Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-03-19
THE THREE QUESTIONS.

Sultan Suleiman the glorious-may
Allah grant him peace !-once upon a
time disguised himself and, accom-
panied by his grand vizier, also in dis
guise, travelled through the country to
acquaint himself with the sentiments
of his subjects. Upon winter day,
iuet before sundown, he encountered
an old man who, in spite Of the cold,
was busily blowing his sterile bit of
land The sultan stopped, blessed the
labor and looked on for a few minutes
without saying a word. When the
peasant turned his weary oxen home
ward, the sultan spoke:
whence comes the snow upon these
mountains2"
From the hard times, replied the
old man.
"And how large do the bears have
dens in the forest?"
"Just as large as God has made
them"
care you in the habit Of skinning
your asses in this country?"
whenever the opportunity offers,
Efendum."
In the meantime the peasant had
finished his preparations for going
home. The two wayfarsrs accom-
panied him. When they arrived at
the gate the old man invited the strang-
ers to enter. His wife brought food
and drink and prepared a bed.
The grand vizier could not get the
questions which the sultan had put to
the peasant out of Lis head. Finally,
he could no longer control his curlosi-
ty and asked his imperial master for
an explanation.
The sultan looked at the vizier aud
shook his head.
How is that, Muharem; you, the
grand vizier of the Sublime Porte,
have not understood my questions ?
Miserable wretch, if you cannot an
swer them by morning your honors
will be taken from you" Thereupon
the sultan lay down and soon was lost
in sound sleep.
Muharem tried to think what the
snow, the bear and the asses could
mean. The longer he thought the
more confused became his brain. At
last, when the melodious snore Of his
lord and master revealed that he was
sleeping the sleep Of the just, he arose
and aroused the peasant who was rest
ing in the adjoining room.
"Old man" whispered Muharem,
"wbat did my master mean by the
snow on the mountain"
"He referred to my white hair, Eff
fendum; which, l told him, came from
the hard times"
"Very well and now about the
large den. of the bears?'
He asked for resting place fol-
himself and you in my house. l told
him that we must put up with what
Allah has given US"
Excellent; most excellent. But
now about the ass who is being skinned
hereabouts?"
THAT, Effendum, is great secret
which I will not reveal to you"
But if I shall beg it a. favor, old
man?"
mot even then, my lord"
"Here is a gold piece. 1t is yours
if you will answer me"
That l may not do, Effendum."
The grand vizier continued to i'm
plore, but the peasant remained mex
orable. Muharem at last sought his
humble bed, still searching tor an e1-
planation Of the riddle. Soon the
cock began to crow-he was no wiser
than before. The fear of losing his
wealth and honors was constantly be-
fore his eyes. In his despair, he ripped
open his belt and took out enough gold
pieces to FIJI his turban. With this
heavy load he once more entered the
old mans room, aroused him, and
said:
"Au this is yours. What did my
master mean when he spoke of the op-
portunity to skin the ass ?"
With a smile on his face the peas
ant took the treasure, and said:
"See now. Efendum, the opportu-
nifty has come"
Mamma-Dorothy, do you know
who ate the raisins l left on the table2
Dorothy (aged 5)-Well, mamma, l
know onething. The cat didn't eat
EN-,