Newspapers / Roanoke Republican (Halifax, N.C.) / May 19, 1831, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of Roanoke Republican (Halifax, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
' rniTF.n Rr i EDM. B. FREEMAN, FREEMAN & CAMPBELlii rru Advocate will be printed every v AU , r;nrr at. 42 50 oer annum, in fLnr .3 if Daymen t is not made Hvitbih 3inoniu. - Jiopontinued until kir ar il are paid, unless at the option of parages are Pu tifVla dis- a dis SSSwin be considered as anew engaSe . .ti mfllrinir one snilarfi nr iess, mserceu r , 1 7 S twenty-five cents for every bsjcjuent Iprrion Wer ones in proportion?' AH UJSertlOn, nnnVmiiPVinlpes . Ua tiirus for One Dollar. advertisement, wiii . .. otherwise uiuci, r r- charged. - m:iscelIsA1T"Z". aTemdai. i (From a Persian Manuscript.) A young man a poor imcclianic named Ademdai, was one; night, re turning home Irom nis worK inroun tbestreets 9fBagclad. He had al eady reached the door of his humble labi tatio'n, when a confused sound p voi ces and the clashing of' weapons drew his attention. He perceived, b y the light of the moon, two men in th 2 Ar menian habit defending thcmsehes a- gainst six ruffians. Naturally coura geous and resolute, Ademdai hasten ed to the succour of the-AVeaker narty, and, though armed "only" with a stout stick, he laid about him with sudh, ef fect that the robbers took to their heels. ! Without expecting any recompense, or indeed taking the least notice of t he persons to whom he had rendered this seasonable service, he unlocked his door and went into his hut. V ! The next night it might be about ten o'clock- he had just finished his frugal supper, and was considering- within himself how hard a! poor! fel low is obliged to toil in order to gain" a scanty subsistence, and how many. even with the utmost exertion, j can scarcely earn sufficient to appease their hunger with the coarsest Ifare, "What a deal of work," exclaime J he. "have I done to-day, and half a drach ma is all that I have received for it! O Mahomet, . wouldst thou be pleasid to grant me the bare necessaries of life, I should deem myself as happy as 1 the DTflnrl viTior h'mcolf ,T Scarcely had he uttered this sililo quy,when be heard a loud knocking at m door. He instantly rose, and Host b time in opening it, under the. idea pat one of his neighbours wanted pmething: but what was his astohish- entto'perceive a majestic figure, crad lite la a long flowing robe of snowy w rs, with an immense turban on his fead. and a black staff ial his h ind! Without any other salutation thjaii a nt bow of he head this figure un :eremoniously entered his hovel. I f tnougn a stranger to ear, p alarmed by the.apparition; bu I the uyuc visitant, stroKing a beard that eached down to his waist,1 thud ad jessed him: "Fear not, Ademdai; I iia good Genius : come to j see Me. I heard thy complaints, and h modest wish to possess the absolute pessaries f life. Was it riot sol" Benevolent Genius ' cried Adprnni. tan he had some what recovered irrjself, "I certainly do wish that I messed, without labour, the b ire Pessaries of life. Can anvmarilde- ;re less?" "Certainly not," replied JC uenius; "but what meanest thou v absolute necessaries? vHow much - 1 W . . I. procure them?" Very jlittlej If we rice, wood to cook it and to rn myself, and a decent dress to put "tuiai is all 1 need to he hanhv.'.' And how much money would jbel re-! Qired to nut thep in nnpcior Xf things?" "About a drachrha a i'iyes, for that sural am pretty sure ciud obtain all that I absolutely vant ' "Well, here are eiht dr'ach- davst on thp pio-hth Wav; . o4-- J tD J 7 - f. lnis hom I will appear affain to nate, be not afraid tb asHj for ?0re I will give thee as much as u desirest, till thou hast obtained " Never is necessary, for it isno ; my ntion to bestow on thee auefi that ouuuiusi mou nna mis sum in f superfluous." With these , 4ords fe Genius retired- and Ademdai. With 'Hs of joy , surveyed the money wbicb he had given him. Eight silver drach mas! he had never been so rich in all his life. "At length," said he, "I am relieved . from anxiety respecting my future support, and have no need to toil all day long by the sweat of my orow, in oraerto ontain a scanty meal of rice at night." Having thus spoken, he considered the affair over again looked round' him, and exclaimed, "By the tomb of the Prophet! I have forgotten to ask my good Genius, for many a necessary; T have not a single article of furniture: Jook there at my wretched pallet! I must have a bed. A good bed is a necessary: to sleep, and to sleep well, is as essential to life as to eat and drink. I have not a car pet or a cushion to sit upon myself, or for the accommodation of my; friends when they come to see me. I yvaiit a table, also to eat off: at one's meals one likes to have thiners convenient." Thus did Ademdai bethink himself of all the.articles that he regarded as ne cessary, and he awaited with impa tience the next visit of his jrood .Gen ins. On the evening of the eighth day, while eatincr his rice, he on re more re considered the matter. -"Tis" indeed a pity" said he, "that I have no more than a drachma per day. to live upon. Rice