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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron News-Record, 1891-07-01, Page 2me HuronNew-/'score► 3,he Tear -se 25 in AdVIAACO We[ltiewelay. 311080 Z4tlr, 11$IIle THE THREE BROTHgltS. "New confess and know, Wit without money sometimes gives the blow." VA4ENm,xa. Abendali of Bagdad had three sons; the two eldest, very tall and prt,per youyhs fur their years ; but the you�u��'eet on aacouut of the dwhli'fislhnyess of his stature, was called little Agib. He had, not- withstanding, a wit and shrewdness very unusual to any, especially of his childish age , whereas hie brothers were null and slow of intellect to an extraordinary de- gree. Now Abendali, though he had money, was nut rich enough to leave bohiud him a competence fur each of his sone; wherefore he thought it hest to teach thein in the first instance to scrape together as much as they could • aceui•diugly, calling them all to him, ou some occasion, he presented to each a email canvas purse, with a sequin in it, by way of handsel, and thou spike to them to this effect :— "Behold ! hero is a money bag apiece, with a single sequin, for you must furnish the feat by your owu industry. I shall require every now and then to look into your purses, in order to see what you have added; but to that end you shall not have any recourse to theft, or violent robbery, for money is often purchased by those methods at too :tear a rate ; whereas the more you can obtain by any subtle stratagems, or smart strokes of policy, the greater will he my.opin- iou of your lhueefulnesa and abili- ties." The three brethren accepted of the perdue with great goodwill, and immediately began to think over various plane of getting money; so quickly does the desire of riches take root in the human bosom. The two elder oues, however, beat about their wits to no purpose, for they could not start a single inven- tion, except of begging aline, which they would not descend to; whereas the Little Agib added another piece of money to his soy'rin before the setting of the sun, It happened that there lived at some dietauoe from Abendali an old lady, who was bed -ridden, but very rich, and a relation of the former, though at some degrees re- moved. As she was thus lying in her chamber, she heard the door open, anal Agib carpo in, but he was so little that he could not look upon the bed. The lady asking who it was, he answered, and said, "M y name is Little Agib, and I am scut here by my father, your kinsmen, who is called Abendali; for he desires to know how you are, and to wish you a thousand years." The old lady wondered very much that Abendali was eo much concerned fur her, since they bad not held any correspondence to- gether fora long while ; however, she was very well satisfied with his attention, and gave a sinal) piece of money to Agib, desiring the slaves moreover to bring him as many sweetmeats as he liked. The brethren showing their purses at night to their father, the two eldest had only their sequin apiece, where- as little Agib had thus added already to his store. On the following day, little Agib paid another visit to the sick lady, and was as well treated as before. He repeated the same compliments very many times afterwards, adding continually fresh moneys in his purse ; at last, Abendali passing by chance in the same quarter of the city; took it into his head to in- quire for his kinswoman ; and when he entered her chamber, lo ! there sat little Agib behind the door. As soon as he had delivered his compliments, which the lady received very graciously, she point- ed to little Agib, and said she had taken it very kindly that the child had been sent so often to ask after her health. "Madam," said Abendali, who laughed all the while ; "the little liar has not told you one word of truth, I know well enough why he carne here ; which was on none of my errands." The Little Agib prudently held his peace till his father was gone ; whereupon the old lady asked him how he could bo so wicked as to deceive her with such multiplied lies. "Alas 1" said Agib, pretending to whimper very much, "I hope God will not punish me with a sore tongue for such sinning. It is true, as my father says, that be never commanded hue to .come ; but I was so scandalized at his shock• ing neglect, that I could not help calling upon you of my own accord, and making up those messages in bis name." The old lady hereupon was so much touched with the seeming piety and tendernese of Little Agib, that she bade him climb upon the ". lt'ed•-=and-k•itie, +era --which, hes per- formed ; and because he had come ao disinterestedly, and not, she believed:for the' trifling pieoee of ney Mo, she gays. him a .Ooin of MQrc Value, to paakb au ende, .aa she OKI; for Abendali'e Injurious s.u.apicjon, The same night, when he looked in Agib's purse, the o14 man saw that he bad three pieces more ; at which he nodded, as if to say I know where these came from : whereupon Agib, being concerned for the honor of his ingenuity, spoke up to his father. "It is not," said he, "as you suppose; these two pieces I obtained elsewhere, than at the place youore thinking of ;" and with that he appealed to his brethren. "It io truth," said the eldest, "what he speaks. Observing that he had every night a fresh piece of money, whereas we that are his elders could get notTiing at all, my- self and my brother besought of Little Agib to acquaint us with his secret for making gold and silver ; but he would not part with it, unless we gave him our two pieces, and thee we have no money what- ever." With that the elder brothers turned both at once on Little Agib, calling him -a liar and a cheat ; for that, when they called on the olid lady, insteaed of giving them a piece of money or two, as he had reported, she said she knew what they came for, and withal bade then to be thrust forth from the chamber. During this relation, Abendali could not help laughing secretly at the cunning of Little Agib. who had thus added his brothers' money to his own; however, he quieted the two elder ones, by declaring that Agib had told them the truth. About a month after this time, the Angel of Death called upon Abendali, and touching hien on the right side, bade him prepare to die. Accordingly the old man sent ler his sons to his bedside, and after embracing them tenderly one by one, spoke as follows :— "My dear children, you will find all the money that I have in the world in a great earthen pot, which stands in a hole of the wall, behind the head of my couch, As for Ite disposal my will is this, that it shall be equally divided between you two, who are the eldest. As for Little Agib, he has wit enough to provide for himself, and w uet shiftas he can." With these words he died, and the sons turned his face towards the East,—the two eldest setting themselves immediately to divide the money between them, in order to divert their grief ; whereas Little Agib, having nothing to do, shed a great many tears, however, it hap- pened so that the soul of the infirm kinswoman of Abendali took flight to God the same evening, and she left by her will a sum of money, that made Agib equal in means with his brethren ; whereupon, heviug something likewise to occupy his thoughts, his eyes were soon as dry at the othei•e. After a decent season, the three brothers, desiring a change of scene, and to see a little of the world, determined to travel : accordingly. bestowing their phoney about their persons, they set forth in company, intending to go towards,Damascus ; but, before they had gone very far, they were set upon by a band of thieves, who took away all they had. The two elder ones, at this mia- chance, ware very much cast down : but Little Agib, who was no worse off than he had been left by his father, kept up his heart. At last they came to a town, where Agib, who never had any mistrust of hie. wit, took care to hire a srnall house without any delay ! but his brethren were very much dismayed at so rash au net, for they knew that there was not a coin amongat them all. Notwithstanding, Agib, by several dexterous turns, made shift to provide something every day to eat and drink, which he shared generously with the others, exact- ing from them only a promise that they would help him whenever they could, At last even the inventions of Little Agib began to fail, and he was walking though the streets in a very melancholy manner, when ho espied an old woman making over towards an artificer's with a brazen pan in her arms. A thought im- mediately came into his head ; therefore, stopping the woman be• fore she could step into the shop, and drawing her a little way apart, he spoke thus. "I doubt not, my good mother, that you were going to the brazier, to have that vessel repait raj, and I should be loth to stop the bread from coming to any honest man's mouth. Notwith• standing, I have not eaten for three days ;" here the little hypo- crite began to shed tears ;—"and as I know something of the craft, if you will allots me to do such a small job for you, it will be a great charity." The old woman,in