The daily gazette., 1878-02-06
AN HOMES r'rACE.
BY s.. 8.

BY s. 8.
Ore day, when the Caliph Omar " as
sitting In council with the companions of
the Prophet and the great men of his
ume, Two young men appeared before
him, leading a third, whose beauty at
tracted general attention. Omar gave
them sign to approach, and one Of the
TIVE, who beld tho third, spoke to the
following effect:
awe are two brothers, whose hsppi-
ness it was to have father who for his
virtues was esteemed by the whole tribe.
DE was In the habit of walking in his
garden 70 enjoy the air, and this young
man killed him there. We have ap-
preht nded him, and brought him hither
for the purpose Of receiving from you
the right Of retaliation" H
"Answer to this" said Omar to the
young man, who stood before him with
the greatest calmness, retaining q placid
and gniltless cOuntenance; and he pro-
ceeded with great natural eloquence to
defend himself thus:
"They are right; yet hear me, Com
mander of the Faithful. / belong to a
Bedouin family, who wander about the
desert. One OF our youngest and fnest
| camels approached the wall of the CITY to
| crop the tender branches Of q tree that
hung over it; an old man appeared aboye
the wall and rolled down huge stone,
| which crushed my young camel; he sunk
down beside me, dead. In my rage
seized a stone and flung it back toward
the wall, where il struck the old man
who had killed my camel The blow was
mortal; sought 10 save myself by flight
but these two young persons apprehend
ed ard have brought me before you"
"Thou hast confessed thy crime," said
Omar; "the punishment of retaliation
| awaits thee"
~ am ready to endure it," replied the
young man, "but / have a younger
brother, whom our father on his deatf
bed particularly recommended to my
care. The property, which by inheri
tance falls to hun, lies buried in spo
known to none bat myself. If you cause
me to be put to death before have de
hvered it to him you will hereafter,
Commander ofthe Faithful, have tC
answer for the loss of his inheritance be
fore God. Grant me but three days Il
do this business in" When Omar hac
reflected few moments, he said; n. y
but who win be responsible, for you
return|' The young man. pointed u
Abizer, one of the members OF tn,
council, who, with no other securit,
than the confidence which the physi OF
nemy of the young man inspired hin
with, consented to become his guarantee
: he third day was almost at an end
! and the Bedonin came not vet. Ths
two brothers began to demand with
: loud voice the blood of the man wh,
; had taken upon himself to answer TO
the murderer's return. The companion
! of the prophet opposed 1t; but the sever
: Omar pronounced sentence, that the hf
of Abizer should be taken If the younI
man returned not before the setting O
, 9he sun. At that very moment he re
appeared breathless with haste, and IL
profuse psrspiration. 1 d G
: ~ have" said he, "put my brothers
money in safety; pardon mo If the OK
cessive heat has retarded me more thar
expected ilyno9 VI son .Ju4 siif ,.
: Commander of the Faithful" sal
Abizar, 81 have been security for thi
youth without having known anythin
OF him, and inspired with confidenc
: IN him solely through his honest cour
: tenance--behold him here! Let us n
more say there Is neither truth nor hoI
or upon the EARTH" u
II AL we're astonished at the upright CO
duct of the youth; aud the two brother
who were equally affected, Withdrew
their accusation, and declared they pal
doned him. Severe as Omar was, he az
cepted their pardon with great pleasur,
and congratulated himse If that there wi
SO much truth and honor under tho 20
ernment and among the Bedouins.