Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-12
The Meeting Of
Eel and Ba1ak


camels met one evening just at shutdown.
One had come from the east and the other
from the west. They were both weary. and
because there was nothing to see but the
sky above them and the bare sandy des-
ert all around them, it was only natural
that each should regard the other with in
terest.
As they lay themselves down to rest one
Of them said, Tell me thy name, good
friend"
MY name Is Ezel," was the reply. ''And
what do thy masters call thee?"
'"They call me Balak," he answered.
So Balak and Eel gazed Into the face OF
the other. And Eel said, Good Balak,
tell me, pray thee, a story"
Balak closed his eyes for a while so that
he might think Finally he said he would
tell story about something that hap
pened once while he was in Cairo.
MY master and I stopped one day at
the inn. Next day there CHANGED to come
also a lady and her pet dog. Now the
landlord said that the stable was good
enough for dogs. and I thought, Eel, that
the beast would have to sleep on the
ground with me.
I'm moment the woman was in rage.
She declared that had it not been for her
home and not exposed to the whims Of un-
reasonable landlords. She was travelling for
the dogs health, she said, and nothing that
he had was too good for her dog!
Think of it, Eel! That useless cur with
his front face all pushed up into wrinkles,
and his back nearly as broad as 1t was
long, the very picture of health. sleeping
upon perfumed purple cushions beside the
ladys couch, while l, who had to toll hard
for my living had to lie on the bare ground
in a corner of the stable yard!
''It is hard world" sighed Eel
Balak sighed likewise and continued:
But that Is not the story L Wlshed 10
tell. 1t only begins now. In two days the
dog died How it came about could not
hear. But 1 remembered the sneering curl
of my lip when L heard the lady say she
he looked 1 made sure he would easily out
live the lady herself. 1t is never Wlse'
friend Eel. to judge by appearances,
well, the grief-stricken lady would nave
kept the dog for a decent time. but the
landlord said he must be buried at once,
Then again was the lady in rage, de-
claring with much spirit that the burial
would be when she thought proper
But soon the sheriff came, and with MIN
six grim soldiers with long lances so, TO
shorten the story, the dog was buried IN
corner of the garden under the rose bushes
And 1 shall be happy when my TIME comes
Eel, if l may lie in so fair place.
ION the morrow, when the lady had de-
parted from the inn, for on no account
would she stay the landlords son put up a
stick over the spot where the dog lay, ana
on the top he tied a bunch of roses. Then,
shutting the garden gate, he told 1t up ana
down the street that all who wished to see
a pet dogs grave should pay him two but
tons apiece. -
dren's pockets were transferred to the pock-
ct of the landlords little son. who Kept
jingling them If they were so many sill
yer coins How he strutted! And around
+bo no m children had
dance for they knew that not every day
could they pay their respects to dog who
had lived and died upon perfumed purple
cushions.
But outside the gate stood one little girl,
weeping piteously She had but one button
and could find other. Beg as she would,
the hard hearted boy would not admit her
until she brought him two buttons, even as
the rest had brought.
And while she stood there sobbing and
moaning my good master came by ana
asked the cause of her grief. Between her
sobs she told him, and added that she knew
there would never be another chance as
long as she lived.
so my master quickly took his short
sword and cut a gilded button from his
coat for he could easily spare it. Then Civ
ing it to her, and patting her on the Shout
GER he bade her go and be happy
Your master is a good man., said Eel.
''He Is" responded Ba!ak, but he was
repaid. For it was paradise even to me to
see the beauty and happiness on her face,
like a vision
Both camels turned their heads and looked
far away over the desert Then the moon
came up and Balak said, Have you story,
Ezel?"
Il was thinking" answered Eel, about
old iron lamp that used to hang under
the great willow tree in Bagdad by the
bend of the street that leads up to the tenn
pie. 1t was a quaint box, and 1t gave only a
dim light at best; but many dark night
when I stood by the willow while my mas
lii L,,,
useful in the world is even a little light"
'And does the old iron lamp yet hang
there?" Balak asked.
1T is gone" replied Eel. land that is
my story, for there was great sadness when
it went
Mine and forty years had It hung there.
and in all that time it had never failed
once. On the very night that it was first
lighted k!sh Hamar came with torch and
candles, for he was the new lamplighter of
Bagdad. AS the years went by lamps came
and went. They wore out, they broke down.
they rusted away New ones took their
places. But after forty-nine years the lamp
under the willow tree was yet whole and
strong.
What friends they became, Ksh Hamar
and the iron lamp. For wears Kish had
never passed day time or night time with
out looking up to greet his old friend. Even
the wife of K1sh, who was once a young
bride. now shared with her husband his
friendly feelings toward the old iron Iamn
So they grew old together, until it was
whispered that a younger Waterman was
needed now for Bagdad-a younger watch
man and some new lamps.
How the lamp heard the news was never
found out, but 1t was too old a lamp to
have seen what passed in the street
all those years and be none the wiser
With all its might 1t began to hope that
when it was taken down it might be given
to Kish Hamar, VINO had Always been SO
kind
"And now a wonderful thing happened AS
the lamp tried to wish it found 1t could also
remember. What joy it was to look back
and feel that it had done its duty well.
Even in the darkest nights, when the wind
blew and pulled in blasts against its sides
1T had not once gone outi
1T is always so. Eel" said RaIak
Nothing brings us more happiness than to
know we have done our best Thus NAV II
be with you and me, good friend"
Eel went on:
Zone other wish the old lamp had. that
when at last 1t ceased to hang under the
willow tree it might still have the power
to remember all 1t had seen and heard.
AT last one afternoon the wind whisper
ed softly to It, Tonight, old lamp, you will
hang here for the last time The lamp
quivered, but the wind went calmly on.
Your two wishes will be granted You will
rest tomorrow in the little house of Kish.
and tonight I will blow from the sacred
mountain in such way that you will al