Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-05-26
familg Circle.
The Cunning Fisherman.

This fisherman had long followed his
occupation and supported a large family
nv the sale of what he caught he was
clever and we'll versed in cunning, which
is so common in the East, and to which
necessity frequently obliged him to have
recourse. He had the good fortune to
catch a khreet, of a size rarely met with
in that species and thinking it a pity
that so fine a fish should be cut into
small portions for the market, to suit the
convenience of ordinary customers, he
resolved on presenting it to his sovereign,
and repaired with this proud specimen Of
his sport, to the royal palace. No soon
er had he entered the door beneath the
sitting room of the sultan, than he was
summoned to appear before him, and to
explain the object Of his visit.
Fortune said the fisherman, "has
given me this fine khreet, which appeared
to me of such uncommon size and beauty
that | scrupled to send it to market, and
knowing that no ones table was so we'll
suited to receive it as your majesty's, |
have bro't it here to lay at your feet, and
to beg you to accept it. !"
"Makbool-the gift is welcome" said
the sultan. Here care a hundred gold
mahboobs take them and prosper
The grateful and delighted fisherman
kissed the ground before him, and retired;
but scarcely had he left the room, when
the ~sultana upbraided her husband for his
~extravagant generosity,
"How," said she, could you think of
giving the man a hundred ~mahboobs !
Would not one be much more than it is
worth? Had you given him five, the
present would have been anoble one, and
he would have had cause to bless you,
and to pray that your life may be long ;
but to throw away 100 ~mahboobs in such
a manner, is absurd. | have no patience
with you men have no discretion. Do
call him back, and take them from him. |
desire that you do"
How" said the Sultan, "can | take
away a gift? it would be unworthy a
monarch"
"Not at all :.has not he who gives, a
right to reclaim his gift?
"A right yes but how mean would it
be. Would it not be said that Sultan
Mustapha was capricious, and did not
know his own mind 2"
well then" said the Sultana, make
some excuse but take away the money
you must"
"Yet what excuse can I make what
can l say /"
Say oh, ask him if the fish is a male
or female and if he tells you it is a fe
male, say you wanted a male"
The fisherman was sent for and brought
back.
"Tell me-" said the Sultan, is that
fish male Or female ?"
Il beg your majesty's pardon, it would
be a disgrace to my beard if | spoke an
untruth this kind of fish is both male
and female"
The Sultan could say no more the
fisherman saved his 100 mahboobs, and
the plan Of the angry Sultana were de-
feated. But, seeing that the fisherman
was aware of the snare that had been
laid for him, and admiring the Ing en-
ious manner in which he had extrica-
ted himself, the Sultan doubled the pres
emf, and once more dismissed him with
good wishes for his prosperity. The
indignation of the Sultana was excessive;
all complaint, however, was vain, and she
was silent. The fisherman walked slow
ly across the court, carrying the sack
which contained the money on his shout
der {; but hearing one of the gold coins
fall upon the hard ground, he stopped to
look for it and after searching some
time, found it, and proceeded on bis way.
Look" said the Sultana, observe
the avarice of that wretch one mahboob
fell from his bag, and not conten!ed with
the hundred and ninety nine that remain
ed, he had the meanness to stop to pick it
up, and even to toll in searching for it
Could be not have left it for some of our
servants; who might chance to pass that
way, and find it? What a vile monster |
Do call him back, and take it all away
from him. | would have him bastinaded,
he really deserves any punishment ; the
stick would be too %lenient for such a sor.
did creature. BY your head T."
Well, you shall be satisfied I~really
do think his meannes deserves a severe
punishment, and the money shall be taken
from him."
The fisherman was sent for, and bro't
again into the royal presence"
Why said the sultan, could you
not leave that one mahboob which fell to
the ground, and rest contented with the
hundred and ninety-nine that remained !?
Could you not spare it for some one who,
accidentally passing that way, might
have found it, and blessed me for his good
luck ? Are you so covetous ? and that,
too, after all my liberality to you ?"
1T was originally my intention" said
the fisherman, . to have done as you sug
gest. [ was actually pursuing my way,
resolved to leave the coin where it fell,
when it occurred to me that your males
TVS sacred head and revered name was
inscribed upon it and | thought if any
one happened inadvertently to put his
foot upon it, and trample upon that bles-
sed head and name, the fault would have
been mine and | should never have for
given myself for my neglect in leaving it
on the ground"
With this reply, the sultan was deligh
ted; and inwardly commencing his quick
ness, he presented him with another two
hundred m~ahboobs. Then, convinced of
his folly in permitting the impudent in
If nT