Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-10-10

my riches. and by its magic art I
could sit upon thy royal throne In less
than one minute II cared to-"
Surely this ls dangerous fakir."
said the caliph to his grand vtzier IN
whisper I'VE must not make an
enemy Of him"
Then he made friends with him and
invited him to the royal dwelling and
gave him slaves and all that his heart
desired And the fakir said little. He
smiled all the time and never let the
little brass casket out of his sight for
one moment.
"Let me see what It contains" said
the cGliph. II will give you the hand
Of my youngest daughter In marriage
If you will but let me see what 1t con-
tains. o fakig."
II dare not look upon It myself" the
fakir told him. IF were to even let
your serene mightiness gaze upon It
for one instant you would be turned
Into some wild beast Of the desert, for
your heart is the heart Of wild beast
Of the desert"
"Then let my grand vizier look on
it." said the caliph without being an
cry, for his curiosity was more than
his anger.
"Nay," said the fakir gravely; he
would be turned into gray ape, for
his heart is the heart Of gray ape"
Then let my youngest daughter look
within and tell me what she Sees"
"Nay, for she would be turned into
a star, for her heart Is the heart OF
star. That is the magic way the little
box has. Yet 1t is the most wonderful
little box in the world. II you know
what words to say to 1t It will grant
you anything you may wish for"
"Where did you get itY' asked tho
caliph.
II was asleep in the desert" said the
fakir, "and heard the sound OF wings,
and ! wakened and saw q white
dromedary with trappings Of gold and
with wings like griffin. And it knelt
upon the sand before me and painted
heavily. And I saw there was an ar
row in its shoulder, 50 I plucked 1t
out and healed the wound, and for my
kindness It gave me this casket. II
Is called the casket Of Hearts Desire"
"Surely we must do all this fakir
Wishes" the grand vizier whispered to
the caliph. "else he will turn US into
whatever he wishes by the art OF bis
magical casket. and he will seat him
self upon thy throne and will wear
the crown Of thy fathers"
I'VE will give him our youngest
daughter and make him our son." said
the caliph. I'VE Will give him one Of
the royal palaces and ten elephants
laden with gold and silver. and per
haps he will be satisfied.
Then the fakir smiled when he heard
It and said he would be satisfied. And
he lived years and years in the royal
palace and was treated as the caliph
himself. and when he died the caliph
said. "At last we may open the caskst
and see what II was that gave him
power over all the land"
So they brought the casket and set
It before the caliph. und he unlocked
II and raised the cover. and there was
nothing in It It was bare as the In
Dide Of the caliph's tomb. And they
remembered the smile Of the fakir.
Surely" said the caliph. I'VE have
been fools. and the fakir WAS the wis
est man. In the kingdom. When man
Is afraid he will do anything. but
when he is afraid of that which he
cannot see and of which he knows
nothing then he is fool. Give the
casket to my youngest daughter. the
fakirs wife. for he would not even
tell her the secret Of what It con-
tanned"