Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-04-30
THE THREE GRIMES.
AN EASTERN TALE.


of a grotto on one Of the slopes of
Mount Olympus. When he stood at
the entrance of his humble dwelling,
he could embrace with one glance all
the territory originally possessed by
Osman, the founder. of the Ottoman
empire; and, as he five times a day
offered up his prayers to Allah, he
invoked blessings upon the head of
Solyman the Magnificent, the reign
ing Sultan in whose time he lived
Indeed, Abdallah 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 venerable
father, who was himself dervise of
great sanctity, and whose years
amounted to four score, resided with
him in the same grotto; and iortu
nate was deemed the individual who,
on his way along the slopes of Olym-
pus, was allowed to join the prayers
of the two dervises, kneeling upon
the ground at the entrance of the
cave, and turning their countenances
towards the holy cities of Mecca and
Medina.
Hamet Abdallah was one morning
rowing amidst the groves and woods,
which extended up the mountain far
above his grotto, and pondering
upon the passage in the Koran which
he had been perusing but short
time previously, when his foot sud
denly struck something hard upon
the ground. He looked downward,
and saw an iron ring fastened to
small brass plate, which was let into
a square of stonework, and seemed
to cover hollow place or we'll
Obeying a sudden impulse Of curios-
ity. Hamet applied his hand 20 the
ring, and pulled it with all his force.
After many vain exertions, the brass
plate yielded to his strength, and he
fell backwards with the sudden
shock.
Before he had time 20 rise and ex-
anime the aperture thus laid bare, a
dense volume of smoke issued from
the hole, and ascended in the air to
the height of several thousand feet.
Hamet gazed with astonlshment upon
this strange apparitien; but how
much more was his wonder excited
when he saw the smoke gradually be-
come more and more palpable and
'shapely, and at length assume the
form of an immense giant, with a
long flowing white beard, and tre-
mendous 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 thunder.
"Nay-mention not the name of
the Deity, or will cut thee into ten
thousand pieces"
"Who art thou?' demanded Hamet,
rising from his suppliant posture.
81 am Kara, an evil Genie, whom
victorious power shut up in that
cursed hole, where have languished
for two thousand years. 1t is an evil
day for thee that brought thee hith-
er."
"And wherefore, proud Genie?"
demanded Hamet
because / am about to kill thee,
in order to avenge myself upon some
one for this long captivity" replied
the giant.
At these words, Hamet trembled
very much, and besought the Genie
to spare his life. Fer long time
the Genie was inexorable, and ord
cred him to prepare for immediate
death; but at length he suffered him
self to be moved by the prayers and
entreaties of the virtuous dervise.
"Hark ye," said the Genie; 81 am
willing to spare your life upon one
condition.
Nalhe IL, crled Hamet, MS neart
leaping with joy.
81 will grant your request, l say"
proceeded the Genie, "on condition
that you perpetrate some crime which
may diminish your overweening pride
OF conscious virtue. Do not inter-
rupt me or I will kill you upon the
spot; but listen. / give you your
choice of the three most heinous
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 ven-
cradle old father; or you shall curse
the name of that Deity whom you