The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-11-18
The Fortune of Abdallah.
A PERSIAN STORY.

sing beauty, but excessively vain, so that
his whole substance was consumed in pro-
vidiug her with dresses. triDkets, and the
luxuries Of miniature harem.
Above all other women, the wife of
Hassan. the kings astrologer. was enyied
by the wife Of Abdallah, the unosteata-
tious barber; for this lady affected great
grandeur, and could afford it, on account
of the large salary and handsome presents
bestowed upon her husband.
One day the discontented beauty an
nounced to Abdallah that she would no
longer continue to live with him unless be
gave up the miserable business of barber
and adopted that of astrology. In vain
did be represent to her that trimming
boards was his habit, while of astrologi-
cal predictions he knew nothing; she in
sisted, and the unfortunate man infatua-
ted by affection, resolved to obey.
So observing the eccentric practices Of
the astrologers, he took brass basin and
pestle of steel into the bazaar, and smi
ting his basin, cried aloud that he would
calculate nativities, predict the events of
the future, detect thieves, aud recover
lost property. His neighbors were aston
ished, and one and all said. 'Ablallah,
the barber is certainly mad 7 But it
chaDced that a certain lady returning
from the bath walked through the bazaar
with her veil torn; she appeared in great
distress, and upon hearing the cry of Alb
dallah, sent one of her slaves to him with
this message: If you are an imposter,
my husband shall cause you to be basti
Dadoed; if you are really an astrologer,
inform me where | shall find a necklace
of pearls which | have lost this day.
Poor Abdallah. bewildered, gazed upon
the lady, and 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 Of joy. 'Ad-
mirable prophet, she exclaimed; 4 placed
my pearls for safety in rent that is in the
veil of the BATH and she ordered Abdal-
lab to be presented with forty gold pieces.
Now, it should be known that in tho Per-
sian baths there are screens, the name of
which is the same as the native word for
veil So Abdallah, by luck accident
of speech, had not only saved himself
from the bastinado, but he gained forty
pieces of gold.
At length, another lady, the wife Of the
kings treasurer, made her appearance,
and Just at that moment messenger from
the treasurer came up to Abdallah, il the
balarr, and spoke to him. The lady stood
close By, and liste ned. 'Abdallah, said the
slave, my N aster bas lost the kings great
ruby; if tnou can'st read the stars thou
canst find it; if not thou art pretender,
and l will assuredly cause thee to be bas-
tinad oed.' This time the unfortunate bar
ber was at his wits end. 'Oh, woman ! be
exclaimed, thou art the author of this.
( He meant his own wife, but the wife of the
treasurer, who stood by imagined be re-
ferred to her. Guilt is always pale, the
poet SAYS. She herself had stolen the
kings ruby. and believed that the astrol-
oyer was aware of her crime. So when
the messenger had departed, leaving tie
barber petrifed with perplexity, she ap'
preached him, and said, 10 soft tone
20. astrologer | confess that in an hour
of avarce | took the jewel. Restore 1t,
without sending me to condemnation y
Abdallah sternly replied -'WOmau. /
knew thy guilt Where is the jewel =
She answered u nder the fourth cushion
from the door, in the apartment of kash
om, my lords Georgian slave. Abdsllat
FASTENED to the palace, was rewarded witt
a robe of honor, thousand gold pieces
and costly ornament.
Urged by his wife. Abdalah essayct
once more. The kings treasure hat
bceo broken open, and forty chests o
money had been discovered. The roya
astroioger had tried every sort OF divina
ton aud failed, and as.there!oFe IN dis
Grace. But the fame of Abdallah, wbicl
was pow spoken of in all Shiraz, hat
reached the ear of the king, who sent To-
him. aud gave him audience in the IL al
, of Kalnet Serpenchideh. 'Abdallab, h
, said, with severe expression IN his iae0
! art thou truly able to read the stars :
!. Put me to the proofv answered the bar
Der, who was now prepared for the wors
Then discover the forty chests OF none
which have been stolen, as we'll as tn
criminal. Succeed, and then thou shaI
; marry a princess. und become my minis
!, ter: fail, and l will hang thee F.? Iher
mnst have been forty thieves !! said AT
dallah, making fortunate and not yer
dificalt guess. Grant me forty days :
: Forty days thou shalt have, said IL
= king, sand then thou shalt die, or lISe ie
= riches and honor.
It So the barber went home and told b
e wife. and said, I have forty days to Inv
J. I will sit upon my prayer mat and med
;. tate on the evils of life and the blessing
a Of death. Give me, beg the, forty bean
RS At the hour of evening prayer daily
70 will give the one, that, by counting u
:. emainder, may resember how maj
If davs have to live She complied; al
es ever day at the exact hour OF sunset a
W dallah gave her bean, aDd said wi