The New Hampshire Gazette

ENTERTAINMENT.

ABDALLAH. An Eastern TALE.

In the city of Samarcand, while Genghizcan swayed the imperial sceptre of the East, lived Abdallah, the son of Mirza; prosperity awaited his call and success crowned all his endeavours: nor was he deaf to the voice of virtue. His benevolence diffused itself far and wide, as the fragrance of the spicy groves wafted on the balmy wings of the eastern breeze.

Abdallah, the rich, the happy, and the virtuous, was echoed from where the sun first tinges the morning clouds with purple, to where his revolving chariot sinks into the embraces of the western ocean.

Among the crowds who frequented his house was one Haly, a man of a seeming melancholy disposition, and solitary turn of mind. When Abdallah one day had shewn him all his sumptuous apartments, and all the splendour of immense riches, and asked his opinion of what he saw; he replied coldly, "Allah and our prophet are my witnesses, that I esteem a solitary recluse far happier than thee with all thy riches."

While Abdallah stood amazed at this reply, he thus continued- "In the wilds of Sara lives Aladin, the son of Aboulcasem, the herbs of the field supply his table, and the running stream slakes his thirst: regardless of the luxuries of life, he covets not the spices of Arabia, nor the glittering gems of Irak. Content to him supplies the place of riches, and a cheerful mind the want of power. Son of Mirza, this is the man whose state I account far preferable to thine; and so wouldst thou thyself, couldst thou be capable of enjoying the sweets of retirement."

He ceased, and his words left a deep impression on the heart of his friend: he became eager to try by experience the truth of what Haly had said: often would he send for him, and question him more concerning the dervise whom he had mentioned, till at last he persuaded himself that felicity resided only in the scenes of simple nature; and soon actually put an end to his anxiety, by taking a sudden journey unattended, to the place which had been pointed out to him for the habitation of Aladin.

When first he arrived at the retreat, he was so well pleased with the unruffled calm of a solitary life, that he thought himself more than compensated for all the pleasures he had left behind; but alas! how unstable are the resolutions of youth!--the daughter of vizier Abdelaziz, lovely as one of the Houri, had heard by some means of his retirement, and followed him into those shades, to dissuade him from so strange a resolution. Amiable as he was, it was no wonder she had conceived a passion for his person. While he was musing under the shadow of a tree, fanned by the refreshing evening breeze, she approached him, and drew aside her veil. -The sight of so much
beauty (for he had never before beheld her, though she had often seen him) was too much for the youthful heart of Abdallah? and when she discovered herself, and told the motive of her journey, nothing could equal his perplexity. When he turned away from her, he retained his old resolutions of quitting the world. but when he cast a glance -on her beauties, they were all overthrown.--He was in this perplexing situation, when the dervise Aladin suddenly appeared, and (the lady withdrawing) thus addressed him:

"Wonder not, son of Mirza, that I am fully informed of all that concerns thee: this night the prophet has visited me in a vision for thy sake. In vain thou seekest to lead the life of a hermit, with the passions of a lover. Heaven which bade day and night succeed each other has appointed seasons for all things. The sequestered life of a dervise by no means suits the temper of a youthful mind; and that will please most, which can boast the greatest variety. Purling streams, and thick embowering shades, may please a while, but being always the same, they soon become disgusting to an active mind. Go, then my son, and while youth glows on thy cheek, and diffuses its generous ardour through thy heart, be truly happy in a social life; enjoy the innocent pleasures, without running into the criminal excesses in the world; make all thy studies useful, all thy amusements innocent; and let pleasure be thy diversion, but virtue thy chief good -Then,-if in old age, thou art tired of the enjoyments of this world, retire to solitude for rest, and make contemplation thy sweetest companion."

Abdallah followed his advice; he returned to Samarcand, and espoused the daughter of Abdelaziz; and that vizier soon after dying, he succeeded to his office, which he filled with universal applause,& enjoyed,till thirty times the revolving year had run its course; then having lost the partner of his bed, and growing old,he remembered the words of the dervise, and once more withdrew to the solitude, which exactly suited his condition; day succeeded day, and year rolled on after year in one continued scene of real felicity, and he glided down the current of time, on the gentle stream of a calm composure.

At last the angel of death, by quick and easy transition, bore him to the gardens of Paradise, leaving behind him this useful lesson: "That the morning of life should be spent in acts of virtue,that the decline of it may be blessed with serenity, and peace."