The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-08-03
Abdul'S Ambition
BY JULINA 0. HALL.

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The Nile boat Amanatis was tying
mp" for the night at Esneh. 1t was
nine O'Clock, and even the great, glor-
ious Egyptian afterglow that lights
up the land and the river for an hour
after sunset had died down into the
common gray of evening.
The dragoman was courteously
helping me up the rough bank, with
the torch-bearers ahead and my
companions behind. Inasmuch as
the great Temple of Khnum has been
but partly uncovered and can be seen
only by lantern-light, it mattered not
whether our visit was by day or
night
win You go to see the temple,
lady?" said soft voice in my ear.
Every word was spoken with a clear,
slightly hesitating articulation.
That is my intention" / an
swered, YEARLY.
MAY j SO with -ou?" the speaker
continued, and / saw by the torch
light that the boy who addressed me
was unlike the young Arabs who
elsewhere press upon you their SER
wees as guides.
1T is not necessary" / replied
''We have guide; this man will do
for me everything ! nee done"
II beg your pardon, madam.
only wished to talk with you to inn
prove ~ English language"
/ turned to see more clearly what
manner OF boy this could be, whose
finished articulation of each vowel
and consonant made me feel that it
behooyed mo to improve my own
English language. He was dressed
in clean white robe and red fez, 18th
an English-made jacket, for the air
was cool His features were deli
cate, and ne seemed of pure Arab
blood
Certainly you may; but tell me
where you learn such good English. "
My heart was going out toward a boy
who sought language-p practice when
he ought to be abed and asleep
EN- the government school," he
answered.
"How long have you studied it?"
"This is my second year"
questioned him about his other
studies. He professed great interest
in geography. Because you can
learn about all the countries in the
world" he added, with great enthus-
iasm. OWN you tell me-" he con-
tinued, with a fascinating trace of
shyness, what city you come from?"
Il live in Washington. Did you
ever hear Of ito"
washington Is the capital of the
United States. 1t is on the Potomac
River, and is the seat Of the national
government
But | once lived in Boston"
added, e-perimentally,
"Boston exports manufactured
goods" he recited promptly, land
think. hides and tallow" he added
doubtfully.
Eyes, said, with cheerful con
adence that the Hub of the Universe
coald export anything she wished.
I should have been glad had the
way to the temple been longer. The
gate that admitted us to the sacred
preoi.cts excluded the natives, ant
ALI not provided with six-dollar gov
srnment permits to see Egypt's won
ders.
I inspected from the high en-
trance-level the wonderful and va
ried capitals, and descended to the
vestibule floor, and even saw the
whole mass of ancient masonry hasf
nm into unaccustomed brilliancy
under the glare of magnesium
Ii which we carried for the pur
pose, and which not only revealed the
finer touches of the engraver's CHS
ePs. but threw upon the startled bats
a strange light that made them CLEAN
for an instant like butterflies; but
all the time my interview vita the
little alien who spoke my tongue sc
sweetly was revolving itself enter
tainingly just beneath the surface o.
my consciousness.
IN quick accordance with my wish