Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-02-18
HASSAN'S PILGRIMAGE.

.
which lay beyond the city's walls. A
shadowy hand seemed beckoning to hin
from the far-off mountains, and voice.
unheard by other ears called softly Il
him from the purple distance. Tears
lamentations, entreaties and reproache.
availed not to detain him, neither tn.
dark eyes of the fair Zayda, who sighed
when she heard his name.
He folded a sacred parchment in hi.
bosom, the Mufti bestowed his blessing
and accompanied it with the gift of
magic staff, upon which, when one
leaned, he never grew weary, and in the
cool morning Hassan passed from the
city, his home, kindred and friends, and
leaning on his staff, addressed him tc
his pilgrimage. His dark eyes glowed
with the fire of youth, the wine of health
tinged his ruddy cheek, and the brown
beard of early manhood fringed his
well-formed lips. His step was elastic
and his soul glowed with noble aspira,
tions and the promise of the future.
Sometimes his way was rugged and
toilsome sometimes his path lay
through smiling gardens and groves Of
date trees, and anon he sat for rest and
refreshment in the broad shadow OF
some giant palm until the burning heat
of MONDAY was passed. The birds
sang in the groves, the laborers titled
yerdant fields, the flowers smiled and
nodded by the wayside, and many days
were born and died while Hassan jour.
neyed.
One burning noontide it CHANGED that
he suddenly found himself within the
precincts of charming garden. The
tinkling of fountains was pleasantly
suggestive of GOODNESS, and in the dark
greenness of the shaded walks he per.
ceived figures fitting to and fro, All
manner of strange and beautiful plants
fiourished around, and the air was vocal
with the music of birds, while distant
voices of men and women mingled allur.
ingly with the notes of the feathered
warblers. Fastening onward, he was
met at every turn by groups of youths
and maidens, lightly clad and garlanded
with flowers, who received him with
acclamations and shouts of welcome.
At length he reached the center of the
garden. in which stood spacious pavi-
lion adorned with everything which
could please the eye or minister to the
physical enjoyment of man. Tables
laden with choicest viands, fountains OF
many-colored wines, soft conches for
repose. Singing. dancing, feasting and
mirth were the sole employments of the
occupants of this delightful retreat.
Hassan cast aside everp restraint, and
- 81 of h..
gayety with ell the ardor of his enthu-
siastic nature, soon became the prince
of the revel. Wearied at last with
pleasure. he sank upon one of the
couches for brief repose, while his
gay companions scattered roses over
him and sang softly to lull him to
slumber.
Long and deep was his oblivion, pain
full and troubled his awakening. His
couch was a rock. the glowing garden
had become a desert; youths and
maidens, birds and flowers, hall and
fountains had vanished. Over him
lowered sullen sky, and in the dis
tance shadowy and dim uprose the
waiting mountains. Weary and dis
pirited he arose to continue his journey,
but oppressed by an intolerable languor,
halted at every step. Alas, he had for
gotten his staff
He reproached himself bitterly for
his late folly. which now appeared like
some hideous fragment of dream. But
from the mountains the shadowy hand
still beckoned, the voices called, and
with steadfast mind he addressed him
self again most earnestly to his pilgrim
age, when 10 the staff was in his hand,
and with joyful heart he went his way.
There were no flowers by the wayside
now, 40 laborers tilling verdant fields !;
only the long stretch of desert before
and around, the sullen sky and the far
off mountains.
Still iourneying, he found himself
upon dusty high road, surrounded and
iostled on every side by a motley COM
panionship. Bankers, weavers, farmers,
lawyers, jugglers, priests, tinkers, beg
gars, and even slaves mingled together
in active pursuit of shining dust which
fioated in the atmosphere, and he who
gathered the greatest quantity by any
means, was treated with peculiar honor,
and still greater facilities offered him
for increasing his store. All were has
tening onward toward an invisible goal,
where perfect rest and contentment
awaited the fortunate few who should
succeed in reaching it. With the facile
impressibility of his nature, Hassan
plunged into the busy, jostling crowd,
and by ceaseless activity and energy
was soon laden with the precious par
ticles which burdened heavily the shoul-
ders of his fellow travellers, causing them
to faint with weariness. But the magic
staff upbore him, and he soon left the
crowd behind.
He still had companions, but they
were comparatively few In number,
careworn, toiling and anxious IN appear
ance, and their ranks thinned rapidly
as they neared the goal which now ap-
peared on the plain.
Hassan increased his speed, and dis
tancing all competitors, stood at gate
which gave entrance through a massive
golden wall into a gorgeous city. The
gate opened into a crescent-shaped
court, from which diverged long avenues
of stately palaces adorned with gold,
silver, and precious stones and paved
with costliest marbles, over which rolled
sumptuous carriages, decked with rich
laces and velvets and glittering with
Jewels. Groups cf the principal men
of the city were gathered in this court,
and their regards were Immediately fixed
upon Hassan-and with reason. Stately
as goodly cedar. in the full strength
of manhood, with flowing locks and
beard, noble brow and deep dark eyes,
in which smouldered hidden fire, as
he leaned on his staff and gazed calmly
about him, his was presence to be
noted in any assembly, much more so In
this. Amid old, withered, bent figures.
with faces marked by narrow passions,
with cautious, stealthy eyes, he by con-
trast seemed god.
They gathered about him and bade
him prepare to accept the highest dig
nifty in the power of the Golden City to
bestow. He who won entrance to the
City ere his locks were white, became
a king with absolute authority, and
L fr N