Great CrownJewel of Russia.
AS throe brothers nnuied Schrafras
wero ono day walking through the
principal street of Bagdad, the oldest ono
stopped suddenly, und, pointing to a stran
ger on the other side of the way, cried :
" Sue there is tho Afghau we have
looked for so long !"
"Don't let us lose sight of him," said
tlio others, nnd nil three went toward the
stranger, who secoicd Astonished.
" God is God ! foar not," began tho eld
est of tho brothers. "I aui Schafras, of
Rnssorn, to whom you onco camo to sell a
large diamond, called the ' Moon of tho
Mountains,' nnd other precious stones.
These aro my brothers, who like myself,
ure pleased that wo have found you, ns
wo hope now to be able to make a bar
gain." "Oh ! w.ie is mo, good sirs, I am no
longer the possessor of these treasures."
replied tho Af'gan.
" What havo you done with them '!"
" Allah be praised ! I havo just sold
them to the Jew Mardoeha, of this city."
" For what price ?"
" For 05,000 piasters and two hand
some horses."
" Vou were a fool and Mardoeha a
thief '." cried Sohafras angrily. I would
have given you twice that sum for the
stones."
" God is great ! They wero offered to
you for half tho sum ; why were you such
a fool as not to take them ?"
" Ik'cause I thought you a thief, and
my conscience would not allow me to buy
stolen goods. But what can not bo cured
must bo endured. Where docs, Mardo
eha the Jew live ?"
" I will show you good sirs, that there
may be no ill-f'oeling between us.''
The Afghan led tho way to tho house
of the Jew, which was on tho bank of
tho river Tigris. The brothers then
thanked him kindly, and the eldest went
to see if bo could make a bargain with
Mardoeha.
" Son of Israel." said he, " you have
a diamond called tho ' Moon of the Moun
tains,' a sapphire called the 1 Eye of Al
lah,' and other precious stones, which
you have lately bought of a wandering
Afghan who did not conie. in possession
of them honestly. I will give you a
liaodsomo sum iiir your bargain."
" How much ?" asked the Israelite,
with the air of a man who knows his bu
siness and tho valuo of his goods.
" You gave 6o,000 piasters, aud a pair
of horses for them. 1 will givo you 75,-
000 piasters and tako the risk.
" I should be torry to see you a loser,"
replied the Jew, with an Ironical smile.
" I will double tho sum you gave for
them," said Schafras.
" Not lor a million would I givo them
to you. Go your way ; you know not the
value of what you would purchase."
The Armenian took his leave, inward
ly cursing the Jew.
"lie knows too much for us I could
make no bargain with the Jewish dog !"
mid Schafras to his brothers.
" Then wo must take them without a
bargain," said the youngest, in a signifi
cant tone. His companions assented.
They now withdrew in order to deeido
upon the plun they should pursue. That
flight the three villains murdered Mardo
eha, and threw his body out of his win
dow into the Tigris. Then they took all
his money und jewels aud hurried away.
The danger they ran of being detected
was far less than it would have been iu
most other countries. Who iu Bagdad
troubles himself about a lonely Jew.
The next morning the three brothers
accidentally met the Afghan.
" Well, Birs, what success 1" he asked.
' " God is God, and Mahomet is his
Prophet," nnswored the eldcbt. " The
jewels are ours, and to celebrate our good
fortune, you must sup with us this even
ing in our tent beyond the city."
The unsuspecting Afghan went with
them to their tent, which was pitched in
an out-of-the way place on tho bank of
the Tigris, and then he supped ior the
last time. Schafras was always supplied
with a fatal poison, some of which they
mixed in the Afghuu's food. When he
was dead they threw his body into , the
Tigris, saying :
' Go hence, fool, and bo company for
the Jew. Thus we destroy nil knowl
edge of the precious stones.''
Then they struck their tent, mounted
their cauiols; and hastened to a solitary
spot iu order to examine and divide
their treasures. They had no trouble
with the money. Not so, however, with
tho jewels, for the large diamond alone
was of greater value than all tho rest.
Each oue wanted it fur a share. Their
dispute seemed likely to lead to a serious
altercation, wheu the cldebt brother, made
the following proposal :
" By rights, the large diamond should
he , mine," said he, ' for it was I who
re,cgniied the .Afghan, i. But for me
you would not have found him in i Bag
dad. In order, however, .that there may
ho hurinony among the eons of my moth
er, we will contend no longer, but leave
tho matter (o the decision of the 1'roph-t-.l:
To-morrow morning each one, shall
liarrato the' dream ho has to-night, und
ho who can adduco the clearest proof 'of
(lie favor of tho Prophet sbuUhavc' the
'Moon of the Mountains." This we swear
ry the beards of our fufhers." '.' ' " "
' The younger brothers were "content
with this proposition, for euoh one thought
1 ' - .: '!:'. I .l.il. . '. '.
ho could surpass the others in imagining
a dream that would appear to come from
the l'rophot. But the eldest J brother
mixed somo of tho poison ho always car
ried about his person in the evening
meal of the other two, and saw them die
with fiendish delight; '
lie now gathered together all his treas
ures, mounted his camel, and rode away.