reply, told him that she was indeed going to the brazier's on such an errand, but nevertheless, the vessel having a flaw at the bottom, she was very well disposed to let him repair her pan, as it would be an act of charity, and especially as he would no doubt -mend itrfor-hrrlfsprieet- The 'Little Agib agreed to her terms ; where- upon leading her to the door of his boaat ile look kiib pan from her: and desired' her 19 con again iri a certain time. The brethren wondered very much to see. Agib with suQh a vessel, when they had no provisions to make it of any use ; but he gave thew no hint of his deaign,requiring of them that they would go abroad, and raise money upon such parts of their rai- ment as they could spare. The two elder ones having a great obnfidence in his cleverness, did ae they were doeired, but the greater part of their clothes having been pledged in the same way, they could borrow but two pieces for their turbans, which were left as security. As soon as he got the money, Agib ran off to the brazier, who has been mentioned before, and ordered him to repair the brass pan in 1 is best manner, and without delay, which the man punctually fulfilled. Thereupon Agib made him a present of the two pieces, which amounted to much more than the usual charge for such a job, and made haste home with the pan, where he arrived but a breathing apace before the old woman knocked at the door. She was very much pleased with the work, for the pan had a brave, new bottom, perfectly water tight, and neatly set in ; but the moderate charge that was demanded by Agib delightetk her still more, wherefore she began to hobble off, with great shtiafaction in her countenance, when ho beckoned to her to come back. "There is one thing," paid he, "that I request of you, which is this ; that you will not mention this matter to any one, for otherwise as I am not a native of the place, I shall have all the braziers of the town about my ears." The old woman promised readily to observe his caution ; notwith- standing, as lie had foreseen, she told the story to every one of her neighbors, and the neighbors gossip- ed of it to others, so that the fame of the cheap brazier travelled through the whole of her quarter. Thereupon, every person who had a vessel of brass or copper, or a metal pan of any kind that was unsound, resolved to have it mended at so reasonable a rate ; and each one in• tending to be beforehand with the others, it fell out, that a great tnob came all at once to the door. As soon as Agib beard the knock- ing, and the voices, and the jangling of the vessels, for the good people made a pretty concert without, in order to lot him know what they wanted, he turned about to his brothers, and said that the time for their usefulness was arrived. There- upon he opened the door, and saw a great concourse of people, who were all talking together, and hold- ing up towards him the bottoms of kettles and pans. Whenever he could make himself heard through the clamor, he desired every one to make a private mark of their own upon the metal, which being done, lie took in the articles one by one. and appointed with the owners to return for them on the morrow at the same hour. The things which had been brought made a goodly heap in the chamber, being piled up in one corner to the very top of the room, a sight that amused Agib and his brothers very much, for the latter made sure that they were to sell the whole of the metal, and then make off with the money,which was quite centrary to the policy of Agib, who remembered the injunctions of Abendali, as to the danger of such acts. However, there was no time to be wasted, having such a quanti- ty of work before their eyes ; ac, cordingly, bidding his brothers per- form after his example, Agib sat down on the floor with one of the pans between his lege, and by the help of an old knife and some coarse sand, scraped and scoured the bot- tom till it looked very bright and clean. The two eldest labored after the same manner with great patience, and persevered so steadfastly, that by daylight the bottoms of the ves- sols were all shining as brilliantly as the sun. "Now," said Agib, "we may lie down and rept awhile, for we have done the work of a score of hands." At the time appointed, which was about noon, the people came in a crowd, as before, to fetch away thIIir pans, every one atriving to bo first at the door. In the mean time, Agib had the vessels heaped up be- hind him, so as to be conveniently within roach; whereupon, opening the door, and holding up one of the articles in