The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1879-11-12

thc eyes OF the wondering fisherman.
He Was surrounded by "a paradise Of
delight. Grottoes Of surprising beau
W and extent were filed with every
splendor that could tempt hesenses.
The most ravishing music arose from
unseen orchestras. The most deli
cious yiands were placed before him
at every meal. Maidens Of surpass-
ing loveliness performed the COM
mands Of their queen, and waited
his every wish. No king in all the
world could have been served more
sumptuously.
Three days pass in this manner,
and Mahmond grew tired at length
Of the fairy's hospitality. He
thought Of his old father and moth
er, who would grieye at his absence,
and his mind misgaye him. He SO.
licited the fairy at last for liberty to
leave her dominions and return to
his old employmenta at Bassarah.
Mortal" said she, "you are foolish
to wish to return to earth again and
TO your daily labor, but your wish
shall be gratifed.
AT parting she put into his hand u
golden casket and key.
"Take this" said she "as the gift
of the fairy Danea, but never open
it, | beg Of you, for your life. The
consequence will be graver than you
think, if you do not obey me. Nah
mond, son,of Ali, you are on the wa
tiers before Bassarah again"
He looked around him and saw
that he was in a boat not far from
the shore. The lights Of Bassarah
twinkled among the palm groves.
silently he rowed ashore, and sought
TO find the humble stall which he
had left three days before. To his
surprise he found the site occupied
by magnificent palace.
Determined to know who had thus
trespassed upon his property, he
knocked loudly at the gate. Before
any Of the servants appeared, in re-
spouse to the summons, night
Waterman came along and demand
ed to know why he made so great u
disturbance.
81 would,like to know why this
palace has been built upon my land"
"Who are-you?" asked the aston
ished guard
"Mahmond Ben Ali. Three days
ago | left my shop standing on this
very ground. Nowthis palace stands
here, and my stall has been demol-
ished.
"Verily, you are mad!" exclaimed
the officer. This palace has stood
here more than fifty years. You
must go before the cadi if you per,
sist in telling story like this"
In the presence OF that officer he
told the same story, but Of course no
one believe him.
81 will have my rightsw cried
Mahmond; III will appeal to SULLIVAN
the caliph."
"Why, man, you are stark mad.
Almanun, son of the great Haroun,
is caliph now. SULLIVAN has been
dead 300 years, and now there is Il
new dynasty"
"And know you not Ali, the son of
Hassan, the son Of Abbass, the fish
erman who dwells near by the house
of Merwan the scribc?" asked Nah
mond.
The cadi looked curiously ut the
assembled spectators, but said moth,
ing,
81 am the son of ALI" continued
Mahmond, "send for the old man and
see if his story will not corrroborate
mine"
"No such person as you name lives
at present in the city" answered the
cadi. You are evidently an honest
fellow; but a little out. See to it
that you make no more disturbance,
or a worse will come upon you. Your
case is dismissed.
Mahmond now wandered disconso-
lately about the city, vainly endeav.
oring to find some familiar face or
scene. But everything appeared
strange to him, and there was no
one who recognized him. At last he
-. - 49, Ill ..,,, .,,l,.,s lA.t g..