The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-11-07

Ali thought he must be dreaming (;
Ben-Douda himself had not expected
such favor. When the Jester found him
self alone with Ali, he said to him
" 1t is not all over. Now you have
the title of soothsayer, you will have
every day to satisfy the caprices of the
Sultan"
"Alas !" said Ali, chow shall 1 do
this ?"
With audacity one may succeed in
anything, and then l shall be there to
offer suggestions the Sultan hides moth
forehand of his desires, and of the re-
plies you ought to give but on one con-
dition-"
"What is that ?"
"That we share all the favors granted
YOU"
Willingly" said ALI
From that moment Ben-Douda be-
came the auxiliary of the great sooth-
sayer of the court, and there was no
enigma Ali could not solve.
However, one day he was in di
lemma.
aram-Bou-Ladj, who was tributary
of the Sublime Porte, one morning re-
ceived a missive from the Grand Turk,
which caused him much anxiety.
He sent for his Grand Soothsayer.
Grand Soothsayer," said he, "of
what is the Grand Turk thinking at
this moment ?"
"Of what you are thinking Of" re-
piled Ali, without hesitation.
DO you know of what l am think
ing ?" cried the Sultan in a fury, con-
sidering Ais reply as an irony. ! think
of having thy head, insolent -
You see that L have OWNED.
How !" cried Karam-Bou-Ladi
"you believe that the Grand Turk har
bors so vile a thought ?"
You harbored it yourself.
" In fact, the tone of his message was
stern, said the Sultan to himself. "The
ease is grave. Unjust consult my Grand
Vizier."
Another time, the treasurer of the
State being carried off, the Sultan re-
quired Ali TO discover the robbers.
4 will give you three days TO find
them if Mt the end of the third day,
at the hour when the muezzin calls the
faithful to prayers, you have not dis
covered the guilty persons, l will have
your head.
The poor Ali was very unhappy, and
the opulence in which he passed his
existence was no adequate compensation
for the continual terrors in which he
lived. He re-entered his palace in sad
ness and crouched down on the seat of
the salam- alex, which ornaments the
gateway of every Mussulman dwelling.
There, smoking his chibouk, he medi-
tated on the vanity of human affairs,
when the muezzin, with his clear voice,
called from the lofty minaret the faith
full to evening prayer.
One is passed by, said Ali, heaving
deep sigh.
The next day, submissive to his des-
tiny, he was at the same place, when
the ghorghetti of the muezzin an
nounced to him that the day was ended.
"Now two are gone by" sighed Ali.
Finally, the third day, resigned to
the approaching death which appeared
to him the hour of deliverance and of
mercy. he cried, on hearing the muez-
Tin:
"Allah be praised The third flies
away AL 10
At the same instant passer-by, who
had heard him, grasped his hand, kiss
ing it respectfully.
sc My lord, said he, with tears in his
eyes, " do not ruin us you have dis
covered u.s. The first day you discov-
cred the first of my accomplices ; the
second the other; and to-day You have
at last OWNED that was the third rob-
Der. Do not expose us, and | will tell
you where we have hidden the treasures
of the Sultan.
AS may be imagined, Ali promised all
that was desired, and the robber then
indicated the place where tie treasures
were concealed.
When the guard came to apprehend
him, Ali demanded to be taken before
the Sultan.
"The fatal hour has arrived" said
Karam- Bou-Ladi.
mot yet" said Ali "the day is not
finished.
"The muezzin has called the faithful
to evening prayer, answered the Sui
tan.
"In the kingdom of the prophet the
ltEtli illHlb uOCo nOb COlliihtllNC hipA ~
is so dark that one can no longer dis
tinguish a flea on the back of negro ;
and shall have discovered the treasure
before the sun shall have disappeared
beneath the horizon.
" Verify y cried the Sultan joyfully.
Ali appeared lost in thought !; then,
looking up solemnly, said:
The robbers have hidden the treas
ure in an old, dry well, which is to be
found in a deserted convent of dervishes.
And now, incredulous Prince, dare to
lay thy hand upon him whom Allah in
cessantly inspires for thy profit !"
Karam-Bou-Ladj sent his officers to
the spot indicated, and they returned
bearing intact the treasures of the Sui
| tan.
"Ohl my son." exclaimed, with a
burst of gratitude, the Sultan of Samar-
cand, task of me what you will"
" Highness, my dearest wish is to be
no longer your soothsayer."
"Never ~ replied the Sultan. "Your
services are too precious to me. will