his right hand, one of the crowd called out, "That is my pan 1" Immediately Agib reached forth the vessel to the owner, and without a word stretched out his loft hand for the money, which in every case was a piece of the same amount that had been paid by the old woman ; and hie two brothers, who stood behind with blackened faces, to look like furnecenhen, put all the coins into a bag. In this way, Agib, as fast as he could, de- livered all the things to the people ; who, as soon as they saw the bright bottoms of their pots and kettles, were well satisfied, and withal very much amazed to think that so much work had been performed in such klittlq,space, . -,.n• "It is wonderful 1 it is wonder- ful I" they said to each other ; "he NORTHROP & L.. 'MAN'S iNiht< BLOOD !YTUPIFIER ,..eu. a::usun crier..-,r"rr::n •••-r; :..,::u,,: uuurrru" AILD 7-1 'Tr rn riw"ULATOR -.: Tim F+:° :K:tedieilae Equals it. J1:4 Properties are such as to a idly Insure Sound Iffealth and Long Life. Pleasant to the Taste, and Warranted FREE : FROM :•ANYTHING : INJURH5US To the most Delicate Constitution of Either 8ex. -1' efie.ctuelly and, thoroughly" Purifies and g> M. �$ riche:, the Elood, gives Life, Strength azd Vier to the&whole OI•gftnIsm of Digestion, restotroe he:,.ii.isr ae:ia.h the f:lrsr:tinnarf the Liver, rog=,t11X.eS the ,:o,veat, acts ul.ua the Ncrvcue Sy'st ,.a and Sec44,1re (irgaas, reettnes the ir.nctions of the [sia- neve and Sztin, ar,d renovates and invigorates that entire body, and in this way frees the systems of disease. Its clients are z :rp:::,sag to 4:1, la .so cZc' tu* a. -.]y and thoroughly cleansing the entire system, and PEJilttiANENTLY CURJNf ALL DISEASES A L NG rROra IMPURITIES OF THE BLOOD. such as Scrofula, and every kind .of Unhealthy Humor, Female Weakness, and those complaints known by the names of Erysipelas, Canker, Salt - Rheum, Pimples or Blotches on the Face, Neck or Ears, Ulcers,. Fever Sores, Boils, Scald Head, Sore Eyes, Neuralgia, Rheumialsm, Dyspepsia, Bilious- ness, Pains in the Side, Shoulder, Back or Loins, Diseases of the Liver and Kidneys, Costiveness, Piles, Headache, Dizziness, Nervousness, Fafntnessat the Stomach, and General Weakness and Debility■ must have a hundred work-peopleI at this turn of the case against Agib, in his house 1" and with that and whereas the complainants were al- together in exultation, and asked eagerly and at once of the old wo- man, whether her pan was not mere- ly scrubbed at the bottom and unser- viceable, like theirs. The old wo- man, however, declared that it was no such matter,but that her pan was quite water -tight, and repaired with anew bottom in a workmanlike man- ner ; whereupon the vessel being examined, it was discovered that she had told the truth. The Caliph, who was overjoyed at this favorable result, now laugh- ed again till he was ready to fall out of his seat. Whereas, the pans bearers fell into a fresh fit of rage, shaking their clanking utensils first at the old woman, and then at Agib, and at last at each other, every one shifting the blame of the failure from himself to his neighbor, who had prevented the cause from being properly heard. In the niean time, all the braziers and metal -workers of the place, who had heatd of the subject of the examination, throng.! ed into the court; and began to treat with the enraged people who bad been juggled for the hepairs of their pane; and these men falling into dispute with each other, there arose a fresh uproar. Tho Cadi, would fain have had then all thrust out of the place, but the Caliph desired that the rioters might have their way for a little longer not doubting that some fresh mirth would arise out of the squab- hle. Accordingly, before long, the complainants came forward with a fresh accusation • against the arti- ficers, that under pretence of examining the vessels, they tad thrust fresh holes in them, and withal they flourished the damaged pan -bottoms once more in the eyes of the Commander of the Faithful. similar sayings they departed to their homes. When the last of the pot•bearere was gone out of sight, Agib told his brothers that it was time for them to leave the plass; whereupon the dull-witted pair began to think of redeeming their turbhns, and, in spite of the entreaties of Agib, being very obayinate, as such such thick - skulls usually ase, they went forth on that errand. In the interval, Agib, who had many misgivings at heart, was obliged to remain in the house; so that the event fell out as unhappily as might have been fore- told. In a little while, some