Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-12-18
HOW HE BECAME
AN ASTROLOGER.
And How Accident Helped To Make Him Sue
cessfuI.
cessfuI.
BY EDWARD COURTNEY.

etyfof a great KING ol the East ana
though he was lowly, he saw much of
tAe pomp and grandeur of the court
Aife.
The desires of the cobbler were few,
end were easily satisfied by his earn
ags. His life was quiet and content
cd, and all would have been well with
aim but for one inmate of his house.
This was a young and beautiful
girl, whom Ahmed had adopted when
she was a mere child. She was now
grown up, and was very lovely to look
at, but her heart was not kind; and
yet Ahmed cared for her as if she were
his own daughter, and could not see
her faults.
One day Sittara went to the baths,
as was her custom, and there she be-
held a woman, surrounded by her
slaves, and having beautiful jewels
studded in her dress, which shone like
stars at night. The young girl was
very vain of her own beauty, and see
Ing that the woman looked fair only
hecause of her fine clothes, she thought
how radiant she would be is she could
be so attired.
She soon found out that the rich
woman was no other than the wife of
the chief astrologer to the king, and
with this information she hurried
honae~ ---,J
Stop your cobbling this very day,
and turn astrologer!" she cried to
Ahmed. Look how poor we are
while if you were an astrologer I could
have the beautiful things that become
rae. I will not be poor any longer, she
cried passionately, like the spoiled
child she was.
Ahmed pleaded and coaxed in vain
He tried to reason with her, saying
that he was not wise enough to be an
aatrologer, but she would not hear
him.
You must be an astrologer, or will
leave your house forever" the petulent
girl cried.
Perhaps the poor cobbIer was weak
to listen to her, but he had put all his
hopes, all his thoughts in this girl and
now to have her leave him was like
uKngrE very'IIfe. .-.
So it happened that he was at last
persuaded, and went out and purchas-
ed an astrolabe. an astronomical al
manac and a table of the twelve signs
OF the zodiac.
When he came home with these, Sit
tara ran to greet him, saying:
Now we shall soon be rich, and I
Shall be happy"
Ahmed was pleased at this show Of
affection, but when he awoke in the
morning he feared to venture forth in
this new guise. However, there was no
help for it, SO off he went to the mar
ket-place and began to call aloud:
Il am an astrologer; l know the sun,
the moon and the stars; I can calcul-
ate nativities; nothing is unknown to
nae, past, present or future; 1 am an
aEtrologer!" =
Soon a crowd gathered around IN,
laughing and hooking; for Aim d was
well known amoung the teaGe-people,
and his presumption now WIS consider
ed huge joke.
Ahmed, have you }pst your wits,
that yop thus cry alou d." one asked.
Hive you grown weary of bend
Ing .over your last, and now look up
r0Sd to the stars?" asked another.
So they continued to torment him,
but still he cried out:
Il am an astrologer; know the sun,
the moon and the stars. I can calcul-
ate natiyities. Naught is from me hid
den. can predict the future!"
Just then the chief jeweler to the
king happened to come along. He was
in great trouble, but seeing the crowd
he pushed his way through to see what
was the cause of so much commotion.
When he saw Ahmed, whom he knew
to be an honest man, in the guise of an
asfrologer, his fears for moment van
ished as he thought that here mir
arle had been worked, and perhaps he
p1 'ght obtain help.
approaching Ahmed, he said:
son of the people, raised to this
b III estate, seek thy counsel. Know
that an emerald of priceless value has
suddenly disappeared from my house.
1t belongs to the king, and if it is not
fo iad, death awaits me. Find the
stone for me aad two hundred gold
ri IS shall be thine. But If you fail
By tomorrow to discover the gem, l
shall use my influence at court to have
We slain as an imposter.'
When Ahmed heard these words he
VS. filled with dismay. and looking
flown upon the ground, as if in deep
Meditation, he thought OF his daughter,
VITO had brought this trial upon him.
oh, woman!" he exclaimed, into
Wat trouble will you bring man; even
having death threatened to him!"