Brookville American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1858-1861, 1858-12-10
THE FORTUNE OF ABDALLAH,
4 Persian Story.

Abdalah was prosperous barber Of
Shinaz. lie married n woman OF sur
passing beauty, but excessively vain, SO
that his whole subsistence was consum-
ed :n.i.nori.lirs hev ssitl. l.slrxsScs- tr5nk
cts, and the luxuries Of miniature
harem
Above all other women the wife Of
EIasscn, the Kings astroloser, WAS en-.
vicd by the wife OF Abdallah, the unos-
tentaiious barber; for she silectcd great
grandeur, and could afford il, onaccount
OF the |: 20 salary and handsome pres.
ents bctowcd upon her husband.
+, One day the discontentcd beauty an
nounced to Abdallah that She would no
longer continue to Eve with him unless
he gave up the miserable busiress OF
barber, and adopt that OF astroiogg In
vain did he represent to her that trim
ming boards was his habit, while of rs
trologicaI predictions he knew nothing
she insisted. and the unfortunate man
infatuated by he affection resolved to
obey.
So, observing the eccentric practices
of the astrologers, he took hrass basin
and a pestle of steel into the bazaar
and shifting his basin, cried aloud that
he would calculate nativties, predict
the events OF the future, detect thieves
and recover lost property. His neigh
i bors were astonished and one and al
said, "Abdallah, the barber, is certain.
ly madl" But it CHANGED that u certain
lady, returning from the bath, walked
through the Bazaar with her veil toru
she appeared in great distress, ant
upon hearing tho.cry of Abdallah, sent
one OF her slaves to him with ttis mes
sage: '.lf you are an imposter my hus
band shall cause You TO be bastinadocd
if You are really an astrologcr, inform
me where | shall find necklace o
pearls which | have lost this day. =
! Poor Abdallah, bewildercd, kazed upon
the lady, and gaining time to invent ~
answer, said: She can will 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 exclaimed,
placed my pearls for safety in q ren
that is in the veil of the bath; and she
ordered Abdaliah to be presented will
forty gold pieces Now. it should b,
known that in tho Persian baths thelr
are scree..s, the name Of which is tin
same as the native word "veil" S,
Abdallah, by lucky accident o
speech, had not only saved himsel
from the bastinalo, but he gained for
ty pieces of gold.
At length, another lady the wife O
the kings treasure, made her appear
ance and just ut that moaent II mes
senger from the treasurer came up {,
Abdallah, in the bazaar and spoke 1
him. The lady stood close by and lis
tened Abdallah, said the slave, IN,
t master has lost the kings great ruby;
thou hast the wisdom OF the stars tho
a canst find it; if not, th0u art pretcn
= der and | will assurcdly cause thee {
= be bastinadoed. This time the enior
! tunatc barber was ut his wits end. Oh
f woman, lie exclaimed, thou art the au
thor of this. lie meant his own wife
1 but the wife Of the treasurer, who stoo
by, imagined he referred to her. Gnil
1 is always pale, the poet says. She hei
). self had stolen the kings ruby, and be
/ lievcd that the astrologer was aware {
il her crime So when the messenger ha
a departed, leaving the barber perifie
J. with perplexity, she approached hin
Il and said IN soft tone-O astrologer!
!; confjss that in an hour OF avcrice too