Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-03-30
CALIPH ST0RK.


caliph removed his pipe and said:
"Grand vizier, what is 1t that troubles
theep
The grand viZier crossed his arms and bow
ing before his master he answered:
81 know not that appear troubled, but at
the gate there stands merchant who offers
such beautiful wares that feel provoked q.
being poor man"
The calph, who had long desired an oppor-
tunity TO give his minister pleasant sur
prise, desired the man TO be brought UP.
The merchant was a fat little man with a
dark face and dressed in rags, while on his
back be carried a box containing pearls,
rings, silver mounted pistols, vases and
combs besides good stock of rich stuffs.
The Caliph Chasid. after examining every
thing, finally bought for himself and Manson
two pairs of beautiful pistols, and for the
latters wife comb Suddenly the caliph
spied little drawer, and asked what it con-
tanned The merchant opened the drawer
and took therefrom box which held dark
powder and q manuscript In strange Ian
guage, which neither Chasid nor Manson had
ever seen before.
''They were sold to me by vender In
Mecca" said the man, land rs 1 place little
value upon them they are at thy disposal for
trifle."
The caliph, who was something of a book
worm bought the box and contents and dis
missed the man. Feeling curiosity to know
what the characters on the scroll might
mean, he asked the grand vizier whether ne
knew OF anybody able to decipher the writ
ing
MY lord and master" he answered, NEAR
the great mosque there lives Selim the
Learned, who knows all languages; perhaps
he can hslp thee"
Soon the wise Selim appeared; he bowed
and exclaimed: Thy will be done, o caliphn
Long he examined the manuscript and then
suddenly spoke: This is Latin, my lord; /
wager my headm
The caliph spoke "Then rsad, o manln
Selim began: Thou man, who fndest this
scroll, praise Allah for his mercies! Whoever
shall snuff Of the powder in the box and shall
exclatm 'Mutabor' may DO transferred into
any animal and become familiar with its
language. Should he desire again 10 become
himself, he must bow three times to the east
and speak the word. But beware that be
laugh not, for then would he forget the word
and forever remain beastln
The caliph was overjoyed He dismissed
Selim the Learned with a rich gift and ex-
claimed TO Manson:
EARLY in the morning come thou to me.
We viii then wander about, take some Of the
powder and hear what is said in the air, in
the water, in the forest and in the fields.n
Bettmes the next day Manson appeared be-
fore his master, who, after placing the box
In his girdle and commanding his people not
TO follow, started with his minister on the
stroll. Manson remembered a pond some
distance Off where he had frequently seen q
number OF sc-ss majestically deporting
thar1ray,S md ct,osor o--,,,
visit.
The caliph agreed and they approached
the pond. They observed one old fellow
pacing up and down with great dignity
probably seeking q meal of frogs, and all the
while communing with himself in stork An
other stork was floating gracefully in the air
at some height, also in quest of his breakfast
by my beard, my master, fancy these
two long legs are holding a sprightly CONVEX
sation. Say, how were it were we storksr'
well said, replied tho caliph, "but first
let Us once more repeat our instructions how
TO become ourselves again. All, so. Bow
three times to the east and say 'Mutabor.' ;
But for mercy sake no laughing, or we re-
main beasts
Quickly he drew from his pocket the box,
took some Of the powder and supplied the
grand vizier. Then both cried "Mutabor,"
aixl OchOlu. 6QQ DeCGIl6
thin and red, their arms changed to wings,
their necks became yard long and their
bodies were covered with soft feathers. After
long establishment the caliph said: What a
beautiful bill thou hast, Mansor: BY the
Prophets beard, such a sight have never
before seen"
By this time the flying stork had alighted
and approached the other, and our friends
heard the following:
"Good morning, Madam Longlegs; out so
earlyr'
Thanks, dear Rattlebill, I'm looking for
my breakfast. May offer piece of lizard,
or would a frogs leg be more TO your tastei"
Really, my dear, have no appetite this
morning, Ny object is different one. To-
day ! am to dance before my fathers guests,
and came down TO practice little before.
hand"
No sooner said than done But the strange
gyrations of this bird dancer were too much
for the gravity of our friends, and they
burst into an uncomfortable fit Of laughter
Then it occurred to Manson that mirth dur
ing the transformation was dangerous, and
he impaired his apprehensions to the caliph.
"By Mecca and Medina" said he, that
were bad joke were we unable to become
men again. But the world can't Think
innumerable times, but the word was not
forthcoming-the Caliph Chasid and Manson
remained storksl
Sadly they wandered through tho fields.
Back to town they could not return, for who
would know or believe themf Thus several
days passed in agony and suffering, for their
natures were unchanged and frogs and lizards
still far from being q delcacy. They were
able TO fly, however, and frequently they
Travelled TO Bagdad, where. from convenient
roofs, they saw what was going ON.
At first there appeared much evidence of
sadness in the streets, but on the fourth day
they witnessed gorgeous pageant approach
ing the palace. On q bejeweled horse sat q
young man in a gold embroidered crimson
mantle, ut whose feet all Bagdad fell and
exclaimed:
"All hail, Mira, caliph of Bagdadm
The two storks on the roof looked at each
other, and Chasid said;
This Mira is tho son Of my enemy. the
powerful magician Kashnur, who has sworn
vengeance on me. For this am transformed
But conner
They rose and flew towards Medina. Night
came and they saw not far away a ruin A
near inspection showed 1t to have been
stately castle, and they wandered through its
lofty halls. Suddenly Manson whispered:
"A grand vizier, and a stork at that,
should not fear ghosts, but methinks hear
groans"
The caliph listened and distinctly heard
wailing and crying. lie started forward,
and soon, at the foot of fight of stone
stairs, reached q door on whose threshold he
stood In wonderment For there, chained to
the floor, sat large owl, whose eyes shed
abundant tears, and who gave forth the sad
sounds they had heard. Perceiving our
friends, she uttered a joyful cry and ex-
claimed:
s"welcome ye storksl / take 80 as good
omen for my deliverance; for it was prophe-
sied that n stork would cause me much joyIr