Connecticut western news., 1891-10-08
THE IDLER AND THE FIG

In the lazy little village of Blidah, some years before the French invasion, there lived an honest Moor, named after his father, Sidi Lakdar, but to whom the villagers had given the name of the Idler The Moors are known to be the most indolent people in the world, but those of the village of Bidah were con- sidered the laziest of their countrymen. It was perhaps to be attributed to the languorous perfumes of oranges and Times which hung over the town like a sweet scented cloud.
 But among all who lived in this laziest of lazy towns no one could come up to Sidi Lakdar for downright idleness and nonchalance. The worthy man had ele- Yated his vice to the height of pro- fession. Other people might be em- broiderers, cafe owners, spice merchants and so on-but he was an idler.
 When his father died he inherited a small garden under the ramparts of the town, surrounded by low white walls falling into decay. The gate was so en- tangled by weeds that it could not be closed There were few fig and bana- na trees. Here and there in the grass spring bubbled up.
 It was in his garden that Sidi Lakdar passed his life. prone on his back in the grass, silent and motionless while the little red ants found home in his beard When he was hungry he stretched out an arm and gathered a fig or a bana- na lying within reach; but he would have preferred starvation to the alterna- tive of rising to gather the fruit off the tree So most of the figs decayed where they fell and the trees suffered from the general neglect.
 This extraordinary indolence made Lakdar quite noted person in that part of the country; he was looked up to and reverenced as sort of saint. When the ladies of the town visited the cemetery near by they walked their mules as they passed his domicile and spoke in whis- pers under their white veils, while men inclined their heads in involuntary hom- age.
 Every day after school hours crowd of boys in gayly striped silk vests and red caps congregated on one of the walls inclosing Lakdar's domain, and tried in all sorts of ways to disturb that magnifi- cent indolence, calling him by name, laughing, shouting, throwing orange peel at him and otherwise tormenting him.
 But in vainl The Idler did not move. Every now and then voice from the depths of the g1ass would be heard, Take care now, take care, if only get up to youi" But he never got up.
 hot nf coming constantly with the others to make game of the Idler, found himself at last overcome by admiration and a great desire to assume himself the heri- zontal existence He went to his father and boldly declared that he intended giving up school and wished to become an idler.
 "An idlerI Your said the father, a worthy turner of pipe stems, as busy as bee, and seated before his lathe every morning at cockcrow. "You. an idlerl . pretty idea indeedv
 "Yes, father, l wish to be an idler like Sidi Lakdar."
 Nothing of the sort, my boy, you shall be turner like your father or a register at the law courts of the cadi like your uncle Ali, but you shall never become an idler-never Be off now to school, or may be tempted to use this | fine new piece of cherry wood on your back. Be off now, you young rascalv'
 The cherry wood had the desired effect. and the boy, feigning obedience, with ! drew; but instead of going to school he | made his way to Moorish bazaar, and seizing his opportunity secreted himself between two piles of Smyrna rugs and remained there all day, lying on his back staring up at the Moorish lanterns and richly embroidered bodices glisten ing in the sun, while he inhaled the de- icious perfume from the fasks of altar of roses scattered about. In this manner he passed all the time that he should have been at school.
 His father soon got an inkling of how matters stood; but in vain he shouted, stormed, cursed the name of Allah and punished the young urchin with all the cherry wood canes in his shop. All was useless; the boy only repeated obstinate ly, "1 will be an idler," and he was found continually stretched out in some corner. Utterly discouraged at last, the father took decided step after consulting the Registrar Ali
 Listen to me, he said to his son. "As you are determined to be an idler, will take you to Lakdar; he will examine you, and if you have any real fitness for his profession will beg him to take you as an apprentice"
 "That will suit me, ," replied the boy.
 The very next day, with freshly shaven heads and lavishly perfumed with yer bena, they sought the Idler in his little garden. The gate was always open, sc they entered without ceremony, but the grass being very high and very thick they had some trouble to locate the lord of the domain. At last they found him lying under the fig trees in 8 maze o1 birds and overgrown plants-a bundle of yellow rags He received them with grunt.
 "Allah be with you, sidi Lakdar, ,aid the father lowing low, his hand on ais heart. "This is my son." who in- lists on becoming an idler. l have brought him to you for examination that rou may decide if he really has any it- ness for your profession; in which case beg of you to allow him to become your apprentice and l will pay all that is necessary"
 Sidi Lakdar silently motioned to them 10 sit down The father seated himself, md the boy stretched himself at full length on the grass; good sign to begin with Then they silently gazed at one