The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1879-09-20
ABU BEN ABEsD,s DONKEY.

MRS. Elizabeth Cumingstn the Tnde pendenti |
Abu Ben Abend was old and rich and
stingy. His brown face was puckered
and wrinkled, like an apple that ha
baked too long. His body was bent over
till it looked like the letter G, and he
could not walk without the aid of stout
stick; but he was as keen at bargain
and an alert to make and keep money as
if he were young and strong. His only
pleasure were counting over his gold
pieces and beating his daughter and his
donkey.
His daughter, Fatima, was beautiful
and good; but he did not love her. He
valued her only for the price he thought
he should receive for her some time. /
do not know whether it is because girls
are worth more or less than they are in
the United States, but they are sold in
Turkey.
Ziba, his donkey, was perfect treas
ure of beast. Out of him Abu Ben
Abend got no end of work, for he hired
him by the day to any driver who would
pay his price; but of Fatima he required
nothing. She sat in her chamber day
after day, with deaf old Zilpa, her nurse,
and made tatting and embroidered pin
cushions; but she wished with all her
heart she could do something more use
full and interesting. Once in while she
was allowed to take ride on Ziba's back,
when the poor little beast could not be
rented; and that she thought was the
greatest Joy the world contained.
Across the way from Abu Ben Abend' s
stately mansion was an old house, in
which lived handsome young fellow,
named Youssif Ell Kedar, with his mother
| and sisters. He had right to wear the
green turban, for he was a descendant of
! the prophet; but he was so poor he wore
an old fez' except on holy days, and car
ried bundles, or ran on errands, or did
anything by which he could earn a
copper.
For him Abu Ben Abend had the ut
| most content and hatred. He despised
him because he was poor, and hated him
| because he was young and handsome,
| Often, when he struck his daughter for
some little offense, he would say: tBy
the beard of my grandfather, you shall
marry that son of nothingness, Youssif
FL Kedar, if you do not strive to please
me more" And when he beat Ziba, be-
tween the blows he would cry ont: 'sTo
destruction with you, most mulish of all
animalsl I'll sell you to Youssif Ell
| Kedar if you don't earn me more money"
Now, when one hears mans name
spoken often, either for good or i'll, one
| desires to see him. So Fatima watched
| for Youssif with great interest; and when
| at last she saw him, standing in the
street, tall and straight like palm tree,
| she fell in love with him, and thought of
him constantly from morning till night.
But as it is considered unladylike in
| Turkey for a maiden to show her face or
| to speak to any man not of her own fam
| lily, Fatima contented herself with peep
| ing at her neighbor through her barred
window or from her latticed balcony.
One afternoon, when her father was
away collecting his usury, Fatima crept
down the stairs to the stable of Ziba. the
one creature in the house she could pet
and love.
''Dear Ziba," she cried, throwing her
arms about the little beasts neck, ST
am very, very unhappy. My father
scolds me every moment he is in the
! house."
''Climb upon my back and let me
take you out into the busy streets, said
the donkey, rubbing his sort, warm nose
against her rosy cheek.
| Fatima shrank back alarmed, for Ziba
| had never spoken to her before.
Don't be scared, dear mistress" said
| he. when donkeys have been beaten
999 times the prophet gives them the
| power of speech as recompense. Do
as / have bid you. Array yourself in
| your prettiest gown, put on your yellow
| slippers and your veil, and will carry
| you out into the world and we will see
what will happen"
Fatima put on her incest clothes and
hung over her face her veil, which was
made of thick white cloth, and left only
her beautiful black eyes visible; then
skipped down stairs and climbed upon
Ziba's back. Away he trotted, through
crowded streets, over high bridges and
across open squares, till he came to an
| unfreguented lane that led through
fields of wheat. A young man was walk
| ing in the road, and when Fatima over
| took him, Ziba began to act in singular
way; for he pranced, backed, and finally
reared up on his hind legs, and would
have thrown his mistress to the ground
had not the young man caught her in his
arms.
As he did so the envious veil slipped
to one side, and Youssif Ell Kedar flor it
was he) saw Fatima's lovely, blushing
face lying on his breast.
"Allah be praised e he cried, and
kissed her on the lips.
Youssif helped Fatima to mount upon
the back of the naughty Ziba, and in
sisted on walking by her side until they
reached the street in which they both
lived.
stYou are bad beast" said Fatima,
and gave the donkey twice his allowance
for supper.
The next morning Abu Ben Abend
filled the house with uproar. He swore
and stamped and tore his beard and
threatened to beat somebody within an
inch of his life. "Youssif Ell Kedar,
beggar, and the son of beggar, has
written me note demanding your hand
in marriage" he cried to Fatima. "By
the head of Mohammed, / would fry him
in oil for his impudence if it were in my
power"
Fatima went down to the stable to see
her one friend.
s'Be comforted, dear lady," said Ziba.
"a kind act is never lost You have been
kind to me many times. and Youssif Ell
Kedar is the kindest driver / have ever
known. Loose my halter and let me go,
and we shall see what will happen"
Fatima was afraid the donkey would
not return, and told him So
"A kind act is never lost. Do as I bid
you, and we shall see what will happen,
was his only reply.
Fatima united him, gently patted his
shaggy gray head, and kissing him be-
tween the eyes, undid the gate. Ziba
thrust his nose under her hands for
moment, then turned and ran swiftly
down the street.
AS soon as he knew the donkey was
missing from the stable, Abu Ben Abend
had another anger fit; and as the days
went by and he did not return, Abu Ben
Abend, like all greedy people, magnifed
his loss, till it seemed to him the most
precious treasure he had ever had was
Ziba, and he was willing to give anything
to regain him.
A month had passed and brought no
tidings, when one day Youssif Ell Kedar,
dressed In his green turban and his best
clothes and having at his side his grand
fathers sword, which was shaped like
the new moon, knocked at Abu Ben
Abend's door.
Abu Ben Abend opened it himself.
'Ah y he cried, his face turkey-red with
rage. You want an answer to your let
ter, do you? Bring back my donkey
this afternoon, at 8 o'clock and you shall
marry my daughter p and then he Slam
med the door in Youssif's face.
For moment Youssif felt like kick
l. ! 4 II ae