The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-27


had chosen A slave brought a basin Of
water from the holy well in Mecca. The
Sultan washed his hands, turned his face
toward the east, threw himself to the
ground and prayed: "God OF my fathers,
I pray to thee that hast preserved our
race pure and unspoiled, permit not that
an unworthy one defile the name of the
Abassides. Be thou near thy son in the
time of this triall'
The Sultan went back to his throne.
Breathless anxiety held all spellbound.
Men dared hardly to breathe. All necks
were craned when the Sultan said, with
a trembling voice: "Open the caskets!'
They, that no power or skill could open
a few moments before, sprang open of
themselves at the word.
In the one selected by Omar there lay
a small golden crown and a sceptre on
a velvet cushion In Labakan's chest lay
"a great needle and some thread.
The5Sultan ordered both to bring their
caskets to him. He picked up the little
crown and Immediately it grew larger
and larger till it had assumed the pro-
portions of a true crown. He pressed 1T
on the head of Omar, who kneeed before
him. kissed him on the forehead and told
him to sit at his right side. Then he
turned to Labakan and spoke:
1T is an old proverb, the Shoemaker
should stick to his last 1t seems that
you will have to stick to the needle. You
have not deserved my mercy, but one has
interceded for you to whom 1 can refuse
nothing today Therefore 1 give you
your miserable life: but if you will listen
to good advice you will make haste TO
leave my domains!'
Ashamed, crushed, the wretched tailor
could make no reply. He threw himself
face down before the prince, and tears
began to flow from his eyes. Can you
forgive me, prince?" asked he.
Faith toward friends, mercy toward
enemies, is the pride of the Abassides,"
answered the prince, raising him. De
part in peace"
ooh, thou true soni" exclaimed the Sui
tan, taking Omar to his breast. Hail to
the true princer cried all the Bassas and
Emirs; and amidst the enthusiasm and
excitement Labakan, his casket under his
arm. crept unnoticed from the hall
He passed through the courtyard and
into the stables and rode toward Alexan-
dria His whole life during the past few
days as prince seemed like wild dream
to him already as he rode sadly away,
and only the beautiful casket, rich with
pearls and diamonds reminded him that
he had not dreamed but that the past
was real
adrio a
rode straight to the house of his old
master, dismounted, tied his horse to the
door and entered the workshop. The mas
ter, who did not recognize him at once,
advanced toward him with immense re-
spect and bowed so deeply that he did
not look into the arrivals face, while he
asked humbly what he might have the
honor of doing for his distinguished and
illustrious customer.
Then, however, he perceived who 1t
was Loudly he shouted to all the other
workmen and apprentices. They came
like hornets. Furiously they fell upon
poor Labakan, who had not expected such
a fiery welcome. They beat him with
irons. thrashed him with their yard sticks
and stuck needles into him and shipped
at him with their shears, till he sank
only half conscious on a pile of old gar
ments that lay on the floor.
Standing over him his master preached
him a long and bitter sermon about the
stolen garment. In vain did Labakan as
sure him that he had returned to recon-
pense him for it. Vainly did he offer to
pay thrice what it was worth. Master
and workrnen fell on him again, beat
him once more, till they were exhausted,
and then threw him out of the door.
Bruised, bleeding, ragged, stin, ne
climbed painfully on Murva's patient back
and rode into the nearest caravansery.
There he reposed his weary, battered
head and reflected on the sorrows of man,
on the blindness of fate and the empti-
ness and mockery of all human things
Before sleep came to his eyes the resolve
had ripened in him, as the result OF his
thoughts, that he would renounce all his
dreams of greatness and rank, stiffle ms
vanity and become an honorable, simple
citizen.
His resolution did not change with the
coming of daylight. 1t seemed truly as II
the heavy hands of his master and his
fellow apprentices had beaten all AFRO
gance and foolish pride out of him.
He sold his casket for a great sum OF
money, bought himself house and mad
1t arranged for a workshop. When 1t
! was all finished, he hung out the sign:
'Labakan, Tailor" Then he sat down
ana began as Ills lii5t Joo ~ >--S
coat which his master and MS coiieagues
had mutilated so sadly
He used the needle and thread which
he had found in the casket. Soon after
he had begun he was called away. He
thrust the needle into the garment and
left ii. When he returned he saw Won
drous sight The needle was sewing
away without aid from any hand, and it
was making such fine, perfect stitches
/ as Labakan himself had not been able to
| make in his most successful moments.
Then he observed another great power
that lay in the gift of the beautiful fairy.
The piece of thread did not grow less.
however busly the needle might work.
Labakan obtained many customers and
soon was the most famous tailor of the
whole city. He cut the garments and made
the first stitch with the needle and then
ii did the rest, working without. pause
till the garment was finished. Everybody
patronized him, for his work was not only
beautiful, but his charges were low. Only
one thing puzzled the people; that he
never would have an apprentice and al
ways worked with closed doors.
Thus the inscription on the casket,
/ Fortune and Wealth." was made true in
a modest degree for the honest tailor;
and whenever he heard of the fame Of
young Sultan Omar, how his bravery was
the pride of his people and the awe Of
his foes then the ex-Prince thought: ut
is really very lucky that l remained q
tailor after all; for evidently his honor
and fame are dangerous things to have
to live up to-
Next Sundays one-page classic will be
'sFelix Holt" by George Eliot