THE IRON CASKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2181, 19 December 1895, Page 30

THE IRON CASKET.

A STORY FOR CHILDREN. In the meantime, as the two elder brothers Eat mourning their losses, Abdul Kassim, the youngest, sac at home in his little house by the gardens, thinking with regret of his lather, and wondering what he should do to earn himself his daily bread. Before him, t)n a little stool, stood the iron casket. There came a knock at the door, and Micha Jben Jabzeel, the Jew, who had lent him money a month or two ago, walked in. jtficha looked grave, and said : 44 Abdul Kassim, times are bad, and ready )noney gets ecarcer and scarcer. You know [ lent yon 10 golden coins, and I have come to ask " his eyes fell on the casket and he Itaited, but collecting himself, went on : 41 1 have come to tell you that I am not in an Immediate hurry for the return of the loan. If you like you can keep it. or as it is hardly Worth mentioning, keep it for some months, or even years if you like. I only wanted to kell you you needn't trouble about it, there Jb no hurry at all." ■ He bowed low to his debtor and withflr«w. Abdul Kassim marvelled at the change in Ifce Jew's manner, bat as be thoocht of the

looks he had oast at the oaskeb be couldn't help smiling. On the same evening cams his neighbour, the clothes dealer, who bad not visited him for years. ••Djar friend," he said, and placed a bundle ou the floor before KiFStm, " I havo come to entreat your pardon that my horse should have splashed your robe with mud the other day ; he is a young thing, and is not yet proparly broken. I have brought you a new>robe to replace it, which I hope will please you." Then he withdrew. The young man oould not recollect having been splashed by his neighbour's hone, still less could he account for the generosity of one who was celebrated for his meanness in presenting him with such an elaborately embroidered robe. Next morning, just as he had put on bis new robe, a distant relation arrived, bringing a magnificently caparisoned horse. 41 Dear cousin," he said — formerly he had not even noticed him — "your appearance grieves me. I feared you were givirjg way too much to grief at the loss of your father, and it would give me great pleasure to cheer you a litt'e. I have ventured to bring you this horae whioh is overcrowding my stable ; do me the favour to accept this little gift 1 " Adbul KaEsim wculd have refused, but the cousin had hurried away. There he stood holding the beautiful animal by the bridle. He could not resist the temptation to mount him. He swung himself into the saddle and rode into the town. Everyoue bowed to him, and many stood stiil, saying : 41 There, I told you so I Abdul Kusslm was always the favourite son, and he has inherited the casket 1 " Naxt morning, as the barber sharpened his razor and began to shave the Caliph, the latter asked him : "Well, Hirmos, what are my subjects talking about just now ? " Tbe barber bowed to the ground and said : "What should thf y Bpeak of, 0 Kirg of the Faithful, if not of your goodness and wisdom 1 " 41 Of your idiotcy, son of a she ass," shcuted the Cjdlpb, bored by the eternal flatteries of the barber. " Tell me, what are the people talking about ? " " They talk," began Harmos hesitatingly — 41 they talk of the luck of your servant, Abdul Kassim, whom they call the wisest and richest of your subjects." " Abdul Kassim 1 I don't even know his name," said the Caliph. " H-j is the son and heir of Kalif," continued the barber more courageously, " the same Kalif whom the Shah once rewarded with a magic casket." Ha related at length all about the magic stones. The Caliph listened attentively, dismissed the barber, and sent a message to the Grand Vizier to come at once. The Vizier came and confirmed the barber's tale. " Abdul Kassitn," he said, " knows everything that goes on in the worid, aud whenever he has a wish all he has to do to fulfil it is to rub tha diamond and say what he wants." The Caliph grew serious. 41 Do you think, Vizior, that this man could usurp my throne? How would it be if I give him a palaca and raised him to be the husband of my daughter?" The Grand Vizier agreed to the proposal of his ruler, and undertook himself to convoy to the astounded Abdul KHaeiin the tidioga that the Commander of the Faithful had given him a palace and awaited his visit. Toe same evening the new favourite of the C-Uiph packed all his few bolonging3 on the horse's back, took the iron casket uader hie arm and, amid the cheers or the crowd, entered the palace. A troop of negroes received him and threw themselves at his feet. An especially gorgeously arrayed sl-:va led him into a room where a banquet awaited him. Abdul K-assim had never fared so well in his life. But he did not forget to praise AUah for his goodness. Noxt mornirg he put on his gorgeous robe, bound on the magnificent Bwcrd he found in the great hall, and rode, accompanied by the negroes, to visit the Caliph. (To be continued.)