The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-03-19
AN ORIENTAL LEGEND.

4 king grown old in glory and renown
OF goodiy deeds. a wholesome reign 10 crown.
Feeling the years turn white upon his head.
Thought OF his end. and 10 himself he said:
:. Three sons l have. strong types OF sturdy
youth.
Bred in all honor manlness and truth:
Honest and brave are they. know IL well.
But traits there are in all that none may tell
I'll test them. therefore. for fam would know
Which one shall rule the best when shall CO.
Thereon he sent slave TO call his sons
Into his presence. Strong and manly ones
They surely were. to glad . fathers sight,
And mind him of his sprinptime's write might.
To whom the king. my sons, the time draws
near
When !, thy sire, shall be no longer here
And would know which OF you may trust
To WELD the scepter when my hands are dust;
And to tina, end make thee his request,
Which OF my three sons loves his father best.'
Then spake the eldest: Sire my love for thee
Is deeper broader. greater than the sea.
Vast as II Is. that vets thy kingdoms shore.
Such is my love for thee. my sire. and more
The second them My father and my king,
There Is not any yet created thing
In the whole universe below, above.
To mark the scope and measure OF my love"
The youngest simply said: Il can not tell
Thee more than this: l love my father we'll"
The king dismissed them with o tender word,
And sa, and poEdered well what he had heard;
Then called his minister and TO him spake:
MY lord. pilgrimage fain would make
To far-iamed Mecca. That may atone
For sins unpardonec. ! will go alone.
Barefooted and bareheaded. and i'll
BY Allah shall be called upon to die
While on this pilgrimage it's my command
That my three sons together rule the land"
A year went by and yellow were the leaves.
The ripened grain was gathered into sheaves,
And all made ready for the harvest sport.
When through the kingdom-city, camp and
court.
Seaport and hamlet-the sad news was sped
That the wise ruler and Just king was dead.
Loved rs monarch tender. brave and true,
His people mourned him deeply as his due.
His sons were told the words the king had said,
Aud reigned together in their fathers stead.
The calendar had marked another year,
And on the dropping stalk the full.grown ear
Through golden husk and silken tassel showed
When YEARLY along the dusty road
beggar slowly moved towards the town.
Which reached at last outside the gate safe
down
And rested Suddenly his thoughts were bent
Upon man near by with garments rent.
Who sighed, and wept. and beat upon his breast.
And ever made this moan: Il loved him b, 81
Friend said the beggar tell. II may know.
What is the cause and secret OF thy woe;
Allah hath certain cure for every i'll;
Thine may He soften" For a moment still
The other safe; then, with fresh tears he said:
sGreat is my loss. l mourn the king that's
dead.
All. never more shall men sec such a one:
My father he: was his oldest son"
And then he beat once more upon his breast
And rent his clothes. and cried: Il loved him
best"
The beggar sighed: Such love must Allah
prize.
Thy brothers. Mourn they also in this WISER
Not So. the mourner said. $50 me in age
The nearest quickly did his grief assuage;
With horse and hounds his hours are spent In
sport,
To the great sorrow OF the court.
The youngest bears the pains and cares Of state
Works out our fathers plans. To low and great,
Meteth out justice with impartial hand
The bcggar left the son on grief intent,
And straightway TO the court his footsteps
bent.
Cast on his beggar's clothes before the throne,
And. clad in purple, proudly claimed his own.
Cried, In voice that made the arches ring:
"Hear ye. my people, As am your king.
My power my crown. my sceptcr and my throne
Go to my youngest son, and him alone.
Son OF my soul fold thee to my breast;
Who doth his fathers work loves him the be !"
Ross Deforris. in Youth s Companion