The Somerset reporter., 1900-01-18
'ver. the ascetic was again absorbed In

| deep meditation.
And the pilgrim returned to the city
and rpjoiced In anticipation of the be
neficent miracles through which Turf
ri's power undoubtedly would become
manifest.
| The next morning Turiri on awaken
ing happened TO throw a glance upon
his wife. who was still slumbering at
his side. All of sudden his wife, as
though driven by some mysterious
power. rose. rushed to the window and
precipitated herself into the yard, shat
tering her skull on the pavement
Turlrl left his house and soon saw
himself importuned by crowd of beg
CARS. He did not utter a harsh word
to them aud was about to distribute
aims In his habitual kind way when,
10! all the beggars dropped dead.
Continuing his walk. he met fair
Mandnnika, one Of the most noted
courtesans of Bagdad. Eager to gain
the wise mans love, she told him the
! story of her life and tried to persuade
him that she was unlike any other wo-
man of her profession. Turiri was
moved to pity and was about to ex-
press to her his sympathy when the
woman all of sudden fell llfeless at
his feet.
Arriving In the city, he found that
the street which he had to cross was
| blocked with numerous carriages. Aft
err waiting a few moments he began to
lose patience, when all at once drivers
and horses. as though hit by some mys-
FERROUS blow, dropped dead to the
ground.
He went to the theater and there fell
quarrelng with the scholar Carvilaka
about some verses which the latter as
cribed to Nisami. while Turiri claimed
that they were composed by Saadi.
Suddenly the scholar uttered a shrek
and expired. The play which was
performed had great success and was
much applauded by the audience.
| Hardly had Turiri made up his mind
to join in the applause when the au-
thor Of the play breathed his last.
Turlri returned home. terrified at
what he had seen, and, thinking him
self the cause of all these murders. he
killed himself In despair by plunging
a dagger into his heart.
During the same night died also
Maitrega the ascetic.
Both appeared simultaneously before
Ormuzd.
The ascetic thought In his mind:
How shall rejoice to see this man
| Judged according to his desert! This
man whose hypocrisy was almost as
much admired as my virtue as soon as
/ he had power to do what he liked
showed his true nature by committing
countless crimes"
Ormuzd, however turned smlingly
to Turiri and said:
"Welcome. virtuous Turiri. You
were truly good man and my faith
| full servant Enter now into my eter-
nal peace"
That's a good joke" said the as
celtic, with a sneer
Never have | been more In earnest
than at this moment" replied Ormuzd
| and, addressing again Turiri. spoke
you wished the destruction of your
! wife because of her ungentleness and
| homeliness the destruction of the beg
! CARS because Of their annoyance and
/ the repulsive sight they offered: the
destruction Of the courtesan because
OF her foolShness and lnsincerity; of
| the drivers and their horses for caus-
! Ing you an unnecessary delay; of the
! scholar Carvilaka for disagreeing with
! you; Of the playwright for his being
| more successful than you. All these
wishes were perfectly natural. The
| murders with which you were charged
by Maitrega were, without your know
! ing 1t, the effect Of your first wish
that wish which no one is able to com
mand. 1t is quite natural to hate all
| that is disturbing and obstructing. and
1t is just as natural to desire the de-
struction of what we hate. Nature is
egotistcal. and the name of egotlsm
Is destruction. Thus sin and crime
take root in the hearts of even the most
virtuous, and If mortals had the power
! of realizing their first involuntary
wishes the earth would fast become
| depopulated, This, Turin. | purposed
to show by your example But Judge
men after their second impulse only.
that impulse which alone Is In their
| power. Without the mysterious gift
for which you did not ask and which
made your last day so murderous you
would have continued to lead benef1-
cent existence. 1t is, therefore. not
your nature that have to consider
but your will. which was good and
ever ready to curb nature and to i'm
| prove any imperfect work. And for
this reason, my dear coworker, | open
to you the gates Of paradise"
$50 far. so good" said Maitrega. but
what reward do you grant to me?"
THE same" replied Ormuzd al
though you only partly deserved it.
You were a saint, but you were not n
human being unless so through your
pride. You succeeded in sitting the
! first impulse in your heart, but If all
men would live like you mankind
would be even faster eXterminated
than 1t could be through the fatal pow
er granted to my faithful servant Tu-
riri Now. | want mankind to exist. as
| find pleasure in It's sight, which at
times Is very beautiful. Even your eff
forts miserable ascetic, were not en-
! tirely devoid of beauty and therefore
| pardon you your foolish error. And
thus receive Turir into my bosom.
| because | am inst md Won Maitrepo