The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-12-13
NUMBER 100.
construction or understanding Of man.

construction or understanding Of man.
kindT
Il would. wouldw exclaimed the
prince. delighted with the expectation.
''The power is in your hand" an
swered the strange visitor and van
ished.
For several minutes the prince stood
as IL awakened from a dream. but not
long. for Just at that moment a young
girl. favorite with the prince. came
on tiptoe behind him. Noiselessly n
the soft breeze that scarce moved the
dark hair that fell uncontrolled over
her white shoulders she crept up and
was about to clasp her small hands
over his eyes when the prince. seeing
the shadow and excited by the strange
visitor who had Just left him. wheeled
suddenly around and In doing 80 touch
ed the laughing girl with his staff.
As q statue Of the whitest marble she
stood before him.
As the prince stood wondering at the
magic power Of the apparently COM
monplace staff courier approached In
all haste with a message from q dis
tant province governed by q very dear
friend Of Prince All.
The breathless messenger fell on his
face before the prince. and after sa-
laaming after the manner of the day
and recovering breath enough to speak
he begged the pardon Of the prince for
first exacting a promise Of secrecy In
regard to the matter upon which he
had been sent. it being his masters
special order.
In his anxiety the prince raised the
hand that held the staff and pla sd II
on the shoulder Of the exhausted mes
senger. and he, too. was marble.
As the days went by the palace filled
with strange images. and the possessor
Of the wonderful STAFF began to long
for the supernatural donor. The pos
session of his gift began to be q weight.
and each image added to the palace
was a weight added to the burden Of
its ruler. Still the longed for visitor
| came not.
At last when the prince was almost
driven to madness. his strange visitor
again appeared. Before he could ask .
question OF the descendant Of the great
Mahmoud the stan was thrust into his
hands. and he was prayed by the mem-
ory Of the great leader to restore to
life the silent images that. instead Of
adorning. cast gloom over the palace.
'Ts that not beautiful?' asked the
strange visitor. pointing to the figure
Of the mischievous girl favorite. Look
ok 0lr n
into laughter"
"It Is beautiful. most beautiful" an
swered the prince. but her laugh
would be to me more beautiful than
all"
"And that!' exclaimed the aged man.
Look how natural that courier d
about to relate his messager"
"Most natural. most natural" sighed
the prince. ''but the unspoken message
is locked in that marble breast"
To several others the strange visitor
drew the shrinking prince and COM
mented on the peculiar beauty Of each
But the prince could not be diverted
from the melancholy that possessed
him.
Take themaway! Take them away!'
exclaimed the prince. Leave my pal
ace "a 1t was. and I will be happy. per
fectly happy"
"Be 1t as you say" answered tht
aged man. land profit by the lesson"
There was a slight rustic In tht
courts Of the palace. and when II pass
ed all was as II had been. Even TIN
strange visitor himself was gone.
The palace Of Prince Ali Of Ragdat
stood for ages as It was erected. excep
this inscription over the main entrance
ALI. SON OF ABULFEDA. TO THE PRINCE
OF THE WORLD
There II no pleasure where the happiness o.
fellow creature Is endangered. nor is there Lowell
| ness in anything where there is either adding
or taking from the handiwork Of the Esst Hig
God