Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-07-15
MIscELLANEoUs.
THE HONEST BAKER.

u Y Grand CAIRO, II BAKER sells short
weight, or adulterate the materials from
which his bread is made, end the crime is
brought home to him by the inquisitors, who
daily go about in various quaint dissuises to
inspect provisions and examine weights and
measures, for the FIRST offense the officers at
once distribute all the bread that they can
liud in his shop to the poor, and tile offender
is then nailed to his own door, sometimes by
one ear and sometimes by both. for the
space Of twelve hours. For tho second of
fcnse his bread is distributed as aforesaid,
and he receives the punishment of the bas.
siuo by having inflicted two and even three
hundred blows upon the feet, aud aftetward
q large broad board is placed upon his
shoulders. with an opening for his head to
pass through, and on aud aroEnd This board
are placed heavy masses of lead; and loaded
down with this marx OF infamy. he is forced
to walk through the principal streets Of the
city until his strength is exhausted should
he survive this punishment and have the
hardihood to commit third cfFense, he is
instantly condemned to death and beheaded
in the public square.
HassAn was ncted throughout the city of
Grand Cairo as man of the most unsullied
honesty; his word was considered good
most mems bonds; and his bread was tho
that could be obtained in tho entire city.
The consequence was that while other bake>
rics languished for want of custom, Hassan's
shop was filed with purchasers almost all
the time from sunrise toSunset. and ho was
rapidly accumulatiug comfortable fortune.
Al length, however, baker named Called,
whose reputation for making his bread and
cakes Just as bad as he could and escape pun>
ishment. was as extended as ilaSsnn's for the
excellence of his articles, made mp his mind
thut this state of things should continue no
longer, and either his rival should perish, or,
| he himself would die in tho attempt to ac.
comp!ish his downfall.
This feeling of hatred on thcArars of Ca
led was not, however, altogether owing to
Hassan's success in trade, though that waa
bitter pill for him to swaiisw, but was ike
wise increased in consequence of his having
been disappointed suitor for the hand of
uassan's daughter. Before proceeding fur
ther let me tell you that the worthy baker
Hassan had but this one daughter, no other
child, aud as sho was not only very bcaut>
frl but vas supposed to possess tho secret
whereby her father produced SuCh fneI whito
bread, the offers for her hand were very nu-
merous and urgent. She, however, so great
was the respect and love she entertained for
her father, would listen to no proposition to
change her estate, and declining all offers
with Grmness, but kindness, remained con-
tented and happy in lIassan's abode. TO Ca
lcd'S srir she ex pressed herself particularly
averse, and it was doubtless owing TO her
undisguised dislike that he first began to res
yolvo in his dark, tortuous brain schemes for
her fathers destruction.
After deiiScrating upon and rejecting
| number of devices, he hit upon the follow
ing, which he Immediate concluded to adopt:
Having first obtained a large bundle of
straw and other infammabie substances, he
heapcd them in pile quite near the rear
part of uassan's shop, aud then just before
the hour at which the inquisitors were likely
20 pass through the street, he set fire to the
pile, which at once blazed up furionsly.
Just as he anticipated, both Hassan and his
daughter rushed forth in great alarm to learn
tho cause Of this sudden conlagratioD.
The instant they left tho shop Called. who
was watching near, passed unobserved into
the empty shop, and in an instant bad re-
moved all the honest weights and measures,
and substituted the false ones he had pre-
pared. He had hardly time TO accomplish
his work and make good his escape before
uassan and his daughter. laughing heartily
at tho trife that had caused them such
alarm. returned to the shop, and who should
come along but the in9uisitors. Pretending,
as they always did, to be customers, they
demanded pound of bread aud measure of
-four, and tho unsuspicious IIasssn proceeded
to supply their wants; but almost instantly
the practiced eye of the chief of the in1nisi-
ton discovered the faIsiiy Of both weights
and measures
Throwing of their Disguise they st once
seized Hassan. at the same time procIaiming
aloud the cffonse he had committed. In vain
he protested his innoc"u se; the proof of
guilt was before their nyes. In vain he
begged of them to call to mind that he bad
for years been known IS Hss-sn the Honest;
, that they asserted only made the crirDo more
heinous. as it was only taking mean adVan.
tage of the universal confidence reposed in
him, aud in spite of all his protestations and
his daughters tears, they forthwith turned
the contents of his shop into the street. and
having bound him hand and foot, naiIsd him
iguomiBionsly to the door.
! Perceiving hog ntgssly useIess both tsars
SOD eulEsatiss proved. the BAKERS 5auEb.er
/ set herself 10 consider whl canIl have been
iiseI IrOH her father, aud il was not mooy
moments before the conviction settisd upon
f her mind that il was M other than Caieai.
l She Re ne :, 5srsi 5istine,iy bssi8g Ezen LIN
+ 'gr.iD2 8sar when Ehs rushed oo:i siarmed
{ IL ths fte, and putting this sud thas so2sih-
/ or e5a rss iEn:l5 coH7incsd that is vas 70
t him they owed the misery that bad oTa'-
( taken them
Whispering her 5a,bsr 70 good cheer,