Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-08-29
The First Impulse
An Eastern Story Of Two Men
Noted For the Good They
Did.
BY JULES La MAlTRE.

'~~~~~~S~~~~~~~S~<SS
Turiri was wealthy citizen OF Bag.
dad who was far and wide renowned
Tor his many virtues. In assisting the
poor with his money he was so gen.
erons that he had to deprive himself Of
the luXurles Of life. and the patience
with which he listened to the laments
of the suffering and chcercd them with
KIND words earned him the love and
admiration Of his fellow citizens.
lie bore with resignation all the pet
ty annoynnccs which accompany man
through life In an almost unbroken
chain. lie was truly tolerant and
never waxed angry when others did
not share his opinions. n rare aho diff
cult virtue indeed, for there Is no
human being who does not wish III his
inncrmost heart that all other human
beings might be his interiors and yet
In his likeness.
lie was faithful husband, and this
In spite Of his wife being OF quarrel
some nature. He bore with her i'll
temper ana seemed not to mind ut all
that she was no longer young and
beautiful. Finally his unseltlshness
was SO great that, though himself the
author of numerous poems and
dramas, lie rcjoiced over the success
OF his rivals and proved his Joy by Civ
ing them sincere words Of encourage
mcnt and rendering them all kinds OF
services. In brief. all his life was
made up Of mercy. gentlrncss, loyalty,
unscllisllncss. and he was considered
saint-a chivalrous saint
In spite Of all this he showed n lack
OF that calm serenity which usually
llluminatcS the face OF sanity pcr-
sons Ills features had the suffering
expression Of one who has fallen Il
prey OF wild passions or secret sor-
rows. and frequently, In the very mo-
mcnt OF doing some kind act, he would
cast down his eyes. Was 1t to collect
himself or to avoid looking into pco-
pies faces? No one could tell
Now there lived not far from Bag
dad an nscctic by the name OF Maltre-
ga lie was II miracle worker, and the
pious from nll parts Of the world dock
ed to him to be helped by his prayers.
Having rcnounccd the world and all its
usagcs, Maitrcga had dug cave into
the bank OF the river and become n
holy man, whose prayers were always
heard at the throne OF Ormuzd. With
his G0iy, hair covered arms upliftcd to
heaven he stood before his cave rs un-
wearlcd rs tree stretching It's branch
eS upward, so that the swallows, de-
ceived by his mmobility, took Maitre-
ga for an old willow and built their
nests on his shoulders. His face was
tanned brown by the SIN and was
black with dirt. and his long beard and
tangled hair blow about him like the
wind beaten grass blades on the ram
pnrts of an old castle ruin And so he
had lived for many years, for such had
been his Will
One day he overheard a pilgrim say
ing:
OF OrmuZd. If he only had the power
to do what he likes, misery would sure
ly disappear from the earth"
Maitrega'S form became more rigid.
1t was apparent that the ascetic had
entered into communion with OrmuZd.
few moments passed In silence, then
he said TO the pilgrim:
81 cannot compel OrmuZd to grant to
Turiri the power to do everything he
wishes, for In that event he would be
equal to God. OrmuZd has, however,
granted that beginning from tomorrow
Mt all occasions the first wish enter
talncd by Turrl shall be Immediately
realized"
"Oh." replied the pilgrim. this al
most amounts to the same. Turir's
first wish at whatever occasion VIII be
Hike all his other wishes, always gen.
crous and good. You have announced
to me, reverend sir, the happiness OF
countless human beings. Accept my
best thanks"
Had Mnltrcga's beard been less i'm
pcnctrablc the pilgrim might hive no.
ticcd an lronical smile gliding over his
pctriicd lips. A moment later how
ever. the aScctic was again absorbed in
deep meditation.
And the pilgrim returned to the city
and rcjoiccd In anticipation OF the be-
nciiccnt miracles through which Turf
rfs power undoubtedly would become
manifest.
The next morning Turlri on awaken
Ing happened to throw n glance upon
his wife. who was still slumbcring Mt
his side. All OF Il sudden his wife, as
though driven by some mysterious
power, rose, rushed to the window ana
prccipitaicd herself into the yard, shat.
tcring her skull on the pavement
Turiri left his house and soon saw
himself importuncd by crowd OF beg.
gars. He did not utter Il harsh word
to them and was about to distribute
aims In his habitual kind way when.
10! all the bcggars dropped dcnd.
Continuing his walk, he met fair
Mandcnka, one of the most noted
courtcsans Of Bagdad. Eager to gain
the wise mans love, she told him the
story OF her life ana tried to persuade
him that she was unlike any other wo-
man of her profession. Turri was
moved to pity and was about to cx-
press to her his sympathy when the
woman ali OF sudden fell lirclcss mt
his feet.
Arriving i'm the city. he found that
the street which he had to cross was
blocked with numerous carriages Aft
cr waiting Il few moments lie began To
lose patience, when all at once drivers
and horses. as though hit by some mys-
tcriouS blow, dropped dead to the
ground.
He went to the ihcatcr and there fell
quarrcing with the scholar Carvilaka
about some verses which the latter as
Esss3 hsssxssA Elk ~SaJ Esssz