Year: 1859

ABUL OAssIMs SHoEs--It IS related that there once
resided in Bagdad very wealthy man named Abul
Casim who was celebrated for his avarce and parsimo
ny. So strong his ruling passion that he could not
even be prevailed upon to throw away his old shoes
but whenever it became urgently necessary, he would
have them stitched at cobIers STALL and continue to
them for four five years. So, finally, they be
came so heavy and large that it was prcVerbal in that
city to say that thing was sas clumsy as Abul Gas
Sims shoes"


Now one day. as this man was walking in the bazaars
Of Bagdad, friend of his broker, informed him that
a merchant. from Aleppo was just arrived bringing
some bottles for sale. Come" added be, will get
them for you at low price, and keeping them month
so you sell them again for three times as much
as you gave, and so make a handsome profit.
The matter was soon arranged between them Abul
Cassim bought the bottles for sixty dinars and after
employing several porters to carry them to his house he
again passed on. He had also another friend public
crer, whom he likewise happened to meet and who told
him that merchant from the town of Yzed had some
rose-water for SALE "Oome" said he 81 will get it for
you at low rate and dispose of it for you other
time for double the amount" So Abul Cassm was
prevailed upon to buy the rosewater also and on bis
reaching home he filed the bottles with the water and
placed them on shelf in one of his apartments


The day following, Abul Cassim went to bath, and
while undressing himself of his friends going out,
saw his old shoes, and okingly said "Oh! Cassim,
do let change your shoes for these have become very
clumsy 4sE


Abul Cassim only replied g Installah If God wish
es' and continuing to undress himself, went into the
BATH Just then the Cadt Judge of ths city, came
to the bath and undressed himself to Abn Cassim.
Sometime afterwards Abu Cassim came out of the in
ner room of the bath and when he had dressed himself
he looked for his Shoes which, not finding, but seeing
pair in their place. he thought his friend had made
the change that he desired putting them on, he
turned to his house.


When the Cadi came out of the BATH and had put on
his Clothes he asked for his shoes but 10 they could
nowhere he found and seeing close by the old ones of
Abul Cassim he naturally concluded the latter person
had purloned his. So the Cadi greatly enraged !;
and ordering Abu Cassm to be brought before him, he
accused him of stealing shoes out of baths imprisoned
him two or three days, and fined him.


Abul Cassim, on his release, said to himself, My
shoes have dshonored me- and have been most severe
punished for their sake SO, with revengefu feelings
he threw them into the Tigris Two days afterwards
some fishermen, drawing their senes out of the river
found pair of old shoes in them, which they immedi
aey recognized as those of Abul Cassm. One of them
remarked that perhaps he had fallen into the river and
taking the shoes into his hand, carried them to Abul
Cassm's house. and finding its doors closed, he threw
them In at the window which open Unfortunately
the shoes fell on the shelf where the bottles of
ter arranged that it thrown down. the bot
ties broken, and all the rosewater lost.


Il When Cassim returned to his home he opened the
door and beheld the loss he had sustained He his
hair and beard with grief wept aloud and charged the
shoes with being his ruin To be free from farther mis-
fortune on their part I will bury them said he in
f corner of my house, and then all will end" So the





the corner of his dwelling but his neghborS hearing


the noise thought he was undermining their house. and


in their fright they complained tohe governor Of the
city, who sent and apprehended Cassm, and threw him
in prison, from which he was released only on the pay
} ment of fine.


After this Cassm returned to his house overwhelmed
with grief and taking his old shoes be threw them into
the suice of neighborng caravansary In the course
OF few days the suice being stopped it overrun its
banks and the Workmen having been called to clean it
GaSSim'S xunra IN hn Ot
the Inconvenience. So the governor again threw him
in prison and fined him to large amount.
Abul Cassim, now perfectly in despair, took his old
shoes, and after washing them clean laid them the
terrace OF his house. with the intention, after they had
dried, to burn them and put an end to all shame and
misfortune On their account. But it happened that
while the shoes were drying, neighbors dog passing
over the terrace saw them and mstakng them for dried
meat took one in his mouth prang from one terrace to
the other, and in doing so let it fall The neighbOrs
wife encietie and she happened to be sitting at


the foot of the WALL the shoe fell upon her. and in her
great alarm she was prematurey brought to bed Her
husband in great anger complained to the governor and
Abul Cassim was once more thrown into prison and
2 made to pay fne


Abul Cassm now tore his hair and beard with grief
and accusing the shoes of being the of all his mis-


fortunes, he took them in his hand before the Cad OF
Bagdad, related to him all that had befallen him.
beg you added he, "to receive my declaration, and
hope all these Mussulmen will bear witness that now
break off farther relation between and these shoes
and have no longer anything to do with them. | ask
also certificate that free from them, and they free
from me; that if henceforth there ale any punish
ments fines to be incurred questions to be asked Or
answers given that they may take them all upon them
II selves.


The Cadi, much amused with what he had heard gave
the desired certificate and added present to Abu Gas
SIM Behold in this tale to what the ayaricous subject
d themselves


i ANNUAL MEETING OF THE RAILROAD COMPANY
e The Western Railroad Company held its annual meet
ing on Monday last-Maor A. Mclean presiding, with