The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-12-17
SELIM, THE FORTUNATE.

The following tale was related to the au-
thor by DIR. Hamlin, OF Robert College
(Bebec), many years ago, while staying with
him at the beautiful Island or Khaki in the
Marmora Sea. After having prepared it
for the pI ess, the author encountered the
story in DR.. Hamlin's book, Among the
Turks;' slightly altered and woven into
romance he now presents it TO your readers
as he had previously prepared it.
There is an old saving. so very old
that, | fear, it is getting too old and
feeble to be brought out much longer
into public view, that Truth is stranger
than fiction! Nevertheless, it is a very
true saying; and truth is such a strange
thing in itself, that l believe it never
does get really shaky and feeble on its
legs, but grows, and grows stranger
and stranger every day, till it comes to
the very end.
Now the story l am going to tell is
true; and it happened some seventy or
eighty years ago, in country far from
here, where the people and ways are
quite different from our own. Turkey,
you know, is a great way off, and Con-
stantnople is its Capital. Here dwelt
at the time of which | speak, two boys,
Johan and Seiun. Johan was youth
of Greek extraction, with dark eyes,
cholv features. His family was in the
most humble circumstances; his father,
a poor baker, scarcely managed to
keep alive with all his efforts a large
household, of which Johan was the
eldest son. Selim, on the contrary, was
of Arab, or, at least, Turkish origin.
His black eyes were fierce and spark
ling, where Johan's were mild and
~. -, NIns.
versations, when after the early CLOSING
hours of business the two lads, who had
formed strong friendship for each
other, could meet, Selim's animated
tones and impatient gestures were in
strong contrast to the gentle, listening
attitude of the young Greek, as he
quietly argued with his friend, who, to
do him justice, generally gave way to
Johan's more moderate opinions in the
end.
Selim, young as he yet was, was al
ready fine specimen of the Arab type.
His beauty was like that of a graceful
young palm, the emblem of his native
land, and he gave evidence of the
splendid future which he afterwards
fulfilled, though now, indeed his
fortune was lowly and humble enough.
An Old Turk, childless and kind hearted,
had taken compassion on the boy in his
utter restitution, and given him home
and occupation, the taking care of a
little tobacco shop, where his old
master sold snuff and perfumes, and
chopped up the long golden threads for
his customers of that pernicious drug
that goes by the name of Turkish
tobacco"
The two boys were happy enough.
They loved each other with simple
though Oriental warmth of affection,
and the few darling visits in the day
time which they could pay to each
other across the narrow street where
they dwelt, and the long conversations
in the evening, when work was over,
were sufficient Tor the present to sat
isfy the quiet routine of their lives.
But as the days passed on the brow
of Selm grew clouded; and one morn
ing as they wandered together by the
shores of the beautiful Golden Horn,
and watched the gliding boats and the
splendid piles of buildings fading under
the setting sun Selim opened his heart
20 his friend.