Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-01-02
THE SULTdy'S CAKES.


On New Years Night in Bagdad, walked
our King:
Omar Ibn Ai-Khattab. Khalifa he,
Commander of the Faithful, just and mild;
With Ahu Zeyd, his minister. And tread
Was dear, and poor folk suffered, since the
Held oil, Till, in their pits dealers hid
Like gold end silver-all the corn and rice;
Yet this The sultan visit not. wandering
Full OF rich meats, and rosy with good cheer
Ana Anu Leyd, behind him. fresh from feast-
AZ night, in garments such as merchants wear,
hlther and thither, up and down his town, a
So spied them presently twinkliDp fire.
unuer gHruen wall, whereto they drew,
ATiLd to lind what wight on such a tight
Made lodging on the chilly waste. Theg sec
4 woman, wo-begone, in hanging rags,
VINO blows, with pinched lips, at the leaves
and sticks
Underan earthen pot, where something boi,s-
Or should boil, II that feeble flame would
take
But while she strives, IL dies; and lat her side.
Two wailing hungry children moan anew.
Then spake the Sultan: Peace be unto
thes!
My sister! What is this thou doest hero
In the hard darkness and the bitter cold
With thy twin bahes?''
My Lord'' the woman said
! fan would make drink of water hot
10 warm the bellies Of my little ones,
Whu die of cold md famine; but some day
Alan shall set this with him who rules,
Omar the Sultan; he will answer tort
! hat my pot boiled not, and we died like
dogs. ~
And answer gave the Sultan, sorely moved;
"Ihink'st thou. o woman, Omar knoweth
this,
Or, knowing, had not succored?'
"Sir!" said she,
How 1ares he be king, and rule our land,
nj nT llah
And not be ware how these, his mean onss.
10 sight of lavish comfort of his court. s
In smell of his kao'abs?"
Then the Kiug cried y
10 AshaIn blu Zeyd: Come we away!
have thing to do!' So parted those
Quick Tor the palace. where they turn anon
Into staterOOn. Here our lord dislodned
From loaded shelves a bag OF wheaton -four.
And from another part closet sealed Jar
vi sheep % fat, and some salt and cinnamon:
Next, q dry kidding iaRgot. LOAD thou,
these. -
Quoth he, ''upon my shoulders, Minister, \
Allah forbid!" ,ded Abu zeyd. But
Will hoist and cW I. What! hama thou!
The Emir of Beliuvers!''
"See now. friend"
Replied the Sultan, when comes JudgmentI
Day,
is it thy back will bear the heavy seek I'm
Which holds thy sovereigns sins?'' 9
So Abu zeyd S
Piled on his master mutton fat and flour. x y
And salt, and cinnamon, anu fnggot. stick.
Which, toifully conveying, while the syeat
Readed the royal brow, the Sultan bore tn
Back to the wall. There were those three
torurn,
Mother HLd babes, and there our lord kpelt
town
And laid the wood fair underneath the pos,l
And set good blaze aglow; then spread his
skirt
OF silk, with pearls and turks round tho
seams
To mix the -four and fat, and knead them id
With salt and spice and sprinkied water-so
As ,ye roll dumplings. Then he thrust them
deep
To bob and hubble in the good broth, II
Wa ched by those three; viii o, full solieitousN
omar-crowned King OF all the shininA
BAIT
On hRnus and knees blew hard 70 fan theA
flame
Searching hi golden heard till aptly cooked, \
WI b point OF iewe ed sword he spitted each
And eat md eat a tain, OF mattou cakes;
Then, ioytui, wandered home with sack and
jar.
But, backward; pacing by bis masters side.
Quoth Ieyd: Nov, by Ills name, who is
1he fire has sccrehed great holes in heard
OF thee.
That art the Lords yiceregent!"
Omar said
g Feace II is nothing. Minister. That flame
singe,ng ny beGru hath liehtei up my
hsatt Independents.