Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-07-15

LEGER, and from the French by PROFESSOR Ii
GENDRE.
The father of Qmer upbraded him every
day for his idlencss and his love to run the
streets of Saraievo playing on the tam
/ bourica (t).
"You are young, my SON" said he to
him I'VE are old, we cannot work. Who
will feed us, if you do not?"
Omer paid no attention to his fathers
counsels, and refused to work He was
known at Saraieyo as the chief of all the
idlers. To 20 from house to house. from
window to Wirdow-such was his occupa-
ton. EVERYBODY saw that Omer was not
yet ripe for marriage, and marriage was
forbidden to him, both on account of his
youth and his empty purse. Everybody
was convinced that the devil was in him.
The shame of his conduct reflected upon
his poor parents. The sorrow which they
experienced abridged their lives; they
died
Omer remained the chief of a cracked
and empty house with three orphans. For
long time he had been desirous to live in
! freedom. without having to incur his
fathers rcproaches, and to be able to salts
fy all his caprices; but he soon felt how
hard it was to live without parents, and
how heavy was the house upon his
shoulders.
Who will spin now, who will weave,
who will sweep the house? This is serious
business"
Having thus reflected, Omer said to him
self:
"By my tambouriea. nothing remains but
to marry
And he hung his tambourica, on his
shoulder and proceeded under the windows
of the beautiful Meira. He arrived there
at the hour when the Turks pray \ light
was burning, and voices Were heard in the
chamber. Omer knocked at the window
silence ensued. He sang; the light was
put out No one paid attention to him.
For three evenings in succession he came
under the window, and each time returned
home sad and desolate Meira had not
even showed herself He went back q
fourth time:
Here | will sing again tonight, ant
will come back no more under her win
dows.'
He tuned his tambourica, and with sac
voice sang:
'Tambourica, my past-time,
Bow, my sweet joy;
Long enough hast thou fed my hunger
And quenched my thirst,
Bow, my sweet joy,
| Alas I've lost whole year
singing under Meiras window.
| Miera will not even look at me-"
AT these words, the light was extin-
guished. the window suddenly opened.
| Omer was mad with joy, but Meira said to
| him:
II think you have become crazy. Omer.
| am astonished ut your whims. What do
you seek under my windows? All that is
quite useless, let me tell YOU"
Omer's joy vanished away, and behold
him now more desOlate than ever
Mera, seeing his great agitation, re-
sumed
My friend, you wish, perhaps, to mar
ry me. Is it so, Omer9
Yes" he replied.
Take care" she continued "that can
not be. You have not morsel of bread
athome, and you dream of marriage
know what you are going to say. Birds of
Il feather flock together My parents are
poor, it is true but there is no prettier
girl than in Saraievo; | can get q rich
husband But listen. Omer. Neither
gold nor silver can make one happy they
do not satisfy the hearts cravings. As for
me, | would prefer you to all Saraievo; !;
but love and respect my parents. |
| VIII bHlN IldIIN ONE WHO Is NillluS u
make them happy and capable to main
tain them till death. y
Omer hearing that reflected little
"Ah if | only knew how much was re-
quired"
open store" said Meira ''become a
trader | shall be satisfied if You can
only procure food and raimcnt tor my pa
rents and your orphans"
-. Il nj
prchend all, and if anything can result
from all that tomorrow we shall see each
other again"
Full of iov and sadness ut the same
time, Omer left Meira.
'Ah' said he to himself, If could bor-
row money somewhere, who would be
happier than |. Ii cannot who will be
more unhappy
Thatidea pursued him the whole night
in his dreams. When he awoke he no
longer knew what he was about, so jovial
was he He had recoliected that his
greatest friend was Il very rich jew.
''If that one don't lend me money no.
body will"
Thus thinking he went to Isaac Git was
the name OF the .IeW).
lie found him at home, and made him an
expose of that which he had at heart.
The jew expressed his willingness to
comply with the wishes Of his dear friend
Omer and to lend him thirty purses.
at will be my greatest JOY said he ''to
see you married to the beautiful Meira."
Then he asked him how long it would
take him to pay the money back,
"Seven years replied Omer.
"And if YOU can't pay me at the end Of
seven wears, what shall we DO then ?''
After reflection they caused the follow
ing agreement to be registered in pres
eneo of the Cadi lJudge): tt..4 ~.
! "lf Omer, IN seven years, has not re-
turned Isaac the thirty purses borrowed,
let Isaac in presence of the tribunal, cut
off II drachm of Omer's tongue"
Who was happier than young Omer
All that day he could think of nothing but
his wedding. What a grand repast he
would give! What beautiful dresses he
would present to his beautiful Meira. In
a word, he never inquired whether he
could return his friends money; he. only
- 1F raUt ~st Hiitt' a. z
, This story is curious, because IL shows that the
account of Shakspeare's" Shyock is very ancient
| i,,st. ts.+,.