The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-12-19

but alas for Mrs M. and her two children !
After kneeling and praying, amidst sobs, to
Jesus to protect them, they went supper
less to bed. The night was cOld snow
several inches deep covered the ground
Their bed was pallet of straw, and their
covering was scanty. God help this dis
tressed iamilyi They did not know Of any
friend they had left but Jesus, and they
threw themselves entirely on His mercy
They slept soundly, locked in each other
arms.
The morning came bright, clear and
frosty; it was Christmas. One year before
their kind husband and father had left
them happy, but now alas, what q changed
They arose from their hard bed, and Mrs.
M. opened the Holy Bible and read the
13Gth Psalm, her dear children repeating
the response, "For His mercy endureth for
ever" After reading they all knelt and
prayed in unison. They prayed to the
Holy Lamb whose birth was now being
celebrated throughout Christendom, to re-
store their beloved husband and father to
the arms of his family. The dear little
children prayed to Jesus, the children's
friend to send papa home, and in their
innocent simplicity and strong faith they
prayed for something to eat and keep them
warm. Whilst this religious group were
thus engaged, a tall, handsome gentleman,
with Il long, flowing black beard that
reached down on his breast and dressed in
| Turkish costume; he had costly turban
on his head and a cashmere shawl ofgreat
value around his shoulders. He had been
pceping through the broken glass of cur
tainlcss window, and watching with intense
interest the picture before him. The strong
man trcmbled. Great tears rolled down
his manly cheeks, and more than once he
sobbcd audibly. After prayer was over
manly knock was heard on the door and
Mrs. Nj. opened it. She now stood VISA
Wis to the handsome gentleman. He bowed
low and she timidly asked him what he
wanted, when he exclaimed, "Minnie, |
want Christmas kiss" when she, with
wild scream of delight, threw herself in the
arms Of her husband, and the dear children
said, at is papa; it is papa And so it
was and we now have happy family
Jesus has answered their prayer literally
Teams were now heard approaching. One
wagon was loaded with wood, another with
the choicest delicacies to eat, and fine
Christmas presents for the mother and chill
dren. A bouncing pretty Irish girl came
with the teams, as she said, "to help the
Teddy put up an illigant Christmas dinner"
The darkness was gone; it was light now
After spending few days at the old
house, during which time the Doctor paid
Il visit to Flint, the brutal landlord, and
gave him his rent in money, and sound
horse whipping for interest," he now took
his family to New York, taking good Bid
dy with them to help the mistress. After
he arrived in the city he engaged in mer-
camille pursuits, was successful and was
soon among the rich brothers of the frater-
nifty.
We must now give a short account of
the Doctors adventures. After leaving
New York, they had a pleasant voyage
until they reached the Mediterranean, when
thew were chased and overhauled by a
Barbary corsair, and being unarmed of
course they had to surrender, and were
carried to Algiers. The passengers and
crew were now taken to the slave market
and offered for sale. Whilst they We're
pass the market. The Dey cast his eyes on
the unfortunate group, and struck by the
manly look and gentlcmanly bearing ofthc
doctor, approached him and asked him in
GOOD English, what his profession was
|
clan: whereupon this chieftain at once en-
quired the price the merchant held him at,
and paid the sum down and ordered the
doctor to Join the rctinuc and go to the pal
ace. Morton was soon within the walls of
this prncely abode. He was ushcred into
an elegant room, which was furnished in
the most costly manner. The walls were
hung with rich mirrors and costly pictures,
whilst the tables were loaded with gold and
silver dishes of great value Hetook his scat
on a superb ottoman, as he was directed 20
do by the usher, and calmly awaited COM
ing events. lie was soon joined by the
chieltain, who told him that his lovely and
favoritc Circassian wife, and his only son
and heir apparent, were both lying at the
point of death, and the native doctors had
given them up to die, and had refused to
give them any more medicine. And"
said he, "Christian, ifyou save my wife and
boy, YOU will thank the day that made you
nv slave for if you cure them you shall be
my brother" The doctor told him that
he would do all that he could for them.
Ibraham Mahomct now took our hero
into an elegant apartment, where on one
of the richest couches he ever saw, lay u
beautiful lady, who was in wild state of
delirium, and on another, in an adjoining
room, handsome boy of eight years of age,
was lying, likewise delrious. This was
Ibraham's SON. Our Doctor carefully cx-
amined his patients, and hia diagnosis was
that they were suffering from typhoid fever
He told the distressed husband and parent
that he thought he could save them, if he
had the proper medicine, and that fine had
the medicine chest that was on board the
vessel in which he was captured, he could
get the proper remedies. The chest was in
the palace in twenty minutes. The Doctor
now went to work, aud watched his patients
narrowly. He almost forgot that he was a
slave, so intent was he with his charge. In
twenty four hours he saw decided change
in both patients for the better they no
| longer raved; they were now calm and
sensible, but very weak. The dread crisis
had passed, and from day to day they con
| tinucd TO improve. Ibraham, III the mean
time showing his slave the greatest respect,
and treating him with the most munifccnt
kindness.
In six weeks the Sultana and her soa
were well. The boy, who was bright
little fellow, would climb on Morton's
knee and hug and kiss him, telling him he
had saved his and his mothers life. AL
though Morton was lbraham's slave, yet
he was considered one Of the chicilain's
family; and the corsair chief, in his kind
ness, offered to give his friend the most
beautiful Circassian slave in his harem for