The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-09-16
wonderful how the poor wrretches reich con.

| ;IPNs. 'iee' Is uellghtfully refresh
ing after the hot, dusty ride OF the morn.
ing. But it is now evident that this
constant Joiting up and down hill under
Vertlcal sun, has been too much for
our invalid member, who, though he
sun pears up with true Anglo-Saxon
pluck, is manifestly almost :. PLAYED
out What are we to do with him
IN thlS dilemma, distant glimpse OF
the tall square tower of Ramleh (Ari.
mathea) gives me timely hint.
LOOK here, we're not far from the
husslan monastery; let us halt there for
the afternoon and go on to Jaffa in the
cool OF the evening" sJe1 So ~ g
I All, Efendi," (your honor) "vou
won't get in there very easily. Since
the place was attacked the other dav.
One." -,
"Well, there's no harm in trv;no
anyhow. You two take charge Of our e
trlena trv mv mere 1ma while ss ride forward and
A few minutes later, am hammer
ing Justify at the monastery gate, which.
set deep in its seowling archway of
gray stone and clamped with huge iron
nalls. certainly locks anything but hos
plta6le. A little wicket opens and a
hooded monk, eyeing me suspiciously
through q grating, surlily asks what I
My reply is single Russian phrase
the monastic greeting which l learned
long ago from the monks of Strelna, on
the Gulf Of Finland. But its effect is
magical. The gate flies open and I am
seized in hug worthy of Polar bear.
A greasy, red beard scrubs both nv
checks, while a hoarse voice bellows
Trapturously. 'sAch, brat moi brat mol !
v~' o~16 + Moshoay % (Ah, my brother,
my brothef,syou too hare been at Mos
COW. sa 4 w. s. sss@ sssss sss2s7s svs ~ :
The shout draws other monks to the
spot and my companions, coming up at
that moment, are welcomed like broth
ers. In trice our sick man is lying at
his ease in cool, well-aired room, with
half dozen kindlys'' Brethren =, in at
tendance upon hum, while the rest of us
are being regaled with the best cheer
that the refectory affords, to which our
worthy guide does ample Justice.
lit is we'll for us, Daoud Efendi,"
says he to me with a grin, that you
have found these gates more passable
than Sekundur Rumi (Alexander the
Great) found those of Paradisen'
Headidnt come away efnpty-hand-
ed, however" remarked /; g he brought
back something to show for it.''
MY lord knows the storv,thSng' {, 4
"a Yes, but my friends here don't: so
suppose you tell it to them.''
Mprdeesi qptfihs loh, MSs SHs
throat with a huge draught Of tea and
begins as follows: IRzs9A
IS You must know, then, gentlemen,
that when thea great king, Sekundur,
had conquered all the. nations of the
East, and there was none left to stand /
before him, he bethought himself that
it would be q noble deed to seek out
the hidden Paradise, which 80 many |
princes and mighty men had sought in
vain. So he inquired diligently till he
found one that could guide him thither.
and upward he went into the heart of |
the aglasting hills, with an his chosen
wrrlors about him. IRIS 4 a4s4sa as.s m |
But althougfs manya set out, few
arrived For the wSy led among dark
mountains and roaring torrents and I
there W BY Co inseif, thss iu,'1as, no mortal tai
man MIGHT eyer reach the place from
which mans own sin had once cast him
put. And many of the Frankish host
felaze4d Rasishe1by TIN way, and many
were swept away by the torrents, and !
many more were deyoRred by the mon
strot1s bedsts that haunted the passage.
But forward went Sekundui., needing
nothing; for he was one who cared not
how other men Jared if he did but make
good his own purpose. .T@A nlTTT{t
'' At last he saw above him, between
;wo great rookS "a gate bright rs the
eyes Of the Caliph Ali; and he thought
hat this could be no other than the en-
rance of Paradise. So up he clambered
Ind smote upon the gate with his sword
lilt, crying: p sT sgTgBz esYss Isi
"'Open to Sekundur Rumi. the lord
of the whole earth!' s*aa
"There is no place here for such as
hee,' answered "a terrible voice from
within. This is the garden of God, |.
md none may enter it with bloody
lands!'
'.And the king looked at his hands, /,
nd 10! all the blood that he had shed
vas upon them, making them crimson
$ Shiraz vine. Then a great terror
anne upon him, and he knew not what
o say. XXI stIf
''' Hear mer cried he at length; if
may not enter, give me at least some
oxen whereby men may know that
ave indeed reached the gate Of the
'aradise of Gedy ~asegnfs1 eaxxS
Take thy gift. then. madman,' an !
wered the voice; and a hand flung to
i'm something strapped, in. leaves, h
7hich he seized without even looking II
t it $50 great was his fear) and hurried |
way. I
"When they saw him returning his ,
,arriors rejoioed greatly, for they had
nought him lost; and he unrolled the |
caves to show them his gift. But 10! j
was only the fragment OF a skull, and {
ekundur flung it on the ground in a 8
age. s
"Then said one of the Babylonian i
Use men whoswere with him, sFling it :
OF away, @ King, for in truth it isEa 6
reciOus oft. Let them bring me- a