Evening journal., 1891-06-22
THE MAN WHO READ.

held social intercourse with his friends
He bemoaned himself when he arose and
when he went TO rest, and found his only
solace in study
After while he forgot even his great
grief In the accumulation OF knowledge,
and finally became convinced that he was
more thoroughly read, wiser. better in
formed and more highly accomplished than
any other man alive, and that IL WIS at
least a sin of omission 10 keep all this wis
dom shut up within his own brain HAY
ing communed with himself for q space, he
resolved TO write a series of instructive
narratives and read them aloud to persons
whose opportunities had been less than his
And having carefully prepared a con
densed historyof Arabia, couched in sim
Pile language, he called together all his
slaves, servants and attendants, poor Great
ures who had never before had any in
struction whatever, and having advised
them that he was about TO improve their
minds, began 70 read aloud.
So deeply interested in his own perform
ance was he that only the fading light Of
the lamps, in which the oil had burned
low, aroused him. He looked about him.
The slaves whom he had permitted to seat
themselves were most of them lying fiat,
resting upon each Others knees, curled up
in corners. Every eye was tightly shut,
and those who had the habit were snoring.
His first reading had but one auditor
himself.
AS Abd-er-Rahman arose Ia his wrath, a
sound Of tumult fell upon his ears The
slaves had left the gates unf,lstened when
they came TO partake Of this their first
intellectual feast, which had had all the
..f I.t -.
bers had entered and plundcred the house,
the police had just discovered the fact, aud
according to the law Of Cairo, the house
holder who had placed such temptation
before the weak aud sinful wls arrested
and heavily fined.
Adder. .Rahman had lost great deal OF
money by this his first venture as an in
structor Of mankind, and had suffered not
few pangs Of wounded vanity besides
| However, these were poor ignorant slaves,
weary with toll. Perhaps he had been
| foolish TO choose such an audience The
next reading should be a very different one.
In pursuance OF this resolution he made
| preparations for great entertainment in
/ the most fashionable manner, invited his
most elegant and wealthy friends and
wrote what he believed to be a most
charming story, in which he proved, by
means Of the most thrilling incidents, the
truth that the most powerful men on earth
must of necessity repose all their trust IN
Almighty God; and which he proposed tC
read to his guests after they had done jus
tice TO his feast, as the speeches and other
intellectual good things come in after a
modern dinner.
Meanwhile four distinguished looking
strangers rs-foreigners-had called upon
him, requesting invitations to his enter
tainment; not for the sake Of its meat and
drink and good company, but because OF
their great desire to hear that wonderful
reading which was to follow. The delight
ed Adder Rahmau extended them every
courtesy and introduced them. under th'
fine names and titles that they gave to al
his friends. Moreover, he placed them os
his right hand and directed most OF hi
conversation to them.
Finally the feast was over The manu-
script, wrapped in an embroidered napkin
was brought TO the host, and he began {
read what he had written To his horror
as at intervals he cast his eyes over th
company to note what effect he had pre-
duced he saw one after the other pas
gently into the Land OF Nod They di'
not sprawl and snore as the slaves ha
done, but such dignified repose as the pas
tor Of many a church has the oppOrtunit
, Of observing every Sunday fell upon them
All vere listening intently with fode
arms and bent heads and closed lids, say
the four strangers, who sat bolt upright
all their eight eyes fixed upon the oour
, tenance of the reader. This fact was bali
/, to the afflicted soul Of Adder Rahmal
And having concluded his tale and r.
! ceived the usual tokens Of oriental al
I plause, he complimented these gentleme
on the superiority Of their intellect.
1T was the thrilling interest Of the ia
! which held us, said the eldest. "Aiay "
: bc permitted TO linger in your company (,
awhile in order to enjoy your convers
tionY"
Adder Rahman expressed himself
highly honored, and proceeded, assisted |
h his servants, to arouse his sleeping CUES
e and dismiss them; in fact, he civilly turnt
!, them out OF his house and returned to see
e the four wise men. Alas! they were mis-
o ing, and with them had vanished servi
OF gold set with gems, which had adorn,
the table, and all the silver used, save OIL
fiat salver, on which the rohber chief, .
!. Harran, had written thanks for his 20,
Z dinner and the trouble the learned gent
= man had taken to entertain him. In fac
!. Adder Rahman had had for his guest t
= = arch chief Of the orient and three of 1
gang,
In haste he rushed tothe chief Of the ja
zaries TO make a complaint, but only 3
himself into trouble for having harbOr
" such criminal under his roof, was fin
'e- aud bastinadoed and much reviled Mo
nt over. he had offended every friend he h
an by his abrupt dismissal of his guests.
ne one would speak to him, and he was v,
wretched. However, he so greatly desil
TO give his readings that il occurred 20 h
that he would no longer remain a bachel
ka he would marry a wife.
it Naturally children would arrive. In tii
re- he would have an audience all his own,
nd lighted that he, the head of the house.
condescended to them. As he wished
wife TO be woman OF mind aud exp,
ence he chose the widow Of very learr
and distinguished man. All might hi
been well but that Adder Rahman c
ceiyed the idea Of reading narrative
sel the occasion Of his wedding feast, and
-, luckily carried it out.
rec Alas the brides uncle slept before he l
ny finished three sentences; the brides fat
followed suit. One after the other
guests dropped off more or less peaceful
and the only person who remained awi
~: was relative Of the bride, the black sh
her os the family. Unfortunately Abder-R
lds man had chosen for his tale the life q
the wicked young man, and the listener ch
ar to consider it an offense, moral lesson
rected personally to himself, aud just
rbe the innocent and injured Adder Rain