and nothing but rice, would tire any body. I should like to have some thing to relish it, were it only on bitxh days and holidays. My good genius will tell me that it is not riecessary; but he is wrong, as I shall be "a file to prove it to him. It is necessary that man should vary his food, else whv hath God created so many things for his subsistancf? In order to" eat, one must have an appetite; but this eyerlas tincr rice-eatincr takes one's appetite quite away. Holidays -ought to bp days of pleasure and enjoyment; but what pleasure can there be in the in cessant repetition of this insipid diet! Yes, yes; it is n cessary that I should now arid then have a chatiGre. I shall request my Genius -to allow me two drachmas for holidays; that is not too much." M The Genius kept his word and ap peared punctually af the tenth hour. Ademdai Sank at his feet, arid solicited what he had forgotten to ask for at the first interview, " The Genius listened to him with patience. "T?oware A demdai," aid he in a kind tone, "of desiring' vhore 'than. what is necessary: the moment thou appliest for superflui ties, that moment I shall abandon th forever." Ademdai then ?tfrpd into explanations, tendinjr to prove that none of these things which he desired to possess could be regarded as super fluous. The Genius was convinced: he gave' him four prold dinars to pur chase household furniture; allowed him the additional drachmas for. holi days, and withdrew, promising to re turn in eight days. j . ' j Scarcely had the morning dawned, when Ademdai rose, and presently went out to buy what he yanted. He had the furniture carried home, and fancied that his hovel would be turned into a palace; but it was not loner be fore he . made an observation which mortified him exceedingly the fur niture was new and his dwelling old. He examined his house and; now dis covered for the first time in what a miserable state if was nay jit seemed ready to tumble down. He fetched a builder to inspect it. "Beware my friend" said the latter, "of attempting to repair this hovel, i: would cost less to build a new house." Ademdai was grieved to be obliged to place his beautiful furniture in so crazy a hut. "Supposing it were to fall in," thought he, "I should not only lose all these fine things but my me into mej Dar kain. Itis absolutely necessary to re build a house that is on the point of tumbling down, and what is more es sential than self-preservation?" A demdai did not fail to acqtiaint the Geniuslat his third visit with the dan ger which impended over him. The Genius admitted the validity of his rep- resentations, and gave Dim on the spot fifty gold dinars to rebuild, his habita tion. "How happy am f," said he to himself, "in having sirch a beneficent Genius, who voluntarily supplies me with every necessary! Thanks to his bounty, I shall never more suffer want. He will not refuse me any thine:: for II shall neyer apply to him but for ab HALIFAX, N. C. MAY ia, solute necessaries superfluities I will, never solicit." The house is finished. ' and Ademcjai moved into it with all nis handsome furniture. He seats himself first on one, then on another! sou cushion, sometimes throws 'him self on his bed which he scarcely quits, and thinks with joy of the additional drachmas wherewithal to regale him self on holiday. Surely he now has all that is necessary! AU that is neces sary? Can any onereallypossesssitwho is alone! Is there any perfect enjoyment in me uuiess u De snarea witn a be loved object? Which way soever he turns his eyes, he sees seraglios con taining twenty, thirty, forty of the most beautiful females and can it be alleged that he is desiring a super fluity if he (wishes for one only one partner of his life? Indeed, cried A- demdai, 'thatvis all 1 now want, A handsome woman how she would set off the place My house would be a thousand times more agreeable. Yes, I 'will ask ray good Genius whether a wife be a superfluity for me?" Whol ly occupied with this! thought, he could no longer rest in the house. He sauntered unconsciously to one of the squares of Bagdad, just at the moment when a slave-dealer, surrounded by-a number of curious persons, was offer ing his stock for sale. A? female slave, of extraordinary beauty, of majestic stature and elegant shape, attracted general notice: Ademdai himself could not turn his eyes from her. For the first time he felt the power of love; so 'uuch,the more painful was his. anxiety when he beheld a young man, in sump tuous apparel, approach the trader to treat for the fair one who had captiva ted his heart. The damsel was now obliged to unveil, and Ademdai be heJcTsuch celestial charms that hestood like a marble stature, petrified with as tonishment. The statement of the slave merchant brought him to himT solf "This lovely creature," said he, is a Georgian; she is scarcely eigh reen, plays exquisitely on the lute, has an enchanting voice, and dances with -uch grace that it would be difficult to find her equal. The price I demand for her is 2000 gold dinars." , Adem dai's 'rival hereupon offered fifteen hundred Ademdai trembled. The dealer rejected the offer; Ademdai breathed more freely. The -young ;:ian bade