Evening journal., 1891-08-15
THE IDLER AND THE FIG

I'LL 1DAIAllh AAAND I'LL A. HI
In tine lazy little village Of Blidah,
some years before the French invasion,
there lived an honest Moor, named after
his father, Sid 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 Blidah were con-
sidered the LATEST Of their countrymen.
1t was perhaps to be attributed to the
languorous perfumes Of oranges and
lines which hung over the town like a
sweet scented cloud.
But among all who lived in this LATEST
of lazy towns no one could come up to
Sid Lakdar for downright idleness and
nonchalance The worthy man had ele-
waited his vice to the height Of a pro-
fession. Other people might be en-
broiderers, cafe owners, spice merchants
and 80 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 a few fig and bana-
ma trees. Here and there in the grass a
spring dubbed up
It was in his garden that Sidi Lakdar
passed his life, prone on his back in the
grass, silent and notionless, while the
little red ants found home in his
beard. When he was hungry he stretched
out an arm and gathered fig or bana-
ma lying within reaoh 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 Incidence made
Lakdar quite noted person in that part
Of the COUNTRY; he was looked up to and
reverenced as q 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 wells, while men
inclined their heads in involuntary hom-
age.
Every day after school hours a crowd
Of boys in gayly striped silk vests and
red caps congregated on one of the walls
inclosing Lalrdar's domain, and tried in
all sorts Of ways to disturb that magnifi-
cent Incidence, calling him by name,
laughing, shouting, throwing orange
peel at him and otherwise tormenting
him.
But in vain The Idler did not move.
Every now and then a voice from the
depths Of the grass would be heard,
Take care now, take care, il only get
up 10 your But he never got up.
1t happened that one Of these boys
coming constantly with the others to
make game Of the Idier, found himself
at last overcome by admiration and a
! great desire to assume himself the hori-
zontal existence. lie went to his father
and boldly declared that he intended
giving up school and wished to become
an idler.
IAN idlerl Your said the father, a
worthy turner OF pipe stems. as busy AZ
bee, and seated before his lathe every
morning at cockcrow. You, an idlerl
| a pretty idea indeed"
yes, father, wish to be an idler
like Sidi Lakdar"
Nothing Of the sort, nay boy, you
shall be turner like your father or 4
register AZ the law courts Of the cadi
like your uncle Ali. but you shall never
become an idler-never Be OF now (
school, or may be tempted to use thi.
fine new piece OF cherry wood on your
back. BE OF now, you young rascalr'
The cherry wood had the desired effect
and the hoy, feigning obedience, with
drew; but instead Of going to school hs
made his way 10 a Moorish bazaar, anC
Selling his opportunity secreted himself
between two piles Of Smyrna rugs ant
remained there all day, lying on hil
back staring up at the Moorish lanterns
and richly embroidered bodices glisten
ing in the sun, while he inhaled the de
licious perfume from the TASKS 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 inkhng Of how
matters stood; but in vain he shouted
stormed, cursed the name OF Allah anC
punished the young urchin with all tn,
cherry wood canes in his shop. All wa
useless; the boy only repeated obstinate
~, 81 viii be anidler, and he was fount
continually stretched out in some corner
Utterly discouraged at last, the father
took decided step after consulting tn,
Registrar Ali
'Listen to me, he said to his son. ga
you are determined to be an idler, will
take you to Lakdar; he will examin,
you, and If you have any real fitness fot
his profession win beg him to take vol
as an apprentice"
THAT viii suit me, replied the boy.
The very next day, with freshly shaver
heads and lzvishly perfumed with yer
, bena, they sought the Idler in his httl
garden. The gate was always open, s.
they entered without ceremony, but TIL
grass being very high and very thicl
they had some trouble to locate the lor,
Of the domain. At last they found hin
lying under the fg trees in a maze o
birds and overgrown plants--a bundl,
of yellow rags He received them witt
grunt.
allah be with You, Sid Lakdar,