of the people, who had paid for the mend- ing of their pans, found out th.e trick, and these telling the others that were in the same plight, they repaired suddenly to the house, be- fore Agib had time to escape, and carried himinto the presence of the Codi. The furious people told their story all at once, as they could,' to the judge ; and withal they held up so many shining fan -bottoms, of brass as well as copper, that he was quite dazzled, and almost as blind as Justice ought to be, according to the painters. Many of thein, besides, to eke out their speech, laid sundry violent thumps upon the twanging vessels, so that such an uproar had never been heard before in the court. As for Agib, though he, felt his case to be somewhat critical, he could not help laughing at the oddneass of them ; and there were •others in the hall, who laughed more violently than he. It was a commen thing with the Caliph of Bagdad to go in disguise through his dominions, as well to overlook the administration of justice in different places, as for his own private diversion. Thus it happened at this moment, that the Caliph was standing, unrecognized, amongst the spectatore of the scene. He laughed very heartily at the eagerness of the complaints and their whimsical concert. At last sending his royal signet to the Cadi, with a message that it was his pleasure to try to the cause him- self, he went up into the judge's seatA. s soon as the accused perceived the Caliph, they set up a new cla mor, and a fresh clatter of their pans, eo that he had much ado to preserve his gravity and his eye- sight. Ho ever, wlien he had enough to comprehend the matter, he com- manded them to hold their peace, and thole called upon Agib to say what he uonld in hie defeuee. "Commander of the Faithful !" said Agih, "I beseech - but your gracious patience, and I will anewer all this rabble, and their kettles to hoot. Your majesty must know then, that yesterday morning these people all made even such a tumult about my door as you have jest heard. As x0011 ati ever 1 came forth, they held up the bottom.; of their vessels one and all towards rue, as they have just done to your majesty ; and if the Comman- der of the Faithful understands by that action that he is to mend all the bottoms of their pans, I confess that I am worthy of the bastinado." The Caliph laughed more hearti- ly than ever at this idea of Agib's, in which he was joined by all the unconcerned parties in the court ; whereas the pan•bearers looked very much disconcerted. At last, one of them, speaking in be- half of the rest, besought of the Caliph that the old woman might he tient for, whose pot had been mended by Agib, and accordingly an officer was dispatched to bring her to the court. As soon as she came, the Cadi interrogated her, by the command of the Caliph, as to her transaction with Agib ; whereupon she related the whole affair, and proved that he had undertaken, by expires word, to The Cali _hwns,verp mucp diverted_ — lit er"Fj'(} V. l°tOtt0nF-°t0"-lreP``ptt'rr.iz.-'. "with'it s-speecii'o �ie`�ii•Ftzi`er'; ;Meg' The Caliph was very much vexed made all the disconcerted pan bear - Little Agib, in the mean tirne, enjoyed this uproar in his sleeve, and casting a sly glance, or two towards the fleet of justice, lie soon perceived that it was not more dis- pleasing to the Caliph. The latter after Iatrgliing a while longer, put on a grave look by force, and com- manded Agib to relate what passed with the people, at the delivery of their wares. "Sire," replied Agib, "as soon as I had got all the pans together, which were thus forced as it were, upon me, I examined them as narrowly as I could ; but not being a brazier, nor knowing anything whatever of that trade, I could per- ceive only that they wanted a little scouring, which I performed by the help of my two brothers. This morning the people came again for their pots and pans, and seeing that they had only held up the bottoms to me, in like manner I only held up the bottoms towards them :. where- with they were so well contented, that each gave nue a small piece of money, without any demanrt on icy part, and they went on their way." As soon as Agib had concluded these words, he was silent ; where. upon one of the braziers pushed his way through tl.e crowd, and nhaking his reverence before theCal iph, spoke as follows :— "Commander of the Faithful, what this young man has said is every word of it true. As for any sort of copper or brass work, he is quite ignorant of the craft, for the very morning before this, he brought