The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-07-10
GIFTS IN ABYssINIA.
smcials win Take Them A. Thex

Dfncfals VIII Take Them If They Are
Presented In the Right Way.
The agent of the British government
who visited Abyssinla some years ago
wished to return the favor of a native
official by some suitable present. The
bestowal of this was, however, a mat
ter quite beyond the knowledge of one
brought up in the court circles of west
ern civilization. His experience was
instructive.
''The arrangement was badly han
died." he says, land when l arrived
several persons besides the high off1-
cial were present. After a few light
topics had been discussed l mentioned
my object In making the visit, and as
no offer was made to dismiss the by
ISLANDERS exhibited my donation.
an an instant l was aware that I
had made false step. A frown of
mingled surprise and Indignation
clouded the hitherto serene brow, and
tones Of fathomless integrity declined
the proffered gift, while strong inward
feeling found vent in a rocking motion
of his body.
"'You have utterly misunderstood
me- said he. The friendliness which !
have shown you has been extended
solely with pure motives Of kindness to
the stranger in the land. Devotion to
my sovereign and country is amply re-
paid by the internal consciousness OF
rectitude. Your intentions are doubt
less good, but greater happiness will
await me from the knowledge that you
will now recognize how disinterested
my conduct has BEEN
MY offering was firmly waved
away, and for some period his frame
continued shaken by inward emotion,
to the great edification of the bystand-
ers, whose eyes remained fixed on the
| ground.
at was undoubtedly very discomfit.
| ing, and my apologies for so great
mistake were profuse. / declared that
| could not quit this abode until re-
stored calmness had given me the as
surance that his feelings had recovered
their usual serene tone. AS fortunate
ly this soon happened, l left, properly
enraged at the miserable management
| which had occasioned the awkward
ness.
Naturally l consulted a Nwtive au
thority who had witnessed the trans
action and the mistake which l haC
committed, but he was so tickled BY
the circumstances that l extracted
from him for some time little blu
laughter. His eventual view Of mat
tiers was conflded In a few words:
"3Try again, but take more and hav'
no Witnesses
governor alone, and when opened thu
subject on which my visit was found
ed his eyes twinkled, and he said:
"'From the first moment when saw
you had presentiment that we wer
ordained to be great friends. l do no
know If Europeans have these super
stitions, but with us they are general
and we do not find them deceptive
You may have heard-and am awar
1t is generally stated of us by foreign
ers-that we are deceitful and avari
cious. Do not believe this. All coun
tries contain bad men, and your ex
perience has perhaps been unfortr
nate. But we shall remain Away
friends. And what are presents, afte
all, but external emblems of esteemr
There were no difficulties on thi
occasion. He was obviously muc
pleased and finally said that the bless
ing of Providence would be sure to al
tend the exertions of a man who wa
thoughtful of the saddened circun
stances Of others, and he was poor
very poor Youths Companion.