The Hickman courier., 1868-06-27

An EAsrERs TALE.

UamCt AbdAilah was an iBkabitaDt OF /
s grotfo on one of the SLOPES of Mount
Olympus W hen lie stood 1T the en-
trance Of his Lunlbie dwelling. be could |
embrace at one glance all the territory
originally possessed by Osman, the foun-
der OF the Ottoman Empire; and, as he
hyes times day offered up his prayers
90 Allah, he invoked blessings upon the
head of Solsmau the Magni6cent, the
rsigning Sultan in whose time he lived
Indeed, Abdallah WAS renowned for his
sauo,ity; and the inhabitants Of the
vicinity of his dwelling treated him with
ihs u4ost marked respect.
lie Wzs not, however, eutitled tQn1fs
excessive veneration by his age for he
had scarcely attained his fortleth year
when the incident Of this tale took place.
Ills venerable father, who Was himself a
derYise of great sanctity and whose years
sn.oa1sed TO four score, resided with
h.sa in the, same grotto, and fortunate
was deemed the individual who, on bis
way along the slopes OF the Olympus,
was allowed to joia in the prayers OF the
tEo Eerrises, kneeling upon the ground
~ the ensra nee Of the cave and Turning
their coante nances toward the holy citIes
Of mcccs aud Medina.
Iianet & bdallah sas one morning row
isg amidst the groves aud woods, which
extended up the mountains lar above his
r.otto, and poudering upon the passage
IN the Koran which be had been perus
ing butae short time previously, when
LIS foot suddenly struck against some
thing hard upon the ground. lie look
ed downward, and saw an non fing fast-
ened 10 small brass plate, which was
let into square of stoneTork, aud seem
si to cover hollow place or veil. OBEY
Jog n sudden impulse OF curiosity, Hsnlet
applied his hand to the ring, aud pulled
), With all his force. After many vain
cssrtions, the brass plate yielded to his
sxertio1z, and be fell with the sudden
shock.
Before he had time to rice and eX~
anime the per.nre thus laid bare, a dense
volume OF smoke issued from the hole,
and asceBdsd IL the air to the height OF
seyeral thousand feet.
hanet gazed with astopishment upon
this strange apparition; but how much
more was his wonder excited when he
saw the smoke gradually become me.e
and more palPabie aad shapelY aud at
length assume the form OF an iInmeuse
giant, With a long flowing white beard,
and an immense pine tree n his right
hand.
Hamet fell upon his knees, aud was
about to put up prayer to heayen, when
the terrible apparition addressed hiIn ia
voice OF thunder:
Nay, mention not the name Of the
4 faa f..r, fl01t.
sand pieces.
~ DO art thou 2" demanded Hamet,
.isiDg from his supplisnt posture,
u an Kara, an evil Genie, whom a
victorious power shat up in that cursed
hole, where have been lsnguishing for
thoGssad years 1t is an evil day for
thee that brought thee hithor.
And wherefore, proud Genie Z" de-
manded Hamet.
Because | am about 10 Kill thee IN
order to svenge myself upon some one
for THE long captivity, replied the giant.
AT these word5 Hamet trembled very
much, and besought the Genie to spare
his life. For iong time the Genie was
iuexorahle, and 0rdered him to prepare
FOR immediate death; but 3. length he
suffered himself TO be moved BY the
cTsyers aui eatreaties ot the Yirtuous
sssgTIss.
Hark Sc" said the Genie, I am
@.,liug.to spare your lie apen oae con-
ct;on"
Name IL said Haniet, lis heart
.sapipg with joy
viii grant your request, | say,
proceeded the Genie, ''on condition that
YOU peFpetrate some crime which may
diminish your overseening pride of con
scious virtue. Do not interrupt me, or
/ will kill you u-1n the spot but listen.
/ give you choice OF three of the most
Eeinous erimes which can inagine.-
You shall either violate the law of the
Prophet, and drink your ELL Of good
wine; or you shall murder your venera-
bic old father; or you shall curse the
name of that Deity whom you worship
Choose between these three crimes"
Then Hamet was very sorrowf2, and
he endeaTored to melt the heart of the
evil Geuie, but all his prayers aud en-
treaties were unayailipg. He accord
iugly began to reason within himself.
II" said be, = assassinate my father
no contrition can wipe out my crime
with its vengeance. Ii | curse the name
Of the great Allah, may sigh in yair
for future happiness in the gardens Para
dise. But it | become inebriate Wxf
the juice Of the grape, can e1piate that
isait by severe modification, penitence
aud renewed PRAYER
Then turning his countenance upward
.osard the Genie, be said, 20, fountain
of all evil have made MY choice
lince thou art determined upon this in
jury
= will get drunk with wine IS tbs
iaast cf the crimes which you propose,
answered the dervise.
" Be jtso.' cried the Genie. " this eve
ming, after the houref prayer, thou vii
6ud jar OF Cypress wine upon tbs
table, when thy father has retired to resi
.iashis owr cell zThoa ma yeet fulfill thy
promise then ). ba; woe unto thee ii thou
dsceiyest me -
The Geuie graduslly became less pal
yahle asne spoke these words, and b.
tue time the concluding menace ISSUED
from his lips. he had vanished altogether
Hsmet retfaced his steps toward tht
grottov vith a sorrowful heart; bnt ht
wguld not .conSdcA his anticipated dis
grace 70 ths afEsctionate parencwho vel
eoped his return.
The day passed rapidly away; and in
the evening. Ha,net and his sire knel
down as usnal at the door of the grotto
with their faces toward the South, I,
raise their voices IN prayer. When racis
vespers we're concluded, the old man em
braeed his son tenderIy, sud retired Il
the inner part of the grotto,
Assoon Us Hanet Knew that his father