The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-03-09
[For the Press.]
Coaia Hassan.

COR1a khasShAs
Cooia Hassan! What Utilization of the
nerves is awakened, what thoughts of fabu-
lous wealth, what dreams, what visisns, geni)
and sorceries dance through the brain at the
mention of the name OF this hero of the Ara
ban Nights!
The name uttered amid the common-p place
things OF this work-a-day world seem foreign
to our minds, and we hesitate, reused and ex-
pectant, looking for some immediate wonders.
The beauties of Aladdin's palace, the miracles
OF Aladdin's lamp, the unutterable and hid
den marvels of Samandeps kingdom meath
tue sea take possession of our minds. jew
els, tapestries, incense and perfumes, beauties
gorgeously decked and care-free mortals who
purchase all they desire by the uttered wish,
these things grace and people the world into
which we float away. From the cares ana
petty economies which are forced upon many
IN their home life, the wonders 0. the ARABIAN
tiles, as fairy-lke music WOO away. SO to
Hassan. the hard working, hard-faring rope
maker. came one day the rich Saadi, determ-
ined to make the poor mans fortune by Civ
ing him the keystone thereto. Two hundred
pieces of gold seemed to assure to Hassan fu-
tare wealth; but who has not read of his
mlshaps in the market place, Of the kite sud-.
denly swooping down on his head, and bear
ing away the precious turban, in which was
tied nearly all his new wealth? Then poor
Hassan awoke from his brilliant dream, and
returned to half fed economy. Soon the rich
Saadi heard Hassan's story, and though not
half believing it, set him dreaming again by
renewal of the gift. This time Hassan hid
his treasure in a pot Of bran, and Hassan's
wife knowing nothing of the matter, gave
the pot of bran in exchange for pot of sand,
and poor Hassan's dreams were again rough
ly dspelled, and, tow in hand, hard at work,
be was again found by Saadi who learned of
the second defeat of his plan and the second
overthrow of his theory-that industry, hon.
esty and a little money to give the start en-
sure any man competency.
Saadi determined still to hold to his theo-
~ but to give up the luckless man; then
Saad, who was less fortunate in worldly goods
than his rich neighbor Saani, in accordance
with his faith that fortune is blind goddess
aud Ecatters her favors without plan or re-
gard to worth, look Hassan in hand to prove
that theory.
Rassan did not build any fine air
castles with Saad's gift for foundation, nei-
ther was he troubled in order to find where
to secrete it. The gift was bit of lead
which he slipped into his pocket with no
thought of escaping the poverty that golden
gifts had failed to remove. That night while
he slept the sleep of the just and the weary,
we all know of the weary fisherman who,
coming to borrow bit of lead, bore away
SAad's gift and broke the last link that SEEM
ed to lift Hassan toward possibly brighten
Ing future. The fisherman in polite acknowl-
ed9emert of the favor received gave Hassan
the first draft Of his net, which proved to be
large fish, in which was precious diamond
whose wondrous value at once determined
the fortune of its possessor. Now Hassan
lived In new world, and no longer Hassan
the rope-maker, he took his place among men
as Cogia Hassan or merchant Hassan. His
fame went abroad. and Saadi fully believing
be had hidden the gifts he had declared lost,
determined to visit him, not only to see his
wealth, but to learn the cause of his sup
posed INSCRIPTIONS lies. Saad believed in 4
the Cogia's honesty, and in the leaden gift,
50 he said nothing but accompanied his friend
on his errand of scrutiny and upbraiding,
and heard again the story of the misfortune
WATCH had made Saadi's gift a debt but no
benefit to Cogia Hassan. Saadi remained as
unbelieving with regard to the great oak that
had grown from the leaden acorn, as he was
of the emptiness of the two golden eggs he
had furnished.
Fortune favors the brave, SO in the course
of walk that Hassan took with his guests,
they came upon a nest which an obliging kite
had had the goodness to build in one of Co
gia's own trees, and which his industrious
sons tore to pieces before the eyes of the COM
pany, thus displaying to the abashed view of
the unbelieving Saadi the very turban and
the very pieces of gold he had given to the
Cogia. But unbelief still overmastered Saadi
and was not to be removed until the other
sums of money were accounted for. But o,
the bliss of that age when wonders met the
needy at every turn, when birds, beasts, fishes
and even merchandise were the servants of
miraculous agencies. o the bliss of that age,
that cline and that genus of man, the Cogia
Hassan. These causes brought about the es-
Enlistment of the truth of Hassan's state
ment, regarding the lost pot of bran; for be-
hold, after hard driving the horses were found
hungry, and owing to the great carelessness
of the servants, oats, meal and other fodder
were lacking, and the rich Cogia was reduced
to the necessity of buying hasty supper for
his horses. The purchased bran was turned
out of the jar and 10, therein was the lost
gold which had vexed the soul of Saadi. |
Then and there were established peace and
amity between the souls of the three friends
whose ways in life became united, and who
and prosperity.
And this is the story of Cogia Hassan, the
man to whom gifts of gold brought only obi
cations burden, but to whom bit of lead be-
c1me the open sesame to fortunes door.
All but the Arabians do dream enticing-
ly, and well they may enjoy the pleasant fam
cies that come forth from the brains of their
story-tellers and are caught in their smoke as
they repose in the moonlight after the days
heat. Are wonders of beauty no more to be
seen in this agea In the past blissful time
In the far distant cline, poor mortals took
their journies to Bagdad, and there found,
wonderful men who for few pieces of gold
sold them-what did they not sell them?
Sometimes 1t was bit of tapestry, seated on
which the purchaser would wish himself
leagues way, and lol his transit kept time
with his thought. Then again, little sum
would buy an apple, the which to smell
brought back the futtering life. Sometimes
the purchased wonderful glass would reveal
the face and occupation of the loved absent
one, and sometimes-bat time fails--in those
days people got used to wonders and e1pect-