Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-04-26
sTAUNTON, VIRGINIA, APRIL 2e, 1889

distress, OUT expect not from us TO receive
help. Hear my story and lose hope.'
Then he related what we already know.
The owl heard and said
"Hear my story and know that I am no
less unhappy than thou. My father is king
of India, and l, his unhappy daughter, am
named Lusa. Kashnur, who transformed
you, is also the cause of my misfortune. He
desired me as his sons wife, but my father, q
violent man, caused him to be thrust from
the palace. The wretch contrived to have
conveyed to me potion, which changed me
to this condition. On awakening from q long
trance found myself here, Kashnur bawl-
ing in my ears: Thus shalt thou remain.
ugly and repulsive, until some one shall, even
in this hateful guise, espouse thee Thus Kash-
nur doth avenge himselfI Many months
have passed away and l am here alone and
sad"
The caliph had listened intently. ''There
seems to be a connection between our histo-
ries, but where shall we find the key?"
The owl answered SIT was foretold that a
stork would bring me good fortune, and l
believe l can save us all. The magician who
has made US all unhappy comes once month
to this ruin. Not far from hero is hall.
There he entertains fellows in vice and witch
CldiU 1AlIiOuSS3 JIG SlOIIOS luuU are luCQ LOlQ
it may be that you will hear your own and
the word you have forgotten"
dearest princess" cried Chasid, ''when
comes he and where is this hall?"
Con one condition only,n said the owl, ''can
advise thee"
''Speak, speakl" cried the caliph, ''I agree
to ALL"
''It is that inasmuch as would also be free,
one of you must marry me-"
The grand vizier looked doubtful and NUT
tered something about "a pig in a poke" but
the calph accepted the condition and heard
that on that very night an orgy would be
held. long and dark passage took them to
a crevice whence they had a view Of the
banqueting hall. The company were assem-
bled and partook freely Of the luscious fruits
and wines before them. Kashnur was pres
ent. He was asked to relate some recent
achievements and told among others tho
story of Chasid and Manson
'What word was this" asked one, sthat
thou gavest them?n
"Oh," answered Kashnur, sit is o difficult
Latin word; it is 'Mutabor'"
The joy of the storks was excessive. The
caliph returned to the owl and said:
"l1y saviour, take me as thy husband, for
that which thou hast done for me- and my
friend"
Three times they bowed to the east. EMU
taborl" they cried. And seel In the joy of
their recovered manhood master and servant,
half laughing, half crying, embraced one an
other. But, as they turned, fancy their sur
prise A princess, gorgeously attired, stood
before thelnl
Smilingly she said:
ssYou do not know your owl!'
The caliph was SO delighted with her beauty
that he exclaimed
''It was my greatest fortune that became
a stork!"
The caliph's return to Bagdad created
great joy, and all were delighted to see their
beloved master again. All the more was
Mira detested. He and his father were
taken prisoners. Kashnur was immured in
the same dungeon that had held the princess
and Mira, with good dose of the black
powder, was changed to stork and confined
in a cage in the royal garden.
For many years Chasid and his beautiful
queen reigned, much beloved and happy
With Manson the caliph frequently rehearsed
the storl story when, with their children at
their sides, their gray hairs gave the signs Of
old age.-Adapted from The German by Ed
win N. Mayer for Boys and Girls.