Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-04-29
THE CHRISTIAN AND THE ARAB.

Journcylng across the Arabian DESERT a
Christian traveller was taught some things
that he did not know before; or If once knew
had forgotten them. His tent was pitched for
the night. His guides, genuine Bedouins
we're around him. They sat silently musing,
each lost in his own thoughts when suddenly
the sheik exclaimed, "what strange men you
Englishmen are -
"TIow so Why do you think us so
strange"
you never fast, said he.
Not often" replied the traveller laughing
ly "that is when we can get anything to
cat ?"
The Arab laughed to that evening we
suppod sparsely from necessity. "But, said
he, sis it not part of your religion You do
not pray you do not give aims you do
nothing"
This was home thrust, and my conscience
felt it. had looked upon the poor fellows
around me as bigoted in their faith, and had
considered myself so completely in their pow
er that ! deemed it prudent to avoid every
topic that might arouse their passions. In
my solitary tent at midday read the word Of
life but had concealed with jealous care
from my guards the knowledge that carried
about me the christians Koran and when
at morning and night | commended myself,
in prayer to God my Maker, through Christ
our Savior, had drawn close around me the
curtain Of the tent, and whispered low and
fearfully least | should be overheard.
"Nou have no religion, said the shek, 'you
do not pray; you do nothing
"God forgive me" thought, "the rebuke
is not altogether unjust
"Not we, continued my reprover and he
went on boastingly to tell what the prophet
required of them, and how faithfully was their
obedience in matters of devotion, charity and
self-denial; and while he spoke lifted my
heart to God, and sought courage to bear a
feeble testimony to his word When the sheik
paused put my hand in my bosom and drew
forth a New Testament
81 have religion | said, "would you like
to hear what it teaches on these high mat
ters ,"
Certainly; would tell him :"
BY this time the attention of all my guard
was directed to me. Their quick sparkling
eyes were fixed fercely, as | thought, upon
me, their dark visages looked more grim by
the flashing fire around which they were seat
ed and their hands were ready to grasp the
weapon that would speedily bring down VEN
geanee on the head of the infdel dog that
should dare to baspheme the prophet.
Listen said, as l opened the Testa-
ment at the sixth chapter of the Gospel ac-
cording to st. Mathew. - You spake of
almsgiving hear what my Koran says about
aims, and | rendered into Arabic the first
four verses, " Take heed that you do not your
aims before men, to be seen of them.' etc
When | stopped looked up, and the dark
countenances around me were gistening, but
not with anger.
Good" exclaimed the sheik "this is very
good; go on
gathered courage, and read again: "And
when thou prayest,' etc. read, translating
as | read to the fifteenth verse. Again
looked around me.
Bismillah but this is wonderful won
derful - exclaimed one to another, stroking
their boards; wonderful" and every harsh
and forbidding feature was softened down to
quiet calm attention. "More more !"
Bismillah," exclaimed the sheik. but
this is wonderful"
needed no further urging on. Verse by
verse, paragraph by paragraph, | read on to
the close of the chapter interrupted by the
ordinations of wonder and APPRECIATION
Wonderful % said my worthy friend, the
sheik, when at length | closed the book /;
but this is wonderful And what good peo-
Pile you Christians ought to be-"