The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-08-16
HE IDLER AND TIE FIG.
! Moorish Tale Of Lazy Man Who
Net a LATER On


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.
It was perhaps to be attributed to the
dangerous perfumes of oranges and
lines which hung over the town like q
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 pro-
fession. Other people might be EN-
broiderers. cafe owners. spice merchants
and so on-but he was an idler.
When his father died he inherited
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-
ma trees Here and there in the grass
spring dubbed up.
1t was in his garden that Sid Lakdar
passed his life. prone on his back in the
grass, silent and motionless, while the
little red ants found a home in his
beard. When be was hungry he stretched
out an arm and gathered fig or bana-
ma 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 Incidence made
Lalsdar quite a 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 wells, while men
| inclined their heads in involuntary ho1n-
| 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 Incidence, calling him by name.
laughing, shouting. throwing orange
| peel at him and otherwise tormenting
! him.
But in vaini The Idler did not move.
Every now and then voice from the
depths of the grass would be heard,
Take care now, take care, if only get
up to you'll" But he never got up.
1t happened that one of these boys
l coming constantly with the others to
make game of the Idler, found himself
at last overcome by admiration and a
! g.eat desire to assume himself the hori-
zontal existence. He went to his father
and boldly declared that he intended
giving up school and wished to become
/ an idler.
can idlerl 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 indeedI
| Eyes, father, wish to be an idler,
| like Sidi Lakdar."
4 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 of now, you young rascalw
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
H.. ~. - -. - 4t.o Mor,; h, 4e,
and richly embroidered bodices glisten-
! ing ia the sun, while he inhaled the de-
licious perfume from the TASKS of altar
| of roses scattered about In this manner
be 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,
| stor,ned, 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, 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, ne said to his son. "As
| you are determined to be an idler, will
! take you to Lakdar; he will examine
| you, and II 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 shayen
heads and lavishly perfumed with YER
bena, they sought the Idler in his little
| garden. The gate was always open, SO
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 maze Of
birds and overgrown plants-a bundle
| of yellow rags He received them with
| grunt.
Allah be with you. Sidi Lakdar.'
said the father bowling low, his hand on
his heart This is my son. who in
sists on becoming an idler have
brought him toyou for examination that
! you may decide If he really has any fit
I ness for your profession; in which case
beg Of you to allow him to become your
apprentice and win pay all that is
| necessary.
- -.