Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-12-17

erous man; and he not only prevente,
his followers from troubling the shep
herds Of the rich man, but he also pro
tected them from all others who wishe,
to injure them.
1t was the custom in the Easter,
countries for men to make a great feas
when the time came for shea-ing th.
sheep,and invite all his friends an,
neghtors to partake of it.
At this time of festivity the rich CAV,
to the poor portion of their plentiful
stores, and all were happy.
When Hassan, the chief of the sol
diers, heard from the shepherds tina,
their master was making ready for hi.
sheep-shearing, he sent one of his me,
with a very respectful message to tn,
! rich man, to ten him that he had pro
tected the shepherds all the time the,
were in the forest with them, and {,
beg him to send them some food fo
they were almost without any.
To this request the rich man answer
ed that it was nothing to him if tn.
soldiers were starving; he did not know
their commander, he was not relatet
to him; and asked if he expected. he
cause he had taken arms against his king
that he should take his luxuries proyi
ded for the feast, and give them to mer
he did not know?
This mgratcful, unfeeling answe,
was carried back by the soldier, without
even loaf of bread.
To Men suffering with hunger thi.
was cruel disappointment, when, NJ
doubt, they had been anxiously await.
ing the arrival of the messenger laden
with provisions, in return for the pro.
lection they had afforded the shcp.
herds.
Neither they nor Haasar, their chief
thought that rich man would be so IN.
generous; and they felt still more an.
cry when they recollected that they
might have done like other armies, and
taken the fiocks themselves to supply
their wants, and that their kindness
had not been rewarded.
Without any means Of supplying his
men. Hassan resolved to march, with
his soldiers, to the house where the
rich man was feasting, and Kill him and
all his family in revenge for his inSrat.
itudc. and get some food TO satisfy
their hunger. He therefore ordered
four hundred xen to arm themselves
for the attack.
Now it happened that some of the
Shepherds overheard this lar. and wc:it
Immediately to their mistress. and CAV,
her an account OF the whole affair how
honorably the soldiers hadtccatel them
protecting them ana their sheep night
and day, and begging her to rcsolv,
quickly what to do to prevent it, or tn,
army would destroy them all; for hel
husband was such an irritable, ill-tem.
percd man. that he was always terribly
euraged with those who asked ham fcl
ANYTHING.
! Fortunately for this inhosp;table be.
ing his wife was very different from
himself, being very amiable, generous
woman.
Without saying ANYTHING. therefore,
to him, who WAS feastin. with his
guests. she ordered her servants to load
some asses. which were used instead oi
horses, with bread. parchel corn, raj.
sins, and figs and two large skins OF
wine; and she sent this generous pres.
ent on before her, that they might meet
the soldiers fist, and then mounting
another ass, she very cou-aEeously set
out to pacify the angry chief.
When she came to him, she addres.
sed him with the greatest respect. and
begged him not to be angry with hcl
husband for, unhappily. he was alway:
selfish and unkind to every one.
She told him that if she had seer
the messenger he sent, she shout,
have advised her husband to do differ
emily, as it was very foolish to rcfus,
So reasonable request t. an army o
six hundred men. who could. if the,
Choose. force him To give all they asked
but that she did not know when tn,
messenger came.
She now asked the chief;ain toacccp
the present she had brought him, an,
forgive the uncrateful answer that ha.
been sent to him; and added, that whel
he had succeeded III conqucring his en-
emies, he would be much happier 70
recollecting he had generously forgive!
this insult, than if ne should reycnc
himself by shedding blood.
To this Hassan replied that he woul,
accept her present with many thank
and he was indeed grateful that ne ha,
been prevented from taking SO man,
lives.
The wife of the rich man retu-ne,
home, much pleased with her success
and thus the danger which herhushan.
had provoked by his selfishness and in
gratitude was averted by her couraS
and generosity.
| When she got home, she found he
ill-natured husband still feasting wit
his guests. where he ate soimmoderatc
Is and drank so much wine, that b
made himself drunk, so that she ii,
not tell him that night what she ha
done.
But when be awakened in TIE morn
ing. she told him ali, and be vas 10 niue
troubled to hear that she had give
AVA SO much, although he was so ric
that be could afford it as well AS not
that he made himself i'll in thinkin
about it.
His distress Of mind and the effect @
his intemperance were such that hi
health soon gave way, and IN ten day
he died.
When Hassan heard Of his death, b
was very glad tina: be did not die b,
his hand. for be said God had punishe,
him for his wicked and selfish conduc;
Now, my young friends, do you hk
this 0 oIy: Do you know how wicke;