Tho other camels ho left to their fato,and
the bodies of his murdered -brothers to
tho vultures. His plan was to loavo the
country as speedily as possiblo, and, to
makohiswnyto somo European court,
where ho could dispose of tho " Moon of
tho Mountains" for a high price. On
the road he sold his camel, dressed him
self as a beggar, nnd so, after, many ad
ventures and great fatigue, he reached
Constantinople, where he took passago in
a Dutch ship for Amsterdam. Here,
feeling himself safe, he no longer made
uny secret of his possessions, but giving
himself out to be a jeweller, he offered
his most valuablo stones for salo to the
embassadors of tho principal European
courts.
Tho "Moon of the Mountains" and tho
" Eye of Alluh" were not wholly unknown
in Europe. They had been for many
years in tho possession ot the royul family
of Persia, and it was said that after tho
assassinations of Nadir Schah they, to
gether with other precious stones, wero
stolen by common soldiers, who wero ig
norant of their value. It was, there
fore, only necessary for Schafras to state
what ho had, to excite the interest of tho
amateurs.
But for a long time there was no one
who seemed inclined to enter into nego
tiations with him for the purchase of the
large diamond nud the wonderful sap
phire. As, however, the Moslem was
well supplied with money, and hud beside
a number of small stones that were easily
available, ho waited patiently, feeling
certain that sooner or later a customer
would present himself.
The first serious inquiry after the
prico of tho " Moon of tho Mountains"
came from Catherine II. of Russia. In
St. Petersburg, where they were always
well informed with regard to what trans
pired at the Persian court, they wero
most competent to judgo of the real
value of the stone.
The robber and murderer demanded
500,000 rubles, a life annuity of 10,000
rubles, and a patent of nobility.
Catherine II. ordered ono of her
ministers to invite the pretended diamond
merchant to St. Petersburg that tho
court jeweler might examine tho dia
mond, and estimate its value.
The minister ordered tho court jewel
er to hold out to tho Armenian tho hope
that the Empress would accept his propo
sal, and in tho pican time lead him into
all sorts of excesses nnd expenditures.
Schafras went to St. Petersburg, and
readily fell into tho trap that had been set
for him. Soon all his ready money was
gone, nnd, ns he had credit everywhere
it being known that he had business
with tho court it was not long before ho
was " over head and ears" in debt. This
was what tho minister wanted. By the
Russian law any foreigner may be pre
vented from leaving the country so long"
as he is in debt. The supposition was
that the Armenian would be at last com
pelled to disposo of his diamond for what
ever price he could cot for it.
" Tell him that Her Majesty has do
cided not to accede to his exorbitant de
mands ; and then .if he must sell, pre
tend that you will buy it on your own ac.
oount, and offer him one quarter of what
the stone is worth." Such were tho in
structions of tho miuister to the court
jeweler.
This message and the offer of tho j ew
eler opened SchafraB's eyes. " God is
good and Mahomet is his Prophet !" he
murmured. "These Christian dogs want
to cheut me out of that for which I have
periled my soul, ' Tho fools have got mo
in debt, and think now I shall bo com
pelled to take any prico they choose to
offer me ; but they shall sco that a follow
er of the Prophet is a match for this
wholo nation of rascals." ' "
Schafras now very adroitly encouraged
the belief thut he would soon be compell
ed to part with the diamond for the price
offered him while he secretly disposed of
a portion of his smaller jewels, paid his
debts, and left the country on board of
an English vessel. .
When they came to look for tho Mos
lem ho was nowhere to be found, which
was very embarrassing for the minister,
as Catherine was greatly incensed at the
loss of tho stone, and demanded that it
should bo obtained, cost whut it might. .
