Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-08-02
FRIENDSHIP IN REAL LIFE.

N4r. J. M. Francis, U. S. Minister at
A.thens, Greece, writes to the Troy
Times as follows: #.. ..... .. 81
A few years since there lived in Be
bek, a village on the Bosphorus some
six miles above Constantinople, an ell
y derly Greek gentleman named Tchelby
Yorgaly. He was the possessor of some
property in real estate, and sufficient
income was derived from this source to
supply the. moderate wants of himself
4 and his amiable wife, leaving balance
more or less which was distributed. for
charitable objects. They had no chill
dren. The venerable couple were very
happy in each other's society: they had
few intimate associates outside But
q among these was a friend of ours, an
Is eminent American citizen, who for some
time resided near their dwelling in Be-
bek. One day our friend was invited
Ito spend a social evening with Mr.. Yor-
gaky, the latter saying that if agree
able, he would on this occasion relate
Il some facts of his family history which
& might possibly prove interesting as
constituting a strange chapter of real
q life at the East Our friend promptly
# accepted the invitation, as any live
Yankee would have done under this
( stimulus to curiosity. The old gentle
s man's statement our friend vouch
3 safed for Yorgakv's character for truth
fulness, after an. intimate acquaintance
with him for many years-was substan-
tally as follows: w.,
My fathers name was Yohannis Giros
His father carried on the bakery bust
hess. AT quite an early age Yohannis
was employed as bread-seller at his
fathers stall near the Egyptian bazaar
ht Stamboul. There he made the ac
& quaintance of a Turkish boy of about
his own age named Ibrahim, who was
employed as salesman in his fathers
tobacco shop close by. A remarkable
Friendship grew up between these two
boys. All their leisure time they spent
i'm each others society. They INDUCED
i'm sports together. They talked over
plans of business by which in future
years they might not beseparated sin
gle day. They would achieve fortune,
and share their wealth together. These
were the day dreams of Yohannis and
Ibrahim. Time wore on The boys
had attained the age of II or IS years.
Ibrahim S father secured for his son a
situation as tchiboukgi (pipe-bearer)
TO the Pasha of Bagdad. This was great
honorfora boy in humble circumstances.
But Ibrahim did not desire the place.
for it would take him far away from Yo-
hannis. Parental decision, however,
was omnipotent in the case, and go he
must. But before separating the boys
had a long conference together. ''I
must CO." said Ibrahim, "but 1 shall
return to Constanstinople as a pasha,
pnd then you will share my honors and
fortune. The separation of Yohannis
and Ibranim was painful. When the
final adieu was spoken, each pledged
the other that his friendship should re-
main constant so long as life endured.
Yohannis sorrowfully returned to his
business at the bread stall Ibrahim ac-
companied his master on the long jour
ney to England.
Years passed by; Yohannis succeeded
10 the humble business of his father on
& The decease of the latter he married.
and was blessed, as the poorare so often
blessed, with many children. By steady
industry and strict economy, he was
e barely enabled to support his large
family comfortably. His mind fire.
quently dwelt upon the scenes and
loves of youthful days, and the Turkish
boy Ibrahim was always central figure
n these memories. A dozen years prior
10 this time he heard that his dear friend
Of boyhood's days had died, but the
memory of that friend was reverently
& cherished by him one 80 dearly loved
in the fervor of youth could NOT be for
gotten by the generous-hearted Yohan-
mis-, even amid the cares and struggles
of life of toll.
One afternoon, while partaking of his
s frugal meal, and surrounded by his low
Ing family, Yohannis was startled by
the appearance of very unwelcome
s. visitor-the chief police officer of the
s Sublime Porte. The official announced
TO Yohannis that he must accompany
: him Immediately to the Porte. In those
barbaric days such a summons meant
condemnation and death, often without
any assignable or known cause. Yohan-
!, mis- and his family were terrified they
pleaded for delay. But the officer was
Inexorable; Yohannis was dragged
< away amid the piteous cries and plead
ings of his wife and children. Arrived
at the Porte, the officer conducted his
prisoner through long hall with
guards stationed on either side, to the