Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-08-27

| fastened from the spot. But haste was
OF no avail against these two young men,
They laid hold of me and brought me
here as you see me-"
Then said Omar:
Behold you have confessed the crime
you have committed, and your acquittal
is impossible, and retaliation is impera-
tive, and there is now no refuge"
Then said the young man:
81 obey that which has been decreed by
the IMAM and am satisfied with what the
law of ell Islam ordains. But | have a
little brother, whose aged father, before
| his decease, left exclusively to him a great
deal of wealth and much gold. And on
his death-bed the old man brought him
into my presence, and committed his
affairs to me, and said: This is in your
| keeping for your brother; take it, and
guard it zealously,' And upon that made
choice of a spot for burying it, and plac-
ed it there And no one knows of it ex-
cept myself and, if you order my i'm
and you will have been the cause, and the
child will demand his reckoning from
you on the day when God shall Judge be-
tween his creatures But, if YOU will
| grant me delay of three days, shall
have nominated some one to take charge
OF the boys affairs, and will return
Obedient to the rein. And [ know one
who will guarantee these my words"
| Then Omar lowered his eyes, and was
silent. Presently he looked at those who
were near, and asked
"Who will stand surety for him, and
for his return to this placer
Then the young man studied the counte-
nances of the spectators of the Council,
and pointed toward Abu-Zarr, Zone of the
chief Of the Associates of the Prophet
among those who were present, and said:
''This one will answer for me, and will
| become my surety
| Said Omar:
90 Abu-Z arr! wilt thou become surety
for these words?"
He replied:
eyes, | will be answerable for him for
three days."
And the two young men, the accusers,
were satisfied with the suretyship of
Abu-Zarr, and granted the delay deter
Ained upon.
But when the time had expired, and the
hour was at hand, if not already past they
again presented themselves at the Council
OF Omar, who was seated, with the Asso-
ciates around him, like stars around the
moon. Abu-Zarr was also present, ard
the accused alone was absent.
Then said the two young men,
''Where is the culprit, 0 Abu-Zarr
How shall he who has fled return? Thou
shalt not quit this place without redeem
ing thy pledge"
Then said Abu-Zarr:
"By the truth of the Omniscient King!
when the whole of the three days shall
have elapsed, if the young man does not
appear, 1 will redeem my pledge and re-
sign myself, so help me Godw
Then said Omar:
"By Allah! if the young man delays, |
will surely execute upon Abu-Zarr what
| the law of el-Islam ordains"
At these words tears fell from the eyes
of the spectators, and signs for Abu-Zarr
broke from all who were present; and
great was the sorrow, and deep the re-
greet.
Then some of the chief of the Associates
suggested to the two young men to take
the price of blood, and so obtain the
praise bestowed upon those who are mer-
ciful. But they would none of it, and re-
fused everything excepting vengeance for
him who had been slain
And while the people were swaying to
and fro with grief at what was passing,
and commissioning Abu-Zarr, lo the
young man approached, and stood before
the Imam, whom he saluted with per-
feet salutation. And his countenance was
radiant as the rising sun, and shone with
sweat. And he cried
Behold! | made over the boy to the
care of his mothers brethren, and &C.
quainted them with the secret of his con-
dition, and discovered to them the place
of his property. Then [ fastened here, in
| hoe Of no to fl11f no oh tior
of true born man.
And the people marveled at his honesty
and fidelity, and at his intrepidity in
meeting death. But he said: ''He who
acted peridiously was not pardoned by
the man who had him in his power. But
upon the one who was faithful the avenger
had pity, and pardoned him. And I was
also certain that, when death presented
itself, there was no guarding against it by
flight. And lov it not be said, Fidelity
has gone from among men,
Then said Abu-Zarr: "By Allah! O
Amirel- Mumanin! of truth [ stood sure
ty for this young man, though [ neither
knew to what people he belonged, nor had
seen him before that day. But he looked
toward me only, among those who were
present, and turned toward me, and said,
This one will be surety for me- And it
did not seem right TO refuse him; and HUI
mainly forbade that his hopes should be
frustrated when there was no harm in
conserving to his wish, lest it should be
said, Goodness has gone from among
men,"
Thereupon said the two young men:
90 Amir ell Mumanin! verify we give our
fathers blood to this young man, that his
trouble be changed into gladness-lest it
should be said, Benevolence has gone
from among men,"
Then the Imam rejoiced that the young
man had received pardon, and at his
truth and fidelity. And he declared the
humanity of Abu-Zarr to be greater than
that of any of the Associates seated with
him. And he approved the benevolent
intention of the two young men, and
praised them in the warmest terms And
he quoted this couplet:
| e He who doth good shall not want for his re-
| wards;
That which he hath done will be forgotten by
| neither God nor men,
Then he proposed to them that he
should pay the price of their fathers
blood out Of the treasury. But they said !:
Surely we have pardoned, desiring to