Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-07-16

| emphasize MS WOIuS.
"Hear yel Hear yel Hear vel
All honest people" he cried. ''The
merchant Ebn-Aziz hath lost purse
containing two hundred pieces ofgOld.
He offers half as q reward to whom
go ever shall return it to him. Better
the half with honesty than the whole
with deceit Hath anybody found 8
purse purse containing two hun
dred pieces of gold1'
Yusuf interrupted the Orier.
"I have found the purse" he said.
He drew it forth from his bosom.
"Here it is.
Follow me, said the crier, "snd
Kbn.Azlz will pay thee thy reward.
A little crowd had gathered. Push
ing his way through these people, the
Crier started up the street, followed
by Yusuf, the idlers trailing along
behind. Some, however, ran ahead,
eager to carry the news to Ebn-Aziz.
AS he passed up street Yusuf heard
his name uttered on all sides.
"Yusuf, the date seller, hath found
the merchant Ebn-AZiz's purse, cried
one.
"He will receive hundred pieces of
gold" said another.
"He is promised hundred pieces,
rejoined a third ;"but if 1 know aught
of the miser Ebn-Aziz, he will die
before he will part with single gold
piece"
Yusufs heart sank at these words,
but hope revived as one who had
knog gn his father called after him:
well done, Yusuf thou art an hon.
est lad. l will go with thee and see
that justice is done thee.
A walk ofa few minutes brought
them to the bazar of Rbn-Aziz, who
was indeed, as one of the speakers
had said, a miserly fellow. He had
learned few minutes before that his
purse had been found, and now he
was cudgeling his evil brain for some
excuse by which he might escape pay
ing the promised reward. The sym
pathies Of the crowd, however, were
with the boy. Angry voices cried to
the merchant: Come, old money
grubber, here is thy purse; now give
the lad his due.
SOFTLY, softly" croaked the miser.
Call in good time, my friends. Let
us first see that what was lost is found.
he extended his hand for the purse.
Yusuf handed it to him.
"Goodl" said the merchant, as his
fingers closed upon the gold. He
glanced sharply at Yusuf from under
his heavy brows. "He is only lad,
thought Ebn, "and poor. 1 shall
have no difficulty in disposinp of him.
he opened the purse.
Count out the money" cried the
crowd. "Half for thyself, and half
for the boy"
The merchant thrust one bony hand
iAto the purse and rummaged around
among the coins.
"Ah, miserable wretch !" he eI.
claimed, with feigned emotion, sit is
not here Where is the emerald, boy2
The emer Id ~
"The emerald" faltered Yusuf.
"Aye, the emerald /" shrieked Ebn,
seizing him by the shoulder and shak-
ing him. Think not to deceive me
by such clumsy pretense. Thou re-
turnest the gold, eh2 Oh, paragon
of honesty But thou thinkest to
keep the emerald, then-my precious
emerald, that is worth ten times over
this paltry purse. Oh, unfortunate
that am | Ny emerald Ny en-
erald What hast thou done with it,
thief-beggarP"
Yusuf shook himself free, and faced
the old man, his eyes flashing.
81 am no thief, he cried, "and no
beggarl Igave back thy purse to
thee as I found it; l did not even
open it. If it is thy mind to deny |
me the reward, keep the gold l will
have none of i'll" He turned on his
heel.
"Gol" said Ebn, well satisfied with |
the success of his scheme, "and be
grateful to Allah that thou escspest SO
easily. pardon thee for the sake Of
thy dead father, whose name I would
not see disgraced.
But the Orier laid OBTAINING hand
on the boys shoulder. "ssay, ;. ne
cried. Then, turning to the merchant,
he said What thou wilt pardon and
what thou wilt not pardon is not for
thee to say. This matter has gone
beyond thee. If the boy is honest
be is entitled to the reward /; if he be,