True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-09-10
THE THREE sEGaARs OF BAGDAD.

On the great Arabian desert, from three
different points of the compass, three
travellers slowly approached one another,
nearer and nearer they come, until pres
emily they joined company. At first there
was moment of suspicion, and all was
on their guard: one laid his hand on an
old razor concealed in his girdle; another
fumbled in his turban for shoemaker's
awl and the third, and last, shook his
sleeve, until the pair Of shears hidden
there were in his hand. All drew back
the mantles that protected their heads
from the glaring sun and drifting sand,
but had no sooner recognized one anoth-
er than they set up great shout Of joy,
and throwing themselves into each others
arms Gas we'll as their in6rmities would
allow them) embraced. '2..""' SOD
Ali, the barber, had one eye; Bali,
the tailor, had but one hand /; and Kali,
the Cobler wanted foot. ,.
Happy is this day, when we meet
again n cried the one eyed: "pray, do
you come to this side Of me, that may
better see you; why. Bali, you are less
hand, and you, Kali, less a foot. | my
self want an eye, and pray let me tell you
how lost it. So let us be seated, and
rest awhile, and will relate to you all
concerning my misfortune" ID.
The three then seated themselves. and
Ali, the one-eyed barber. commenced this
way. ....-
"You know I was bred barber. and
that no one worked more diligently, or
shaved better in Bagdad, than did,
One unlucky day a great lord came to
me, and wanted his head shaved. l
soaped his pate nicely, sharpened my
best razor and went to work. One hall
was done l caught hold Of his nose las
our art dictates, to get at the other side
when as i'll luck would have it, the brust
full of lather went into his eye; /; he roar
ed with pain, and getting in rage, gave
me such a drubbing that, when it was
over, one eye was gone. My customers
all left me no one thought one-eyed
man could shave, and ! was ruined.--
Now beggar, l am going to Mecca, to
try if by prayer, / cannot assuage Mahom
ed and beg for good luck once again in
my hfe."
;, / think your case hard one," then
said Bali, the one handed tailor "now
listen to mine. One day there came in.
to my shop one eyed man, and ordered
a vest. He must have been great per.
sonage, for the garment was to make
was of the most costly kind, such as are
worn at the palace. / worked diligent
ly, and when it was finished took it to
his house. He wanted to try it on; he
put one arm nicely in, and had got into
the sleeve as far as the elbow, when he
yelled with pain. Rascali" he cried
civilian Of tailor. you have left nee
die in the sleeve, and it has pierced my
arm; take this, you dog!' and he be-
gan to beat me with big stick and wher
it was over my hand was gone. 1 coult
no longer sew; my trade all left me ant
now poor wretch, l am travelling to The
holy city. to implore the great prophet
to take away his curse from me-"
), 1t is my turn, and though your casel
are hard ones Just listen to mine," said
Kali, the shoemaker. "This is the way
in which l lost my foot In Bagdad, m!
slippers of yellow kurdish leather were
in great repute. One day there came Il
me great lord, and ordered of me pal
of my yellow slippers. made them my
self, and carried them to his house. HI
put one ONT fitted perfectly; he triet
the other, but it would not 60 on. Per
ceiving, for the first time, that he hat
only one eye, and one arm, and imagin
ing that their loss made him rather awk
ward, l told him 10 give his foot stamp
be did so and howled with pain. "Dol
of cobbler" he cried, "you have left
nail in your slipper" and without NOR
ado, he caught me up in his arm, an
threw me out at the window. Some pas
sers by picked me up, and when l GO
we'll one foot was gone. My business
went to the dogs; my creditors seized al
had and now without copper, | ar
hobbling over the desert, to the tomb q
the great law giver, to beseech him t
grant me fol tune.
When Kali had finished, all three wer
silent, and for full half an hour hold dow
their heads. Atlast simultaneously, the
all burst out with "Oh! where. wher
can three such unlucky fellows be found !!
and in such loud tone Of voice that
fourth traveller, who had silently draw
near, heard it, and exclaimed, "Who say
they are unlucky fellows' Forifso, loo
at me-"
The three jumped up surprised; fo
they had been so absorbed as not to hav
, heard him approach. Ali, Bali, snd Cal
D looked up, and saw a man in rags, wit
but one eye. one arm, and one leg
> You unluckyp' exclaimed the ne'
conner; do you compare your situaio
= with mine What do you say to mi
1 the. perfect addition Of all your woes
J and with il all, consider myself III
I luckiest fellow in the world y and herr
: with the aidof a crutch, he tripped abo,
merrily on the sand.