The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-05

manner IN which he became one ofthe Khalee-
feh's boon-companions through Jest which
that eccentric ruler of Baghdad PLAYED upon
him was related i'll THE CALL of SUNDAY last
The present narrative is one of the many
romances that center about the name OF the
famous wag. The story is in itself admirably
illustrative of Persian character which in
variably chooses TO gain its ends by some clev-
erly couUived STategem rather than by
straightforward means. The Persian courtier
is ever man of ready w.t. for this is largely
his means of subsistence, and the modern Per
sian Is today very like his prototype Of the
days OF Observation-Disclosures witty,
mendacious, sunny-natured, ready for any
manner OF adventure, and more often an ad-
Yenturer than an honest gentleman. De
pendent for life itself upon the whims OF
caprlclous ruler, holding fortune and position
by tenure the most precarous, and subject
10 many viCissitudes al the hands OF tate, he is
an adept in the art OF living by his wits, an
order OF existence TO which his native condi-
lions readily lend themselves. The jest
played by Abu-l-Hasan might with equal
readiness, and with equal reward, be practiced
to-day by a fsyorite boon-companion upon an
oriental ruler.
In the court OF Haroun- Err Raschid,
khaleefeh of Baghdad, dwelt man
Abu-l-Hasan, and he was favorite boon
companion Of the Prince of the Faithful.
and Er-Raschld used TO take him as COM
panion when he went to pay the visit of
ceremony to the Lady Zubeydeh, that he
might divert her by his wise and witty
conversation, for he was both a gifted and
an amiable person, endowed with graces
and skilled III those dissertations by which
ladies are pleased. And the Lady Zubey-
Deb noticed that Abu-i-Hasan. when he
came into her presence, regarded with
pleasure her favorite slave-girl, her female
treasurer, and the name of the damseI was
NuZhet-el-Fuad. And whenever Abu-l-
HaSan let his regard fall upon the slave
girl y uzhet-el-Fuad cast down her eyes and
sighed, reciting verses so that the Lady
Zu0eydeh perceived that they were enam-
ored the one Of the other. and being mind
ful OF the brevity of youth she said TO the
Prince OF the Faithful: 0 my Lord, what
harm if we should marry thy favorite,
a bu-l-HaSan the Wap, TO my female treas
Urer? and ErRaschid said: This is a cap
ltal suggestion, Tor III time past he made
. known to me his inclination toward mar
rage, aud L promised him wife that
should be agreeable to him, so l perceive
that TINS wife Will be none other than
Nuzhet-el-Fuad.
So the Prince of the Faithful made Abu-
l-Hasan magnificent gifts of gold and Jew
els OF rare description, and the lady ZuDey-
Deb bestowed upon NuZhet-el-Fuad, her
slave-girl, a marriage portion such as the
dOwry OF the daughters of kings, and
A5u-l-Hasan transferred his own patri-
mony, that ha0 been his inheritance from
his father, upon his mother, and the pair
were married. And they lived together
in the most agreeable existence for the
space of one year, during which time they
employed an excellent cook, and ate OF the
most delicate viands as they were season.
able. and devoted the nights to diversion,
eating and drinking and ACCOMPANYING
their voices on tue lutte, enjoying a delight
ful life until their money was gone, and
they found themselves possessing not
aught.
And Abu-l-Hasan said: 0 Nuzhet-el-
Fuad, verify this is a most embarrassing
predicament. Hast thou any suggestions
10 offer whereby our discomfort may be
eased? And Nuzhet-el-Fuad said: 0 my
lord, canst thou not represent our need to
the Prince of the Faithful? And he said !:
Verify am ashamed to do this, for the
money which is spent was given to me by
the Prince OF the Faithful, and | desire not
that he should know how soon it is ex-
hausted. But AuZhet-el- Fuad what
doth hinder thee from stating the case to
the Lady Zubeydeh? She replied: O NV
lord, this would make me to be abasbed
before her, for she granted me liberty To
marry thee, and bestowed upon me a
dowry such as is the marriage portion of
l
that she should know how quickly it hath
melted.
And Abu-l-Hasan meditated upon their
case, considering q way out OF their embar-
RAISING predicament, for life was agreea Bile
unto them. And when he had reciteJ
some verses he looked toward Nuzhet-el
Fuad and said There is for it nothing but
that we must each die, and she said This
q my lord, | viii indeed not do, for I am
not yet weary of life. He replied: meant
tins not save for a Jest, Tor l have con-
triyed a strategem by which we shall OBJ.
tain each a hundred pieces of gold and a
piece OF costly cloth which we shall be able
10 sell for other fifty pieces. And she said ::
Do what thou desirest, only acqualnt me
with the stTategem.
Then Abu-l-Hasan SAID: Spread thou a
sheet upon the floor and will Law myself
along 1t. with my feet toward Mecca, and
close my eyes, and do thou tie my toes and
put upon my stomach knife and little
salt, and spread over NE napkin of silk,
and unfold my turhan over me. Then
dlshevel thy hair about thy ears and rend
thy vest and 20 lamenting to the Lady
Zubeydeh and when she shall inquire OF
thee concerning thy grief say: May thy
life long survive the life of Abu-l- Hasan
the Wag, Tor he is dead. Thereupon she
will mourn for me, and weep, and desire
her female treasurer to give thee a hun
dred pieces of gold; wherewith to bury me,
corpse for burial. Then when thou return
est l will lay thee along with thy feet
toward Mecca, and will tie thy toes and
will 90 to the Khaleefeh and say: May thy
head long survive Nuzhet-el-Fuad, for she
is dead. And l Will rend my vest, and
tear my beard, whereupon the Khaleefeh
Will mourn for thee, and will command his
treasurer to give me a piece of gold bro
cade, and hundred pieces of gold. that
may prepare thee for burial. And Nuzhet-
el-Fuad was filled with delight, and said ::
Truly this IS an excellent strategenl.
Forthwith she closed his eyes and tied
his toes, and did all that he had told her;
after that she went to the Lady Zubeydeh
shrieking and weeping. When the Lady
ZubeyGeh beheid her in this condition she
said; What is this state in which ! see
thee, and what has happened unto. thee
And Nuzhet-el-Fuad said: 0 my mistress,
may thy life long survive Abu-l-Hasan the
Wag, for he is dead. And the Lady Zubey-
Deb said: Poor Abu-lHasan the Wag, that
agreeable, pleasant man. And she wept
or him, and commanded her female treas