The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-11-12

l
serpentine form and dimensions The
Grand Seignor, after partaking lightly
of the proffered civilities of his host,
asked him among other inquiries, the
nature of his voca tion. Eskigi Meimet
Effendi replied fully to all hisqnestions,
adding, that his only pleasure after the
labour of the day was over, was at night
to have his house brilliantly illumina-
ted, and to talk, dance, and sing, with
his wife and child, thanking the AL
mighty for all that he had done and
was doing, and more particularly for
having placed at the head of the nation
so wise and great an emperor, for whose
life, continued the cobbler, "My wife
and myself constantly pray, and under
whose reign we hope to die"
After some farther rconversation Eskigi
Meimet Effendi, retired into his harem,
or, more literally speaking, behind the
the counterpane, and left the sofa for
his two guests. At sunrise, after the
sdJah nan,as, or prayer of the morning,
the Grand Seignor and his Vizier, quit
ted the humble abode, where they had
passed the night for the palace. On their
way, Bajazet conversed on the subject
of their visit, and remarked with how
little man might be happy, alluding
to the example of the cobbler, who with
q few paras, hardly sufficient to pur-
chase necessary food, had his illumina
ton his music, and dances, and believed,
himself,the very happiest Of men. 81
WISH" said the Vizier, "that your high
ness would issue orders fobidding all
cobblers' shops to be open, and all cob
bler5 to mend shoes until further notice,
under the penalty of death. BY this
means we can make the experiment,
whether the happiness of EskigiMeimet
depends upon circumstances, or whether
he would retain his good spirits under
reverse of fortune.' The Grand
Seignor was pleased with the sugges-
ton, and the talals or public criers were
immediately sent through all the streets
of the city, to proclaim, that, "By order
of the sublime Porte, all cobblers' shops
must be closed, and no cobbler must
work at his trade, until farther notice."
Eskigi Meimet Effendi, was in the
great baznr of Brusa, collecting old
shoes, when he heard this proclamation.
Quitting his customers, he returned
home hastily to his wife, and told her
, the order of the day, asking, in a tone
of despair what they were to do at night
for their illumination But the good
woman thought it more proper SUBJ
ject of inquiry, what they were to do
for bread and believed that the prospect
of starvation was worse than that of be-
ing without lights during the evening.
+ After Il brief consultation with his
, wife, the poor cobbler concluded the
best thing he could do to obtain little
money, would be to take a basket and
! spade upon his shoulders, and seek EN-
, ployment in removing the dust from
, The houses and court yards of the rich.
In this occasion he succeeded beyond
his hopes, making twice as much money
. as he could by cobbling old shoes and
, he returned home with more oil than
, usual for his illumination, together with
leg of mutton, which had been roasted
in kiadapsi, or cook-shop. After light.
!, ing up his house in quite a brilliant
manner, he took supper with his family,
and then,as usual began to sing Justify.
The Grand Seignor, wishing to see
=, what effect his proclamation would have
upon the cobbler, that evening again as
umed the.disguise of a dervish, ,and with
his Vizier, appeared at the door of
; Eskigi Meimet Effendi, and requested
hospitality. AS soon as he had taken
the same precaution with respect to his
wife, that he had deemed necessary the
night before, the cobbler admitted his
visiters into the house. The usual sa-
lutations passed between them, and the
host set before them his remaining piece
of mutton and bread. On being asked
the news of the day, he mentioned the
proclamation Of the public crier, his
own new employment, his increased
profits, and the splendor of his illumi-
nation. The honest cobbler frankly
owned that he could not exactly under
stand the object OF the proclamation
perhaps it would soon be known-but
he conjectured that his highness, the
: emperor, had issued the order for some
political end. Much more was said re-
specting the events of the day, and at a
late hour, the party separated and re-
tired to rest.
The next morning, the Grand Seignor
and his Vizier returned home, some
, what amused with their visit. They
: Immediately caused to be proclaimed
throughout the city. "That no person
or persons should follow the occupation
: ofa remover OF dust, until further no
, tice, undert the penalty of death. "Eskigi
| Meimet Eflendi, who was at that mo-
4 ment entering the city with his basket
r and spade, as soon as he heard the criers
G proclaiming this new decree, ran home
/, very much alarmed, and with tears in
his eyes, made it known to his wife, eX-
g claiming, what shall we do now for
i our illumination % "Say, rather, what
! shall we do for our bread ?" was the re-
@ ply. At last the poor man bethought
+ himself that he would take Il basket
G and go up Mount Olympus to gather
4 asparagus. The idea was good one,
e and that day he made four times as
= much rs he used to when working at
\ his trade. He now bought thrice the
S usual quantity of oil, together with a
$ number of tallow candles for his illu-
e mination. He also procured a bunch
= of onions, and little fresh butter and
+ rice to make pittau. With these he
i returned home more contented than a
S king with his sceptre.
y He made, that night, the most splen-
Il did illumination ever exhibited in his
e house, aud not having candle.sticks, he
n placed the candles ina row over the fire
{ place, or fixed them in the assures in