Evening star., 1921-11-06

dren, scantily clothed and without a
cent? That's something we shall
never do. We know this forest, and
i knows u.s."
But Sid Moulay had made up his
mind. They had suffered too much.
lie didn't want to stay day longer
in the forest, which was as black as
his own luck.
On the morrow, then, tho father.
the mother and the seven children
tall cedars and the spreading BAN
vans. Each one carried q tiny bundle
Of clothes on his shoulders. They
left Bouyaya in anguish of heart, in
search of q better world.
For several days they walked q
mud, bitten by the north winds. One
evening they reached the edge OF q
vast plain. Worn out, they halted
there and refreshed themselves with
some morsels of black bread.
They were about to resume their
bundle. noticed in the grass an old
nutilated book. sort of Kitab.
Il never found anything in my
whole life till now" he said to hts
wife. Il swear by my head that I
will take It along with me"
3ou-aemzem. we are all tired out,
and the way Is long. What tells you
20 load yourself up further with that
heavy and useless book?"
Yes. yes. 1 mean to keep It."
X y * Il
rTHE family took up its melancholy
march. They walked for days and
days Finally they came in sight of a
large city. An abandoned house, out
side the ramparts. offered them shell
Ter. Bou-zemzem stuffed the cracks
with pieces Of bagging. put the chill
dren to sleep, and then began to un-
pack the bundles.
Sid Moulay took his kitab and sat
down near the city gate to rest The
big book was on his knees. and he
turned the parchment leaves with an
air Of scholarly absorption.
passerby. imagining him to be q
alb Qearned maD, tossed him a
All" thought Sid Moulay this is
going to be lucky day:"
A second merchant passed and gave
him another coin; then a third. and q
fourth. So 1t continued, and at the
end Of the day Sid Moulay had taken
in enough to supply his own wants
and those Of his family.
Amazed at his success. he kept turn
ing over the pages OF his book from
morning to evening, and his attitude
became more and moro mystical Each
day brought its offering. Sid Moulay
blessed the saying which recommends
men to change and gain, for. by Allah.
he would soon be rich without doing
anything.
one morning he saw a nsgress ap-
preaching. She had an enormous hG-
ure and was dressed In red silk. When
she reached his side she was breath
less, her cheeks were dripping per-
spiration, and her blood-shot eyes
sid Taiib." She said. "the sultan
"The sultan" asked Sid Moulay,
:.nxiously. "The sultan? How can he
want me? What has happenedT What
"The sultan wishes to SEQ you at
All right. Go on ahead. I'll be
there" stammered the former wood
chopper. who was shaking with
The negroes went away.
Sid Moulay re-entered the ruined
house. kissed his wife and his chill.
dren. and said to them:
Allah alone knows whether shall
Ht that period "sultan" In Morocco
was q gynonyn for head chopper"
Very deliberately Sid Moulay made
his way to the palace. He was re-
Gsivsd there with the hcnors duo to
"Tsiis." the sultan said to him. "this
rnern!ng nay daughter laid very val.
liable ring on the edge Of her bathing
pool The ring has disappsarsd: No
one svs{ roe. into that wing Of tie
~ h I'd cAIi1H u n