Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-05-24
THE THREE CRIMES.
AN EASTERN TALE.

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 day offered
up his prayers to Allah, he invoked bles-
sings upon the head of Solymun the Mag
nifcent, the reigning Sultan in whose time
he lived. Indeed, Abdallah was renowned
for his sanctity; and the inhabitants of the
vicinity treated him with the most marked
respect.
He was not, however, entitled to this ex-
cessive veneration by his age for he had
scarcely attained his tortieth year when the
incident of this tale took place. His ven
cradle father, who was himself derviSe of
great sanctity, and whose years amounted
to four-score, resided with him in the same
grotto; and fortunate was deemed the in
dividual who, on his way along the slopes
of Olympus, was allowed to join the pray
ers OF the two dervises, kneeling upon the
ground at the entrance of the cave, and
turning their countenances toward the holy
cities of MeccL and Medina.
Hanet Abdallah was one morning row.
ing among the groves and woods which
extended up the mountains far above his
grotto, and pondering upon the passage in
theAKoran which he had been pursuing but
a short time previously, when his foot sud-
denly struck against something hard upon
the ground. He looked downward, and
saw an iron ring fastened to a small brass
plate which was let into a square of stone
work, and seemed to cover hollow place
or well. Obeying sudden impulse fcu-
riosity, Hamet applied his hand to the
ring, and pulled it with all his force. After
many vain eXertiOns, the brass plate yield
ed to his efforts and he fell backwards with
the sudden shock.
Before he had time to arise and exam
ino no bIlS Iai
volume of smoke issued from the home,
and ascended i'll the air to the height OF
several thousand feet.
Hamet gazed with astonishment 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, and at length
assume the form of an immense giant, with
long, flowing, white beard, and a tremen-
dous pine 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 Il
voice of thunder:
'Nay; mention not the name of the
Deity, or l will cut thee into ten thousand
pieces ~
"Who art thou?" demanded Hamet,
rising from his suppliant posture.
81 am Kera, an evil Genie, whom
victorious power shut ZIP III that accursed
hole, where L have langItished for two
thousand years. 1t is an evil day for thee
that brought thee hither."
'sAnd wherefore, proud Genie 90 de-
manded Hamet.
because l am about to kill thee, in or
der to ayenge myself upon some one for
this long captivity
AT these words HaInet trembled very
much, and besOught the Genie to spare his
life. For long time tile Genie was mex
orable, and ordered him to prepare for i'm
mediate death; but at length lie suffered
himself to be moved by the prayers and
entreaties of the virtuous dervIse.
clark ye," said the Genie, 81 am willing
to spare your life upon one condition.
''Nalne it," said Hamet, his heart leap
ing with joy.
81 will grant your request, l say" pro-
ceeded the Genie, E'On condition that You
perpetrate some crime which may diminish
your overwhelming pride Of conscious
virtue. Do not interrupt Inc, or | will kill
you upon the spot, but listen. l give you
your choice of three Of the most Leinous
crimeswhich can imagine. You shall either
violate The law Of the Prophet and drink
your fill of good wine, OF 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 sorrowfiIl, and he
endeavored to melt the heart Of tie evil
Genie but all his prayers and cntreaties
were unavailing. He accordingly went TO
reason within himself.
eff" said he, 81 ASSASSIN ate my father
no contritiOn can wipe away my crime;
and moreover, tie law will overake;me
with vengeance. If | curse the name Of
the great Allah, 1 may sigh i'll vain for
future happiness i'll the gardens OF Paradise.
But if l become inebliate with the juice Of
the grapes, can eXpiate that fault by
severe modification, penitence, and renew
ed prayer"
Then turning his cOun.enance upward
toward the Genie, he said: go, fountain Of
all evil, have made my choice, since thou
art determined upon this injury"
Name the object of that CHOICE" said
the Genie.
81 will get drunk with wine, as the
least of the crimes which You propose"
answered the dervise.
" Be it so," cried the Genie this
evening, after the hour Of prayer, thou
wilt find a jar of Cyprus wine upon thy
table; when thy father has retired, fulfill
thy promise then. But woe unto thee
if thou deceiveth me-"
The Genie gradually became less palpa-
time the concluding menace issued from
his lips he had vanished altogether. Hanet
retraced his steps toward tie grotro with a
sOrrowful heart; but lie would not contide
his anticipated disgl ace TO the atiectiOnate
parent who welcomed his Ieturn.
The day passed away rapidly, and in the
evening Hamet and his sire knelt down as
usual at the door OF the Srotto, with their
voices in prayer. When their vesperS were
concluded the old man embraced his son
tenderly, and retired to the inner part of
the grotto.
AS soon as Hamct knew that his father
slept, he lighted lamp; and as the Genie
had told him, he saw large vessel of wine
standing upon the Ia lie. The unhappy
dervise raised it to his lips ar,d drank deep
ly of the Intoxicating dIausl,t. A glow Of
fire seemed to electrify his frame, aud he
laughed as he sat the vessel down upm
the table. Again he drank, and lie felt
reckless and careless Of the consequences 5
He drank the third time: and when he had
emptled the measure he ran out TO the ClOoI
of the grotto and threw ii down the slope Ct
the mountain. Then, as he heard it bound
ing along, he laughed with iud"ocriba,le
mirth. AS he turned to- enter the 2.totto,
he saw his father standing behind hnu.
"Lyn," said the OLD man, the noise of
revelry awoke me from my slumhcIs, and
L rise to find my beloved IIamet drunken
with wine. Alas is this merely one of
many night orgies and have ] now
awakened to the drraGfuh truih Of 'hin-
impiety for the first time? Alas, thou
hast cast ashes upon the gray head cf thy
father"
uamet could not b.""t - t.Sstinm,
and the implied sue!' ac-
customed to in''..-' -. ..r . ~
father slept. III =; =