Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-12-27

rent among the Christians Of the East, and
was undoubtedly used by Mohammed in
the composition of the Koran Il is an
Oriental variation upon sacred theme. an
Asiatic embroidery full of all kinds Of
strange beasts, q sanctiied Arabian Nights
entertainment. H. tells of "a dumb bride
restored 10 speech bv taking the infant Je-
-us in her arms and a crazy woman who
would not wear any clothes brought TO
her right mind boy the compassionate look
of the Lady Mary aud q girl with the
leprosy cleansed 10y washing u the water
in which the child had been bathed and
sundrv other household miracles even asnre
ingenious and astonishing 1t describes
the dwelling place of the holy family at
Matarea "a town little to the northeast of
Cairo, where any scepucal person may still
see the aged sycamore which sheltered
them, and the fountain Of Mary in
which she washed her childs coat But
the most wonderful tale Of all is the story
OF the enchanted mule, which runs on
this wise
As the holy family were entering into "A
certain city they saw three women coming
out of cemetery. aud weeping And
when the Lady Mary saw them she said to
the girl who accompanied her THE same
who had been cleansed of her leprosyl
Ask them what is the matter and what
calamity has befalen them But they
made no reply TO the girl, questions, ask
ing her la their turn Whence are You 2
and whittier are you going For the day
is spent, and night is coming on apace.
We are travellers, said the girl and
are seeking a house Of entertainment.
/ They said 'Go with us, and spend the
night with US. Accordingly the travellers
accepted the courteous invitation, and we're
brought into a new house. richly furnished
/ Now it was winter and the girl going into
the apartment OF these women. found them
again weeping and amenting. Beside
them stood a mule. covered with housings
! Of cloth Of gold, and sesame was put be-
/ fore him. and the women were kissing him
| and feeding him Aud the girl said
/ What is all this ado, my ladies', about this
mule q They replied with tears This
mule, which thou seest was our brother,
born Of the same mother with ourselves.
When our father died he left US great
wealth, and this only brother. We did our
/ best to get him married, and were prepar-
ing his nuptlals after the fashion Of our
country But some women, moved by
/ jealousy, bewitched him, unknown to US
and one night, little before dayhreak,
saw that this our brother had been turned
into a mule. as thou new beholdest him.
And we are sorrowfu as thou seest, hav
ing no father 70 comfort us and there is
no wise man or magician in the world that
we have omitted TO send for, but nothing
has done rs any good And when the
girl heard this she said Be of good
courage. ladies' and weep no more for the
cure Of your calamity is near yes, 1t is
presently IN your own house. For | also
was a leper But when | saw that woman,
and along with her that young child, whose
name is Jesus. ! sprinkled nv body with
the water wherein his mother had washed
him, and | was cured 1 know that he can
deliver You from your affection also. but
arise, 20 to Mary, my mistress, bring heI
into your own apartment, tell her your Sc
cret. and supplicate her TO have pity upon
YOU When the women had listened tJ
the girls words they hastened to the Lady
Mary and brought her into their chamber
and sat down before her. weeping and say
ing "D our mistress. Lady Mary, have
pity upon thy servants. for no one Older
than ourselves. no head Of our family. u
left-neither father nor brother-to live
with US but this mule which thou sees
was our brother, whom women have he
WltCled into Luls CuuulLlou. " = oeSet'l
thee, therefore, to have pity upon US.
Then. grieving at their misfortune, the La
dy Mary took up the Lord Jesus and pu
him on the mule back, and she wept witt
the women. and said to Jesus Christ, Alas
my son, heal this mule 10y thy mighty pow
er. and make him a reasonable man as h
was before And when these words wer
spoken, the shape of the mule was changed
and he became a young man of engaging
appearance. Whereupon there was grea
Joy IN the household, and the grateful sis
ters Immediately concluded to marry thel
brother TO the girl who had been the mean
Of bringing him great a benefit.
All this, especially the happy marriage
is quite in the style Of Scheherezade 1t
. no more ike the sober records Of the evan
gelists than display of fireworks Is lik
. the silent stars and the very contrast zoe
far to prove, or at least to illustrate, tn
f historical character Of our four gospels.
. Huiper's NdguzHe for December.