The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-08
THE DAILY STAR
THE STORY OF A DIAMOND.

Islumbered long in the womb Of
mother earth. All was night. Who was
my father do not know, and perhaps
never shall. l was aroused to living,
waking consciousness on a July morning
lam native Of India. was born in a
Golconda mine. Like mankind l come
from the dust, but am not formed Of it;
30 far am their superior. I have said
that ! was borne to the light on q July
morning. A throbbing and scratching
Of the earth around me was my first sen
sation. In moment I was borne-laid
bare to light i lived. The sun a
July Indian sun---first kissed me, and
felt his burning eye diffuse transparent
glow through my whole frame. From
that moment we knew each other, and
have been fast friends ever since.
But there were other eyes upon me
soon-the eyes Of q dark man, who bend
ing over me, caught me eagerly up in his
dusky fingers He, too, kissed me,
clasped me to his bosom, seemed to shiv-
er with delight, and placed me in a
scented bag within his innermost robe. I
had seen myself reflected in his glisten-
ing eyes, and ! knew that / was beauti-
ful, 1t was not quite dark, and as light
is the air l breathe, now that l am born.
no long as there is any, can see, l can
hear, I can shed tean.
I soon knew that my master was scrap
ing away more stones and earth, and
that he captured many beings such as |;
but I had no companions, as he trans
ferred them all to bag attached to his
girdle outside.
On leaving work in the evening, my
master took me from my hiding place,
and putting me into his mouth, ! lay
snugly enough below his tongue. He
went forward to the master of the mines
to be searched, and delivered my fellow
prisoners up to him; but he did not give
me up-he liked my company already.
This dusky man took me home to his
bamboo hut by the light of the setting
sun looked at me as I lay on the palm of
his hand; and as he rolled me about
with bis forefnger, 1 knew he was
pleased with me, for he smiled and
smiled, his eyes glistened again, his
white teeth opened, and he said: bright
star!'
lay in his bosom for that night, and
in the early morning we started for I
knew not whittier. At first our way lay
through painless jungles and forest,
where herds of wild elephants fed on the
branches of trees, where parrots and
monkeys hoped and screamed, and
where at night the wild beasts howled
all round about u.s. One night nay mas
ter slept at the foot Of large tree, when
the roar of two Bengel tigers was
heard. My masters heart beat quick,
and he had to hurry up the tree stem,
with me in his bosom as usual. When
there, looking down from the topmost
branch, was ply serpent, but though
be hissed, he was sleepy after a late
dinner, and could do US no harm. In the
morning we pursued our way in safety,
and. after many mornings we came upon
a beaten road, which grew larger the
longer we travelled along it.
At last, after many escapes and many
adventures, we reached a city on the
sea-coast. Ny master entered the chief
thoroughfare, and, selecting the finest
shop l could see, he opened the door of
1t, and we stood in the presence of an
other dark man. His hair was as dark as
my masters but his skin was not. He had
black, glossy curls and a beard; also a
@How muchf" said this man, after he
had carefully weighed me.
give thousand rupees" replied my
master. ....
'It is DONE" said the man with the
large nose.
The Jew counted out the money, my
master lifted it, and giving me last
look, he babe me farewell with a sigh.
My new master weighed me again, and
after turning me around in all directions,
shut me up for few nights in his strong
box. But 1 knew that he, too, was
pleased, for he, too, smiled, although it
was greedy smile.
After some few days my new master,
the Jew, took passage with me in
a steamer bound for Europe. I knew not
whittier. Our way led through the
waters, peopled with sharks and flying
fish; also, through the pearl fishery,
which interested my master very much
We were passing over the Indian Ocean,
then the Red Sea, then an overland jour
ney across the Isthmus of Suez, then
through the blue waters and under the
bluer sky of the Mediterranean Sea, past
the burning mountain of Stromboli,
through the straits Of Gibraltar, across
the rough Bay Of Biscay, passing through
the English Channel and German Ocean,
until we arrived in an old-fashioned
Dutch seaport town. We were in Hol.
land, and the town was Amsterdam.
Here was given with great caution
into the hands Of skilled workman, who |
furnished my master, the Jew, with a re-
csipt for my safe custody, and who
brought me to the grindstone to improve
my luster and general effect. was
ground upon all sides by means of the
dust of some of my former companions,
being like myself.
Although somewhat unpleasant I