The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1886-02-19


ly, STOPPING to raise the decrepit crea-
ture from the ealth.
s'Help me to tie Sea-" she answered,
81 have d boat there and shall not fear
then. Thank you, you are very kind"
They walked down to the shore, to-
gether, where Mahmoud found d boat
ing to assist her to unmoor it, d she
stepped into the water and Ell
ut once he became conscious of
great change in his COM
pani6m A bright light shone
als about him; at first he thought
it was the moon rising whose beams
kindled such an illumination. But III 4
moment he knew il WAS hot that. Be-
fore him he Saw, not wretchedly
dressed, feeble old woman, but superb
Iy beautiful maiden, clad in diaphanous
robes, who seemed to float upon the
waves. The bright light was the rd-
diance emanating from her crown.
'.Mahmoud, son of Ali,n she said, in
a sweet voice, ''know that / am Danea,
the fairy of the sea. You have done me
q great service. 1 have long been
cognisant OF thy industry and the care
thou hast shown thy aged parents.
Thy good qualities as well az thy gem
erous deed tonight deserve a reward.
Come down with me beneath the sea,
where .tlie splendor of my home will
! d.azzle thee and there will be no labor
for thy hands to do. witt thou Gomez"
Now Mahnotld was like many other
young people, easily led astray, if only
| the right temptation was placed before
him. The reason why he had been SO
steady before was because he had never
been subjected to that temptation to
| which he was MOST susceptible. He should
| have answered ''no, at once, but he dilly-
| Tailed, muttered something about his
parents anxiety at his absence and how
they depended on him for their daily
food.
MAY, they viii not suffer-" said the
fairy. s'Thou shalt return in three days
If thou wilt. Only come with me now
and behold the splendors of my king
DOM"
He turned to look for the towers of
Bassorah, hoping to see the roof Of his
little cottage, but the palm trees stood
between with their waving branches.
The fairy stood waiting, her beautiful
eyes beseeching him, her white arms
beckoning him. He could not resist the
spell. N will go with thee,'' he said,
casting his fears behind him.
So the fairy took his hand, and stril-
ing the waves with her wand, they both
sank far below. What broad, roomy
kingdom it was in the bottom of the
Sea among the corals and waving
grasses and glistening pearls! A new
world of marvel and delight was opened
to the eyes of the wondering fisherman.
| | Ho 1o,Il l,y, ~ II
lights. Grottos of surprising beauty
and extent were filled with every splen-
dor that could tempt the senses. The
most ravishing music arose from un-
seen orchestras The most delicious
viands were placed before him at every
meal. His couch was of purple-colored
sponges decorated with the finest sea-
weeds. Maidens of Incompatible love
illness performed the commands of theil
J queen and waited upon his every wish
No king in all the world could have beer
served more sumptuously.
Two days passed in this manner, anc
Mahmoud began to think of home. HI
knew his old father and mother wer.
.. grieving at his absence, and his hear
misgave him. On the third day he SO
,, licited leave of the fairy to depart from
/, ucI itiiu ICtuIll W HIS Olu Gil
ploymeht at Bassorah.
. She frowned little at his eviden
= 'weariness of her hospitality. ''Mor
tal," she said s.thou art foolish to wisl
to return to earth again and to you
, daily labor, but your desire shall b.
4 gratiiiedn'
q At parting she put into his hands
q golden casket and key.
q 'sTake this" she said, sas the gift o
n the fair Danea, but never open it, I beg
\ you, for your life, till the very wors
i happens. The consequences will b
! graver than you think if you disobe,
! me. Mahmoud, son of Ali, you are Oh
9 the waters before Bassorah again"
3 He looked around him, and saw tina
he was in boat not far from the shore
: The lights of Bassorah twinkled amon
Il the palm and citron groves. Silentl
g he rowed ashore and sought to find hi
/ humble stall, which he had left thre
4 days before. To his surprise he foun
: the site occupied by amagnificent palace
= Determined to learn who had thus tres
: passed upon his property, he knocke'
v loudly at the gate. Before any of th
: servants appeared in response to. th
i summons, a night watchman cam
II dlOuS, anu uclHdiltcu W kuOW why
o made so great disturbance.
!, II would like to know why this pa
IS ace has been built on my land!''
e "Who are youp" asked the aston ishe
Q guard.
d ''Mahmoud Ben Ali. Three days ag
n left my shop standing on this vel
d ground. Now this palace stands her
and my shop has been demolished"
IS "Verily, you are mad," exclaimed Il
y officer. "tfhis palace has stood hel
n more than fifty years. You must g
@ before the cadi, If you persist in tellin
, story like this
le In the presence of that officer /
rs told the same story, but, of cours,
1T no one believed him.
,r II will have my rlghts!'' cried Ma
moud, 81 will appeal to Suliman, Il
~ Caliph.
D. ''Why, man, you arc stark GRAZ
s. Almanin, son of the great Haroun,
Sc the Caliph now. Suliman has bee
dead three hundred years, and there
le a new dynasty"
id ''And know you not Ali, the sc
It, OF Hassan, the son of Abbas, the fishe
70 man, who dwells near by the house
at Merwan the scribepn asked Mahmou
tn The cadi looked curously at the q
I'd sembled spectators, but said nothing.