New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-13
MEHMED'S LUCK.


made that region Christian country. He was
strong in build, he good-lo and 10
seerned fairly intelligent. But DO what he would
he could find no steady work. At Amos, any
hour OF almost any day his bright yellow waist.
coat and crimson girde CLEANED among the
shadows of the dingy little coffee house By the
carriage stand at Beshiktash. For there he
ounged away his time, waiting for something
to turn up. At night he wrapped himself In his
brown homespun cloak and slept on one Of the
coffee house benches barely tolerated by the
coffee house keeper, because he. having been a
refugee himself knew the pitful bitterness Of
the refugees lot. How Mehmed lived no one
knows He was never seen TO eat. and people
locked at him askance. as though he had mas
tered the chameleon's secret. At last Mehmeds
long and patient expectancy was justified Some
thing did turn up; and from that moment the
mans character as we'll as his life reyOlu.
tioniZCd.
What turned up was very simple and pleas
ing solution Of his difficulties. one day the
stout and jolly old imam Of the parish received
a visit from Melck Hanum, a buxom widow ly.
ing nearly opposite the little coffee house by the
carriage stand. She held her white veil modest.
" over her face. and, with certain amount Of
hesitation and incoherency. she asked the as
tonished old gentleman to obtain for her the
hand of Mehmed the refugee, in marriage. She
explained that, being lone woman. she needed
a husband; and that Mehmed Agha being q
good looking man. who had nothing in particu-
lar TO occupy him. she fancied that he might
have been destined 10y Fate for the vacant pos,
in her house. "Of course il will amount" she
said Ito my doing everything for him. bu, hen
/ the poor fellow needs to have some one take
care OF him."
The good imam had not quite that right OF
disposal Of Mehmed Aghas hand which Melek
Hanum seemed to ascribe to him. Nevertheless
as pastor OF the parish. he had more than
performed similar favors for anxious and hope
! less ones He therefore saw no reason 10 refuse
to act as wooer OF Mehmed for the widow and
thanks TO his wise diplomacy. a match was
quickly arranged.
Not long after the marriage Melek Hanum
casually remarked 10 her husband that she
knew how to make very good beurek pastry
cakes. There is no reason" she said why you
should not go out early in the morning and sell
my beurek cakes on the streets. People will buy
them for breakfast and we shall make on them
at least enough to pay for our coal" This
seemed unmpeachable sense. Thus Inclined
Agha became a beurekji, rising early every
morning. and peddng the toothscme cakes
from house to house in a little tray sung about
his neck. The profits roconciled him TO the in'
convenience of regular duties.
After the trade in pastry cakes had become an
established and successful enterprise, Melek
/ Hanum one day hailed her husband with new
/ proposal. oh Mehmed. soul OF my SOUL she
said. 1T is no shame 10 work, If we can get
money in that way to pay the bakers account
The neighbors have just told me from their
window that Yusuf the school porter. has gone
away He Is to be stableman al kiamil PashaS
Run quick TO the imam and ask him to let you
be school porter. Your beurek cakes are sold on
long before it is time TO take the children 70
school You might do this work as well as not
The imam was kindly disposed and so the
next day. after selling his beureks, Inclined
Agha began his new duties gathering up all the
little children of the quarter and taking 'nefn
and their dinner tins. under his protecting
shadow. to the school
After a few weeks there came again a day
when the good imam knocked at the door OF '"e
little house opposite the coffee shop and called
for Mehmed Agha. May God give you enu'e''
days. said he "A man whom put into the
| BeZeStan as broker mas uIcu' II -" '
get you his place. Perhaps you might HAM
little money out OF the business
Before Mehmed Agha had chance TO answer
a gentle voice from behind the screen whe's
Melek Hanum had taken refuge on the a''""
OF the imam said. Certainly. Mehmed, you
ought to take this position Fortunately 'ne
Bezestan does not open until the middle oi ~,
forenoon You will not have 20 hurry al ''
after taking the children TO school II ~
every day that you can get chance 70 'SAe
a business which will pay the rent OF the hous'.
Needless 10 saw. Mehmed Agha became a BefeS