Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-03-01

Of his little cottage, and sing and play
10 himself, or amuse his family and
friends; without sorrow or care. Where
as his rich brother would have people
coming to him At oil hours, talking Of
business and bargains. and would spend
long evenings pouring over his accounts,
and counting up his gains
Now both the brothers were married,
and. ~ you will readily believe, the
wife of each used to point her husband
10 the more favused condition Of the
other hroaherA And 90 il happened
that one evening Selim's vile spoke to
~ - 81 oUo - - 80
"Look. my husband. how well-ofI
your rich brother Assad is, he dresses
well, has . good table, and keeps his
wife like lady; and we'll he may with
all his riches; while you toll all day
for what barely keeps our bodies and
souls together"
"Well. my cousin" said Selim. ESQ
God has ordered it, the fingers Of the
hand are not al Of one length as peo-
pie say; neither 10 the condition Of all
men equal.
THAT is very true" she said; "God
IS above all; but there is also saying,
that "the world rests upon, agencies,
aud | have been thinking that your
brother might, out Of his abundance,
help you a little in the world; and !
have no doubt he would ifyou spoke to
him.
perhaps" said Selim, and struck up
another song.
The very same evening, as il so hap
pend, Assad's wife said to him-"My
lord what is the good Of all this care
and trouble about wealth.. See show
happy your brother Selim is, notwith-
standing his poverty, while you have
not an hour you can call your own to
enjoy the pleasure Of you home"
would you like to see Us both equal
ly happy" asked her husband.
To which she replied, Eyes, indeed
l would"
So he merely said. Good" and turned
again to his accounts.
iii.
The next day Assad sent for his poor
brother, and after the usual solutions,
said to him -
MY brother Selim, I have a mind
to do favor 10 you"
MAY God increase your goods" said
Selim; IL shall always be grateful"
"Well, now" said Assad. IL would
like to see you as well-of in the world
as myself; and, as you know things start
with small beginnings. ! propose 10 give
you small capital to commence with
in some lucrative business; and ! have
no doubt that, with Gods blessings and
your own industry, YOU will soon pros
per-"
81 am at your command" said Selim.
''and shall be ever grateful"
"Nay," said his brother, 'there should
be no obligations between such as We
are: this is incumbent on me. Well.
then, let us suppose that I give you
(excuse my mentioning it) fifty or sixty
piasters to start with. Let US see how
you may turn over your capital. Yes,
10 be sure'-a new thought :.ruck hi.
-"look at eggs just now. They are
selling for six for plaster in the town.
No doubt YOU could, in the villages, buy
eight, nine, or ten for a planter, and
sell them in the market at a good profit.
How does that appear TO you:"
"My brother" said Selim, "as have
already submitted, ! am at your service
to do as you command"
..nI ha,L.I h.yv, a srv,~ ,c %, as.
ey. without counting it, saying, MAY
it be blessed"
To which Selim replied. "The bles-
sing is from you, and may your own
goods be blessed
".
Next morning Selim, having provided
himself with a basket and turned his
money into small change, set out for the
villages. Wherever he saw chickens
running about, he would call out
"Ho you that have eggs to sell;"
And those who had eggs TO sell,
would answer, "come this way"
II the eggs offered for sale were small
he would say
"Oh me, how small they are; these
are surely pigeons eggs: and what may
you be asking for these -
1--WE are selling them at seven for a
piaster,' they would say.
What do you mean by seven for a
plaster. Don't you know that eggs
like these are selling at eight for pias-
ter in town, and We have all the trouble
Of carrying thems"
And SO he would conclude bargain
at nine for plaster.
Or il the eggs were larger he would
shake them, hold them up TO his eve
before the sun and declare them to he
bad and SO forth, till the bargain would
be concluded at eight for a plaster.
But when the price came to be paid.
there would sometimes be an egg W anted
to complete the even tale, or he would
not have small change to make the ac-
count exact: and as Selim could not
write, he would leave the balance 10 be-
settled tomorrow or the next day when
he should again come round.
v.
By mid-afternoon he had nearly filed
his basket and emptied his bag OF mon
ey, and found il time TO retrace his steps
that he might reach home by sunset
And %. - he went along the road,
he began to 60 over the items OF
outstanding accounts. mutiering to him.
self as follows -
The woman at the we'll has 10 give
me one egg; the black woman behind
the mill has to receive Eve Paras: the
keeper on khan owes me two eggs: