FATMA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2201, 7 May 1896, Page 51

FATMA.

A STORY FOR CHILDREN. Fbom the Gebman of Wilhelm Hauf. His inventive imagination Boon discovered another plan. Going on through the wood he oame to a little village, where he bought a horse for a low price, and then rode on to the nearest town. Arrived there he inquired after a physician, and was directed to an old i man credited with great learning and expe- ! rience. This man he dazzled with his gold pieces, and obtained from him a medicine i which would produce a death-like sleep ; | which, however, could be at any, moment counteracted upon administering a second draught. In possession of these drugs, he provided himself with a long gown, a white beard and wig, and numerous medicine cases and boxes. Leading the medicines upon an ass, he disguised himself as a travelling physician and returned to the palace of Tbiuli-Kos.

He oame slowly up to the palace entrance and announced himself as the Physician Ohakamackabudlbaba. As he expected, the gullible Thiuli was dazzled by the name, and at once invited the physician to his own table. Ohakamankabndibaba appeared before his host, who was as affable as be had been the day previous, and he ended by offering to eubjeot all his slaves to the treatment of this learned physician. The latter was scarcely able to di guise his joy at the thought of actually seeing his sister and bis loved one, and he, followed with beating heart whilst Thiuli led the way to his seraglio. They entered a lofty chamber, beautifully draped and furnished, but no one was to be seen in it.

"Worthy Ohambaba, or whatever your honoured name may be, behold yonder hele in the wall ; each of my slaves shall put her arm through there, and you shall feel the pulse if she is ailing or healthy."

He then drew out a long ivory tablet on which were written the names of all his slaves, and he called them one by one to put their arms out for the learned physician to treai;. The first six were declared to be quite healthy, but the seventh oame, and Thiuli read out the name " Fatma." Mustapha's finger 3 trembled as he laid them upon his sister's hand, and shaking his head seriously he pronounced her to be dangerously ill. Thiuli was greatly concerned, and ordered him to prepare a medicine for her at once. Mustapha went cub to make the draught, and at the same time he wrote upon a slip of parchment : " F*tnia, I c*n save you if you will take a strong sleeping dose which will make you sleep for two days. I have the means of awakening you again. If yon con Bent to drink it say that the medicine I now give you has no effect." He then returned with a harmless mixture, felt the patient'a pulse once more, and in doing so put the note into her hand together with the medicine.

Thiuli seemed to be much moved by the condition of Fatma, and put 62 the treatment of the other slaves till another day.

On leaving the chamber together he askod : "Ohadibaba, what is the matter with Fatma 7 She 1b one of my most costly slaves." Ob&kamankabudibaba answered, sighing deeply : " May the Prophet comfort you, she has a falling fever which may verj soon prove fatal." At this Thiuli fell into a rage. "Cursed dop," said he, "you say tbat; and shall she who cost me 2000 gold pieces die like a cow ? If you do not save her life you shall lose your bead 1 " _ Mustapha saw his mistake, and now reassured his host that she might yet be cured. At that moment a black slave entered to say that the medicine had had no effect.

"Do all that your art can do, Chakambaba, and I will pay you whatever you ask," shrieked out Thiuli, enraged at the thought of losing so much money.

" I will give her a juice which will not fail to cure her," said the physician.

"Yes, yes, give her a juice," sobbed the old man.

Delighted at his success, Mu3tapba hastened to fetch the sleeping draught, and handing it to the black Blave, gave instructions tbat it should be taken all at one dose. He then said he must go down to the seashore to get some herb?, and slowly left the palace. At the water's edge he stripped off his false clothing and concealed himself among the thick bushes until night came on, when he took his way to the burying place of the palace. An hour or moie after Mustapha had left .the palace a servant appeared before Thiuli with the news that Fatma was dying.' He sent at once down to the seashore to bring back Gbakamankabadibaba in all haste ; but the messenger soon returned and stated that the poor physician had fallen into the water and was drowned, as he bad seen bis long gown floating about in tbo waves. Seeing that there was now no help for his favourite slave Thiali was quite beside himself; he raged and cursed himself and everybody" around him. Meanwhile word was brought to him that Fatma lay lifeless in the arms of her attendants. Oa hearing this he gave orders to make a coffin without aa hoar's delay — for the superstitious old man could cot' bear to have a dead body in his house for a single night— and carry the corpse away to the burying place outside the palace.

The bearers of the coffin accordingly brought their burden ere it was quite dark, and prooeeded to lay it ia its last resting cUce. when. he*rlnnt low groans ajxd sighs

come from amidst the other tombs, they hastily laid it down and fled in terror.

(To be continued.)