For several years every effort of the
Russian court to find Schafras proved fu
tile, but finally they succeeded in track
ing him to Smyrna. They again invited
him to St. Petersburg, nnd made hiui ev
ery promise to induce him to accept the
invitation. " Ahk Her Majesty if slie
expects to catch an old fux a second, time
iu tho same trap ?" was tho reply. " To
saVe time and words listen to my ulti
matum. I demand a patent of nobility and
800.000 rubbles, which must be paid im
mediately: I will wait hero a month' fur
your reply.' If my conditions are not ac
cepted, I swear by the' beard of the'
Prophet that Cutherine II. "shall never
be the possessor of the "Moon' of':tho
Mountains."' ' 7
'The rcsuU was that tho KiiipieBa1 Dual
ly acceded to these exorbitant demands,
and Schafras,tho robber and murderer ,who
was now a Russian nobleman, returned to
his dative city, Astrachan, whero he mar
ried and had seven daughters.. ; 'j
The end of the villain was such as his
life fully merited. Ono of his ions-in-law,
for whose convenience ho lived too
long, poisoned him. Before his death ho
made a full confession of his crimes.
The major portion of his great wealth,
amounting to several millions, was confis
cated by tho Russian Government. The
remainder was soon Squandered by his
heirs, and several of his descendants aro
now living in extreme poverty.
And this is the history of the " Moon
of tho Mountains," ono of tho Russian
crown diamonds.
How lie Spelt Cut.
MR. M.t on army surgeon, was very
fond of a joko (unless perpetra
ted at his own expense,) and had, more
over, u great contempt for citizen officers,
who wero renowned more for their cour
age than their scholarship. Ono day, at
mess, after tho decanter had performed
sundry perambulations of the tablo, Cap
tain S., a brave and accomplished officer,
and a great wag, remarked to the doctor,
who had been somowhat severe in his re
marks on the literary deficiencies of some
of tho new officers
" Doctor M., you aro acquainted with
CuptainG.?"
" Yes, I know him well," replied the
doctor j " ho is one of tho new set. But
what of him ?"
" Nothing in particular. I have just
received a letter from him, and I will
wager you a dozen of old port you cannot
guess iu six guesses how lie spells oat."
" Dono 1 It's a wager."
" Well, commence guessing," said S.
" K, a, double t."
" No."
"Iv, n, double t, e."
"No."
"K, a,t, e."
" No, try again."
" C, n, doublo t, e."
" No, you have missed it again."
" Well, then returned the doctor, " C,
a, double t."
" No; that's not the way j try again
i'ts your last guess."
"C,a, g,h, t."
" No, that's not tho way ; you'vo lost
your wager," said S.
" Weil," said the doctor,with much pet
ulance of maunor, 'how does he spell it?"
" Why, he spells it o, a, t," replied S.,
with the utmost gravity of manner, amid
the roar of the mess, and almost chok
ing with rage, tho doctor sprang to his
feet exclaiming:
" Cap,ain S., I am too old to be trifled
with in this manner !"
A Wonderful Bridge.
: Tho bridge now in process of erec
tion across the Mississippi ut St. Louis is
ono, of tho wonders of the age. It is to
bo a tubular, cast steel, arch bridge, sup
ported by tho abutments and two pries ;
the latter are 515ft. apart, and 407ft. each
from its nearest abutment, making three
spans of about 500ft. each. Its greatest
span is tho same as that of tho Kuilcn
berg Bridge over the Neck, an arm of
the Rhino, in Holland. Telford's sus
pension bridge across tho Memii Straits
has a span of 570ft. Tho Victoria tubu
lar iron bridge of Montreal exceeds this
greatly in length, being GGOOft. (1 miles)
but it rest upon twenty-four pries, and its
spans are mainly only 275ft. The sus
pension bridge at Niagara spaus 821 ft.,
and is 245ft. above tho water. The East
River Bridge will span 1000 ft., ut a
height midway of 130ft.
The Latest Invention.
A cigar-making machine has been pro
duced in Louisville, by a medical gentle
man, Tr. M.V. M'Kinney, which, it is
claimed, must revolutionise the cigar
trade. The machino occupies about as
much room as a sewing tnaohine, and can
be operated by a boy or girl with all case.
It makes two cigars at once, and turns
out 1,500 a day. Tho cigar comes out
perfect in form nnd formation, and is
handsomer than the article mude by hand.
An expert, industrious cigar maker will
make by hand about 1,500 cigars a week;
for the cheapest cigar manufactured ho
gets $1 1 per thousand ; for a better grade
$13 per thousand. . This machine, is
capable of doing the work of five men,
and costing $150, it is stuted, can be run
at an expense of $fi per week.; making
tho cost, of manufacturing 0,000 cigars
only 86, whero it is now paid $90. The
Louisville Cummrrciul pronounces tho
machine a perfect success, a truly re
markable invention. ,
Chinese Dissipation.
