The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-12-09
A TURKISH TALE.


bled in his palace all the wise men OF his
Kingdom and a dispute arose among thein'
It was said that the angel Gabriel having
one night borne Mahomet away from ms
bed showed him all there IS IN the seven
heavens. i paradise and in hell, and that
the great prophet, having hell $1,000 con-
ferences with deity, wa placed again in his
had by the angel. Il was asserted that all
these things had passed in so short time
that Mahomet, on his return, had found his
he'd still warm, and that he had raised z jar
before the water was spilled from it, al.
though the jar had been overturned at the
instant when the angel had borne away the
prophet
The sultan sustained that this was impos-
sible "Tcere are" said he, Seven heav-
ems, an it would take 500 years to pass the
distance from one to another; ami each
heaven is a wide as the distance from itself
t. the next. How, then, having passed
through all these heavens. and having had
$1,000 conferences with deity, could Ma
homet have found his bed still warm and
the water not yet spilled from his over
turned jar2 Who is credulous enough to
put faith in such a saying?"
The wi e men replied that all things were
possible TO divine power, and they went
away to their homes.
This dispute was noissd about Egypt and
came to the ears of the learned Sheik Sha-
haLaddin, who had not been with the wise
men assembled before the sultan. He re-
paired at once to the palace. As soon as
the arrival of the sheik was announced the
monarch went to meet him, led him into
magnificent chamber, and gave him many
cnresses and compliments
Now, the chambe- in which they vera
sitting had four windows in its four walls,
and these. at the request OF the shaik, the
king cau5el to be closed After sono con
yarsation the sage opened one OF tho win
dow which looked toward O mountain, and
kel the king to look forth. He looked
aud on the mountain AMI avancing
through the plain soldiers armed with
shieit5 and coats OF mail They were
fastening toward tie palace with naked
swords, and their number was greater than
that OF the stars. The prince turned pale
and crieI, "Oh, heavens! What IS this ter
rible army advancing against my palace2'
"Do not fear, sire; it is nothing" said the
sheik, and he having closed the window and
opened it again the king saw no ono either
on the mountains or in the plains.
The sage now caused the second window
TO be opened and the sultan saw the city of
Caro- on fire, and the flames rising from it
TO mii-air. "What a confagration' bo
cried. Behold my beautiful city reduced
to nshe,i'
do not fear, sire,1 said the sheik; sit is
nothing" At the same time he closed the
window, and when it was opened again the
city no longer appeared to be in flames
The sage opened the third window, and
low the sultan saw the Nile, which had
overflowed the banks and was rolling in
great waves to submerge his palace. Al
though the the king should not have been
affected by this third prodigy, he cried out
again in fear: "Ah! oil is over; all is lostl [
shall be drowned with my people!"
"Bs net afraid, sire" aid the sheik, ''it is
nothing" And no sooner had the sage
eli sell and reopened tine window than the
N l. appeared, following it usual course.
In ike manner ne opened the fourth win
dow on an arid desert. Tho eyes OF the
king were agreeably surprised by the sight
Of vines, gardens IF fruit murmuring
trsam ami the fair colors Of many kinds
o. Grw.rs. whose odors also greeted his
sen .. There were doves among the flowers
an aightingales, whose tender AMI plant
i've NJ oS filed the air. Tne king was per-
syaiad that Ellen lay before him.
the sle;!l, however, closel the window,
and when it was opened again the barren
desert appeared.
Sire" taen said the sheij, call the won-
ders l have just revealed are nothing to
that which | hold in reserve for your
majesty. Order your officers, 1 pray you,
to bring basin of water into this room.
And when the basin was brought the sheik
babe his master plunge his head into the
basin and raise it therefrom.
The king plunged his head into the basin,
aud at the same instant he found himself
nude at foot of a mountain on the shore
OF the sea-. This wonder overwhelmed him
more than all the others. "Ah! perfdious
slave" he cried in transport OF anger, iii
am ever able to return to my beloved
Egypt l swear that l win be avenged" But,
rejecting that threats and complaints
were useless, he approached soma persons
who were cutting wool on the mountain,
resolving that he would not reval to them
his true condition.
my good people," he said, when he had
come up to them. Il am a merchant and
lave uttered shipwreck; l escaped on q
piece OF wood; saw you AMI have come e
you"
They were touched by his misfortune, but
their own want was too great to allow them
to assist MIN One of them, however, gave
him old robe. and another pair of old
Shoes, AMI they led him to the city which
lay hehinl the mountain. There they left
Linn to the care OF Providence.
Tic sultan knew not where to go. He
was weary and began to look about for q
spot in ;cl he could rest He stopped be.
fore tho house OF an old marshal, who in
VIL'U NTH % enter, ana Ii>tehei kiniIy u
the tale OF his shipwrec6. The young man
Ell ,sl b. saying that he would ask nothing
better than to dwell in that city il he could
fin means OF providing for his wants.
~ low The advice. then, which | will
give yoI,n said the oil man. Go immai.
lately To the public uaths of the women
Sit before the door ana ask each lady whl
comes cat from the baths if she has a hus
bGad; the first one who says no VIII be youI
se, according to the custom Of this land
IUe su tan saluted the old man and wen
10 Eaa BATS He sool saw lady Of rayish
ing auty come forth. "Ahl how happy
SHOULD he" said he to himself "if tina
lovely woman were not married. Sa
wouit console mo for ell my misfortunes-"
He stopped her and asked If she had ;
husband. She answered in the affirmative
aud went her way.
S on another woman came forth of fright