Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-12-05

power In the u. S. Senate. We most
emphatically say that no man who
knows well the demonism that reigns
In tens Of thousands of southern
hearts, and how they override law
and order with impunity in many
portions of the south and go un-
whipped of justice, can blame repub-
licans of the south for retiring from
danger when deserted by the nation
81 power.
A NEW ARABIAN NIGHT.
That charming collection of orien-
tai tales commonly called arabian
Nights has gained worldwide rep
utation. There are, however, hum
dreds of other tales of at least equal
merit which, although familiar as
household words among the Moham-
medan races of the Orient, have, with
. few exceptions, never had the for
tune to be translated into any Europ-
can language. One of the few which
have been translated is the story of
the "Husbandman AMI the Surrepti-
tious Wolf" That distinguished
German student Of comparative my
thology, Herr Pfaff, recently cited
this story % q modification of
Esop's fable of the wolf in sleeps
clothing, but it is quite probable that
the Arabian story is older than the
time of Esop, and it is by no means
certain that there exists any but an &C.
cidental resemblance between the two.
The main features of the story in
question are briefly as follows, and
those who wish to read it in an una
brfdged shape are referred to Herr
PfafS well-known work on the
myths Of Mankind"
In the reign of Haroun al Raschid
there lived q husbandman on the
plains of Mesopotamia, who was a
pi0us and industrious man, and who
kept large flock of beautiful sheep.
Why he was called q husbandman in
stead Of q shepherd is not very clear,
and although the Arabic words Ell
m0reem will bear either interpreta-
ton, il 10 possible that Herr Pfai
may have selected the wrong term.
This, however, is depression. The
husbandman was greatly troubled by
wolves, which were constantly in the
habit Of attacking his sheep, and COM
PEELED him to maintain eternal vigil
lance as the price of mutton. One
day, when he had chased large and
lively wolf until he was thoroughly
exhausted, he lost his patience, and
remarked londly that If Mohammed
were really the first-class prophet
that he represented himself to be he
would send dog for, the protection
of the sheep. Now, the prophet re-
spected the piety of the husbandman,
but he could not let his remark pass
unnoticed, and he therefore punished
him by granting his wish in way
that signally failed to meet his views.
That evening q very large and
beautiful dog entered the husband
mans tent and applied for q situation
% sheep protector. The husband
man, with his usual caution, asked
the dog if he brought character
with him from his last place, and if
he could give any references. The
dog explained that he had come from
. distant country and had brought
nothing with him except the hair he
stood in, but that he was good Mo-
hammedan and q staunch friend of
sheep-for whom his heart had long
been in the habit Of bleeding. The
husbandman, though with many mis-
givings, finally decided to employ
the dog, and after agreeing with him
in respect to wages gave him fine
bone and assigned him q place to
sleep within the tent.
The next morning the dog was for
mally presented to the sheep, who
received him with much JOY. The
husbandman then gave him his in
structions for the day, and retired to
his tent to mediate and thank the
Prophet for his kindness. In the
course of an hour or two he heard q
tremendous bowling, and hastily
selling his stick, rushed out to seq
what was the matter. To his sur
prise he found the dog sitting on end
In company with dozen wolves, all
bowling together with great friend
Illness and enthusiasm, while the sheep
were huddled together at little dis
lance looking exceedingly fright
ened. As soon as the husbandman
appeared, the dog fastened to him
and remarked that he was explaining
to the wolves the error Of their ways,
and that he confidently expected to
induce them to reform. The hus-
bandman, of course, put little faith
in the dogs scheme, but as the wolves
made NO attempt to seize upon the
sheep, he accepted the assurance that
1t was all right. and returned to his
tent.
The next day the dog brought two
wolves with him to the tent, and in
tr0duced them as his assistants. He
explained that they had thoroughly
reformed, and that he had complete
confidence in their integrity and fidel-
ity. The husbandman was natui ally
greatly astonished, but as the dog
seemed to be perfectly honest, he con-
sented to the employment of the two
wolves, and asked them to breakfast.
lie could not help noticing that, in
stead of looking after the sheep, the
dog spent the rest of the day in visit
ing, in company with his two assis-
tsnts, the neighboring wolf villages,
at each one Of which he sat up on end
and howled in way adapted to draw
tears Of anguish from a bronze mon
key Of the early Renaissance style.-
However, the sheep had not vet been
attacked and the husbandman thought
that ON tho whole he ought to give
the dog fair trial.
On the following morning three
sheep were found to be missing, and
the husbsndman at once demanded
an explanation. The dog admitted
that, in all probability, some of the
wolves were concerned in the disap-
pearance Of the sheep, but he argued
that it would create bad feeling il
anything were said about it, and that
If the affaS were passed over in 81
lence, 1t would confirm the wolves in
their newborn friendly disposition.
Once more the husbandman accepted
the dogs explanation, and submitted
silently to the loss of his sheep. The
next night, however, six more sheep
disappeared, and in the morning a
select company of wolves were dis
covered in the act Of breakfasting on
mutton-roasted, broiled, and boiled
while the dog sat at the head Of the
table, with napkin around his neck.
Exasperated beyond endurance, the
husbandmsn went directly to the
breakfast table. and, taking the dog
by the left ear, upbraided him with
much violence, and confidentially in
] formed him that he was no better