Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-11-10
A HOME THRUST.
by WILLIAM M'ARTHUR.

Abu Ben IIadar and Null Ibraham, two
camel drivers, were crossing from con-
trary directions the Desert of Shall, on
the way to Shiraz, and met at the Oasis
of FL Ghoun.
The former, who was the younger OF
the two, had been slave in the early
part of his career, having been captured
by pirates; and, after having passed from
one master to another, he had at length
found himself in Constantinople, where
he was held for q tine in close servitudc
by merchant of that city extensively
engaged in commerce; but he had at
length contrived to effect his escape, and
had made his way after many vici3situdcs
in northcastcrly direction, where he
adopted his present avocation.
Null, on the other hand, had never
since infancy been anything almost but a
"child of the desert" He was, never.
thcess, brought up strictly in the tcnets
of the Koran, of which he was rigid
observer, and on the present occasion he
was glad to meet man who had seen SC
much of the outside world.
While the two drivers smoked thcil
narghiIies under the palm trees, thcil
camels resting meanwhile in the shade,
Abu entertained his young companion
with details of what was to be observed
beyond the limits of the tracklcss waste
of sand. He told him of the magnifi'
cencc of St0mboul, which far cxccllc!l in
all that Shiraz could produce, even as
the sun, the monarch of day, outshincs
the brightness of tho pale Queen OF
night, or as the great star AIgor exceeds
in dazzling splcndor the radiance Of the
entire cluster of the Plciadcs.
"Tcll me, o, Father!" said Null
"something about the forbidden cup Of
the Giaour."
"Son," said the old man, imprcssivcly,
"if thou woulds't prolong thy days and
secure the favor of Allah (whosC name
be ever blcsscd), shun that cup. Thou
hast never, evidently from thy inquiry,
seen it, or its effects. The wild beasts
that roam at night through the luins OF
Perscpolls, are not more dangerous to
man than it is. The fascinating gaze Of
the deadly serpent which lurCth its vic.
tim to destruction while paralyzmg his
every effort to escape is not more certain.
ly pcrilous. The sirocco, whose deadly
blast carrycth with it destruction to man
and beast, is mild in its eff cts when
compared with the blight that lies con.
cealcd in the accursed wine cup. The
carcascs that strcw the desert, food fol
its vulturcs, are mere units TO the mum.
Der ofthosc slain daily by the intoXicat
Ing drink. Thou art still young. Let
nothing tempt thec-curiosity some
times may; let nothing induce thee the
invitation of the trcaCherous Frank often
may-to touch, to taste, to handle.
have seen what it can work; ther> f)rc,
| say be warned !"
The sun had descended some degrees
from his meridian altitude when the
two camel drivers separated, each tt
pursue his monotonou3 journey.
When Null arrived at his destination
he found awaiting him two officials con
ncctcd with British Diplomatic mission
the senior Of whom took from parcc
which formed part of the baggage car
ricd by his camel some important dis
patches.
'In the nick of time, Brett, ,"obsorvct
the officer to his friend. zone day late
and our mission here was useless"
GLOW lucky! Whata good thing t.
be able to pluck at the whiskcr Of tht
Russian Bear"
"By Jovcl | wouldn't have missed tbi,
parcel for n deal. We have the ball a
our feet now, and our St. Pctcrsburgl
ncighbors are completely outwtted. w
must at once set to work and give Sil
George our views by wire from Toublin
1t is not too late to chcckmatc the Rus
sian intrigue"
Il am at your service, Villicrs."
Both officials were verscd in the Ori
entail tongue in which Null spoke; and
after having commended him for hi
promptitudc, and placed gold coin il
his hand as eratulty, they directed hin
to remain until he was rested, and tol(
him they would require him to procccl
to Toublin with an important message
which he was to conceal about his per
son, and which he was not to lose al
hour in carrying; and, above all, tha
secrecy was TO be observed.
81 think, Brett" said Villicrs, aside
"that the fellow deserves share of n bot
tic of Giesler for his alacrity."
Major Brett then proceeded to uncorl
a champagne bottle, and, each gentleman
having drank glass, the Major fi!lc'
out bumper fer Null
as it good to take9 l have ncvc
tasted wine, Eifendi."
"CcrtOinly; tako it of while It 1izzc
1t will do you good"