The Shasta courier., 1868-09-19
SHASTA COURIER;
THE THREE CRIMES.
An EASTERN TALE.

Hamet Abdalah was an inhabitant of d
grotto on one of the slopes of Mount Olympus
When he stood at the entrance of his humble
dwelling, he could embrace at one glance al
the territory originally possessed by 0smaf;
the founder of the Ottoman Empire and !, US
he five times day offered up his prayer to
Allah, he invoked blessings upon the head Of
Solyman the Magnificent, the reigning Sultan
in whose time he lived. Indeed, Abdallah
was renowned for his sanctity and the in
habitants of the vicinity of his dwelling treat
ed him with the most marked respect.
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 tale took place. His vener.
able father, who was himself dervise of
great sanctity, and whose years amounted to
four-score, resided with him in the same grot-
to ; and fortunate was deemed the individual
who, on his way along the slopes of Olympus,
was allowed to join the prayers of the two
dervises, kneeling upon the ground at the en-
trance of the cave, and turning their counte-
nances toward the holy cities of Mecca and
Medina.
Hamet Abdallah was one morning rowing
among the groves and woods which extend
ed vi the mountain far above his grotto. and
pondering upon the passage in the Koran
which he had been persung but short time
previously, when his foot suddenly struck
against something hard upon the ground
lie looked downward and saw an iron ring
fastened to small brass plate, which was
let into square Of stonework, and seemed
to cover hollow place or WE'LL Obeyng a
sudden impulse of curiosity, IIamet applied
his hand to the ring and pulled it with all his
force After many vain cxertions the brass
plate yielded to his efforts, and he fell back
ward with the sudden shock.
Before he had time to rise and examine the
aperture thus laid bare, dense volume of
smoke issued from the hole. and ascended in
the air to the hight of several thousand feet.
Hamet 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 palpabIe
and shapely, and at lenght assume the form
of an immense giant, with long flowing
white beard, and tremendous Iine tree in
his right hand.
Hamet fell upon his knees, and was about
to put up prayer to heaven. when the ter
rible apparition addressed him in a voice of
thunder:
Nay mention not the name of the Dietv
or | will cut thee into ten thousand pieces !''
Who art thou?" demanded IIamet, ris-
ing from his suppliant posture
g am Kera, and evil Genie, whom a
notorious power shut up in that accursed
hole, where have languished for two thou
sand years. 1t is an evil day for thee that
brought thee hither."
." And wherefore, proud Genie?" demand
ed Hamet
II 7 Oh III
to avenge myself upon some one for this long
captivity"
''At these words Hamet trembled very
much, and besought the Genie to snare his
life. For long time the Genie was inexor
able, and ordered him to prepare for immed
ate death but at length he suffered him
self 20 be moved by the prayers and entreat-
les of the virtuous devise.
Hark ye," said the Genie. am willine
to spare your life upon one condition.
= Name it." said Hamet, his heart leaning
with joy.
Will grant your request, | saw" pro-
ceeded the Genie, '' on condition that Won
perpetrate some crime which NAV diminish
your overweening pride of conscious virtue.
DO not interrupt me. or will kill you upon
the spot; but listen. ! give you your choice
OF three OF the most heinous crimes which
can imagine. You shall either violate the law
OF the Prophet, and drink you fill of good
wine, or yon shall murder your venerable old
father, or you shall curse the name of that
Diety whom you worship. Choose between
these three crimes"
Then Hamet was very sorrowful and he
endeavored to melt lthc heart of the evil
Genie but all his prayers and entreaties
were unavailing. He accordingly went to
reason within himself.
"If," said he, 81 assassinate nv father
no contrition can wipe away my crime. and
moreover the law will overtaken me with its
vengeance. If curse the name of the great
Allah, | may sigh in vain for future happi.
ness in the gardens of Paradise. But if
become inebriate with the juice of the grare.
can expiate that fault by severe mortifca-
ton, penitence, and renewed prayer"
Then turning his countenance upward to-
ward the Genie, he said I" o fountain of all
evil have made my choice, since thou art
determined upon this injury"
Genie. ' 0-0'' '"'0 '"0
= | will get drunk with wine. as the least
OF % the crimes which you PROPOSE" answered
81 Be it So" cried the Genie; "tbis eve
- ''c'ei q Tue hour Oh prayer, thou will find
Jar OF cyprus wine upon thy table. when
my iatner has retired, fulfill thy promise
me -
The Genie gradually became less palpable
as he spoke these words and by the time
the concluding menace issue from his Inns he
had vanished altogether. Hamet retraced
bis steps toward the gr6tto, with sorrowful
heart but he would not confde his anticina-
ted disgrace to the afectionate parent who
welcomed his return
The day passed rapidly away ; and in the
evening Hamet and his sire knelt down as
usual at the door of the grotto, with their
faces toward the South, to raise their voices
in prayer. When their vespers were con.
cluded, the old man embraced his son tender
ly, and retired to the inner part of the grotto.
As soon as Hamet knew tLat his father
Slant he LIGHTED lamD and 4ba Cor,o