Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-10-21


been granted him to serve so holy man,
and whenever his duties permitted he could
be found listening to the words of wisdom
and instruction that fell from the sheik' 8
lips. His term of probation, however, be-
ing ended he took leave of his master with
many tears and soon after attained great
renown in one of the neighboring cities.
Now, it so happened that the new dervish
whom the sheik took as pupil and servant
was most indolent and good for nothing
fellow, whose sole ambition was a full
stomach and who after serving 10 years
showed no inclination to better his fortune,
as his predecessor had done.
The sheik thereupon one day addressed
him thus: .aG
"Allah Kerim, God is great Ny son, it
Is useless for you to remain longer in my
service. You have attained all the knowl-
edge it is in my power to bestow on you.
Go, therefore, and seek your fortune in the
world. l give you this ass to help you on
your journey, and may Allah and his
prophet be with you and grant you long
life."
The dervish humbly kissed the hand Of
his patron, and taking the ass by the halter
led him forth, intending to mount him as
soon as he had left the precincts of the holy
place.
Alas, hardly had he gone few steps ere
he became aware that his companion was
woefully lame and decrepit and that it
would be utterly impossible to make use OF
him. He therefore procured stout cudgel
from neighhoring thicket, and with many
blows persuaded him to continue the jour.
ney. Thus he drove him the entire day and
until far into the night, when suddenly the
beast fell by the roadside and expired.
ALAS" said the dervish, what shall I
now do? If allow this miserable ass to lie
where he has fallen, his carbon will in a
short time pollute the air, and I, being a
stranger, shall doubtless be thrown into
prison and bastinadoed. l will therefore
dig pit and bury him here"
He then, with much labor, dug deep
hole, threw the body in, and having covered
it decently sat himself down on the mound
to rest from his exertion and commenced
bewailing his mournful plight.
While thus lamenting and weeping he no
ticed a body Of horsemen, magnifcently
mounted and attired, riding rapidly in bis
direction across the plain. Their attention
was at once attracted by the dervish and
the mound on which he sat. and upon ar.
irving near by they halted
Doubtless there were two dervishes,"
said one of the horsemen to the leader Of
the party. Zone of them has fallen by tho
wayside, and his companion has buried him
here and is mourning his loss"
This view of the case seemed to them 50
probable and showed such devotion on the
part Of the mourner that they dismounted
and approached the dervish, offering words
Of consolation and sympathy.
"Allah be with you and give you long
lifel" said the leader, who was none other
than the caliph's vizier returning from a
hunting expedition. I'VE see with much
sorrow that you have lost your brother.
pray you, however, console yourself and dry
your tears, for, Allah be praised, we ara
true believers and will build mausoleum
over the remains Of your departed brother,
who is now doubtless in the arms of the
prophet, and you shall keep watch over the
sacred relics. Be Of good cheer, therefore,
and take no heed for the future''
The dervish moaned piteously for few
moments. and then looking up, with tears
6UICdlAluk uOWA Alo ANCCy ICpllCls <1lldA
is great, and his goodness is beyond hui
man knowledge, yet it is terrible afflic
ton, my lord, to lose one who has been my
companion for these many years and who
in all that time has never given me harsh
word, nor have ever heard him speak an
untruth. Verify, he was a model of pa.
tience."
Only after much persuasion and cheered
by the thought that BETTING honors would
be paid the deceased was the dervish's
grief assuaged, and the party took Their
leave. with the assurance that their prom.
Use would be speedily fulfilled.
In q short time splendid mausoleum
was erected over the mound, the eternal
lamp was placed before the tomb, and the
devoted dervish was installed as sheik to
keep watch over the remains. The faith.
full flocked in great numbers to the tomb
Of the new saint, and ere long it had be.
come the most renowned mausoleum in the
land.
The wisdom, knowledge and piety of the
sheik were extolled above all Others, and
many wonderful cures were performed,
The blind were made to see, the deaf to
hear and the lame to walk, and in short
time the old sheik, his former master,
found that the rising glory Of the new star
was speedily eclipsing his own and that the
number of worshipers at his shrine was
rapidly diminishing. He therefore resolv
ed to visit the new sheik with the hope Of
acquiring some Of the wisdom Of which he
had heard SO much.
The recognition was mutual, yet neither
gave any sign. and the young sheik began
10 hope that age had so impaired his for.
mer masters faculties that he would not re-
member him. He therefore gave him the
''musasir," or sign Of salutation, and for
several days they performed their devotions
jointly at the holy tomb.
One evening, however, as they were sit
ting alone, the old sheik bent his head to
the others ear and whispering, said; MAY
Allah grant you long lifel Tell me, ! pray
you, by what strange change Of fortune
were you enabled to attain this greatness"
And the other made reply; My father,
all that am owe to the miserable lame
| left your service. This is his tomb. All
merit belongs to him."
For q long time the old sheik sat in 81.
lent meditation, stroking his venerable
beard. At length, raising his eyes from
the ground, he said: Allah Is great, and
Mohammed is his prophet What you
told me Is passing strange, for learn, my
son, that under the mausoleum, where ]
found 30 much honor and profit, lie buried
the bones of the sire Of thy &C. L.
Bordenstein In Short Stories,