Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-03-29

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then told her, accompanied by thou
sand wonderful circumstances which had
never occurred. The lady, quite satisfied
of his skill, went up to Ahmed and men
toned her loss. saying "A man of your
knowledge and penetration will easily
discover my jewels; find them, and will
give you fifty pieces of gold"
The poor cobbler was quite COMPOUNDED,
and looked down. thinking only how to
escape without public exposure of his
ignorance. The lady. in pressing
through the crowd, had torn the lower
part of her veil. Ahmed's downcast
! ewes noticed this; and wishing to inform
her of it in delicate manner, before it
was observed by others, he whispered to
her, "Lady, look down at the rent"
The lady's head was full of her loss, and
! she was at that moment endeavOring to
recollect how 1t could have occurred.
Ahmeds speech brought it at once to her
mind, and she exclaimed in delighted
surprise: "Stay here few moments,
thou great astrologer. | will return i'm
mediately with the reward thou so well
deservest." Saying this, she left him,
and soon returned, earring in one hand
the necklace and earrings, and in the
other purse with the fifty pieces of
gold.
There is gold for thee" she said,
thou wonderful man, to whom all the
secrets of Nature are revealed | had
quite forgotten where | had laid the
| Jewels, and without thee should never
have found them. But when thou de-
siredst me to look at the rent below,
instantly recollected the rent near the
! bottom OF the wall in the bathroom.
where, before undressing, | had hid
them. can now go home in peace and
comfort; and it is all owing to thee, thou
wisest of men,
After these words she walked away,
and Ahmed returned to his home, thank
full to Providence for his preservation,
and fully resolved never again to tempt
it. His handsome wife, however, could
not yet rival the chief astrologer's lady
in appearance at the Hermann, so she
renewed her entreaties and threats, to
make her fond husband continue his
career as an astrOlOger.
About this time it happened that the
kings treasury was robbed of forty
chests of gold and jewels, forming the
greater part,of the wealth of the kingdom.
The high treasurer and other officers of
state used all diligence to find the thieves,
but in vain. The king sent for his astrol-
oyer, and declared that if the robbers
were not detected by a stated time, he,
as well as the principal ministers, should
be put to death. Only one day of the
short period given them remained. All
their search had proved fruitless, and
the chief astrologer, who had made his
calculations and exhausted his art to nc
purpose, had quite resigned himself to
his fate, when one of his friends advised
him to send for the wonderful cObbler
who had become so famous for his extra
ordinary discoveries. Two slaves were
Immediately despatched for Ahmed
whom they commanded to go with them
to their master. "You see the effects OF
your ambition" said the poor cObbler tC
his wife; IL am going to my DEATH The
kings astrologer has heard of my pre-
/ sumption, and is determined to have me
executed as an impOs tor
On entering the palace of the chiel
astrologcr, he was surprised to see tina
dignified person come forward 10 receive
him, and lead him TO the seat of honor
and not less so to hear himself thus ad
. dressed "The ways of Heaven, mos
learned and excellent Ahmed, are un
searchable. The high are often cas-
. down, and the low are lifted up. Tn,
whole world depends upon fate and for
tune. 1t is my turn now to be depressed
| by fortune
His speech was here Interrupted by {
messenger from the king, who, having
heard of the cobbler's fame, desired hi
= attendance. Poor Ahmed now concluded
that it was all over with him, and fol
lowed the kings messenger, praying Il
} God that he would deliver him from hi:
r peril. When he came into the king
presence, he bent his body to the ground
and wished his majesty long life ant
prosperity. "Tell me, Ahmed" said tho
t king, "who has stolen my treasurer"
2 at was not one man." answered
| Ahmed, after some consideration; "thert
4 were forty thieves concerned in the
robbery"
Every WE'LL" SAID the king; but who
? were they: and what have they done
! with my gold and iewels?"
"These questions" said Ahmed, 81
cannot now answer; but | hope to sat
r isfy your Majesty, if you will grant INT
l forty days to make my calculations"
81 grant you forty days." said the
king; "but when they are past, if my
treasure is not found, your life shall pay
} the forfeit"
Ahmed returned to his house wei
pleased for he resolved to take advan
tage of the time allowed him to fly from
l city where his fame was likely to bt
, his ruin.
"Well, Ahmed" said his wife as h,
entered, "what news at Court?"
mo news at ALL" said he, "excep
that am to be put to death at the end Of
2 forty days, unless find forty chests Of
, | i a, 4,