eighteen hundred the ow ner considered the perspiration of rear covered the brow of Ademdai; but the merchant would not abate his price, and the customer, less enamour ed than Ademdai, renounced the pos session of the beautiful captive and withdrew. The slave merchant also quitted the square, without disposing of the fair Georgian. Ademdai hurri ed home. It was the day on which he expected his; genius, and he had nev er yet waited his visit with such impa tience. At length a knock, was beard: he flew to the door, and .threw him self at the feet of his benefactor. "What ails thee,' ' asked the fatter, "why art thou so dejected? What! e ven in tears? Have I not supplied all thy wants?" "Indeed," answered A demdai, "thou hast bestoved on me 9 much more than I deserve, but yet not all that I want. Tell me, would a wife be surperffuous to me?; Must I be doomed to lead a solitary life, without a creature that I can call my own? If thou deemest the possession of a wife a superfluity, then it is evident that what is superfluous, may at the same time be absolutely necessary The Genius could scarcely refrain from laughing outright. "Ademdai," said he, "a wife may, as thou savest, be ab solutely necessary to thee. Thou must procure one. ; Choose the daughter of some honest mechanic of thy acquaint ance; I cannot object to such a match. Thy house is rebuilt and well furnish ed; and with these added o thy person al recommendations, thou needest not apprehend a refusal from a girl of demdai, heaving a protouna sign "that is not what I want: I am already in love; and when a man is Sn love, is it not necessary for! him to possess the object on which he has set his affec tions?" "Verv necessary," replied the Genius. Well then, thou wilt sure ly make me the happiest of mortals for thou hast promised to supply all my wants. I love a young slave, love 1831. her to raadnessi never did I behold' such beautv. but the nrice demanrlpri I for her is much too high, and I am : much too poor." "What is the price requ miredfor her?" "Two thousand goia uiuars. "nax lscerramiy ra- u j ni ,.mt . . . ' i ther high," said the Genius; but as thou an so aesperaieiy m love, mis pur chase is necesary; for if thou wert sick, it would be necessary to procure med icine, be the price what it might. With you mortals love is a disease. There are two thousand gold dinars for thee secure thy charmer." With these words the Genius retired leav ing Ademdai overwhelmed with joy and astonishment.: Now that our he ro is in possession , of his facinating mistress, we shall no more hear him complain that he is in want of any thing. What an erroneous conclusion? No sooner had Arselli, for that was the name of the lovely .slave, set foot in Ademdai's house than she started back, exclaiming, "Gracious Allah! whither art thou conducting me? Is this the house in which 1 am to live? Tell me, wretch, is it for thyself that thou hast bought me? How couldst thou raise such a sum as two thousand pieces of gold?" "Ah" cried Adem dai, heaving a deep sigh, "that gold was all that I was worth in the world, and yet I have cheerfully given it in exchange for thee. But be oft good cheer, though we may not enjoy super fluites, we shall never want what is necessary." Here Ademdai was man ifestly out in his calculations. He had a drachma per diem for himself alone; but now.'he had two to keep up on the same -allowances This he should have thought of before; for to wait eight days till the return of the Genius, seemed like waiting an eter nity. In silent sadness he went and prepared the frugal meal, but Arselli would not taste a morsel she wept without reasing; and when the. trem bling Ademdai lovingly offered her the rice, she spurned him from her-with disdain. Scarcely could she be pre vailed on to sit down, all the cushions seemed to her so extremely hard; and as for the bed, which Ademdai thought so comfortable, she protested that there could not be a worse in all Bag dad. ' Matters were not mended by a closer investigation. Ademdai had provided the bed for himself alone, and now he wanted one large enough for two. If he ventured to allude to his passion, or to approach Arselli, she repulsed all his advances with scorn. "How," said she, "canst thou presume to come near me in such a beggarly trim? Thou talkest of a bountiful Genius who supplies all thy wants; but does thy stingy patron con sider decent clothes as superfluities? UnfoTtunate creature that I am, I too shall soon be obliged like thee to dress myself in rags! Alas! but for thee I should now be attired in the costliest stuffs of Asia: and thou, who hast re duced me to this wretched condition, canst thou still expect me to love thee? Impossible! I will, however xtrive to hate thee IessJr This complaint over whelmed Ademdia with despondency. He felt more wretched than he ever had done in his most abject iiidigence- At length, after an absence of eight days, the Genius came to pay hjs ar dently desired visit. Ademdai flew to meet him. "Thouhast promised! me all that is necessary," said he in a r- I imagined that very few things were absolutely necessaryi and I was srgre giously mistaken." "Let us hear, then," said