Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-04-30
How Abdallah became an Astro-
Logger.
A PERSIAN TAILE-

AbdaIlab was prosperous barber of Shi-
r.z He married, woman ol surprising
beauty. but excessively vain, SO thatkhis
whole substance was consumed in providing
her with dresses, trinkets, and the luxuries
of a miniature harem. Above all other wo-
men. the wife of Hassan, the kings astraio-
ger. was envied by the wife of Abdallab.
the upostentatious barber; for this lady
affected great grandeur, and could afford i,
on account of the large salary and hand
some presents bestowed upon her husband
One day the discontented beauty anno-
upced 10 Abdallah that she would no longer
continue to live with him unless ne gave ule
the miserable business of barber. andSdeStzyI
ed that Of sastrology. In vain did ne repre-
sent to her thai trimming boards was his
habit, while Of astrological productions ne
knew nothing; she insisted, and the un'or-
tunate man, infatuated by affection, resolV-
ed to obey. So, observing the eccentric
practices of the astrologers, he took brass
basin and pestle of steel into the bazaar.
and smiling his basis, cried aloud that he
would dlcalculate nativities, predict the events
of the future. detect thieves, and recover
lost property. His neighbors were astonish-
ed. and one and all said, 'Abdallah, the bar
Der, is certainly mad!' But it itchanced that
certain lady, returning from the oath,
walked through the bazaar with her veil
torn; she appeared in great Distress and
upon hearing the cry of Abdallah, sent one
of her slaves to him wjthz]ds message: 'lf
YOU are an impossor, mykusband shall cause
YOU to be bastinedoad; e you are really an
Lsstrologer, informs ne where shall find
necklace of pearls Which have lost this
day.' Poor Abdallah, bewildered, gazed up
on the lady, andin gaining time to invent
an answer, said: .She can will the pearls
when they are near, for the veil is torn'-
These words were reported to her BY the
slave, and she uttered cry ct Joy. 'Ad,
mirable prophel!' she exclaimed; 4 placed
nv pearls for safety in a rent that is in the
veil Of the bath!' and she ordered Aodallaf
to be presented with forty gold pieces
Nov, it should be known that in the Persian
taths there are screens, the name OF wucf
is the same as the native word for veil.
So Abdallah, by lucky accident of speech
had not only saved himself from 1.-THE bas
tinado, but had gained forty pieces OF god
At length, another lady, the wife of the
kings treasurer, made her appearance, ant
lust at that moment messenger from Ih'
treasurer came up to Abdallah, iE the oa
zaar, and spoke to him. The lady stoo'
close by, and listened. sAbdallah,' said th'
slave, my master has lost the kings grea
ruby; if thou hast the wisdom Of the stars
thou canst find it; if not, thou art pretend
, er, and will assuredly cause thee to b'
> bestinadoed.' This time the unfortunat
barber was at his wits end. 'Oh, woman!
he exclaimed, sthou art the author OF this!
/, lie meant his own wife; but the vile OF tn
treasurer, who stood by, imagined ne refer
red to her. Guilt is always pale, the poe
says. She herself had stolen the king
ruby, and believed that the astrologer wa
! aware of her crime. So, when the mes
4 senger had departed, leaving the ba:be
= petrifed with parplexity, she approache
him, and said, in soft tone, 'Oh, astrolc
ger, | confess that, in an hour of avarlce,
took the level. Restore it, without sent
ing me to condemuation!' Abdaliah sterl
= " replied-sWo Woman, | know thy guilt
- Where is the jewel!' She answered-'Ul
der The fourth cushion firm the door, in Ii
apartment of Kashem, my lords Geor gla
slaye.' AbGallah hastened to the paldc
:. was rewarded with robe of honor, thoI
"A sand gold pieces, and costly ornament.
Urged by his wife, Abdallah essayed on
=, more. The kings treasury had been broke
~ open, and forty chests of money had be'
carried away. Not trace OF the thlev
had been discovered. The royal astrolog
7 had tried every sort of divination, and fail
- and was therefore in disgrace. But
~ fame of Ablallah, which was now spoken
- in all Shiraz, had reached the ear OF Il
~ king, who sent for him, and gave him a
~ - dience in the Hail of Kdlnet Serponchidc
sAbdallah,' he said, with severe eXPressl
:, ir his face, sart thou truly able to read
:. starsr sPut me to the proof answered
- - barber, who was now prepared for the wOr
A. Then discover the forty chests OF mon
~ which have been stolen, as well as the c
90 go minals. Succeed, and thou shalt marry
nv princess, and become my minister; tail, a
= | will hang thee!' There must have be
,o forty thieves said Abdallah, making +
oJ tunale and not very difficult guess. 'Gra
ha me forty days. 'Forty days thou sh
.u have,' said the king; 'and thou shalt tn
~ die, or live for riches and honor
nd So the barber went home and told
49, wife, and said--'I have forty days to live
will sit Oh my prayer mat, and mediate
on the evils of life and the bessedness
/ death. Give me, beg, then, torty bea
~ At the hour oi evening prayer, daily,
give thee one, that, BY counting the rema
o. der, may remember how many days hi
,or, to live She complied, and, every day,
ney the exact hour Of sunset, Abdallah gave
on a bean, and said. with great frmness
not solemni,y,-'There is one of them A
ing, on the last day, ne said, in an excited m
nen ner,--sThere are the whole forty OF the
the What was his astonshment when, at
on instant, violent knocking was heard at
orry door! A crowd If men were admitted,
,. one of Them, evidently the chief 1said,-'
ting Abdallah, wise astrologer, thou sha t rec,
ors, the ,forty chests of gold untouched.
spare our lves!' In supp eme bewilderm
he he answered, This night should !
lers, seized thee and thy wretched compani
, OF but tell me, on thy head, how knewest
nber that l possessed this knowledge'
lat's heard,' said the chief of the robbers,
not the king had sent for thee! Therefore
we of lis came at the hour of sunset, to ii
and at thy door, and heard thee say, 'Ther
his one of them.' We would not believe
new story. and sent two to ascertain it, and
nged was heard to say, There are TWO OF Tn
and this night, oh, wonderful! thou
pose exclaim, There are ithe whole forty!
made restore the kings money. and do not de
e dav us unto the eXecutioner.'
just Abdalah promised 10 20 "hat he cou
e, Being admitted to the palace, he Gee