The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-19


 men of gloomy aspect rushed forth They held sharp pens in their fists and pointed them at her. One of the horde seized her chin with a violent hand Up with your head" cried he. "Up with your head so one can see what you arem
 Blushing, Fairy Tale raised her face and looked at them with her deep, dark eyes.
 Fairy Tale" shouted the watchers, and laugh ed uproariously. Fairy Talel And we thought something won derful was approaching! Wherever did you get those garments?"
 Mother gave it to me- said Fairy Tale.
 Aha, So that is the way she wants to ingratiate herself with usl It won't dol Away with you, awaym Shouting wildly. they raised their shap pens
 But I only want to visit the chil- dren. Can you not permit that?" begged Fairy Tale.
 Isn't there rabble enough like you in the land already?" said one of the watchers. They merely gab ble a lot of foolishness into the ears of the little ones"
 Let us see what she knows this time." said another
 Very we'll" cried the rest Say what l you know; but hasten, for we have little time for such as you.'
 Fairy Tale stretched forth her hand and | cmi in f ba oir pointing index finger At once gorgeous l figures began to pass by A great caravan l approached over a desert. Across the 1 immense waste, where the eye could sec l nothing except sand and sky, sounded the bells of the camels and silvery dangling of horses harness. A great cloud of dust preceded the caravan, and whenever 8 little puff of air parted the cloud momen- tarily the glitter of weapons and bright garments gleamed forth.
 At last the armed vanguard parted. to right and left and paused, waiting for the rest. Thirty camels, heavily laden, drew past. led by armed men. Behind them came five richly dressed merchants to whom the caravan belonged. They alighted and entered a great tent of blue silk, which the men had erected as by | magic. Gold embroidered cushions invited them to rest, and black slaves brought them food and drink
 After the meal the slaves brought long l pipes and Turkish sorbet. The men sat silent for long time, puffing blue clouds and watching their slow diffusion At last one spoke.
 ''As it is my turn to tell a story, I will give you, if it please you, oh friends, the Story of Caliph Stork" The merchants moved closer together and nodded gravely, The story teller stroked his long beard, took long draught of sorbet, and began: 1 One fine summer afternoon the Caliph l Chasid of Bagdad sat contented1y on his 1 divan. He had slumbered little, for it was hot day, and now, after his rest, he looked quite jovial. He smoked long rosewood pipe, slipped little coffee that a slave poured for him, and stroked his beard with satisfaction whenever his palate was especially pleased In short, any one could see that the Caliph felt ex- tremely we'll indeed.
 At such an hour one could best approach him, for he was mild and genial; therefore his Grand Vizier, Manson, visited him every day at that particular time. This afternoon he arrived as usual but, con trary to his habit, he was most meditative. The Caliph removed his pipe for a mo- ment and asked: Why is your face so l thoughtful, Grand Vizer?''
 The Grand Vizier crossed his arms over his breast, bowed and replied: Master, whether or not have a thoughtful face, Know not; but at the entrance of the palace there is a peddler who has such fine wares that it angers me not to have superfluous wealth."
 The Caliph had long desired to give his Grand Vizier a pleasure He sent a black slave after the peddler, and the latter was soon in his presence. He was a fat little man, extremely swarthy and garbed in rags. He opened his chest and displayed all sorts of precious wares, pearls and rings, silver mounted pistols, richly chased l cups and cunningly engraved combs.
 The Caliph and his vizier examined everything, and at least the Caliph bought beautiful pistols for himself and Manson and comb for the latter's wife, Just as the dealer was shutting his chest the Caliph spied a small drawer and asked what was in 1t.
 1 The pcddler opened it and displayed l snuff box with a black powder and a. paper with strange characters, which 1 neither the Caiiph nor the Grand Vizier | could read
 1 These were given to me one day by A | merchant who found them in the street In Mecca" said the little peddler. q do ] not know what they are They are at your service for small sum, for I cannot do | anything with them"
 The Caliph was very fond of old rnanu- scripts for his library, even though he 1 could not read them. He purchased snuff box and writing and dismissed the peddler 1 Then he asked his Vzier If he knew of | any one who might decipher the manu- I script.
 | Most gracious master and command l er," said Manson, ''near the great Mosque l lives man who is called Selim the Learned and understands all languages. l Let him be called He may understand 1 these mysterious characters | The learned Selm was brought without delay "selim,s said the Caliph kindly, "it is said that you are most learned. | Take peep at this writing. If you can | read it, you shall have a new holiday parpnant If votl can't vo,, shall 1,o,,o ,o