The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-02-03
THE FIVE STARS OF KOREFSH.

4IOul HIS KlHSmen. he nau nVe SONS ana
four daughters, who, as they grew, were re-
garded in that region as the flower of that
country, SO careful was THUR training, SO
thorough their: embellishments, and 50
pure their lives. One evening, when the
father and his eldest son we're returning
to the encampment, having ridden nearly
seventy miles in search, of someecamels
which had strayed, the boy asked lpermis-
sion to speak, and then asked his father
why he and his brothers and sisters were
fed from day to day on dates and bread,
with strip Of dry meat at noon; when the
boys and girls in neighboring encampments
shared this luxury and that-fresh meat,
killed daily, fruits of names unknown
from Yemen, and spices from the ships of
India. =
And his father said: Are not your bodies
strong? And cannot you ride as we'll as they?"
The son replied: There is not a youth in
either camp who can throw me in wrestling;
and you know.if' have asked to draw bri-
die or to dismount to- day "..'' ~
His father said: This is what your food
is given for. # our fare is simple. it is that
YOU NAV not be tempted to prize the food
more than the strength for which the food
is given" go.
Another day, the father of the sheik had
sent courier to- all the camps to ask the at
tendance of his sons, and of their friends,
that they might hear an ambassador who
had come from Yemen. He took with him
his second son, to care for the horses and
to learn the methods Of embassies. One day
they went, one day they remained at the
encampment, one day they returned. On
the third day when they had ridden ten
hours they saw in the horizon the black
tents of their tribe. Then the son asked
leave to speak, and said to his father:
ooh, my father, why do you sleep upon
the ground, when your kindred had cush-
ions and woven mats brought by their slaves,
and had furs from the North ready, should
the night be cold. Why, in our camp do
And his father said: ave sleep at night,
that we may be strong tomorrow. Are not
your bodies as strong, and can you not ride
as we'll as they?" =.
And his son answered. There is not
youth in their tents who can throw me in
wrestling. you know if ask to draw bride
or dismount to-day
His father said: "This is what sleep is
given to us for If our beds are simple, it
is that we may not be tempted to prize the,
sleep more than the strength for which the
sleep is given
At another time there came message
that the elder brother of tho sheik was ill,
and had sent for him. The shiek rode
across the desert on the swiftest dromedary,
and took with him his third son. Two days
they rode, two days they watched with the
dying man, two days they joined in lamen
tations over him. and for two days they rode
on their return. On the eight day, as the
sun went down, the boy asked leave Of his
father to speak, and said:
Il ING in n
cashmere, in silks of Ispaham, and wear
clasps of gold and pearl from Se-enaib,
while We are dressed in camels HAIR, and
wool of our own focks and herds, which
nv sisters spun and my mother WOve?'
And his father said: care you not as
warm as they? Are you not as strong as
they? Are not your clothes as easy for run
ming and riding?"
And the boy said: ION the evening when
we came to the camp, there was wrestling
match. I threw all my cousins in their
turn; and, when the turn came round
threw them all again. We have ridden in
two days so far that the ravens are weary Of
following You know if have asked to
dismount or draw REIN
And his father said: "Our clothes are
given to us to screen us from the sun and
rain, and the pestilence which walketh in
your kinsmen's, it is that you may not be
tempted to value the thing more than the
strength and swiftness for which the thing
is given
Again, the word came that the chiefs and
their children should carry each his Offering
to the temple at Mecca. And his father,
with his wife and children, and forty atten-
dants, went to the city, with fifty camels and
fifty horses The Offering that he made
was bezoar and onyx and myrrh. Seventy
days were they in going, in sojourning, and
in returning On the SEVENTEEN day.. as
they approached the date palms which
they knew, the forth son! asked leave to
speak to his father, and said:
"Why do the people Of the city go to the
mosque to worship God, and we kneel be-
meath the open sky?"
And his father was troubled; and his
countenance fell, and he said: 'Since we
left the city have either your brothers or
your sisters spoken untrue}y?",
"Never, my father"
Or impurely?"
*:Or meanly?" !.
"Never."
Have they turned from beggar? Have
they failed to share their salt?' ,.:
Never"
Have they refused to their mother all
that was due her?"
. Never"
"And has God seemed far away from you
because the sky is higher than the temple
dome?"
Never SO near, my father, as when I
sleep on the sands beneath the stars"
And his father said: 1.-THE temple is
built, lest in cities men forget the God of
love. If you Worship beneath the stars, it
is that you may not be tempted to honor the
stones more than Him who made the stones,
to value His. house more than Him who
dwells everywhere
At last the old man was sick unto death.
His four eldest sons had gone with their