The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-03-19
Anew Story About
the Great Caliph
By RUTH GRAHAM

al-kaSchid was going about in disguise
to see how his subjects were getting
on, that nc might supply their deiiciem-
cies, right their wrongs and he OF gen
eral service TO them, he one evening
passed by the shop of 4 money changer
who was looking very lugubrious.
What troubles you:" asked the ca
! liph. who was dressed in the garb of 4
vender Of dates and had on his arm a
basket containing the fruit.
What need to tell you, 4 poor date
/ seller" replied the other. You have
/ an honest and sympathetic countc-
! nance, but you cannot help me-
/ Not with money surely" replied the
caIipa. but with advice"
All said the money changer, there
IS Il great deal more advice in the
world than of money. Any one can
/ give advice. : am overrUn with II. es-
/ pecially about my children. There's
not one Of my neighbors who cannot
tell me just how to train them, though
| confess, those who are most explicit
in their instructions have never had
any children Of their own
The caIiph was much impressed with
this information. which was rev 20
him, for no one would dare give him
advice rs to the training of his chill
dren. Tell NE your trouble" lie said
to the money changer. and if l Do not
help you l will give You all the dates
| have in my basket" So lie told sac
caiiph what gricvcd him.
- change money. l lend money" ta
said, and ! receive money TO keep f..
others which / loan again at interest
This morning three MEN came i'm. each
with a hundred pieces OF gold they
wished me to keep for them. | took
the money and signed a.receipt for il
which they had drawn up. and by It's
terms l was obliged 10 pay the gold
to them all together ana hot 10 amy
one of them separately.
Soon after they had gone away one
Of them returned saying that ne wished
I 10 count the money, for ne feared there
We're not the 800 pieces l had receipted
for. because. after leaving. one Of his
party had said: That man is fool
l gave him for my share only eighty
pieces of gold. and he will have to pay
+ me q hundred pieces
p. Il took the gold from my strong
box aud laid it on the table before this
q honest man. and while we were count
g.. ing it there came a knock at the door.
I" / There stood the two other deroSitorS.
81 who said to me: II our third man
= comes to you and asks YOU 70 let him
count the money We left yGu do not
T permit him. He is a rogue told
Sc them | would he very careful and tried
y to get away from them To go back 10
Il the man with the gold. but they in
e sisted on telling me why they suspect
ed their colleague. and by the time
: they had finished and GOT back 10 the
room where | had left him he had
! gone with the money. having stepped
out through Il window into the street
. He had not been gone long before
the other two men came back and said
they had an opportunity TO Use their
funds ana demanded that / should re
10 turn them their deposit | have not 50
o much on hand; besides I must eventU-
= ally lose 800 pieces Of gold. They have
, cited me to appear before the judge
n tomorrow. and since | cannot return
q. their deposit shall be sent to Jail
n When the caliph had heard this story
Ia he frowned that there should be such
N rascals in Bagdad. But the matter
was one of law. and the good man nev-
n er interfered with legal processes CX
g. cept in wise judgments like solomon OF
II. old Il will not give you any advice, -
9 he said to the money changer, and
! since l must keep my contract l will
I. leave my dates with you. Eut you
Of will see ne at the court tomorrow. AND
Of l think l know Il way TO help You"
The money. changer did not wish t.
: l,A =. irlIa
lg not take them away with him.
ne The next day. when the money chang
ne err went 10 court, whom should he see
e. on the Judges bench but the date venJ
IN er to whom he had confded his story
al The two men who had demanded tEeil
at money entered, and the judge told
en- them to make known to him their com
ds plant against the money changer
ne They told the same story rs the latter
~. whereupon the judge called for the T.
is ceipt which had been given for tn,
lg gold. Having read it. he asked of th,
er compliments:
en- Where is the third man to whom
no the money is to be paid
in I'VE do not know. He has made OF
all with it, but that is not our fault. 1t il
ot the fault of the money changer, o
nd whom we demand the return OF on
dues"
'ly This receipt" said the judge. "com
on pels the money changer to return tn
&c funds left with him to all the deposit
A. ors and not to any one or two of then
Oh separately. Bring the other man ant
az he will repay you"
an The two men hung their heads ant
'lo made no reply.
=" II believe" continued the calipl
~ that you are as dishonest as he. but
5oi cannot prove il or | would send YOU &