Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-25
WHEN BALAK AND EEL MET
ONTHE LONG TRAIL TO BAGDAD.
A QUEER CAMEL CONVERSATION

chance. In very few minutes the sheep
was traded for the goose"
Does it not seem to you. Balak. that
the peasant was bigger goose than the
one he carried?"
BE patient. Eel. the story is not yet
ended. No sooner had the peasant come
to the tollgate than he saw fowl there,
strutting about with string to its legs
THE short tail feathers, the blinking
eyes and the cunning cluck. cluck of the
fowl so caught the PEASANTS fancy that
he asked the gatekeeper to trade the fowl
for his goose.
THAT 1 WILL replied the gatekeeper.
though better fowl 1 never owned So
once more the peasant trudged on chuck
ling over his good fortune in owning so
fine a fowl
BY this time the peasant had reached
the hostler carrying huge sack. The
peasants curiosity was aroused and he
stopped the hostler to ask what was In
the sack.
Rotten applesr answered the hostler
with an amused grin; a whole sackful
of rotten apples, enough to feed all your
pigs. Tell me. Mr.. Countryman. what
will you give me for the sackful?
THE peasant recalled how their one
old apple tree had borne only one apple
last year. and how they had kept that un-
til it was all shriveled up. He was sure
it would be great treat to his good
woman to see a whole sackful of apples,
even If they were rotten. So he eagerly
told the hostler that he would gladly give
his fowl for the apples and would feel
thankful besides.
THE hostler indeed, was only too will
ling, and the peasant entered the guest
room of the inn with the great bag OF
rotten apples on his shoulder. Here he
met many strangers, who were much
amused to hear how he had ridden from
home that morning on horseback. but
would walk home at night laden with
sackful of rotten apples. They bantered
him gayly and predicted stormy times
when he got home.
But the peasant good-naturedly told
them that his fond wife was always
pleased with his bargains, and that she
story.
Rather let it be the peasant than me.
Balak, to go home after such a days
trading" remarked Eel.
"Well, two or three of the strangers.
with more gold than good sense, at last
wanted to wager the peasant all. the
gold they had that he would get his hair
pulled and his ears we'll boxed when he
reached home.
agreed. said the peasant. And II
my wife does not treat me like kind
husband you may take all the apples and
be welcome to Them
Then the rich strangers ordered their
carriage. and. inviting the peasant to ride
with them. they soon came to the hum
BILE cottage.
after greeting the good woman with a
kiss the peasant told her he had ex
changed the horse for a COW.
That is glorious!' said she. Now
we shall have milk and butter and cheese
upon the table,
But the peasant fastened to explain
that he had traded the COW for a sheep.
Better still!' exclaimed the wife.
There is only pasture enough for a sheep.
Now we shall have wool for stockings
and packets. You always think Of every
thing
But. my dear wife. I exchanged the
sheep for a goose said the peasant -
"'Ah! You are always thinking OF
something to give me pleasure. This year
we shall have roast goose to eat
"I gave away the goose for a fowl
Now, that was a good exchange
said the WIFE The fowl will lay eggs
and hatch them and we shall soon have
a whole poultry yard. fowl is just
what / was wishing for
Ives. fowl would have been bless
ing good wife. but traded the fowl for
that sackful Of shriveled apples
What? My dear, good husband. now
I must kiss you. Didn't always say YOU
knew what was best? Why you were
to the schoOlmaster's wife to borrow a
handful Of herbs for our supper. And
what did she tell me but that she hadn't
even so much to lend as a rotten apple.
1 must go over directly and tell her I
can lend her a whole sackful. How well
it all comes OUT!
by this time the rich strangers, who
had come to laugh at the simple peas
ant. were dumb with amazement.
"At last one OF them said: Here peas
ant our gold is yours. 1t Is worth ten
times as much to see so happy couple!
And with that they piled their gold on
the table and said goodnight.
"It is a rare thing. Balak. to be con-
tented with ones lot