St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-07-23
MISCELLANY.
THE IDLER AND THE FIG.

named alter his father, SlQ1 Lakdar,
but to whom the villagers had given
the name of The Idler. The Moors
are known to be the most 1ndOlent
people in the world, but those of the
village OF Blidah were considered the
LATEST of their countrymen. 1t was
perhaps to be attributed to the lam
guorous 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 Sidi Lakdar for down
right idleness and nonchalance. The
worthy man had elevated his vice to
the height of a profession; other
people might be embroiderers, cafe
owners, spice merchants and so on
but he was an Idler
When his father died he inherited
small garden under the ranparts
of the town, surrounded by low
white walls falling into decay. The
gate was so entangled by weeds
that it could not be closed. There
were a few fig and banana trees.
Here and there in the grass a spring
dubbed up.
1t was in his garden that Sid1 LAX
dar 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 gather
ed fig or a banana lying within
reach: but he would have preferred
starvation to the alternative of ris-
ing to gather the fruit off the tree.
~ Gnc 1ooo we'd yxyhar-a
they fell and the trees suffered from
the general neglect.
This extraordinary Incidence made
Lukdar quite noted person IN that
part of the country; he was looked
up to and reverenced as a 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 whispers
under their white wells; while men
inclined their heads in involuntary
homage.
Every dav after school hours a
crowd of boys in gaily 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 magnificent in
dolence; calling him by name, laugh
ing, shouting, throwing orange peel
at him and otherwise tOrment1ng
him.
But in vain The Idler did not
move. Every now and then voice
from the depths Of the grass would
he heard: Take care now, take
care, if only get up to you!" But
he never got up.
1t happened that one of these boys
coming constantly with the others
to make game of the Idler, found
himself at last overcome by admira-
ton, and a great desire to assume
himself the horizontal existence.
He went to his father and boldly de-
clared that he intended giving up
school and wished to become an
Idler.
IAN Idlerl You'll" said the father,
a worthy turner of pipe stems, as
busy as bee, and seated before his
lathe every morning at cockcrow.
You, an Idler! a pretty idea in
deed!"
Eyes, father, l wish to be an 1dler
like Sidi Lakdar.'
Nothing of the sort, my boy, you
shall be a turner like your father or
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 1 may be
tempted to use this fine new piece of
cherry wood on your back. Be Oft
now, you Young rascal.'
The cherry wood had the desired
effect, and the boy feigning obedience,
withdrew but instead of going to
school he made his way to Moor
ish bazaar, and Selling his opportun-
itv secreted himself between two
piles of Smyrna rags and remained
there all day, lying on his back star
ing up at the Moorish lanterns and
richly embroidered bodices glistening
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 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 Obst1nately,
II 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 ap-
prentice"
THAT will suit me- replied the
boy
The very next day. with freshly
shaver heads, and lavishly perfumed