The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1868-08-06
THE THREE CRIMES.
An Eastern Tale.

! Hamet Abdallah was an inhabitant OF
a 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 all the territory originally
possessed by Osman, the founder of the
Ottoman Empire; and, as he five times q
day offered up his prayers to Allah, he in
voked blessings upon the head of Soly-
man the Magnificent, the reigning Sui
tan in whose time he lived Indeed, Alb
dallah was renowned for his sanctity
and the inhabitants Of the vicinity of his
dwelling treated him with the most
marked respect.
He was not, however, entitled to this
excessive veneration by his age, for he
had scarcely attained his fortieth year
when the Incident of this tale took place
His venerab bic father, who was himself a
dervise'of great sanctity, and whose years
amounted to four score, resided with him
IN the same grotto; and fortunate was
deemed the individual who on his way
along the slopes of Olympus, was allowed
to join i'll the prayers of the two dervises,
kneeling upon the ground at the entrance
of the cave, and turning their coun-
tensnces toward the holy cities of Mecca
and Medina.
Hamet Abdallah was one morning row
ing amidst the groves and woods, which
extended up the mountain far above his
grotto, and bordering upon the passage
ii the Koran which he had been perusing
bis a short time previously, when his foot
suddenly struck against something hard
upon the ground. He 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 well. Obeying sudden impulse
of curiosity, Hamet applied his hand to
the ring and pulled it with all his force.
After many vain exertions the brass plate
yielded to his efforts, and he fell back
ward with the sudden shock.
Before he had time to rise and exam
inc the aperture thus laid bare, dense
volume of smoke issued from the hole, and
assembled in the air to the height of sever
al Thousand feet.
Hamet gazed with establishment upon
this strange apparition; but how much
more was his wonder excited when he
saw the smoke gradually become more and
more palpable and shapely, aud at length
assume the form of an immense giant,
with a long flowing white beard, and a
tremendous pine tree in his right hand.
Hamet fell upon his knees, and was
about to put up a prayer to heaven, when
the terrible apparition addressed him in
voice of thunder:
"Nay; mention not the name of the
Deity, or / will cut thee into ten thousand
pieces p
"Who art thou?" demanded Hamet,
rising from his suppliant posture.
a am Kara, an evil Genie, whom vic
torious power shut up in that accursed
hole, where l have languished for two
thousand years. 1t is an evil day for thee
that brought thee hither."
And wherefore, proud Genie? demand
ed Hamet
Because | am about to kill thee, in or
der to avenge myself upon some one for
this long captivity"
At these words Hamet trsmbled very
much, and besought the Genie to spare
his life For long time the Genie was
inexdfs ble and ordered him to prepare
for immediate death; but at length he
suffered himself to be moved by the
prayers and entreaties of the vIrtuous
| dervise.
clark ye," said the Genie, 81 am will
| ing to spare your life upon one condition.
"Name it, said Hamet, his heart leap
ing with joy.
| 81 will grant your request, | say pro
ceeded the Genie, "on condition that you
perpetrate some crime which may dimin-
ish your overweening pride of conscious
virtue. Do not interrupt me, or will
kill you on the spot but listen 1 give
you your choice of three of the most
| neinous crimes which / can imagine.
You shall either violate the law of the
Prophet and drink your fill of good wine
or you shall murder your venerable old
father; or you shall curse the name Of
that Deity whom you worship. Choose
between these three crimes"
Then Hamet was very sorrowful, and he
lendeavored to melt the heart of the evil
Genie; but all his prayers were unavail
ling He accordingly went to reason with
in himself
"If," said he, II assassinate my father
no contrition can wipe away my crime, anc
moreover the law will overtake me will
his vengeance If 1 curse the name Of
the great Allah, l may sigh in vair
for future happiness in the gardens o
Paradise. Buff Ibecome inebriated will
the juice of the grape, can expatiat,
that fault by severe modification, penitenc
and renewed prayer.
Then, turning his countenance upward
toward the Genie, he said: o fountain o
lall evil | have made my choice sine,
thou art determined upon this injury"
"Name the object of that choice" sale
the Genie
81 will get drunk with wine,as the leas
of the crimes which you propose,
answered the derVise
''Be it so" cried the Genie; "this even
ing, after the hour of prayer, thou vii
find jar of Cyprus wine upon the table
when thy father has retired to rest IN hi
own cell Thou mayest fulfill thy promis
! then; but woe unto thee if thou deceivet
e met
The Genie gradually become less pa
pable as he spoke these words; and, D
lite time the CONCLUDING menace issue