The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-05-27
THE PARABLE OF NINE MER-
CHANTS AND THE TWO
THIEVES

And II came To pass that a great
calamity fell upon Islam, and there
was war with the Barbarians from
beyond the Rhine, even the Ger
mans, and they slew the sons of
the followers Of the Prophet and
carried them into captivity. And
there was mourning in Islam, and
the mothers were in sack cloths and
ashes, and refused TO be comforted.
And food was high and raiment
was scarce and many there were
who were cold, and many were
hungry.
Now there were nine merchants
in Bagdad. the city Of the Great
Caliph, and they said unto one an
other, Yea, the people are cold
and anhungered, and food is dear
and raimcnt is scarce. Let us there
fore increase our prices and become
rich in few days. And we will
say unto those who would buy from
US, We are selling at loss, for
drummer hath been here who saith.
that there is a sugar-famine and
that all those who cultivate the
sugar-cane and the sugar-beet have
gone on a spree. and those who own
the land are selling whisky, and
their wickedness smelleth TO heav-
en-. Ginghams have advanced one
thousand per cent and the cotton
plant refuseth to grow unless some
one stand by and fan II on hot days.
The soldiers have eaten up all the
pasture and no beef is being pro-
duced, and the wool refuseth TO
grow upon the backs Of the sheep.
All things are getting higher; and
peradventure the people will fall
for it,"
And being united in one purpose.
the nine merchants spake unto
the people as had been agreed. And
the people were not united and
they fell for IL. And some said.
Yea. the merchants are our friends,
We're IL not for them we should
perish and our wives and children"
At this time there dwelt in the
city two thieves and they said
unto each other, Yea behold
these nine merchants, how that they
wax fat and become richer They
toll not, neither do they spin but
Solomon with all his wisdom could
not have been such rascal, had ne
wished IT," And they said, Go TO,
let us rob them and take their gold
and their silver, and their precious
stones and their Liberty Bonds for
a spoil unto us"
And the two thieves brake the
houses Of the nine merchants by
night and they took away their gold
and their silver. and their precious
stones and their Liberty Bonds for
a spoil unto themselves.
And when the nine merchants a
rose in the morning and perceived
what was done, and that their
strong places had been broken and
their goods stolen, they made loud
lamentations and rent their clothes,
and sent for the police, and offered
reward.
And the poll, sought diligently
and found the 0 20 thieves, and the
Government which guardeth jeal-
ously the property OF. merchants.
took the two thieves and put them
10 death. And the nine merchants
lived TO a ripe old age, and they died
full Of years and honors, and were
buried in the burial places Of their
fathers.
And after that they had died il
came to pass that the nine mer-
chants went before Allah for iudg-
ment. And He said unto them,
what did We in the World?" And
they answered Him saying. I'VE be
nine merchants, and we were good
citizens, and conservative. We
sought not after new things and new
opinions. We were diligent at pray
ers and in our attendance at the
Mosque, and we were temperate
in all things. and respectable and
seemlyl Where shall we sitY" And
Allah said unto them, Were ye
also temperate in the taking Of pro-
flts?" And one who was drawer
than the rest answered and said,
"On an average we took only four
hundred and two score per cent in
profits" And the others tainted.