A correspondent who recently visited
tho shoemakers, at North Adams Massa
chusetts, writes : " I learned ono thing
thut I do not remember to have seen in
print that they are strictly temperate ex
cept on tho 1st day of January when they
they have a grand drunk. Lust January
they were given four days for a spree of
thin sort and they went through with . it
with magnificont system mid suocens. I
omitted to inquire . what their, favorite
Leverage is, but somebody should find it
, out for after gettiug druuk, and keeping
so lour days they camo out re-freshed and
invigorated. There is no joke about this;
for tho proprietor euid that, on tho . day
following their enormous 'bust' iu Janu
ary they did a larger day's work than be
fore i i r since on a single dav." ,
, . . . . i . I .. ; (i t i
i ... ; I .-i ' -.) i. I i- : '
SUNDAY HEADING,-
. , No Mistakes in Natnre. I
How many of all tho people in the
world sit down by themselves once in a
lifctimo and sincerely thank God that any
one of the breaths they breathe doesn't
kill them ? And yet, but for the nice
nnd unvarying proportions with which
the poisonous nnd the wholesome gases
mingle to form the . ntmosphere, ono
breath might do this. The plaguo that
onco caino down on London, by which
multitudes fell in a day, so that the living
Were not euough to bury the dead, was
ouly the result of wrong mingling of
gasscs, just ns apothecaries' clerks some
times givo us oxultic acid for seidlitz pow
ders. Why shouldn't oxygen lose its vitaliz
ing property just for oue breath, and that
bo the end of us? Or, when wo eject
the carbon from our lungs, itself a deadly
poison, why should it not remain close at
hand to be cuhaled at tho next inspira
tion, especially when we repeat the opera
tion something over thirty thousand times
every day '(
Dr. Holmes says that walking is con
tinual falling, and that if tho foot was not
put forward at just tho right moment to
receive the weight of tho body, we should
just so often find ourselves prone in the
dust. And so with every breath we
breathe, if the provisions were not care
fully applied, would he the occasion of
our sinking into tho valley and shadow
of death.
It is thus that these safeguards are
placed on every hand. How could the
merchant trust his ship to tho ocean, if
water might at any time lose its density?
With how much expectancy could the
farmer sow his seed, if there were no pro
visions for it to grow up out of the ground
instead of into it ? If he might raise corn
when ho planted peas, or potatoes might
yield onions, or if all tho seed ho sowed
might yield nothing, with what courage
could he sow, or with what confidence
could we expect anything to eat '(
What put strength in the timber thut
supports the roofs over our heads 'I And
after it is put there, why should it remain
there, and thus wo sit comfortably, day
after day, at our desk, and in our homes,
without feeling a continual uneasiness,
lest wo fiud ourselves buried in rubbish ?
Why is it that we cau open our eyes
mechanically every morning, and then
dress ourselves leisurely and thought
lessly, without feeling amazed that every
thing is simply because these provisions
in nature are God's laws In them He
is continually manifesting His goodness
and His care. They are thus expres
sions of His Providence, and in them we
witness miracles every day ?
Fill Your Own Place.
It takes all sorts of characters, says the
late Prof. Wilson, to complete this great
world drama, and some body must net
them. In other words, I believe that
every man has his place in tho world, nnd
that he was made specially for that place.
It is only by earnestly filling that place
that he fills his destiny, aud answers
tho end .for which God created him,
Confusion and disappointment ouly arise
from efforts to get into some other place
than tho oue for which we aro intened.
Tho change of our choice is limited by
the character God has given to us, and
tho circumstances by which ho hath
surrounded us, and which have modified
that character, and developed those
faculties. Each man is creatod with
certain possibilities which determined the
direction ho must go, and the height to
which he may rise. Wo need not, there
fore, reuiain in doubt. Our path is so
plainly marked out for us, that we need
norseek long for it, if we have willing
hearts and willing hands to do it.
SOT The beauty of a holy man's lifo,
says Chalmers, constitutes tho most elo
quent and effective persuasion to religion
which one human being can address to
another. We have many ways of doing
good to our fellow-creatures, but none so
efficacious as loading a virtuous, up
right and well-ordered life. . There is an
euergy of moral suasion in a good .man's
life passing the highost efforts of the
orator's ; gcuius. Tho seen but silent
beauty of holiness speaks more eloquently
of God and duty than the tounges of men
and angels. Let pnronts remember this.
Tho best inheritance a parent can , be
queath to a child is a virtuous example,
a legacy of hallowod rememberance and
associations. The beauty of holiuess
beaming through tho life of a loved rel
ative or friend, is more effectually to
strengthen such ns do stand ' in virtue's
way, aud raise up those that are bowed
down, than precept, command, entreuty or
warning. i , :
' T Young Women. .
