The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-11-06

give the call for afternoon prayers from
the minaret and sing in the choir at
the service, and then you come home
as comfortable as a cat that is licking
her chops over the last of the little
chickens
This was becoming serious, and Meh-
med nearly said that he could not I'M
dertake any more work. But as soon
as his wife heard of the proposal she
said: You are already in STEAMBOAT
in any case, my lion, and you might
just as we'll earn this money, too; it
will provide for our tobacco So
Mehmed Agha became muezzin at the
other duties.
One day after the Bezestan had
closed, Mehmed Agha was making all
speed to reach the mosque in time,
when, in crossing the square in front
OF the mosque of Bayezid, he squarely
ran into a man. What was his amaze
ment to find that this collision had
brought him face to face with Osman
Agha, friend of his boyhood at his
OLD home in Lovcha in Bulgaria Meh-
med Agha had not seen his friend since
the war, but he saluted him and hur-
ried on
Osman Agha called after him to stop
a moment, but Mehmed Agha answered:
NO; | am in great hurry, and /
cannot STOP"
Man alive!" cried Osman Agha, Il
have Just come from your fathers
house, and you pass me like a Cabinet
Minister, with wave of the hand"
These words were uttered in a some
what disjointed and jerky fashion, for
Osman Agha was running after Meh-
med. When he had caught him firmly
by the coat collar, Osman added:
We'll, how are you, and what are
you doing for living?'
Mehmed Agha made no attempt to
break away, and replied: II am all
right. For some time I had no work.
but a woman married me, and she
has found work for me; and now let
me go and do it,
But what kind Of work is it that
will not let you even stop to have a
cup of coffee with your oldest friend"
ooh, it is many works. First thing
in the morning I am beurekji and sell
beurek cakes at Beshiktash. Then i
| am school porter there, and have to
take the children to school as soon as
the beurek cakes are sold AS soon
as the children are safely at school
l have to hurry off to STEAMBOAT, for I
am broker in the Bezestan while that
is open, and I sell auction goods about
the baZars. AS soon as the BezeStan
! closes l am mueZZin at the mosque of
Mihrimah; and now I must go there
| to call the people to afternoon prayers.
After the service l go home, and as
soon as I get home l am night watch
man until it is time to sell the beurek
cakes again. My wife has found me
work, you see! Why, man, l do not
even have time to swallow down my
| own Spittle!"
We'll" said Osman Agha, indig-
nantly, ''all I have to say is that if
had a wife who made me work like
that I would divorce heE before sun
set"
That is what 1 would like to do
said Mehned Agha, now for the first
time recognizing his grievances. Yes,
/ it would be best to divorce this Wo-
man. But, then, l would have to go
to the court to tell the Judge that I
have divorced her, and to give security
fol the dowry money. Mercy Don't
in the world. 1t would take at least
two hours time! l really haven't time
to be divorced"
So saying, Mehmed Agha broke away
| from his friend and rushed off to the
mosque of Mihrimah to call the faith
| full to prayers.-NeW York Tribul e.