the Genius "explain thy self." ! "Thou hast readily admitted that it was necessary for roe to take a wife: but . though my expenditures is doubled, I have still no more than a drachma a day to defray it. As it was necessary for me to have a wife, is it not equally necessary that she should b kept alive?". "Most assuredly1." "Well, then, my wife will not live? she wjll not eatror drink, or sleep. The fare which' I set before her, and with which I was perfectly content, is far too coarse for her delicate palate. Her wants are totally different from mine; and since I have bought her and I love her as my life, is it not necessary peevish tone; "but now I am the most ness of tone any that she had ever tri miserable of men." "What!" said thei ed. Ademdai paid for the instrument Genius with some astonishment, "have : and the other articles, and dismissed I not given thee all thou -hast desir-, the tradespeople: and he was quite in ed?" "Certainly, but I was a fool for ; toxicated with joy when Arselli, taking WHOLE NO. 1IG for me to supply those s tU',n uL wants?" "No- replied the ! Genius: "how much needest thou each day to procure her what is necessarv?" I "I have not made an exart pctimifo. !i - , out with two tomans a-dav we mirrhr both live verv comfortable, tboucrh not luxuriously." "Well, if this be nil that afflicts thee, here are sixteen to mans for eight days'; at the expiration ofthat timel shall call again to in quire if there be anything else thou wishest to possess." Thus spake the Genius and was about to retire, but Ademdai begged pardon for de- taning him a little longer, and thus proceeded: "I have still a good deal to say to thee. I love Arselli w ith all the ardour of youth; is it riot necessary that she should return my love?" "Cer tainly it is." "But she cannot endure me" in this shabby plight. She de clares that but for me she should be the favourite of some wealthy and distin guished man. Ifthen itbe necessa ry for her to love me, 1 must dress in a totally different style; and thou must admit in this case elegant and fashion able clothes are hot a luxury." "Thou art right' "She-says, also, that but for me she should herself be ajttired in . the finest and richest" stuffs.' She is fond of dress, and therefore if I wish to beloved by her I must neccessari ly strive to procure for her all that she desires. She possess.es accomplish ments, sings divinely, and plays the lute: ought she neglect these fruits of a brilliant education? When one has talentst is it not necessary to cultivate them? 1 should therefore like to buy a lute for Arselli it would afford her in finite gratification" "All the things thou has mentioned seem to me, in deed, to be absolutely necessary," said the Genius, "but how much dost thou suppose the whole would cost?" "At a rough guess, a thousand pieces of gold." "Therethey are, fare thee well, and now procure all thou want- est." The Genius disappeared; and Ademdai, with light heart, rejoined Arselli. His. eyes beamed with de lightbut he carefully abstained from betraying his joy, for he wished to surprise , his ' charmer and therefore said nothing to her concerning his in terview with the Genius. . Next mor ning, however, as soon as it was light, he went out, and the first tiling he did was to equip himself in an elegant and tasteful suit of clothes.. He returned, with a number of tradesmen, who were not a little surprised to find that a per-J son of such genteel appearance lived in o sorry a house. Arselli could not conceive the meaning of all ibis "train; she scarcely knev Ademdai in his mag nificent attire. "Did I not udl thee," said he, going up to her, "that a pood ' Genius supplies me with all I have oc- casion for? be assured, then, that thou wilt not henceforth .want any thing, provided only thou desirest not what is surperfluous. Choose from among these articles what thou likest .best," Arselli now began to think her lover an amiable young man, and his voice particularly musical: she had no scru ple to testify her satisfaction, ordered the goods to be spread out, selected such as-took her fancy, and as she was not deficient in foresight, she paid a prudent.regard iu her purchases, not only to: pi esent necessities, but what she micht want in future. . She then I chose a lute which surpassed in sweet- - up the lute, accompanied it wnn a cuu fession which proved that he had now found ont the way to her heart. Ademdai is beloved! what needs he more? has he not now all he w ants? To be concluded i our next.) A tovgh siory. The Literary Subal tern contains the following: " If .any man; woman, or child, resident thi3 side of the Cape of ?6od Hope, or Capa Horn should stand io need of a goose, they can be accomodated with One, oc application to the editor of this paper. We have one on hand that was purcha sed last Saturday, and has been seven times roasted, six times baked, & fifteen times stewed and boiled, and yet the sa cophagi that envelopes his flesh, ,res$ta the edge of the axo, the cleaver and tbSF knifa. -
Roanoke Republican (Halifax, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 19, 1831, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75