Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-18
GAZETTE.

THE DERyISH AND THE GOLDSMITH;
Or, the Pernicious Effects of Riches. fin East.
era Idie.
There lived at Bagdad. in the reign Of the
Khalif Al Hapi, ION whom be peace!) certain
goldsmith, named Abu Yusuf, who devoted the
fruits Of all his labors to the poor, and reserved
TO himself only what was necessary to maintain
life, according to that which is written in the
Book, &C Eat, but be not proiuse, for the profuse
God loy eth n0t;" and also, Unto such of you
AZ give aims shall be srea reward;" and again.
in the chapter entitled al 1fa,aa, it is said "Wo
be unto those that deny necessaries to the needy'
Wherefore the goldsmith aforesaid, night and
day, and morning and evening. gave the sweat
of his brow to the p,or and his name was known
in the city for the good works of his hands -
And dervish, whose name was lbn Teman,
,,may Allah amend his condition!) heard OF the
goldsmith, aud went one evening to his house.
The court was FLIED with the poor OF the city,
and, seated around il, they awaited in silence
the coming forth of the bestowpr OF bread. The
dervsh sat down amongst them. and spoke to
them of the charitable goldsmith; and all the
prur blessed his nsme ard gave him praise
n4ra. I'll his tia.s tie 1I33a.;.,,ih worked at
his forge, and the sweat Of his brow flowed for
the needy. When he had fini>hed the labor of
the day, he came forth and distributed his aims;
to each he gave bread and meat, and small
piece of money; and. seeing the dervlsh. he said,
:. HOLY mau, art thou on pilgrimage! II 1t be
So, doubtless thou hast need Of IA morsel, and
some r.pose; come igtU my house and bless it;
and will wash thy feet, and praise God who
hath sent thee hther, that may do good work
iA,s day"
And the dervish entered and did eat bread
and drink water. and his soul was refreshed; and
he spike to his hn,t and said, "Surely, thy
wealth. Is great, that thus thou dost daily enter
tain the pour. and flesi the hungry"
Bro,her," said the goldsmith, - have none
other wealth than the iabc7 OF my hands; but
am known to BE- honest, therefore have much
commerce. and am thus enabte,i ~ S~00v"'
MANY OF the neels, But it crlnyt' "e s"'ne
- r., the ,oor ert numerous that can
Nm, a;,s wv all. pr. that possessed the wealth
Of the Kra,f, fthe mercy of Goh be upon him,
and len 10 one in Basdad should hunger or
thirst Holy man, thou who art beloved OF Al
Iah. prav 10 him that may become rich, that
NAV and all VIM are in trlbulation.
The dervish promised his interee.sion, and re
tired: ADD. the next morning, after performing
both kinds of purifi alton, he FRUSTRATED himself
in the dust. aud prayed all day; but Allah an.
.wered him not. The next day he again bowed
tow ards Mecca. and remained on his kHees, last
ing until eveBtide; but notwithstanding his tears
and aroans, Allah hid his face from his cry. All
night the dertish prayed aud wept, and the morn
inv saw him wearird with watching and supplica
tion; but, towards noon, fatigue and the heat OF
the sun oyercane him. and he fen into a deep
slumbcr. and the horror Oft thick darkness came
mon him. Aud he dreamed, and he saw in his
E,h, al IpC wit mn ~
a, of many waters. and he had an hundred wings.
rlor;ous az precious stones. And Gabriel said,
:, Fellow servant, tempt not God, nor seek what
he denies WHY wouljst thou that this goldsmith
sbou,d be rich? Iii. known to US, who contem-
Mate the face Of Allah. that, If he were wealthy,
he would do evil; aud wilt thou, after this, give
,hy soul hostage for his soul! Blu. remember,
IL thou be surety for him, thou thyself shall be
burnt for him in hell bre,'
The dervish, however, had so high an opinion
IF the holiness OF his friend, that he even dis
trusted the saving of an angel; and he said,
=. r. I, written IN the second Sura, Let pledges
be taken,' wherefore will i've my soul as n hos
,ao- for the soul OF Inv brother, that he may be-
come rich, and feed the poor out of his abun-
dance I"
Herenn the deryish awoke, but Gabriel had va.
nished; nevertheless. he rej"iced in his heart
that he had obtained Of Heaven for Abu Yusul
that which hi, soul desired.
Tha, very morning, when the goldsmith open,
ed his shop. and prepared TO work at his forge, he
was amazed to see niIed on the ground fifty in
COTS Of the purest gold. AT that moment Ebbli'
tempted him, and he said to himself, " Why
should labor longerl Doubtless mine alms have
gone up to the seventh heaven, and Allah hath
sent me this gold as recompense. But | may
nut remain in Bagdad; my sudden fortune
would make me enimie., and should be forced
10 di. ide i, between The Cazee and the poor.
will 90 to Cairo, aud there l will live 10 peace
and luxury.
That very night Abu Yusuf, having shut u!
| his shop. joined caravan proce eding to Cairo
where he arrived safely, with all his wealth. -
The Sultan was tributary of the Khaiif Al Ha
nj; and. on hearing Of Abu Yusui's arrival, an'
beholding the spiendor Of his house and equ'Page
summoned him to the palace. Abu Yusui hat
many talents. and was an excellent musician an'
poet; but at Basdad be wrote note verses, be
cause the Prophet. tsalutation!) hath SAID, in IN
e6th Sura, that ..voet. are amongst those o.
whom the devils drscend;" nevertheless. as b