The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1858-12-08
A PERSIAN STORY.

Abdallah was prosperous barber of Shiraz.
II e married woman oi surprising beauty,
but excessively vain, 50 that his whole sub
sistence was consumed in providing her with
dresses, trlnkets, and the Injuries oil min
iature harem.
Above all other women, the wife of Has
sen. the Kings astrologer, was enyied by the
wife OF Abdallah, the unOsteniatiO1s barber !;
for she affected great grandeur, and could
afford it on account Of the large salary and
handsome presents bestowed upon her hus-
band.
One day the discontented beauty annOunc,
ed 10 Abdallah that she would no longer
continue to live with him unless he gave up
the miserable business of barber, and adopt
that Of astrolOgy. Ia vain did he represent
to her that trimming boards was his habit,
while Of astrological predictions he knew no.
thing she insisted, and the unfortunate man,
infatuated by affection, resolved to obey.
80, observing The eccentric practices Of
the astrologers, he took brass basin aud d
pestle OF steel into the bazaar, and, smiting
his basin, cried aloud that he would calcu-
late natiyities, predict the events Of the fu-
ture, detect thieves and recover lost property.
Ills neighbOrs were ast0nished, aud one aud
all said, " Abdalah. the barber, is certainly
mad" Bnt il cbsrced that certain lady
returrilng from the ,lah, walked through the
baza.ar wIth her srt torn; Size appeared IN
grtst distress, AZ upon hearing The cry of
Abdrllah, sent II her slaves 10 him with
this S,esssage; ~ YOU are an impUster, my
husband shall cause you to be bastinadoed !;
il you are really an astrOloger, inform me
where shall fnd a necklace Of pearls which
have lost this DAY." Poor Abdallah, be-
sildered, gazed upon the lady, and gaining
time 10 invent an answer, slld Size can
will the pearls, when they are near, for the
veil Is torn !" These words were reported
TO her BY the slave, aud she uttered cry Of
joy. /" Admirable prophet" she exclaimed,
. placed my pearls Tor safety IL rent that
is 10 the veil ol the bath !" aud she ordered
Abdallah TO be presented with forty gold
pieces. Now, ii should be known that 10 the
Persian baths there are screens, the name uf
which is the same as tie native word "ycil."
So Abdaliah, by lucky accident of speech,
bad not only saved himself from Tie blsttna.
DO, tut he gained forty pieces oT 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 10 Abdallah IN The bazaar
and spoke to him. Tie lady stool close By
and listened. Abdailah," said tie slave,
!" my master has lost Tie Kings great ruby
il tlOu hast the wisdom ii tie stars, thua
canst fluid it; Il not, thou at preicnder,
and will assuretly cause thee to be bastl.
nad0ed.p This tine the unfortunate barber
was at his wis end. Oh, wOm1n!' - he
exclaimed. a. thou art the suthor Of this"
lie meant his own vile, but the wife OF the
treasurer, who stood by, imagined lie referred
to her. Guilt is always pale, the poet says.
She herself stole Tie kings ruby, and be.
lie,ed that the astrOlugcf mas aware " her
crime. 50, when tic messenger had depart.
ed, leaving the barber petriiied With per
plcxity, she approached hiill. and SAID IL
soft tone, ' Oh, astfologer. ! confess that ~
an hour Of avariee took the jewel. Restore
il, without sending me TO condemnation"
AbdalIah sternly replied. /" Woman, know
thy guilt. Where IS thy jewel !" She an
swcred. /" Under lhe luurtl cushion from The
door, ID the apartment u kashOm, NY Lords