Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-03-20

AoOas, anu even L, your CWO-caTa
brilliant, was made a present to tn
holy Abbas by lovely young Arme
MAN lady, who was married to a ric
Old pasha, and on whom the sain
practised his devotional interccssio
for an heir-an intercesslon blesse
with the desired result. Abbas was q
that time Il man about fifty years Q
age, powerfully built, in vigorou
health, satisfied with his thirty years
adventures, and determined to enio
all the pleasures Of life that offere
excitement and opulence without dan
gers.
And now for my short story: In tn
month of October. 1887, a we'll ap
pointed retinue halted before Ab5as'
magnificent house, and the Sheik All
dallah ben Nawayes was announced
In a. spacious room, on a sort q
throne OF rich Persian stuff, reclpe,
the handsome Abbas dressed in pur
white. A white turban, adorned wit
valuable diamonds, rubies, pearls, an
sapphires, was on his head. His slip
pers we're perfect work of art, richl
studded with gems. In his mouth wa
the amber mouthpiece of the inevita
BILE narghile, studded with diamonds
In short, no Eastern Prince could sho,
more luxury than did Abbas Sail, til
saint and worker of miricles. Befor
him stood his visitor, Sheik Abdallal
ben Nawayes, a man of truly princel
appearance, very old and perfectl
blind. The four sons of the Sheik
men already III years, stood two o.
each side of their sire, and two Lowell
youths of about thirteen years old
the old Sheik's grandsons-wero firml,
held by the hands of the old man.
Am l before Allah's favorite, tn
holy Abbas Sali?' inquired the oil.
man in pure Arabic.
"Thou art. What is thy desire E
inquired Abbas.
"Favorite of Allah" began the OLE
man, ~ want thy intercession for 4,
miracle. Grant my request. Oh, Saint
let me not implore in vain"
BE seated,' said Abbas, and lie
me hear thy request"
The servants Immediately brough
divans, and the four sons tenderl,
seated their father on them, the oil
man still holding the hands of his tw'
grandsons. .' Holy Saint" said tn
old Sheik, ~ am ninety-fve years O
age. am, as my name and lineag
denotes, the chief of the Benz Nawayes
who, for forty centuries, have obeyet
the commands of my ancestors. A1]al
has blessed me from early age will
peace and plenty. saw my numer
GUS family like olive branches grow
round me. Loving and beloved
passed my years until I was eighty
when it pleased Allah to afiic
me with total blindness; I muir
INJURED not against his DEGREES.
could see my household in m,
minds eye, and felt as happy a. before
Two years after my affliction my tw,
grahdsons were born within a week o
each other, and I named them Bena
Enai, or the sons of mine eyes. From
that day until this they were to me tn.
eyes OF which Allah has deprived ME
Hardly weaned from their mother.
breast I took them to my room, ant
inseparably by night or day have beer
from my two beloved grandsons. AnC
may truly say that whatever lappi
ness I tasted during tho eighty year,
of my life, when 1 could see Allah.
glorious sun, was surpassed in that o.
the last thirteen years 1 spent in thu
society of my beloved Benal Enai. Il
| Is now twelve moons since first {
most ardent desire has taker
hold of my soul to see, with eyes
that can see, the features of my be-
loved grandsons. This desire I trieG
at first to repress; but it only returned
with greater force, until I feel that il
has become mania. I have heard o.
thee, o Saint, and of thy wondrous
works. Grant me, O holy man. M,
eyesight, if only for a brief few min
utes, that can behold the features o.
those 1 love SO we'll. Have pity on my
age remember my request is pure
unalloyed Of selfishness. o! favorite
of Allah, let me not die without seeing
my grandsons.
The old man now ceased to speak.
A short, quiet breathing followed, and
his pale face assumed a hectic flush.
The SONS bowed their heads to Abbaf
in deep reverence, as if supplicatine
for their father, and the two young
Benz Enai. with tears in their ewes.
looked in the old Sheik's face.
Abbas Sail, rascal and imposter as he
was, felt for the first time an unusual
pang. Gladly, indeed, would he have
given at least one of his own eyes to
bestow it on the old Sheik. OF course
[ need not say he was powerless to
grant the old mans prayer. This was
no case of intcrcession for an heir; it
was simply to put eyes in mans head
who had the sockets, and no more.
Emotion does not last long in impos-
tors, and Abbas had to make some sort
of u show TO get out of his dilemma.
AS said, Abbas was very fair doc
tor. His Quarter Latin education had
done wonders for him before. He no.
ticed short breathing and hectic flush
on the old mans face, and rightly I'M
agined the old man was subject to dis.
ease of the heart. He rose from his
seat, and going to the old Sheik, he
said: "Let me put mine ear to thy
heart and hear how it is disposed to-
wards Allah"
Abbas listened few moments to the
palpitations, and was confirmed in his
belief that the old Sheik would go off
suddenly in one of his fits of longing.
He returned to his divan and after com
muning in silence with himself he said:
Return, most venerable Sheik, to
thine house and home. Wait patient
~ for the first day of the Ramadan, and
then send thy two grandsons to the
mosque. When they return lift thy
hands to bless them and-trust to the
mercy of Allah"
You see, Doctor, in this advice Alb
has did not commit himself. The
Sheik might die before the Ramadan,
and as the whole affair was showed
from Abbas's shoulders to that of AL
iah's mercy, Abbas could not be blamed
if Allah chose to be unmerciful.
''Let me kiss the hem of thy gar
ment," said the Sheik, rising from his
scat and performing his devotion. He
further said: II have ordered some
presents to be left thee to bestow in
charity as thou thinkest most fit, 81
With this he left. Patiently waiting
for the Ramatan, which is in the
month Of December, the cd Sheik
became hopeful and happy. At last
the day drew near. The two bows were
sent to the mosque and the old man
became fearfully agitated. Seated in q
high chair, on soft cushions, with his
arms stretched out, he waited with
anguish the return of his grandsons,
TIC had stationed messengers to inform
INN OF their approach. At last the
word was passed "tllcy come, they
come The mental excitement of the
old Shelk became indescribablc.
Here we are, grandfather" cried
the joyful voices of the two boys, "givt
us thy blessing'
"Ha! :" cried the Slcik, "my Bona
Fnai, light of my darkness, see.