Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-09-08


ward the grotto, with a sorrowful
heart, but he would not confde his an
ticipatod disgrace to the affectionate
parent who welcomed his return.
The day passed rapidly away, and
in the evening Hamet and his sire
knelt as usual at the door of the grot-
to, with their faces toward the south,
to raise their voices in prayer. When
their vespers were concluded the old
man embraced his son tenderly, and
retired to the inner part of the grotto.
As soon as Hamet knew that his IA
ther slept he lighted lamp, and as the
genie had told him, he saw a large
measure of wine standing upon the ia
BILE. The unhappy dervis raised it to
his lips, and drank deeply OF the in
toxicating draught. A glow of fire
seemed to e!ectrify his frame, and he
laughed as he set the vessel down up
on the table. Again he drank, and he
felt reckless and careless of the con
sequences. He drank the third time,
and when he had emptied the measure
be ran ont to the door Of the grotto,
and threw it down the slope of the
mountain. Then, as he heard it bound
ING along, he laughed with indescriba-
ble mirth As he turned to enter the
grotto he saw his father standing be-
hind him.
Son" said the old man, " the noise
of reveIry awoke me from my slum-
bers, ard | rise to find my beloved
Hamet drunken with wine! Alas, is
this one of the many night orgies, and
have | now awakened to the dread
truth Of thine impiety for the first
time? Alas! thou hast cast ashes
upon the gray head Of thy father"
Hamet could not brook this accusa-
ton at the implied suspicion that he
was accustomed to indulge in wine
while his father slept He felt sudden
ly indignant at the language Of his
sire, and cried. Return to your couch
old dotard, Thou knowe8t not what
thou sayest"
And as he uttered these words he
( pushed his father violently into the
grotto. The old man resisted and
again demonstrated with Hamet.-
The BRAN of the son was confused
with liquor, and sudden dread Of
exposure to the world entered his
mind. With the rage of demon he
rushed upon his hoary headed sire
and dashed him furiousIy against the
stone walls Of the grotto. The old
man fell with his temple against a
sharp flint one groan emanated from
/ hi, bosom-and his spirit fled forever
~. .SgddcRlL. .cQn5eioB& of the bQEril
Hamet tore his hair, beat his breast
and raved like a maniac. And 10 the
midst of his rawlings he lifted up hi,
voice against the majesty of Heaven
and cursed the Deity whom he had 7C
long and ferventIy worshipped.
At that instant a terrible din ech
oed round about-the thunder rolled
the tall trees shook with an earth
/ quake-and, amid the roar of con
hicting elements, were heard shout.
OF Internal laughter. All he'll seemed
to rejoice at the fall of a good man
whom no other vice had ever tempted
away from the paths OF virtue unit
/ drunkenness presented itself. The
rage Of the storm increased tree.
were tornup by their roots-and frag
ments Of the rocky part of Olympus
rolled down the hill with the fury of
an Alpine avalanche. Suddenly tn,
genie appeared before the wretcheC
Hamet and exclaimed: Fool b,
choosing to commit the crime whicI
. seemed to thee least, thou hast com
mitted the other two likewise! Fo
there is more danger in the wine cuI
than in any other means Of temptation
presented by Satan to mankind"
And the last words of the geni
mingled with the redoubled howlin!
Of the storm, as Hamet was born
down the slope of the mountain by tn
> falling masses. and dashed to piece
at the bottom.