Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-10-09
WAR0g JTW.
The Fortune of Abdallah.
A PERSIAN STORY.

whole substance was consumed in providing
her with dresses, trinkcts aud the luxurics
of miniature harem.
Above all other women, the wife of Has
san, the kings astrologer, was envied by
the wife of Abdallah, tho transformations
barber; for this lady affected great gran
dcur, and could afford it, on account of the
large salary and handsome presents bestow.
ed upon her husband
One day the discoptcntcd beauty announ-
ecd to 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. In vain did he
represent to her that trimming boards was
his habit, while of astrological predictions
he knew nothing; she insisted, and the
unfortunate man, infatuated by affection,
resolved to obey.
So, observing the eccentric practices of
the astrologcrs, he took brass basin and a
pcstle of steel into the bazaar, and shifting
his basin, cried aloud that he would calcu-
late nativities, predict the events of the flu
turo, detect thieves, and recover lost prop
crty. His ncighbors were astonished, and
one and all said, Abdalah, the barber,
is certainly mad !" But it chanced that a
certain lady returning from the bath walk
ed 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 with this message:
If you arc an imposter my husband
shall cause you to be bastinadoed if you
are really an astrologcr, inform me where
i shall find necklace of pearls which
have lost this day" Poor Abdallah be-
wildercd, gazcd upon the lady, and gaining
time to invent an answer, said "She can
val the pearls, when they-arc near, for the
veil is torn" These words were reported
to her by the slave, and she uttered cry
of JOY. Admirable prophet" she OK
claimed, ." placed my pearls for safety in
a rent that is in the veil of the BATH" and
she ordered Abdollah to be presented with
forty gold pieces Now, itshould be known
that in the Persian baths there are screens,
the name of which is the same as the ma
tive word for veil" So Abdallah, by n
lucky accident of speech, had not only sa-
we'd 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 Abdullah, in the ba-
zaar, and spoke to him. The lady stood
closely by and listened. Abdallah," )" said
the slave, "ny master has lost the kings
great ruby; il thou hast the wisdom of the
stars, thou caost find it; if not thou art Il
pretendcr, and will assurcd!y cause thee
to be bastinadoed" This time the unfor-
tunate barber was at his Wits end 90,
woman y he exclaimed, thou art the au-
thor of this" He meant his own wife ;
but the treasures, who stood by, imagined
he referred to her. Guilt is always pale,
the poet says. She herself had stolen the
kings ruby, and believed that the astrolo-
ger was aware of her crime. SO when the
messenger had departed, leaving the bar
Der petrificd with perplexity she approach
ed him, and said, in n soft tone 80, as
trologcr L confess that IN an hour of ava
rice took the jewel Rosto.a it without
sending me to condemnation Abdallah
sternly replied: Woman, knew thy
guilt. Whore is thy jewel ?" She an
swcred: " Under the fourth cushion from
the door, in the apartment of Kashom, my
lords Georgian slave" Abdallah hasten
ed to the palace, was rewarded with robe
ofhonor, a thousand gold pieces, and cost
ly ornament
Urged by his wife, Abdalah essayed
once more. The kings treasure had been
broken open, and forty chests ofmoney had
been carried away. Not trace Of the
thieves had been discovered
The royal astrologer had tried every sort
of divination and failed and was therefore
in disgrace But the fame of Abdallah.
which was now spoken of in all Shiraz, had
) reached the ear of the king, who sent for
him, and gave him audience in the Hall of
Kalmet Serponchideh. "Abdallah," he
said, with severe expression in h;a face,
cart thou truly able TO read the stars ?"
"Put me to the proof!" answered the bar
bcr, who was now prepared for the worst
"Thon discover the forty chests of money
which have been stolen as well as the Grim
inal. Succeed, and then thou shalt marry
a princess, aud become my minister fail
and / will hangthee ep "1herc must have
been forty thieves !" said Abdallah, making
fortunate and not very difficult guess
Grant me forty daysp Forty days
thou shalt have, said the king, "and thou
shalt then die or live for riches and honor"
So the barber went home and told his
wife, and said, az have forty days to live !;
! viii sit upon my prayer mat, aud medi-