The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-05-13
THE THREE CRIMES.
AN EASTERN TALE. /

I Hamet Abdallah was an inhabitant of 6
gretto on one Of the slopes Of Mount Olym
pus When he stood at the enteranee Of his
humble dwelling, he could embrace with one
glance all the territory originally possessed
| BY Osman, the founder Of the Ottoman EN-.
pirs and, as he FIVE timeg day offered uI
| his prayers to Allah, he Invoked blessings
upon the head Of Solypan the, Magnificent
the reigning Sultan ii Whose time he lived g
Indeed, Abdallafr was renowned for his sane
tity and the inhahitaats Of the vicinity q
his dwelling treated him with the most mark
ed respect. adise-A Pm A9ee'
He was not, however, entitled to this ex-
cessive veneration by his age; for he had
scarcely attained his fortieth year when the
incident of this taletook place. His veneer
able father who was himself dervise of
great sanctity, and whose years amount
ed to four.score,, resided with him in
the same grotto; and fortunate vas deemed
the individual who on his Way along the slopes
of Olympus was alowed to join the prayers
ofRthetwo dervises, kneeling upon The ground
1.-THE entrance on the cave, and turning their
'countenances towards the holy cities Of Nee.
ca and Medina. - klas - ss'r ~" $3.50
Namet 1Abdallah was one morning rowing
amidst the groves and woods which extended
up the mountain far above his grotto, and
bordering upon the passage in the Koran
which he had been ,perusing but short time
previously, when big foot suddenly struck
against something hard upon the ground
He looked downward, and saw an iron ring
fastened to a small brass plate, which was let
into square Of stonework, and. seemed 10
covee. z, hollow place or well. = Obeying a
sudden impulse of curiosity, Hamet applied
This, hand to the ring, and pulled it with all
his force. After many vain exertions, the
brass plate yielded to his strength and he
fell back wards with the sudden shock. &
L Before he had time to arise and examine
the aperture thus laid bare, dense volume
sof smoke issued from the hole, and assembled
in the air to the height Of several thousand
feet. Hamet gazsd with astonishment upon,
this strange apparition but how much more
was his wonder excited when he saw the
smoke become moro aud more palpable and
sbapely, and at langth assume the form, Of an
immense Giant. with 4 long flowing white
beard, ard q Tremendous pine srss;r big right
hand. go @.i957s5Fs 'f' e.
Hamet fell upon bis knees, and was about
to put up a prayer to'heaven, when the trem
bling apparition addressed himsin voice Of
thunder. ..-,s..s. szfs.e5fs;ssts5stF
May mention not the name Of the Deity,
or I will cut thee into ten thousand pieces,
sWho art thou?" demanded Hamet, rising
from his suppliant posture -, Il ,,.4.i
Il am Kara, al evil Genie, whom a yiato,
rious power shutupi in that cursed hole, where
l have languished for two thousand years. 1t
is an evil day for thee tnat brought thee
hitler" s59lg la9 sa sasz9
.Andawherefore, pround Genie q deman-
ded Hamet r1 e
Because am about to kill thee, in order
to avenge myself upon some one for this long
captivity y replied the giant. .s'sa'
At these words Hamet trembled very much,
and besought the Genie to spare his life
For a long time the Genie was memorable,
and ordered him to prepare for immediate
death but at length he suffered himself to
be moved by the prayers and entrsaties of the
virtuous dervise. .sgg y s
'.Hark .ye," said the Genie sam wiling
to spare your life upon one condition. = : OK
"Name it," cried Hamet, his heart leaping
with JOY. g8Gs9 &
Il will grant your request, / say, proceeded
the Genie, s.on condition that you perpetrate
SOME crime which may diminish your over
weening pride Of conscious virtue. Do not
interrupt me, or | will kill you on the SPOT;
but listen. | give you your choice of the
three most henious crimes which l can mag
inc. You shall either violate the law of the
Prophet and ,ariak' your Gil of good wine !;
or you shall murder your venerable old faith
err; or you shall curse the name of that
Deity whom you worship. Choose between
these three crimes. 4 .a;ssgs .5st;aisa ~
Then Hamet was very sorrowfnl and he
.sndeavored to melt the heart of the evil Ge-
ME but all his prayers and cntreaties were
unayailling. He. accordingly began to- rea
soE With himself r seil1a ! " rseIfes.9. sssG-
vi, said he, 81 assassinate my father, nc
eontrlt.on can wipe away my crime, and more
over the law will overtake me with its
vengeance. If curse the name of the AL
lah,s | may sigh in vaia fer future happiness
in the gardens of Pasadise'' Bst if I be-
come inebriate with the juice of the grape,
can expatiste that fault by severe mortifca-
ton, penitsnce, and renewed prayer
Then turning his conntenance upwards te
wards the Genie, he said = 80 fountain Of all
evil! | have made my choice since thou art
determined upon this Injury @'.s3 = .si''iF
,"Name the object 81 that CHOICE said
the Genie - .
= will get drunken With wine, as tbs least
OF the crimes which you propose" answered
the dervise s2
"Bet So" cried the Genie; this evening
after the hour of prayer, thou wilt find jar
OF Cyprus VINE upon thy table, when thy
father has retired 10 rest in his oyn CELL
Thou mayest fulfil thy promise then; but woe
unto thee if thou deceivest mel" ge F''v
The Genie gradually becarne less palpabls
s. Is ne spoke these words; and, by the time
the concluding menace issued from his lips
he had vanished altogether, Hamet rctrac
ed his steps towards the grotto, with sor
rowlu heart but he would not cenfde hi;
anticipated disgrace to the afectionate parsn,
WHO welcomed his return
The day passed rapidly away and in the
eEening Hsrn ct and his sire knelt down as
usual at the door Of the grotto, with thei
faces towards the south, to.raise their yolses
in prayer. When their vespers were conclu
Eded, the old man embraced kis son tsnderly
and retired to the inner part of the grotto