The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1868-07-11
THE THREE CRIMES.
An EASTERN TALE.

I1amet Abdallah was an inhabitqnt
Of grotto on one of the slopes of Mt.
Olympus. When he stood at the en-,
trance Of his humble dwelling, he could
embrace with one glance all the terrific
~ originally possessed by Osman, the
founder of the Ottoman empire; and, as
he five times a day offered up his pray
ers to Allah, he invoked blessings upon
the head of Solomon the Magnificent,
the rcigning Sultan in whose time he
lived. Indeed, Abdallah was renowned
fox his sanctity and the inhabitants OF
the vicinity of his dwelling treated him
with the most marked respect
lie was net, however, entitled to this
excessive yeneration by his age for he
had scarcely attained his fortieth year
when the incident Of this tale took
place. His venerable father who was
himself deryish Of great sanctity, aud
whose years amounted to four score re-
sided with him in the same groito and
fortunate was deemed the individual
who, on his way along the slopes Of o.
lympus, was allowed to join the pray crs
Of the two deivisl e knecling upon the
! ground at the entrance Of the cave, and
turning their countcnanccS towards the
| holy cities of Mecca aud Madina.
Hamct Abdallah was one morning
rowing amidst the groves and woods,
which extended up the mountain far a
boye his grotto, and pondering upon the
passage ia the Koran which he had
been pernsing but short time previous,
ly when his foot struck against some.
thing hard upon the ground. He look
ed downward, aud saw an iron ring FAST
encd TO a'small brass plate, which was
let into square Of stonework, and
seemed to cover hollow place or well
Obeying a sudden impulse OF curiosity,
Hamet applied his hand to tie ring and
pulled it with all his force After
many vain exeriions, the brass plate
yielded to his strength, and he fell
backward with TIE sudden shock.
Before he had time to rise and exam
inc the aperture thus laid bare, a dense
volunic of smoke issued from the hole,
and asccndcd in the air to the height Of
several thousand fcet.-Hanet gazed
with astonishment upon this strange
apparition; but how much more was his
wonder excited when he saw the smoke
gradually become more and more pal
pablc and shapely, and at length assume
the form Of an immense giant, with a
long flowing white beard, and a tremon.
dous pine tree in his right hand.
Hamet fell! upon his knees, and was
about to put up prayer to heaven when
the terrible apparition addressed him in
a voice of thuudor:
"Nay-mention not tie name Of the
Deity, or l will cut thee into ten thous-
and pieces"
"Who art thou ?" demanded Homet.
rising from his suppliant posture.
IL am Kara, an evil Gonii, whom a
victorious power shut up in that cursed
hole, where l have languished tor two
thousand years. 1t is an evil day for
thee that brought thee hither."
"AnG wherefore, proud Gcuii ?" de-
mauded Hamct.
"Because l am about to kill thee, in
order to avengo myself on some one for
this long captivity" replied the giant.
At these words lIam trembled
very much, and bcsou.ht the Genii to
spare his life. For long time the Ge.
Mi was inexoIaJle, and ordered him to
prepare Cor immediate death but at
length he Suffered himself 20 be moved
by the prayers and entreties Of the vir-
tuous dervish.
clark yo," said the Genii 81 am
willing 20 spare your life upon one con
dition."
"Name it." cried Hamet, his heart
leaping with JOY.
n will grant your request, | say,
proceeded the Gcnii, "on condition that
you perpctrate some crime which may
diminish your overweening pride of con
scious virtue, Do not Interrupt me oil
| will Aill thee on the spot; but listen
7 give you your choice Of the three most
heuious crimes which | can imagine
You shall either violate the law Of The
Prophet, and drink your Gil of COOS
wine or you shall murder your yoner
able father; or you shall curse the NAME
Of the Deity whom you worship. Choosc
between these three crimes
Then Hamet was very sorrowiul, anC
he cndeavored to melt the heart Of th,
evil geuii bat all his prayers aud en-
treaties were unavailing. lie according
ly began to reason within himself.
"lE" said he, " assassinate m.
r father, no contrition can wipe away N.
crime an moreover, the law will over
take ne with its Vengeance. If ours
, the name Of the great Allah, | ma
! sign ia vain for tu,Vc happiness in tn