The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1883-06-16 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE EPICUREAN PRINCE.  Solyman the Great at the commencement of his reign was more luxurious than became so wise a prince. One might have judged of the vastness of his empire by the variety of dishes at his table; some were sent from the Tigris, some from the Euphrates, and others from Oxsus and the Caspian Sea. One day when he gave a dinner to his nobles Mustapha, keeper, of the three tombs, was placed next to the best dish of all the feast, out of respect for the sanctity of his office; but instead of falling to and eating heartily, as holy men are wont to do, he fetched a deep groan and wept. Solyman, surprised at his behaviour, desired him to explain it to the company. He would fain have been excused, but the King ordered him, on pain of his displeasure, to acquaint him with the cause of his disorder. "Know, then," said he, "0 monarch of the earth! that when I saw thy table covered in this manner it brought to my mind a dream, or rather a vision, which was sent me from the Prophet whom I serve. On the seventh night of the moon Rhamazon I was sleeping under the shade of the sacred tombs, when methought the holy ravens of the smictuary bore me up on their wings into the air, and in a few moments conveyed me to the lowest heavens, where the Messenger of God, on whom be peace, was sitting on his cimmerean tribunal to receive petitions from the earth, Around him stood an infinite throng of animals of every species and quality, who all joined in preferring complaints against Solyman for destroying them wantonly and tyrannically, beyond what any necessity could justify or any natural appetite demand. It was alleged by them that ten or twelve of them were often murdered to compose one dish for the niceness of thy palate; some gave their tongues only, same their bowels, some their fat, and others their brains and blood. In short, they declared such constant waste was made of them that unless a stop was put to it in time, they should perish entirely by gluttony. The Prophet, hearing this, bent his brows, and ordered six vultures to fetch thee alive before him ! They instantly brought thee to his tribunal, when he commanded thy stomach to be opened, to see whether it was more capacious than those of other men, when it was found to be just of the common size. He permitted all the animal ato make reprisals on the body of their destroyer: but before one in ten thousand could get at thee every particle of it was devoured, so ill. proportioned was the offender to the offence." This story made such an impression on the monarch that henceforward he never suffered but one dish of meat to be brought to his table.  Mood in need of a helpmate and protector, and that her journeyman, for whom she had taken a fancy, was industrious and well acquainted with her late husband's trade. "Very well," said the priest, "you had better marry him." "And yet," rejoined the widow, "I am afraid to do it, for who knows but I may find my servant become my master ?" "Well, then," said the priest, "don't have him." "But what shall I do ?" said the widow; "the business left me by my poor dear departed husband is more than I can manage by myself.' "Marry him, then," said tfie priest, "Ay, but suppose he turns out a scamp," said the widow; "he may get hold of my property, and run through it all!' "Don't have him," said the priest. Thus the dialogue went on, the priest Illways agreeing in the last opinion expressed by the widow, until at length, seeing that her mind was actually made up to marry the journeyman, he told her to consult the church bells, and they would advise her best what to do. The bells were rung, and the widow heard them distinctly say, "Do take your man; do take your man." Accordingly she went home and married him forthwith ; but it was not long before be thrashed her soundly, and made her feel that instead of his mistress she had become his servant. Back she went to the priest, cursing the hour when she had been credulous enough to act upon his advice. "Good woman," said he, "1 am afraid you did not rightly understand what the bells said to you." He rang them again, and then the poor woman heard clearly, but too late, these warning words, "Do , not take him; do not take him."  THE CRAFTY LOVER; On,