The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-12-01
Mistellaneons Selections.
THE GREAT CRowN-JRwEL OF
RUSSIA.

AS three brothers named Schafras
were one day walking through the
principal street of Bagdad, the eldest
of them stopped suddenly, and point
ing to a stranger on the other side
, of the way, cried:
"See, there is the Afghan we have
looked for so longT
"Don't let us loose sight of him
again, said the others, and all three
went toward the stranger, who
seemed astonished.
"God is God fear not" began the
Ieldest of the brothers. 81 am Scha-
lfras, of Bassora, to whom you once
Icame to sell large diamond, called
the "Moon Of the Mountains" and
other precious stones. These are
my brothers, who, like myself, are
pleased that we have found you, as
we hope now to be able to make a
bargain"
"Oh! woe is me, good sirs, L am
no longer the possessor of those
treasures" replied the Afghan.
"What have you done with themF'
"Allah be praised! I have just
sold them to the Jew Mardocha, Of
this city"
"For what pricep'
"For $4,000 piasters and two hand
some horses"
"You were a fool and Mardocha a
thief?' cried Schafras, angrily. 81
would have given you twice that sum
for the stones"
"God is great! They were offered
to you for half the sum; why were
you such fool as not to take them%
Because L thought you a thief,
and my conscience would not allow
me to buy stolen goods. But what
can not be cured must be endured.
Where does Mardocha, the Jew
liver"
81 will show you, good sirs, that
there may be no ill-feeling between
Ius."
The Afghan led the'way to the
house of the Jew, which was on the
bank ofthe river Tigris. The broth
ers then thanked him kindly, and
the eldest went to see if he could
make a bargain with Mardocha.
"Son of Israel" said he, "you have
diamond called the ''Moon of the
Mountains" a sapphire called the
"Eye Of Allah" and other precious
stones, which you have lately bought
of wandering Afghan, who did not
come in possession Of them honest
lily. 1 will give you handsome sum
for your bargain"
"How muchg" asked the Israelite,
with the air of man who knows his
business and the value of his goods.
"You gave $4,000 piasters and
pair of horses for them. l will give
you $4,000 piasters and take the
risk"
81 should be sorry-qto see you a
loser" replied the Jew5#ith an iron
ical smile.
81 will double the sum you gave
for them," said Schafras.
"Not for a million would 1 give
them to you. Go your way; you
know not the value of what you
would purchase"
The Armenian took his leave, in
wardly cursing the Jew.
"He knows too much for us-I
could make no bargain with the jew
ish dogp said Schafras to his broth
ers.
"Then we must take them without
ia bargain" said the youngest, in a
significant tone. His companions
assented.
They now Withdrew in order to
decide upon the plan they should
pursue. That night the three vii
lians murdered Mardocha, and threw
his body out of his window into the
Tigris. Then they took all his
money and jewels and hurried away.
The danger they ran of being de-
tected was far less than it would
have been in most other countries.
Who in Bagdad troubles himself
about a lonely Jew?
The next morning the three broth
ers accidentally met the Afghan.
"Wel, sirs, what success? he
asked. ,a
"God is God, and Mahomet is his
Prophet" answered the eldest.
"The jewels are ours, and to cele-
brate our good fortune, you must sup
with us this evening in our tent be-
yond the city"
The unsuspecting Afghan went
with them to their tent, which was
pitched in an out-of- the-way place
on the bank of the Tigris, and there
he supped for the last time. Scha-
fras was always supplied with a IA
tai poison, some of which they mixed
in the Afghan's food. When he
was dead they threw his body into
1.-THE Tigris saying: s# s 4
"Go hence, fool, and be company