The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-03-05

Flzler could not ut first help feeling
glad.
Now" he thought, 'you tiresome
insect, you will no longer be able to
prevent me from getting the nap
want"
But as he continued to watch the
fate of the pretty gold-grecn fly he
saw emerge from crack in tho wall
uonstrous spider, with body ~ big
as the iiuger-tip of man and long,
black and hairy limbs. IL rushed to-
ward its prey and set to work spinnir1
winding sheet of web about it, as II
enjoying its victims terror and agony.
The poor fly made such desperate
efforts to free itself from its bonds
that Ali, at tho sight of its hopeless
cXertion, felt moved by compassion;
and, though he was very tiled, and in
spite of the LITTLE insect having so
recently worried him considerably, he
could not bring himself to allow it to
perish so miserNbly.
lie rose up, and with n wave of
his hand frightened away the spider,
after which he released the fly from its
perilous activity
"Now," he said, 81 hope you will
leave me i'll peace"
He opened his finger anil thumb,
the fly flew away, and Ali speedily lost
sight of it. He then lay down again
in the shade OF the palm tree, closed
his eyes, and was soon soundly asleep.
The sound of voice pronouucing
his name aloud awoke him. He opened
his eyes and saw standing before him
parsonage OF dazzling beauty and
gigantic form. Two light al trans
parent wings were attached to his
shoulder. Ali had no doubt that he
was in the presence of genie.
''Vizier, " said the supernatural be-
ing, you have rendered me great
service. | was the fly which lately
buzzed about your nose. took that
form for the purpose of relieving my.
self for awhile from my ordinary
greatness and fitting freely in the
sunshine. A malicious sorcerer, my
private enemy, wishing to take ad-
vantage OF this circumstance, changed
himself in the big spider into whose
web / became entanglel and in which
! should have Jared i'll but for your
assistance.
"You must know that, though we
are permitted to assume what appear
auce we please, we at tho same time
run the risk of falling into the same
snares rs the human creatures whose
resemblance we borrow; and, if we so
fall, we can only be rescued 10y human
aid. 1t is, therefore, by your gener-
Gus intervention i have been saved.
In return of this great service ask OF
me some favor; whatever it may be l
promise to grant it"
SO spoke the gonie. The Vizier re.
manned for awhile without answering.
At length, after having reflected, he
said:
''i was saying to myself onlya short
time back that long life was no advan-
tage, since so many of our days are
spoiled by divers veXatious, and that
it would be better to have n shorter
existence, composed exclusively of
happy and cloudless days; then, if it
b. in your power TO do it, good genie,
suppress from my life in future all
days of affection, or even of annoy
ance, and let me live only during
those which are exempt from trouble
Do that and you will have largely re-
paid me the service L have done you.
On hearing these words au cnigmati-
cal smile oyerspread the face of the
genie.
"Havo you we'll weighed your re-
quest"
cav NO ro,l;,J Al;
"Let it be according to your de-
sire.
Instantly, as it seemed to the Yizier,
his fantastic interlocutor seized him
by the middle of the body and rose in
the air with him to height SO giddy
as presently caused him to lose his
senses. When he returned to CON
seriousness he found himself in his
house in Bagdad, in bed. His body
was Strengthened ont and so rigid that
he found himself unable to make the
least movement
His eyes were closed. Nevertheless
he saw MI that was passing about him,
and heard all that was being said. The
room was full OF people His wife,
his children, his servants were there
all lamentcl him, ard deplored the
loss of 50 good husband, so good
father, SO good n master, friend SO
faithful aud devoted
"What is the meaning o., all thi5?"
thought Ali. "Am / dead, thcn?"
eyes" said n voice
The genie stood Mt the foot Of the
Vizier's bed, visible only to him, read