The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-20
TIRED AJEEB.
The Hindoo Legend of Asia's
Champion Chess Player.

In the city of Tchina-Patnam lived a
savant named Ajeeb, who had a great rep
utation as a virtuous man. 1t is true that
sometimes he forgot to count the beads of
his poitah (Brahmanic rosary, but he never
failed to help the unfortunate. On his
death bed he had a weakness of mind, he
regretted life, although he was certain to
get good place in the Garden Mendana.
which is visited daily by Indra, the god of
armament. He invoked the goddess Sur
sutee, the second wife of Wishnu, and she
appeared to him, mounted on her pet tiger
and holding branch of mango tree in her
hand. ''Divine wife of the blue god ~ ex-
claimed Ajeeb, grant favor to the most
fervent adOrer of the ten incarnations"
"What do you want from me-" asked
Sursutee.
Add ten years to my life," answered
Ajeeb.
impossible! Ny son. your DAYS are
numbered since your birth. You shall die
when the first ray of sun will shine on the
pagoda of Villa Karmia, and already the
dawn of day whitens the hOrizon.''
''Grant me ten daysr' replied Ajeeb
Il can not give YOU more than a day"
said the goddess, this present day. because
the order of this world will not be dis
turbed by granting this favor to you, and
also because you have been a good and
wise man. At the end of this day. remem-
Der 70 come here and die" and Sursutee
disappeared.
Ajeeb rose, dressed himself, made his
ablutions and went out saying There is a
new life commencing for me: let me be
careful not TO waste it."
He met a Brahmin, who said to him:
EAieeb, if you are willing to write the his
tory of Aureng-Zeb, the glorious founder
OF the hahratta'S empire, | will give you a
field of hetel, a castle with a forest of palm
trees and six ounces of gold"
Life is too short answered Aieeb ~
have not the leisure to write histories; l
must live; let me pass!r
A Captain who recruited men for the
army said to him: "Aieeb, our victorious
Emperor wants to fight the King of Ele-
phanta; will you take the bow and ar
row."
What foolishness?'' replied Ajeeb, ito
Kill people that must die. | will not be the
valet of Death''
A father of family who had nine daugh-
tiers, the nicestgirls that one could see, said
TO him: "AJeeb, l will give you my Young
est daughter with two elephants
Il have not time to marry" replied
Ajeeb. Il must pray to the blue god. In
regard to your elephants, they would en-
barrass me great deal; the burden of my
life is heavy enough to carry, without adj
ding two elephants to it."
The father of family, angered by his re-
fusal; put his right thumb to his nose,
which is in Hindostan a very serious insult
Ajeeb tho1ght: Life is too short. | have
not time to aveuge myself"
A savaut said to him: "MY learned
friend. you, who know every thing, are
invited by the Brahmins of Tchina Patnam
TO pass fifteen days with them in their
dark room TO discover the causes of the
eclipses and to write book on the discov-
cry once made
Ajeeh answered: THE eclipses shall
have the causes they like the best: that is
very indifferent to me- l do not want to
be locked up. Once dead, shall have time
enough to be SeQuestered between fOur
walls. Let me respire the pure air coming
from the mountains and see the indigo
heaven or the celestial India"
''Then, replied the Brahmin. ''vou want
to be an ignoramus your whole lifew
"Oh! and that will not he very long. nei-
Their, as shall die TO morrow: you and the
Others after tomorrow"
AJeeb had lost quarter of an hour an
Swerlng these people. "How precious is
time to mo now!" thought he Each mo-
ment is priceless pearl falling from nv
hand into the bottom of the river Tripli-
can. and have so few pearls leftn And
he walked briskly over the plain of Tchul-
try. which begins at the American bridge
and ends at the suburbs of the Tchina-Pat-
nam, near the subterranean temples Of
Flora.
ness or pleasure to attend to, although he
had no idea whatever of doing any thing;
he tried to find a means to spend the pearls
of his short life, but he did not know TO
whom and how to give them away He
sat down to mediate between two bushes
of yellow tulip flowers. He was not long
iamenting the time he had passed in medi-
tation. 20. great SiVa!; cried he striking
his forehead on the white mark worn by
the followers of this god; Great silva!
who hast known humanity By thy ipcarns-
ton into dwarf, give me good inspira-
tlon on the best way to employ my last
hours"
Ajeeb saw on the opposite bank of the
river magnificent castle with colonial de
of sandal wood, and in which resounded
the voices of seven Brahminesses. They
sang the combat of Ravana and Rama. &C
companying themselves on the Gin. They
called him by his own name and invited
him by gesture to cross over the river
Ajeeb thought: Il will lose too much time
In crossing the river" And Ajeeb left the
BrahmineSSeS alone.
He met jemadar, who said to him:
"Aieeb, if you are hungry and thirsty,
come to my cabin home down yonder, the
waterfall of Flora l shall give you dish
of tomatoes and red beets, piece of bears
ham and cup of delicious wampi."
''Do you take me for foolr' answered
Ajeeb; ''do you believe l will waste my
life in loading my head and my stomach
There is beggar passing; he is hungry and
thirsty; make him eat and drink in my
place and accept this gold piece"