The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-10-07

And what dye think she didf
Why, coolly boxed my ears!
The Magic Mirror.
APERsIAN TALE OF BLIGHTED HOPES.
BY JOHN THOMAS
Ali Hassan was gay young Persian Of
twcnty-one. Life was all before him, except
twenty .one years he had skipped light footed
over (Which were necessarily behind him, }
and matters and things had in his eyes ro-
seate hue. Justtsf aye, he had cast his FIRST
vote for President, and consequently had an
idea that the fate Of the Republic rested on
his shoulders. Handsome, he fancied all the
blooming maidens of the township in which
he lived and the country adjacent were in
love with him. He was in the hair-oil pc.
Rod of existence-at that precise age when
young men pay particular attention to tooth
brushes, not on account of cleanliness (Which
is truly next-door neighbor to goodness, and
on the same side of the street,) but for the
looks Of the thing; at the precise age when
they part their hair behind aud wear No. Z
boots. when No. los would be more comfort
able.
Ali Hassan was of course in love- Who
ever saw young man Of twenty-one who
wasn't. No one, the author hereof ventures
to assert. He loved wildly and incompre-
hensbly-with love that passed all under
standing-p particularly Of her father, who
opposed the match.
Zobeide, the young damsel of whom Ali
was enamored, was generally believed to be
the most beautiful female in Persia, which is
saying greet deal for her. Her eyes were
like a stays her hair was mass Of wavy
curls, which had she lived in this day Of
false hair, would have brought a handsome
price in any market. and-but why go into
particulars Suffice it to say, she was we'll
proportioned girl, and her father had farm
Of 100 acres, half under Improvement, and
the other half well -timbered.
sFAli and Zobeide were engaged. He had
beaued her to evening meetings and lectures !;
he had taken her sleigh-riding two winters j;
and finally, after vigorous siege, she had
capitulated The old mans consent was re
luctantly gained, and the happy day, which
was to unite them into one twain, was fixed.
Ali Hassan was happy youth. When
he retired at night his last thought was Of
Zobeide in the still watches of the night
his younger brother, Eben Hassan, who
shared his couch, was frequently obliged to
:shist him out" as he expressed it, by calling
out the name of '.Zobeidc " and his first
thought in the morning was Of Zobeide.
While revelling in this dream Of bliss be
was somewhat astonished, being but twenty
one and not knowing much about female hui
man nature, at receiving note through the
postofice from her! He looked upon the
missive with strange forebsdings. Why
should she use up paper and envelopes, aud
squander postage stamps, when she could see
him personally at any time? His worst an-
ticipations we're realized. He read it, and
with heart-rending shrek fell faintlug to
the floor The perfdious woman therein
stated that her feelings had undergone a
change; that while she should always re-
spect him as friend and brother 1.-TWO char.
acters young men Of Fl are never partial to
filing, he could never be nothing else OF
more to her nohow; oil of which was sign
ed ssZobeide" And, as if to finish him that
afternoon he received an invitation to hel
wedding which was to take place the next
night, the happy man being new storekscp
er who had just commenced business in the
next village. go
Of course life seemed to Ali Hassan a hol
low mockcry. The sun was obscured to him
with sort of haze, and for the first time in
his life he neglected his black hair aud teeth
After passing sleepless night he HE'D him
self to the mountains, debating on the way
which was tho most pleasant method of ter
minating an existence which was hateful te
him.. Three methods suggested themselves
to-wit: Jumping off precipice, lying down
on railroad track, or drinking a pint Of
Cincinnati whiskey. Rejecting tho latter as
death too lingering and horrible, the second
one which would not effect his purpose, as the
papers would, two to one, call it an accident
and as such it would not wiring Zobeide's
bosom very much, SO he decided on the for.
mer. Accordingly he sought precipicc
and sitting down on the brink thereof he sa,
himself about composing soul narrowing
note to her which he proposed to put in his
breeches pocket, where it would be found il
being the custom Of people finding dead be-
dies to always examine the pockets, and the
letters which are found arc always made pub
lie. While composing this note, and debat
ing in his mind whether "cruel' should be
spelled with one Or two Is, a venerable ole
man with white beard stood before him.
Starting up, Ali Hassan exclaimed;
"Who art thou e
"Thy good genius" said the presence
| "My good genius! Ha ha! Lend M.
half dollar y said Ali, becoming normal il
an instant.
'sMy son, good geniuses never lend hal
dollars. That isn't their mission-it isn't i
I may use the expression, their best gift
They give freely however, what is NOR
plenty than half dollars, advice"
"What wantest thou Z" said Ali.
s'To save you from making fool of your
self said the presence.