to me a pan of his own to be repaired. By his desire, therefore, I put in a bran new bottom, for which he paid me very honestly as well as hand- somely, so that I wish I .had many more such liberal customers. As for these foolish people that make such a clatter, they are not worthy to be believed for an instant; for I leave it to your Majesty to consider whether so many bottoms as they apeak of could be put into their vessels by all the braziers in the place, in the course of a single night. The thing is impossible; and besides if it could be done, there is no man that could do such a job conscientiously, under ten times the price which they con- fess to have paid to him. I am a judge and ought to know." $L,OXAIYx'►S Electric lluir Restorer Restores Grey Hair to Its (iriglnal Color, Beauty and Softness Keeps the Head Clean Cool and free from Dandruff. Cures Irritation and Itch- ing of the Scalp! Gives a beautiful gloss and perfume to the hair, produces a new growth, and will stop the falling out in a few days. Will not soil the akin or the most delicate head-dress. FULL DIRECTIONS WITH EACH BOTTLE. Try it and be convinced. Price Fifty Cents per Bottle. Refuse all Substitutes. SOLE AGENT FOR CANADA H. SPENCER CASE Chemist, No. 50 King Street West Hamilton. Ontario. cola by J. 11. CUbNFE. -- ere hang down their heads. IIe then turned round to the Cadi and asked what he thought of the case ; the latter having given his answer, the crier was commanded to procure silence in the court, and the Caliph stood up to give judgment. "Your observation," said he, turn- ing towards the Cadi, "is both learn- ed and'just. I am of opinion, like- wise, that the holding up of the bot- toms of brazen pans, is not amongst any of the known forms of agree - went. Thus there was no legal bargain on either side,"—and at these words the disappointed people, raising up their hands towards the Prophet in appeal against the in- justice of the Caliph, there 'arose a new flashing of brass and copper bottoms, and a fresh clatter of all the pans. "Notwithstanding," continued the Caliph, "as there seems to have been some evasion of secret understanding, between the two parties, my decree therefore is this, that the criminal shall receive two hundred strokes upon the soles of his feet ;'' and here- with, the hands falling down again with satisfaction, there ensued a fresh clanking chorus throughout the hall. "However," the Caliph went on thus as soon as there was silence— "it is necessary that justice on both sides should be equal and complete; wherefore, as the complainants did but hold up their pans, and then reckon that the order for the new bottoms was distinct, so it shall be sufficient for the executioner to lift up hie arm two hundred times, and the criminel shall be deemed to have suffered as many stripes of the bas- tinado." At this pleasant decision, there was a great shout of applause in the court; but the discomfited pan -bear. ere departed in great dudgeon, with more clangor than eyer ; and almost in a temper to bang up their pans, like the kettles of the Turkish Jani- series, as the signals for a revolt. As for Ajib, he suffered the penal- ty according to his sentence; but the Caliph was so much delighted with his wit and address, that before long 110 raised him to be one of his Minis- ters of State. The two elder ones, on the contrary, being very dull and slow, howbeit very proper men, rose no higher than to be soldiers of the Body Guard. Thus the expectation of Abendali was fulfilled, the Little Agib, though last in birth and least in stature, becoming the foremost in fortune and the highest in dignity of the Three Brothers. A SAD AWAKENING "R'her: in the dark, on thy soft hind I t: a n,r. And hoard leo t `opting aycen of thy ,What fl hat d.,rta--what en- gui.h I hnuurtd, Hut when the candle r ntered—I was cured. Such complexions as so many of our young ladies po.sess-dull, pimply, and covered with sores mcd blackheads, is enough to coni the ardor ,•f the warmest lover. To such young ladies we would say, that you can never have a s•lt, fair, smooth, attractive, dtiasable complexion, unless your blood is healthy and pnre,for the candle'', n of the blood decides the complexi, n. Dr. Pisrce`s Golden Medi• cal Discovery will purify your blood, tone up your system, and drive away those distressing headsohes and backaches, from which you suffer periodivally, and sive you a onmp'exton a lily or rose -leaf might envy. —Frank Id ranl,was .killed by °light 'f1ria i lat'is='h, :A-usTi , etfr miles west of Winnipeg.