifrightencd robber.
"We are LOST" he cried. sour heel
alone can save IL"
= "Nut So" answered the third. 81
y we fly and are caught, we lose our head;
I'll tend him at to-morrow's meal an
! should he then speak as before, III ow
n llc thcll W lllllii uuu OltI 0plllc SIci
= reward to screen us from punishment
- and that he may deliver the jewel {
. the lady without betraying us"
i They all agreed. On the morro'
Benhassan's appetite was still the samr
80 At last, quite full, he exclaimed:
&c "My task is done; the third, than
/ Allah, is herew
ts "Oh," said the culprit, "behold til
~ ring but hide our shame, and you sha
Io never want good fare again."
~ "Be silent" exclaimed the astonishe
Bcnhassan, who little thought tn,
= what he had spoken of his meals coul
: have made the plundcrors betray then
=. selves. "Be silent! ! have it,"
some geese We're feeding before ii
window; he went out, and havin
seized the largest, forced the ring dow