The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-03-16
CONTINUED from Front PageJ

risings of the Nile, dwelt for the most part
at the city Of Tanis in the desert, whereas
dwelt with my parents at the ancient,
white-walled city of Memphis.
At times Meneptah and his court visited
Memphis as also they visited Thebes,
where this king lies in his royal tomb to-
day. But save on one occasion, the young
Prince Seti, the heir-apparent, the Hope
Of Egypt, came not with him, because his
mother, Asnefert, did not favor Memphis.
Once he came indeed when he was If
teen years of age, to be proclaimed to the
people as son Of his father.
I made ready to go in fine new robe
embroidered in purple with the name of
Seti and my own. But on that very morn
ing by the gift Of some evil god was smit-
ten with spots all over my face and body,
q common sickness that affects the young.
So it happened that 1 did not see the
Prince, for before was well again he had
left Memphis
Now my father Meri was a scribe Of the
great temple of Ptah. and was brought
up to his trade in the school of the temple,
where copied many rolls and also wrote
out Books Of the Dead which adorned
with paintings. Indeed, in this business
/ became so clever that, after my father
went blind some years before his death, /
earned enough to keep him and my sisters
also until they married
While / was still boy there rose up
IN me desire-not to copy what others
had written, but to- write what others
ehor1d amy haca ma draamar Of draamc
Upon the banks Of the Nile l watched the
moon shining upon the waters, and in its
rays / seemed to see many beautiful
pictures
OF these pictures / made stories in my
heart and at last, although that was not
for some years, l began to write these
stories down in my spare hours My sis
tiers found me doing so and told my father,
who scolded me for such foolishness.
Then my sisters married, and one day
my father died suddenly while he was re-
citing prayers in the temple l caused him
to be emhalmed in the best fashion and
buried with honor in the tomb he had
made ready for himself although to pay
the costs was obliged to copy Books Of
the Dead for nearly two years.
When at length was free from debt l
met a maiden from Thebes with a beau
tiful face that always seemed to smile, and
she took my heart from my breast into her
own. In the end, after returned from
lighting in the war againt the Nine Bow
Barbarians, to which ! was summoned like
other young men, married her.
We had one child, a little girl, which
died within two years Of her birth, and
then learned what sorrow can mean to
man. At first my wife was sad, but her
grief departed with time and she smiled
again as she used to do. Only she said
that she would bear no more children for
the gods to take. Having little to do she
began to go about the city and make
friends whom did not know, for Of these,
being a beautiful woman she found many.
The end of it was that she departed back
to Thebes with soldier whom had never
even seen.
It was after this that my hair went white
before had counted thirty years.
Now, as l had none to work for and my
wants were few and simple, found more
time for the writing Of stories. By de.
grees became known as a teller Of tales,
which tales / caused to be copied and sold,
though out of them made but little.
Still my fame grew till on a day I re-
ceived a message from the Prince Seti,
my twin in Ra, saying that he had lead
certain of my writings which pleased him
much and that it was his wish to look upon
my face. l thanked him hUmbly by the
messenger and answered that l would
travel to Tanis and wait upon his High
ness.
First, however, / finished the longest
story which had yet written. This story
/ dedicated to his Highness, the Prince
Seti, AID with it in the bosom Of my robe
I travelled to Tanis, having hidden about
me a sum Of gold that had saved.
So / came to Tanis at the beginning Of
Winter and, walking to the palace OF the
Prince, boldly demanded an audience. But
now my troubles began for the guards
and watchmen thrust me from the doors.
In the end / bribed them and was admit
ted to the ante-chamber, where were mer-
chants, jugglers, dancing-wOmen, officers
and many others, all Of them, it seemed,
waiting to see the Prince; folk who, hav-
ing nothing to do, pleased themselves by
making mock of me, a stranger. When /
had mixed with them for several days /
gained their friendship by telling to them
one Of my stories, after which | was al
ways welcome among them. Still, could
come no nearer to the Prince, and as my
store of money was beginning to run low
/ bethought me that l would return to
Memphis.
One day, however, a long-bearded old
man, with a gold-tipped wand Of office,
who had a bulls head embroidered on his
robe, stopped in front of me and, calling
me a white-headed crow. asked me what
/ was doing hopping day by day about the
chambers of the palace. l told him my
name and business and he told me his,
which il seemed was Pambasa, one Of the
Princes chamberlains. When l asked him
to take me to the Prince he laughed in my
face and said darkly that the road to his
Highness's presence was paved with gold.
I understood what he meant and gave him
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