The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-04-10

cursed night-caps"
AT the moment when desOlation
reigned supreme and the cries of the
multitude were the most heartrending,
rumor began to spread among the
motley crowd.
A vessel loaded with night-caps was
in the harbor-thus ran the rumor. In
quiries were instantly made. 1t was
three-masted vessel from Marseilles, it
was said. But did the owner have so
many thousands of night-caps on board?
Were there enough to go around?
A rush was made for the boats
Everybody wanted to be the first one on
board of the vessel, and there was a
fearful crush and crowding. The whole
harbor was covered with flotilla of row
and sail-boats, and they all steered for
the Marseilles vessel. That vessel was
lying at anchor some distance from
shore, and to get to ii il was necessary to
first cross the shallow lake of Tuns.
AT La Goulette some six boats were
upset, but the shoal water prevented
the drowning of any one. Finally the
vessel was reached. Captain Duvergn-
Ter was on the quarterback, awaiting
the attack With the aid of bis tele-
scope he had seen the whole series of
preliminaries. He was well posted. In
less than ten minutes more there were
three hundred boats surrounding the
vessel. The shouting, screeching and
screaming was as if pandemonium had
been let loose.
Ten thousand voices exclaimed, "Give
us night-capsl night-caps, or we diel"
The captain motiOned with his hand.
He was understood to desire silence,
and everybody was as silent as the
tomb.
You want night-caps?" he asked.
Yes, yesl" came the reply from a
thousand throats.
Very well )" said the captain. " But
you know, gentlemen, that night-caps
are very much in demand just now. |
have re ceived news from Europe to the
effect that night-caps are worth great
deal more in the market at this present
moment, particularly in Tunis, than
they were twenty-four hours ago.
There has been successful bull move
ment."
Alas, alas!" shouted the voices
from below; d" we know that to be only
too true. Let us have the night-caps,
kind stranger, and you will earn our
lasting gratitude"
Gratitude be bowed" replied,
bluntly, the captain. What | want is
your money. But listen! am an
honest mani"
The Jews trembed That was the
introduction they always chose when
they prepared themselves to drive a
hard bargain with a victim.
" shall not take undue advantage
of your needs"
The Jews paled more and more.
1.-The night-caps," continued the cap
tain, "cost me two francs apiece
Well, that's not as much as we
thought" murmured the frightened
Jews below.
{" shall be satisfied with a profit of
eighteen francs for each.n said the cap
tain.
HosannaI" screamed the Jews, Joy
fully.
Who wants night-caps at twenty
francs apiece?" demanded the captain.
Every hand went up, as at school
when the teacher has asked an easy
question.
"Order, nowl" said the captain.
Enter on starboard and leave the
vessel by larboard, one by one. Who
ever disobeys don't get any night-cap!'
The greatest order prevailed, and
business was humming for about six
hours. Everybody paid his twenty
francs and got his night-cap. Some
took several night-caps for friends left
at home sick or dying.
The captain took in little matter of
five hundred thousand francs in gold,
of which four hundred fifty thousand
was clear profit.
The following day the captain came
once more into the presence of the Bey.
"Ah, it is thou, Giaour?"
The captain fell down before the Bey
and worshiped him.
Well?" asked the Bey.
s. came to thank thee, Highness!"
said the captain.
Art thou satisfied"
More than satisfied"
But this is not all - said the Bey.
mot ALP" stammered the captain
fearing an ambush.
No; waltz
And the Bey once more summoned
his scribe.
Five minutes later the following
dmrdh had been dictated:
Praise be to Allah, the Only One, to
whom everything and everybody re-
turnsl
THUS sayeth the Slave of Allah, the
glorious, of whom he implores forgive
ness and absolution-
He, the Moosher Sid Husseiu
Pasha, Bey of Tunis:
I" 1t is herewith forbidden every Jew
to appear in the streets of Tunis with 6
night-cap covering his unbelieving and
accursed head, on pain of having his
aforesaid head instantly cut off.
"Only twenty-four hours are given
the owners of said night-caps to dis
pose of them to the best advantage.
Let this amTah be strictly obeyed.
Written on the 21st day of the
month of Moharr m, in the year 124;
after the hedjrah."
"Dost understand" asked the Bey.
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