Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-06-08
GIFTS IN ABYssiNIA.

TO BE CONTINUED.

An agent of the British government
who visited Abyssinia some years ago
wished to return the favor of 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
western civilization. His experience
was instructive.
"The arrangement was badly hand
led" he says, land when arrived sew
eral persons besides the high official
were present. After few light topics
had been discussed mentioned my OBJ
ject in making the visit, and as no Of
fer was made to dismiss the bystanders
1 exhibited my donation.
I'm an instant | was aware that l
had made a 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 in
ward feeling found vent in a rocking
motion of his body.
You have utterly misunderstood
me-" said he. The friendliness which
l 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
repaid 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 con-
tnued shaken by inward emotion. to
the great edification Of the bystanders,
whose eyes remained fixed on the
ground.
1T was undoubtedly very discomfit-
ing, and my apologies for so great a
mistake were profuse. l 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, / consulted a native au-
thority who had witnessed the trans
action and the mistake which / had
committed, but he was so tickled by
the circumstances that l extracted
| from him for some time little but
laughter. His eventual view of mat
ters was confided in a few words:
Try again; but take more, and
have no Witnesses
"On the next occasion | found the
governor alone, and when | opened the
subject on which my visit was founded
his eyes twinkled, and he said:
From the first moment when
saw you | had a presentiment that we
were ordained to be great friends.
do not know if Europeans have these
superstitions, but with US they are gen.
eral and we do not find them deceptive
You may have heard-and I am aware
| il 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 expe-
rience has perhaps been unfortunate
But we shall remain always friends
and what are presents, after all, bu,
external emblemS of esteem?
There were no difficulties on this
occasion. He was obviously mucf
pleased. and finally said that the bless.
ing of Providence would be sure to at
tend the eXertiOns of a man who was
thoughtful of the saddened circum'
stances of others; and he was poor
very poor '"-Youth's Companion.