Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-07
HI assam,
THE FAITHFUL cYfRloTf SERVANT.

"HaSSan."
had been told to call for Hassan if wanted
anything in the night. / wanted water. My
heck and shoulders were on fire. my lips and
throat were parched; the muscles OF my arm
refused their office; in the stress of pain
needed some one who could raise nay head and
lay the pitcher at my lips. What ''HaSSan"
was like had no notion, save that 7 had heard
he was servant Of the house. whose duty was
to lie on the mat near my door, listen for any
sound within the room, and instantly jump up
From his name / should have guessed that he
was either Syrian or an Arab, but by accident
When was lying down, had heard him men
toned as native OF the Island, one OF the 80 600
or 10000 sWarthy sons OF Islam, who have
passed from the sway of the Padshah into that
OF the English Queen. 'Then you have Turk
iSh servants in the houSe?'' I had inquired of
every one in Cyprus gets Turkish servant If
he can. The Turks are very clean and faith
ri: as they never touch wine OF raki, they are
always sober: they are so honest you might
trust them with your pantry and your purse.
The Greeks, when they are native and not
foreign, are a good sort of people; but love to
have Turk about my house, and, more than
all, about my sleeping-room and living ROOM
1t was the old story. ! have heard the same
thing said at kaisan, Samara, Rostoff-places
in which, unlike Cyprus, Christian races have
for generations held the whp-hand over their
Moslem foes.
'Hassan." cried; figure glded through the
quit0eS had caused the lamp to be put out
few stars peeped through the lattice, but the
crescent moon had sunk. "FeIre ME-" | be-
gan, In the debased Cypriote Greek-trying in
my pain to recollect the words, and, of course,
forgetting them-''ferrie ME uGor," instead of
the local words uerO In a tender voice. almost
Ike cooling Of Sister OF Mercy, the dark
figure stopped and whispered, "PatiS Italiana."
| had not heard the voice before, but some
thing In the tone impressed me deeply in the
mans favor. Water was brought and carried
TO my lips by means OF straw; for was ly-
ing on my back, unable to either turn my neck
or raise my head. All through the night
that fellow waited On me, bringing me-
with silent service only to be expected in a
wife or nurse, lines, sugar StraWS, water
Light he was too wise man TO introduce He
stood In corner Of the room, quiet and watch
full; only when wished him to speak, he spoke
His words were soft and full of hope. Every
one, he told me, had these mishaps. He had
been thrown himself a score Of times. Barring
his arm, he showed me where his wrist had
been broken, his elbow crushed and his shoul-
der put out All injuries that man can suffer
from mules and ponies hee had gone through
but the pain was only for a day; a little rest,
little shade, with plenty OF good water, and he
was on his legs again. BY lying still and rub
bing in some lotion the signor would soon be
right.
When daylight came, and could see the face
OF this good fellow. was delighted rather than
surprised 10 lind In him the man who had been
so quick on the road In running to the wen un-
asked and bringing me that glass of water from
stood me we'll, though not a word was said |
put my left hand out; he bent his lips to kiss it,
but seized his own and gave him an English
shake. weird and beautiful fire Lit up his
oriental cheek. That instant we were friends
iHflU0,h DirOn'S Cyprus Cor.