The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-06-26
The Camel and the Desert.


1t was early in the morning that the
caravan started the twilight was grow
ing into day.
The camels had been saddled and bur-
dened and chained, some ten, some
twenty, III a row. There were precious
things on those camels 'backs-silk from
India, pearls, ivory, gum, perfumed oils,
myrrh, feathers, angora shawls and vel
vet. First among the heavy-burdened
animals was an old camel-mother she
carried ice from Tartary for pasha's
cellar, burden that would not appear
very valuable to a European child. BY
her side trudged her little camel it was
three years old, and ran nimbly by her
side.
" Mother, ara the burdens very
heavy ?" asked the little camel, won
deringly.
Yes. but not too heavy. Your turn
will come next year, little camel; every
child has to take up heavy burden in
time.
"It will be hot journey for us all,
and that little one" said thin, aged
camel, next III row. but prefer car
rying perfumes to lighting the Bedouins
my cousin and [ went many years ago
they ran away before us, the Bedouins,
but they killed my cousin.
\ cry of dlsmaY escaped from the
camels near, and then nothing more was
said for il was growing hot.
Many days did they journey, nothing
but hot sand everywhere.
It was midday the sun stood hori-
zontal, and seemed to hang like lead over
man and animal. The owners OF the
merchandise had wrapped themselves
close in their burnOs only their black
eyes were visible. The drivers crept
slowly by their camels, every now and
then speaking a kind word to them, or
singing a song. and the faithful Great
ures turned and licked theirhands, and
hasted their pace, as if they knew that
on them depended the safety of all.
81 am tired, said the little camel
very often but the mother answered
cit is good to become Injured to hard
ships when you are very young; | have
had many journeys more weary than
this aud reached the end.
Mother continued the little camel,
"some of the camels behind us won't
go on the drivers are scolding them.
Never be unwilling to carry your
burden, and you will not get scolded.
Yesterday the drivers cheered their
camels with kind words and songs, but
to-day not a sound was heard but signs
here and there. 1t was the fifth day
since the camels tasted any water the
precious ice on the camel-mother's back,
had long been consumed. What was to
be their fate?
Just then groan was heard in the
rear, the voice of driver in anger,
then moan less loud and one more
feeble and the angry voice of the
driver again. He had picked up par
Gel of sIlken shawls, cast away by a
merchant to ease his animals load, and
the driver had put them on his own
camel, intending to appropriate them,
and the overburdened animal had sunk
under the weight.
"It is punishment for avarice ?"
said the old camel TO the little one !;
"fe has learned his lesson too late.
The driver took the burden off the
poor camel he coaxed it, be whipped
it, in vain it did not rise. With mourn
full eyes it watched the caravan, that
slowly moved on sadly stretched itself
in the sand as if it knew its fate. The
avaricious driver had to sacrifice the
merchandise and camel unless he would
share the fate of his beast of burden.
Mother, look at those angry-looking
birds flying around us p cried the terri
fed little camel.
"They are sent as warning to keep
steadily together and not to flag. We
are the first, and must keep up, not
give in. .
"Why do we not reach any water p
asked the weary little camel again.
At that moment glorious vision pre-
scented itself to the weary caravan. In