The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1872-11-29
MI 8 G eIIaneous
THE FORTY THIEVES.
BY Girls, THE FAT CONTRIBUTOR.

The forty thieves lived great many years
ago, when thieves were scarce and hence
they are embalmed in story. Had they liv-
ed in our day, when thieves are 80 numer-
Gus, they would have been totally disre-
garded on account of the insignifcance OF
their number.
The story is simple. Cassim and Ali Ba-
ba are brothers. Cassim is rich, and Ali is
poor. While the former leads life of lux
ury and ease, the latter hauls wood for a
living, and often bemoans his fate, forget
full of the fact that Grant once followed
that honorable occupation. Woodhaulers
should not despair, for they may become
Presidents yet, for what they know, or for
what they don't know; it is hard to tell
which nowadays.
| One day, when Ali Bahia went to the for
est to get jag of wood, he saw horsemen
approaching. Fearing evil, he climbed in
to tree and concealed himself. The troop
halted under the same tree, dismounted and
took from their horses several heavily load
ed carpet bags, which led him to infer that
they were carpet-baggers returned from the
South, gorged with the spoils of office. He
found, however, they were regular profess
sional thieves, and then had more respect
for them.
The captain of the band-there was Just
forty of them-approached rock hard by
and uttered the words, "Open Sesame ~
when, as Ali afterwards expressed it to his
wife, you'd orter see Sammy OPEN"
Instantly on the word door concealed
in the rocks opened as if by magic, and the
captain entered, followed by his band, who
marched in open order by the left flank
double rattail file, centering on the left
wing, the extreme right resting on the door
sill at shoulder arms, with muskets re.
versed military readers may understand
this. don't. F. G. .....
When they were all in the captain shout
ed "Shut Sesame!" when Sammy immedi.
ately shut, that being apparently what
Sammy was for. Shortly after the robbers
(having stored away their plunder) reap
peared; the door closed after them at the
word of command, and mounting theil
horses they rode away. When they were
gone, Ali Bahia, getting down from the tree
tried the magic word himself and open
flew the door, and after a little hesitation
he entered the robbers cave.
Great was his establishment at what he
beheld. lie found splendid apartments
suitable for married or single gentlemen
handsomely furnished, and lighted witt
gas, with or without board and within five
minutes walk of the postoffice. On every
hand were heaps of diamonds, bags ofgolG
and dead loads of greenbacks. Here, then
was where the robbers lived when they wert
at home, and stored their plumber. He de
termined to have his whack at it, So load
| IL. L. ill I, 4
ny, he started for home.
Imagine the delight Of Mrs. Bahia wher
her husband arrived. (She had been very
much concerned over his prolonged alb
sence, because he was the only Ali Bah,
she had.) She helped him unload the golt
and store it in the cellar with an alacrity
which she rarely displayed in doing he
house-work.
She was anxious to know just how mucl
there was of it, so as to make out correc
income return to the government. Accord
ipgly while her husband was gone to put W
the mule, she tried to count it. Naturally
wearying of this employment after getting
up among the millions she concluded tt
measure it, and for that purpose ran across
the street to her sister-in laws, Mrs. Cas-
Sims, and borrowed her half-bushel meas
ure, pretending that she wanted to meas
ure some potatoes.
1t was so unusual a thing for Ali Baba'
family to have half bushel of potatoes, a
one time, Mrs. Cassim's curiosity was ex
cited, so she put Spaulding's glue on thu
bottom CT the measure to see what kind o
potatoes they were, which was mighty
small potatoes on the part of Mrs. Cassim
When the measure was returned Mrs
Cassim found a five-cent nickel adherine
to the bottom.
:, This was very suspicious circumstance
indeed.
"When," said she to Cassim, in relating
the circumstance, and showing the nickel
"when did your brother ever have five cent?
in the house all at onces Ola sudden ht
seems to have bushels of money" Cassn
walked over to his brothers. house anc
questioned him on the subject when AL
being generous-hearted fellow, told him
J all about the cavern. Next day Cassin
went up there to get some ofithimself but
after loading himself down with wealth he
forgot the magic word which opened the
door, and 30 couldn't get out. He tried va
rious words; and cried, "Open See-Tom
my |" "Open See Billy |" and "Open, See
Polly Ann p but all to no purpose, becaus,
, his memory couldn't come and see Sammy
The result was that the robbers came and
: killed him, and being always ready to make
quarter when they could they quartcrcd