The Warwickshire Herald. — 1893-02-23 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

AZAISIET AND HIS FRIENDS.  Azamet was made Grand Vizier by the Sultan Idalimoud, and in this position, which was one of great power, he tried to put many things right that he found wrong, and lie sought to make the people happier. This displeased some of the nobles, who plotted against him, and managed to : get him removed from office and to seize upon his property. Finding also that his friends deserted him, he made up his mind to live by himself, and he therefore passed into the wilderness and found pleasure in the companionship of birds and beasts. Ile had lived a hermit's life for two years, when Ustieck, a very wise man and a true friend, found his dwelling-place. The sage met the Vizier about a mile from his hut; the two friends recognised each other and embraced, while Usbeek shed tears; Azamet, on the contrary, smiled, and his eyes beamed with joy. "Thanks be to God, who gives otrangth to the unfortunate," said Usbeck. 'lieman who had a gorgeous palace in the rich plains of tiliilem is contented with a hut in the wildest part of Khorasan I" Presently, when they drew near Azamet's hut, they heard a young horse neigh, and saw him ciane galloping to meet them. When he came near Azatuet lie caressed him, and ran home before him. Usbeck saw two floe heifers come from a pasture near by, and run back ad forth near Azamet. as if offering him their milk; they then began to follow him. Soon after, two goats, with their kids, ran down a steep rock, shewing by their gainhols their delight at seeing their master, and began to frolic around him. 'Phi ii four or five sheep came out of a little orchard, bleating and bounding, to lick Azarnet's band as he patted them, smiling. At the same moment a few pigeons and a multitude of other birds which were chirping on the trees in the orchard, flew upon his head and shoulders. Ile went into the little yard near his cabin, awl a cock saw him and crowed for joy; at this noise several hens ran, cackling, to greet their master. But the signs of joy and love which all these animals shewed were as nothing compared to those of two white dogs which were waiting for Azamet at th door. They did not run to meet him, but seemed to shew him that they had been faithful sentinels over the house which their master had placed in their care. As soon, however, as lie entered, they caressed him lovingly, fawning upon him, throwing themselves at his feet, and only leaping up to lick his hands. When 11- gave them a careen they seemed besick thorns. Ives with delight, and stretched themselves at their master's feet. Usi,eek smiled at this sight. "Well," said the Vizier,..vou see that I am liow, as I have been front childhood. the friend of all created things. I tried to make men happy. but they would not let me. I make these animals happy, and I take pleasure in their affection and gratitude. You see that, even though I am in the wilderness of Khorasan, I have companions, and love and am beloved."  An engine-driver raying that the usual lif3 of locomotive was only thirty years, a passenger ,marked that such a rough-lo.,king thing ought to ivo I,;nger than that. "Well." responded the engineoiriver, "perhaps it wou.d if it didn't smoke so much." "What's your business ? said the magistrate of a police-court the other ,ourning to prisoner. "I'm an observationist, yo .r worship." "An ohservationist! What is that?" "One who looks around in the day-time to see what he can steal at night. if it pleases your worship." Mr. W. J. Pierce, a member of the firm of Messrs. Pierce and Thorpe, auctioneers, of Northampton, committed suicide by shooting himself at his residence at Kingsthorpe on Sunday. The deceased, who was about 30 years of age, was a son of the late Mr. William Pierce, who was twice mayor of the borough. At the Middlesex County Sessions, on Saturday, a hawker, named Parker pleaded guilty to wilfully . damaging a quantity of growing shrubs. He was found with sacks containing some 1,200 branches of shrubs which he had pillaged from a garden at Southgate. He was sentenced to 12 months' hard labour.  Nam, merchants who have arrived at Massowa r^rn Ghedarel state that the Mandi has sent to I: rher and to Kassala or reinforcements in order o drive back an invading party oh ch is advancing In his territory from the south, under the Alin of several white men. The Nero York Herald publishes the following tel-eram from Panama: An insurrection has broken out in Ecuador, and a sanguinary conflict his taken place in the Province of Esmeraldas etween the rebels and the Government troops, remitting in the victory of the latter. The province has been declared in a state of siege.  leader.  Herr Wilkowsky, a well-known German actor, has just been arrested on the charge of having poisoned his fiancee at Hamburg. The Sydney (steamer), belonging to the Mvssageries Maritimes Company, has been damaged at tier berth at Shanghai by collision with a Chinese man-of-war. The former vessel has her after compartment full of water. There is no cargo on beach. Arrangements have been made to place the vcs6el in salety for docking. Despatches received from Halifax state that the British brig Kestrel arrived at Harbour Grace from Medittrranean ports on the rd inst., having on lmard two of the crew of the Danish barque Louise, which vessel was abandoned in mid-Atlantic on the 16th ult., four of the crew having been previously washed overboard and drowned. Captain Knot.= and the cook died from injuries received falling spars, and the two survivors ad beelli days alone on the wreck when rescued.