Do not trust to uncertoin riches, but
prepare yourselves for every emergency
iu lil's. Learn to work, and be not de
pendent ou ervoits to make your bed,
sweep your floor, aud meud your clothes.
Above all, do not esteem too lightly those
young nicri who sustuiu themselves by
the work of their owu hands, while you
favor and receive into iyour eompauy
those lazy ne'er do-wells, who pevor lift a
finger to help themselves ua long us they
can keep body and scul together, and, get
funds sufficient to, live in fashion.. ,
DR. CROOK'S WINE OP TAR
Has been tested by the publle ' s
' ; FOB TUN YEARS, i )
Ir. Crook's Wine of Tar
Renovates and
Invigorates the entire system. t
DR. CROOK'S WINE OF TAR 1
Is tho very remedy for the Weak '
and Debilitated.
DU. CROOK'S WINE OF TAR - , y K
Rapidly restores exhausted
Strength !
DR. CROOK'S WINE OF TAR , .
Restores the Appetite and
Strengthens the Stomach.
- DR. CROOK'S WINE OF TAR
Causes the food to dl tee .it, removing '
Ijpeisla iiikI Indigestion
DR. CROOK'S WINE OF TAR
Gives tone aud energy to
Debilitated Constitutions.
DR. CROOK'S WINE OF TAR.
All recovering from any Illness
will Hud tlits the
beat Tonic they can take.
DR. CROOK'S WINE OF TAR
Is an effectivo
Regulator of tho Liver.
DR. CROOK'S WINE OF TAR
Cures Jaundice,
or any Liver Complaint.
DR. CROOK'S WINE OF TAR
Makes Dcllcntc Females, who are never feeling
Well, Strong and Healthy.
DR. CROOK'S WINE OF TAR
Has restored many Persons
who havo been
unablo to work for years.
DR. CROOK'S WINE OF TAR
Should bo taken if your Stomach
is out of Order.
lr. Crook's Wine of Tar
Will provent Malarious Fevers,
and braces up tho System.
DR. CROOK'S WINE OF TAR
Possesses Vegetable IngredieoU
which make it the
best Touio in tho market.
DR. CROOK'S WINE OF TAR
lias proved itself
in thousands of cases
capable of curing all diseases of tho
Tli r on t und Iaings.
DR. CROOK'S WINE OF TAR
Cures all Chronic Coughs,
and Coughs and Colds,
more effectually than any
other remedy.
DR. CROOK'S WINE OF TAR
lias Cured cases of Consumption pronounced
incurnblo by physicians.
DR. CROOK'S WINE OF TAR
lias cured so many cases of
Asthma and Bronchitis
that It bus been pronounced a speclllc
for these complaints.
DR. CROOK'S WINE OF TAR ;
Removes Fuln in Dreast, Side or Buck.
DR. CROOK'S WINE OF TAR.
Should be taken for diseases of the
Urinary Organs.
DR. CROOK'S WINE OF TAR
Cures Gravel and Kidney Diseases.
DR. CROOK'S WINE OF TAR
... Should be taken for all
Throat and Lung Ailments.
DR. CROOK'S WINE OF TAR
Should bo kept in every house, and Its hfV'
giving Tonio pioperties tried by all.
Dr. CROOK'S Compound r'
. Syrup of Poke Root,
Cures any disease or '
Eruptlou ou the Skin.
DR. CROOK'S COMPOUND
SYRUP OF POKE ROOT,
Cures Rheumatism and
Pulua in Limbs, Bones, &c,
DR. CROOK'S COMPOUND '
' SYRUP OF POKE ROOT,
' ' ' Build up Constitutions
brokeu down from
t ; Mineral or Mercurial Poisons.
DR. CROOK'S COMPOUND
SYRUP OF POKE ROOT,
Cures all Mercurial Discuses. ' '
DR. CROOK'S COMPOUND
. , SYRUP. OF POKE ROOT,
Should bt taken by all .
, requiring a remedy
' to make pure blood.
DR. CROOK'S COMPOUND
., , 8YUUP OF, POKE ROOT,
Cures Scald Head, , i
Suit Rheum und Tetter.
' . i i . !
DR. CBOOK'S COMPOUND i
SYRUP OF POKE ROOT,
' I ' ' ' ' ' Cures leng standing
Dlsoutct of the Liver.. t. i .
DR. CROOK'S COMPOUND
syrup of poke root,
. i 'i r . o t Removes Syphilis
or the dim-asci It entail
mottclluctuully and speedily
than any an d all other rcmedluacoiubincd.
'. , 8U ljf . M .'.:. .. t ' ' I
u ' i'i"-'! .'.! ! i n'.. ., . a, vi.