In Comparison,

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 11 March 1908, Page 91

In Comparison,

An author, writing on life among the Moors, tells the following little anecdote. When Ab-del Hakk was poor, as he was one day tiavelling across a weary plain he camo to tho house of the Widow Zaidah, who wa - also poor; but when he made known hk hunger she set before him two hard-boiled eggs, all the food there was in her Louse. Later, when Ab del Hakk lived in Harakesh, and was very rich, Meludi, the lawyer, disliking him, persuaded the Widow Zaidah to sue him for the eggs; but not for the eggs alone, for they would have become two chickens, whioh in time would have so multiplied that the whole fortune of Ab rlel HakL would not now pay for them. When the case came to trial the rich man \va~ not in court. "Why is the defendant not here?" demamled the judgfe. "My lord," sajd counsel for-the defence, "he is gone to sow boiled beans." "liojled beans?" \ "Uoiletl beans, mjryLord." "Is ho mad?" ■"He is very wise, mv Lord. Surely, if hard-boiled eggs can be hatched, boiled bean* will grow." Ihe '-nit was promptly dismissed, with ryiijt^ to t^ 10 nlnintiff.