The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-02-22

but he felt that something was wrong and
began to call loudly for his attendants.
His mother came running in in alarm.
Cluster OF Pearls" said Abou, where
are your "Oh. my son." cried, his
mother. what ais your why. nothing,
except that I am Commander OF the Faith
full and an in love with Cluster of Pearls. "
Stop such nonsensical talk" replied the
good woman. and will tell you what
happened yesterday. The Caliph sent me
q thousand pieces OF gold" 81 know i'll
| sent IT," replied Abou, and that Imaum
and his friends were bastinadoed." They
were answered his mother. and where
were you all day yesterday
II tell you am the Callph and vae at
tending to my duties said Abou. Con-
WINGED that her son was quite mad his
mother called IN the nelghbors and he was
taken TO a madhouse where. as he still
persisted in declaring that he was Haroun
AlraschId, the attendants beat h m sorely.
He was kept there for several days. and
every day his poor mother went to see
I'm. At length Abou began TO think that,
possibly. he wac not the Caliuh. and when
the attendants came to beat him again he
said. Never mind I was wrong: am
only Abou Hassan. have been deceived
bv a dream" So they let him out and he
went home TO resume his former mode OF
life. But many a time he dreamed OF
Cluster Of Pearls
One evening as he sat. as usual. by the
br dye head. he saw come by the same
merchant whom he had invited to his house
tina; fa:eful night whose next morning had
transformed him into the CalIph. Abou
had no intention OF inviting this merchant
aVain to his house. but the merchant &C
costed him and fairly Insisted upon al n
becoming his guest; 81 will consent" sad
Abou. upon the condition that you swear
by the name engraved upon the seal OF
: olomon that you will not permit your
geni to make sport OF me. for stra ge
things happened to me after I had las;
entertained you" We'll. be It 60" re-
piled the merchant with a good-humored
laugh. So they had dinner toge her very
pleasantly and when the wine was
brought on the merchant said. ut is
great pity that such a promising young
man as you should lead a single life"
All" sighed Abou. such a wife as I de-
eire I can never have: such reside only in
the palace Of the Caliph."
Leave that to ne" laughed the dis
guised Sultan. II warrant I will find you
one TO suit your fancy. Let US drink 20
her" They drank and the Caliph slipped
another sleeping potion into Hassan's
glass.
The next morning Aoou awoke again
upon the state bed OF the Caliph. The
-. -
and the slaves In attendance and the ris ng
sun gliding the domes and minarets Of
Bagdad. Alas" cried he, 81 have fallen
into the same dream had before" They
carried out the Joke with Abou again for
a while. but at last the Caliph. who was
outside the door. could contain
himself no longer and. bursting into a
laugh, put his head inside the room and
cried out: "Abou, Abou Hassan. 10 you
want to kill me with laughingT'
The Sultan came In and at once a re-
spectful silence fell upon the assembly.
Abou comprehended all that had hap
pened to him. "Ah," said he, you pre-
tended to be a merchant. ! entertained you
and you have caused me many misfor-
tunes. Who are you. and why did you
0lSluTD my TcdSOh
Haroun AIraschid became grave and apollo
gized for all the trouble his little joke
had brought upon Abou. But" said he,
1T can. perchance, make you some amends
I am the Caliph. Ask what thou wilt; /
will grant you. Believe me. l suffer to
think that my pleasantly has worked you
harm"
Commander of the Faithful" replied
Abou my sufferings are forgotten so long
as my lord and master has share in
them. The only favor I ask is to be per-
m tied to visi; you and admire your viz
tues" The first half of this sentence
showed that Abou had a pretty wit. and
the second held that he was a born cour-
tIer. The Cal,ph ordered a rich robe to be
brought for Abou. gave him a purse OF
thousand pieces OF gold and appointed him