Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-10-09
The Fortunes of Abdallah.--A Persian
story.

The Fortunes of AbdaIlah---A Persian
story.
Abdallah was prosperous barber OF Shi-
raz. He married a woman of surprising beau
ty, but she was excessively vain, so that his
whole substance Was consumed in providing
her with dresses, trinkets, and the luxuries
of the harem. -i.
Above all other women the wife Of Hasi
san the kirg's astrologer, was envied BY the
wife of Abdallah, the transformations barber;
for this lady affected great grandeur,andcould
afford it, on account of the la ger salary and
handsome presents bestowed upon her 'hds-,
band. --
One day the discontented beauty annouae-
ed to Abdallah that she would no longer con-
tnue to live with him unless he gave up the
miserable business of barber aud adopt that
of astrology. In vain did be represent to
her that trimming boards Was his habit, while
of astrological predictions he knew nothing;
she insisted, and the unfortunate man, infatu.
| ated by hissifecton resolved to obey.
So, observing the eccentric practices of the
astrologers,he took brass BASIN and pestle
of steel into the bazar, and shifting his basin,
CT led aloud that he would calculate nativities,
predict the events of the future, detect thieves,
and recover lost property. His neighbOrs
were astonished, and one and all said, CAB
dallah, the barber is certainly mad p But
it chanced that certain lady returning from
the bath walked through the bazar with her
veil torn, she appeared in great distress, and
upon hearing the cry of Abdallah, sent one
of her slaves to him with this message III
you are all imposter, my husband shall cause
you to be bastinadoed if you are really an
astroioger, inform me where | shall find
necklace of pearl which I have lost this day"
Poor Abdallah, bewidered, gazed upon the
lady, and gaining time to invent an answer,
said:
She can find the pearls when they are
near, for tue veil j. torn J" These words were
reported to her by the slave, and she uttered
a cry of joy. Admirable prophet, she ex-
claimed, Il placed my pearls for safety in n
ent that is in the veil Of the bath" and she
ordered Abdallah t. be presented with forty
gold pieces Now, it should be known that
IN the Persian baths there are screens, the
name of which is the same as the native word
for "vell." So Abdallah bv a lucky acci-
dent of speech, had not only saved hmsel!
rom the bas.inado, but he gained forty pee
es of gold.
AT length, another lady, the wife of the
kings treasurer, made her appearance, aud
lust at that moment messenger from the
treasurer came up to Ab.laliah, in the bazaar
and smoke tc HIM. Tie lady stood close by
and listened {. Abdallah." said the slave
my master has lost tie kings great ruby =
if thou hast The wisdom Of the stars. thou
canst find it; If not, thou art pretender, and
will a>slr>dly cause thee to be ba-'inado
ed" This time the unfortunate barber was
1t his wits end" o. woman - he exclaln-
ed, 'rhou art the author of this" He meant
:ils own wife, but the treasurers who Sto d
5v, imagined he referred to her. Guilt is al
ways pale, the poet says She herself bad
stolen the kings ruby and believed that the
astrol,oer was aware other crime. SO when
the messenger had departed, leaving the ha,
her prlrltied with perpl kitty, she approached
nim, and said, in a sOtt tOne-"O astrOloger
confess that in an hour of avarce. took
the Jewel. Restore it without sending me t.
end, mnation Abdallah stetnly replied
sWoman knew thy guilt Where is thy
Jewel ?" She Observation-Disclosures the fourtl
N hion from the dor, in the apartment o
: Kashon, my Lords Georgian slave.' Alb
ballah ha,tened to the palace, was rewarder
with robe of honor, thousand gold pieces
I and costly ornament.
Urged by his wife, Abdallah essayed once
more. The kings treasure had been broker
open, end forty chests of money had beer
carried away. Not trace of the thieves
ad been discovered. The royal astrologc
had tried every sort of dyination and failed
|. vas therefore in disgrace But the fam,
ana >lish which was now spoken of in al
Of Abda. -oached the ear of the king, who
Shiraz had l. gave him audience in thu
IIn1 Mn 'of of I, Ka1nt Scrip "esh, AGdA'lan t1 a.
he said with severe exp. the stars ?"-
"art thou truly able to 'e"N ", the barber
Put me to the pr oof y answere~ "The,
who was now prepared Tor 'he "o'ss. ;cb na
discover the forty chests OF money,
been stolenas we'll as the criminal Succe
and thou shalt marry a princess, and become
my minister; fall and l will kill tt ee p,-
There must have been forty thieves p
said Abdaah, making a fortunate and not
very difficult guess.
"Grant me forty days.
"Forty days shalt thou have, said the king
"and thou shalt then die,or live fer riches and
honor"
So the barber went home and told his wife
and said, 81 have forty days to live will
sit upon my prayer mat and med tate on the
evils of life and the bessedness of DEATH
Give me, beg thee, forty beans. At the
hour of evening prayer, daily will give thee
one, that, by counting the remainder, may
remember how many days have to live."-
She complied and every day at the exact
hour of sunset, Abdallah gave her a bean.
and said with great frmness and solemnity
"there is one of them v' And, on the last
day lie said, in an excited manner "There
are the who'll, forty Of them ~ What was
his astoni-hment when, at the instant, yiO
lent knocking was heard at the door A crowd
OF men We're admitted, and one of them. ey,
dcntly the chief said,
20, Abdadh wise sstroloser, thou shalt
receive the forty chests of gold untouched,
but spare our lives "' In supreme bew,lder
ment he answered.
"rhiS nieht | should have seized thee and
wretched companions, tell me, on thy head.
how knowest thou that possess this know
ledge ?"
eve hcard" said the chief of robbers,
"that the king had Mt for thee Therefore.
pne OF us came, at the hour of sunset. to list,
en at the door, and heard You say. ''There is
one Of them" We would MT believe his
story, anG sent two TO asce ftain it, and thou
vast heart TO sav. There are two of thet.:"
and this night, o wonderful didst cxciam.-
There are the whole forty" but restore the
kings money, and do not deliver US to the
execurioner'
Ahdallah promised to do what he could
Being admitted to the palace, he declared