Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-01-10
THE WIFE OF ILYAS.
Wherein Prosperity Is 1ane aaa
Adversely Blessing.

Tn the province Of Uhm there lived
Rashlkirian named llyas. DE came iron
moor parents, and his father died whG
flvas had been married scarce year. Tha
nossessions of Ilyas then consisted OF seva
horses. two cows and twenty sheep. But
lire a good husbandman lie knew how b
Increase his stock. He and his wife worked
from morning till night; they rose earlR
and went to rest later than the others, and
grew richer every year. For five and thirB
Years they were very diligent and 30 gainN
great riches.
At length Ilyas possessed 200 horses, N
head OF cattle and 200 sheep. de had ma
IN care for his herds, and maidservants
milk the animals and make butter, cheeE
and ,oumiss. Ilyas had abundance OF ever
thing, and he was envied In all the county
round about. "A happy man, this llyaa'
neople said "he has an abundance OF even
thing he has no need to long for DEATH
Men Of rank sought his acquaintance, aM
esteemed it an honor to have intercourh
with Ilyas.
From great distances guests came TO hin,
and he received them all Hospitality and
entertained them freely with meat and
drink. Whoever came found kouniss al
tea, and sherbet and mutton on Ilyas' tAbA
As soon as guests arrived sheep was uiatt
ready, or perhaps two-and II great nun
bers of guests came many animals wen
killed.
Ilyas had two sons and daughter, wH
were all married. While 1lyas was po1
his children worked with him and tendn
the flocks but when he had grown rlcnla
sons became frivolous and gave themselya.
to strong drink. The elder was killed inI.
brawl, and the younger, who had taEea,
naughty wife, would not obey his father, d
that Ilyas was compelled to establish
separate household for him. He gave bin
house, cattle and all that he required, sM
thereby diminished hiseown wealth COZ
siderably.
Soon thereafter the flocks Of Ilyas wen
afflicted with q plague, which carried Of
many Of them. Then came year OF famins
the grass came to naught, no hay was gath
cred, and many cattle perished in the win
ter. And then the Kirghis stole nyas' bet
horses~from the plains, so that his properly
was again much diminished. Affairs went
ever worre with Ilyas, and his strengA
was growing less year by year. And as hs
neared his three score and ten he had to sell
his skins and rugs, his horses and saddles;
then it came to his last COW, and one day ht
possessed nothing more. Almost before ha
knew it every thing was gone, and in hl
cid age he and his wife must seek serviN
among strangers. Nothing was left to hin
but the clothing on his body, q skin, q cap
shoes, and his wife, Sham-Shemaghi, who
was likewise old His son that he had fur
nished had gone away into a far land, bid
daughter was dead, and there remained nc
one to help the old people.
But one neighbor, named Mukhamedsh shakh
had compassion on them both. Neither poo
nor rich, Mukhamedshakh lived simply
and was an excellent man. He remembered
how formerly Ilyas had been a good neigh
Dor, and he said to him:
Come, thou and thy wife can live with
me. As far as thy strength will allow thou
mayest labor in the field, and In the wintet
eapEt feed the fiocks. And Sham-Shemaghl
can milk and make koumiss. will feed and
clothe you, and when you shall need any
thing else only tell me and will prpyidl
for you"
llyas thanked his neighbor and lived viii
MS wlfe among Mukhamedshakh' servants
Az nrst 1t seemed hard to them, but after
nttle they became accustomed 10 the new
me- lived contentedly, and worked accord
ing TO their strength. The host found I
prontaole to have such laborers, for the old
people had been masters themselves and
understood all kinds OF work. But wheH
muKhamedshakh saw them thus at work he
had pity IN his heart that they who had
scared so high should have fallen 30 low.
\ happened that there came one time II
hukhamedshakh's house guests from afar,
Inc CHIEF OF whom sought the daughter ID
marriage. And the uiollah had cons
with the others. Mukhamedshakh tol
llyas TO Kill sheep; llyas obeyed the com,
lnauu' prepared the meat and brought 1t y
sne guests The guests ate of the fesh
urank Tea herewith, and then commenced
On tue Koumlss, Hosts aud guests sat oII
nlAls and down cushions, drank koumiSs
HoH oowls and conversed, while uyAS
worked diligently about the house and yard
AS he passed by the door Mukhamedshaki
PVsSeivea ..Se,v MN and said 70 his yisitoFl
the door Just nowr' NV w n
:. - saw him." replied the guest; swhAt y
'nefe strange ehout himin
tnere is this which il peculiar, The Old
uian was once the richest In ali the country
oOut mere; llyas is his name; mayhap thou
hast heard Of himin
"Assuredly," replied the guest; ''his
lame has come even 70 us.n
ca and now there remains nothing Of,
us wealth. He dwells with me ss a serv.
ant and his wife also with him-she milks
the animals" A "'
ais tongue, and said:
~ oae can see by that how fortune turns
mn y .ne arms q 9 wheel one rises up and
\" an Is thrown down. poes BE bein9sn
lis nl,tate, the old manIp =
~ 10 caA tsui Ne i've. ua.oafuily sa6I