Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-06-03

arrived, and he was beginning to desns;r of
being able to perform his engagements. At
length, however, a merchant about to proceed
TO Bagdad, made him an advantageous offer for
the "noie OF MS stock. and he was enabled to
depart, after having realised a good profit
several accidents and delays occurred on the
Journey; but the caravans reached the valley
one march from Tarsus, on the eve of the day
when Hamed had promised payment to Koda-
dad Most OF the merchants Immediately rode
forward to glad their families and friends; but
our young merchant, feeling his love for Leilah
revive with intensity, determined to spend that
day In endeavOring to obtain an interview with
her lie wandered into the mountains endeav.
oring to follow the same track as before; but
although he several times imagined he recog-
nised the trees and the rocks his search was
unsuccessful: All was wild, and seemingly un-
inhabited. lie called aloud Leilah - but
the echoes only answered, "la Ia ,"-no no :;
and when night came, he knew not which way
to turn. So he sat down beneath a huge syca-
more to wait patiently until the morning
When light came, he remembered his promise
to kOdadad. He was to pay the hundred
dinars at noon He dete ermined to hasten to
Tarsus on foot over the mountains, for he knew
the general direction in which it lay. MANY
hours of travel were before him but he was
light OF foot, and at length beheld in the dis
tance the minarets of the city, and the winding
course of the river. Suddenly, the Landscape
darkened Clouds seemed to come out of every
valley, and to inundate the plain. The rain
fell; the wind blew. lie hastened onward
clutching the leather purse in which he carried
his wealth, and invoking the assistance of the
Prophet. When he reached the banks of the
river, he heard, through the mist, a muezzin
prOclaiming the hour of noon from a distant
mosque. The waters were turbulent. No ferry
boat was In sight. 1t was impossible to cross.
Haj Haa1ed prayed; and an idea came to his
mind. He plucked a large reed, and followed
1t, and placed therein hundred pieces of gold
and tied other reeds to il, and foated this raft
upon the stream, and cOnfded in the mercy of
God.
Now it happened that Kodadad, remember
ing Hal Hamed's promise, had gone to his XII
Osque that day, to wait for his money The
wind blew; the rain fell The debtor did net
appear. I'VE must allow him an hours grace
for the storm is violent" sad Kodadad The
muezzin chanted the hour of noon. The mer-
chant called to his slave to bring another pipe
Presently, a bundle of reeds came floating along
the misty waters; black boy STOPPING forward
seized them as they passed He was about to
cast them away again, when the unusual weight
prevented him. Master" said he, " this IS a
reed of lead" The merchant, who wished to
pass the time, told him to break the reeds He
did so, and 10. a hundred glit>ering pieces of
gold fell suddenly upon the pavement of the
kiOsque."
ways, illustrates the Oriental idea of mercan-
tile probity. Turkish merchants, in their deal
ings among themselves, are famous for keeping
their engagements with scrupulous exactitude !;
and the example of Hal Hamed is often cited as
model. Of course it is understood that the
debt, in all good golden dinars, came to its des
tination In some miraculous way; the Prophet
being always deeply interested in the good
deeds of his servants. The young merchant was
not without his reward. His credit was i'm fu-
ture unlimited. But not only so KOdadad in
sisted on giving him his daughter in marriage
And it will surprise none but very matter-of-
fact peOple-tO whom we do not address this
legend-that his daughter turned out to be the
same very imprudent Leilah, whose fascination
had nearly caused Hal Hamed to dishonOr his
verbal promisOry note. We learn, moreover.
that she settled down into most prudent and
exemplary wife-which relieves our mind-for.
except under extremely Oriental circumstances,
We should not recommend her conduct for imi-
ton.