xpecting assistance from his
neighbours, refused to acquiesce to their terms. The assault was made,
my father and mother, with all their household, were murdered, my
brother severely wounded, the house plundered and burnt to the outside
walls. I was of course a prisoner as well as my brother. He was tied,
wounded as he was, upon one horse, and I upon another, and in a few
hours the party had regained the frontiers. A young man, handsome as an
angel, was the leader of the band, and I soon perceived that all his
thoughts and attentions were directed to me. He watched me with the
greatest solicitude when we halted, procured me every comfort, and was
always hovering about my presence. From the discourse of the soldiers I
discovered that he was the only son of the grand vizier at Stamboul. He
had heard of my beauty, had seen me, and offered a large sum to my
father, who had refused, as his ambition was that I should belong to the
sultan--in consequence I had been carried off by force. I could have
loved the beautiful youth, although he had murdered my father and
mother, but it was the taking me by force which steeled my heart, and I
vowed that I never would listen to his addresses, although I was so
completely in his power. During the time that I had been in his
possession I had never spoken one word, and it came into my head that I
would pretend to be dumb. In three weeks we arrived at Constantinople.
Since I had quitted the country I had never seen my brother; his wound
was too severe to allow him to travel with the same rapidity, and it was
not until years afterwards that I knew what had become of him. I was
taken to Osman Ali's house, and allowed a few days repose from the
fatigue of the journey; after which, as I was still but a child, I was
ordered to be instructed in music, dancing, singing, and every other
accomplishment considered necessary for the ladies of a harem. But I
adhered to my resolution; every method to induce me to speak was tried
in vain; even blows, torture from pinching, and other means were
resorted to, but would not induce me to swerve from my resolution; at
last they concluded that I was either born dumb, or had become so from
fright at the time that the attack and slaughter of my family took
place. I was eighteen months in the harem of Osman Ali, and never spoke
one word.

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"Mashallah! but this is wonderful!" ex