diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 3391582 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/24473-h.htm | 1438 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 41489 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/11.jpg | bin | 0 -> 30242 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/12.jpg | bin | 0 -> 6552 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/14.jpg | bin | 0 -> 93586 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/15.jpg | bin | 0 -> 67597 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/17.jpg | bin | 0 -> 86909 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/19.jpg | bin | 0 -> 69921 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/2.jpg | bin | 0 -> 103698 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/20.jpg | bin | 0 -> 64163 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/21.jpg | bin | 0 -> 96872 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/23.jpg | bin | 0 -> 63026 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/25.jpg | bin | 0 -> 105754 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/29.jpg | bin | 0 -> 145385 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/31.jpg | bin | 0 -> 117392 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/34.jpg | bin | 0 -> 11302 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/35.jpg | bin | 0 -> 25294 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/36.jpg | bin | 0 -> 78681 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/39.jpg | bin | 0 -> 43763 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/3a.jpg | bin | 0 -> 26388 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/3b.jpg | bin | 0 -> 7345 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/3c.jpg | bin | 0 -> 43008 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/40.jpg | bin | 0 -> 44888 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/41.jpg | bin | 0 -> 57637 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/43.jpg | bin | 0 -> 46281 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/45.jpg | bin | 0 -> 60991 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/47.jpg | bin | 0 -> 51098 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/49.jpg | bin | 0 -> 64450 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/5.jpg | bin | 0 -> 94238 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/50.jpg | bin | 0 -> 42723 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/51.jpg | bin | 0 -> 87764 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/55.jpg | bin | 0 -> 73941 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/56.jpg | bin | 0 -> 56244 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/57.jpg | bin | 0 -> 52291 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/58.jpg | bin | 0 -> 12689 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/59.jpg | bin | 0 -> 29826 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/60.jpg | bin | 0 -> 89412 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/63.jpg | bin | 0 -> 42985 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/64.jpg | bin | 0 -> 58475 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/65.jpg | bin | 0 -> 84388 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/68.jpg | bin | 0 -> 58772 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/69.jpg | bin | 0 -> 51053 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/71.jpg | bin | 0 -> 88779 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/74.jpg | bin | 0 -> 55295 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/75.jpg | bin | 0 -> 54844 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/79.jpg | bin | 0 -> 52463 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/7a.jpg | bin | 0 -> 77133 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/7b.jpg | bin | 0 -> 30001 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/8.jpg | bin | 0 -> 5686 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/82.jpg | bin | 0 -> 7074 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/83.jpg | bin | 0 -> 15421 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/84.jpg | bin | 0 -> 88008 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/87.jpg | bin | 0 -> 61742 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/88.jpg | bin | 0 -> 63534 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/89.jpg | bin | 0 -> 92940 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/9.jpg | bin | 0 -> 69075 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/93.jpg | bin | 0 -> 38409 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/94.jpg | bin | 0 -> 51733 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/A.jpg | bin | 0 -> 17004 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/T.jpg | bin | 0 -> 18110 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473-h/images/header.jpg | bin | 0 -> 90864 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473.txt | 1396 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24473.zip | bin | 0 -> 25472 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
67 files changed, 2850 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/24473-h.zip b/24473-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4de7199 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h.zip diff --git a/24473-h/24473-h.htm b/24473-h/24473-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..450afb7 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/24473-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1438 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Cat and the Mouse, by Hartwell James</title> +<style type="text/css"> + body { margin-left:10%; margin-right:10% } + .storydescription { text-align: center; color: red } + .red {color:red} + .indent {text-indent: -5%; margin-left:5%} + .HJ {margin-left:70%} + hr.full { width: 100%; + height: 5px; } + a:link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none; } + link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none; } + a:visited {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none; } + a:hover {color:#ff0000; + text-decoration: underline; } + pre {font-size: 85%; } +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1 align="center">The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Cat and the Mouse, Edited by Hartwell +James, Illustrated by John R. Neill</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Cat and the Mouse</p> +<p> A Book of Persian Fairy Tales</p> +<p>Editor: Hartwell James</p> +<p>Release Date: January 31, 2008 [eBook #24473]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAT AND THE MOUSE***</p> +<br><br><center><h3>E-text prepared by Michael Gray<br> + (Lost_Gamer@comcast.net)</h3></center><br><br> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" noshade> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h1>PERSIAN FAIRY TALES</h1> +<br><br><br><br> +<p align="center"><img src="images/1.jpg" alt="A design"></p> +<br><br> +<p align="center" id="img2"><img src="images/2.jpg" alt="The frontispiece"></p> +<br><br><br><br> +<p align="center"><img src="images/3a.jpg" alt="ALTEMUS' FAIRY TALE SERIES"></p> +<h2 align="center">The Cat and the Mouse<br>A Book of Persian<br>Fairy +Tales</h2> + + +<p align="center">EDITED with an INTRODUCTION<br> +<big>By HARTWELL JAMES</big><br> +WITH FORTY ILLUSTRATIONS<br> +By <big>JOHN R. NEILL</big></p> +<p align="center"><img src="images/3b.jpg" alt="A border"></p> +<br><br> +<p align="center"><img src="images/3c.jpg" alt="A design"></p> +<br><br> +<p align="center">PHILADELPHIA<br>HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<table align="center" border="1"> +<tr><td><h1 align="center">Altemus'</h1> +<p align="center">Illustrated</p> +<h1 align="center">Fairy Tales Series</h1> +<hr width="95%"> +<hr width="95%"> +<p class="indent">The Magic Bed<br>A Book of East Indian Tales</p> +<p class="indent">The Cat and the Mouse<br>A Book of Persian Tales</p> +<p class="indent">The Jeweled Sea<br>A Book of Chinese Tales</p> +<p class="indent">The Magic Jaw Bone<br>A Book of South Sea Islands +Tales</p> +<p class="indent">The Man Elephant<br>A Book of African Tales</p> +<p class="indent">The Enchanted Castle<br>A Book of Tales from Flower +Land</p> + + + +<hr width="95%"> +<hr width="95%"> +<p align="center">Fifty Cents Each</p> +<hr width="95%"> +<hr width="95%"> +<p align="center">Copyright, 1906<br>By Henry Altemus</p> +</table> +<br><br><br> +<p align="center"><img src="images/5.jpg" alt="Introduction"></p> +<hr width="10%"> +<p>Persia is rich in folk lore. For hundreds and hundreds of years the +stories in this book, and many others as well, have been told to the +wondering boys and girls of that country, who, as they hear them, +picture their native land as one of roses and tulips, where beautiful +fairies build their castles in the rosy morn, and black gnomes fly +around in the darkness of midnight.</p> +<p>A land, too, where the sun gleams like a fire above the blue +mountains, and the water lilies are mirrored in the deep lakes. A land +where the eyes of the tigers gleam through the reeds by the riverside, +and dark-eyed, sunburned people are quick to love and quick to +hate.</p> +<p>The belief in the "Ghool," or "Old Man of the Desert," is still +prevalent in Persia, which probably accounts for the popularity of the +story of "The Son of the Soap Seller." The other stories selected for +this volume are great favorites, but the story of "The Cat and the +Mouse" is perhaps the most popular of all.</p> +<p>The frontispiece to this volume is a reduced facsimile of a whole +page in a Persian book, showing both the pictures and the reading as +they were published in Persia. The other illustrations for "The Cat and +the Mouse" are copies of drawings by a Persian artist.</p> + + +<table border="0"> +<tr><td><p>"<br> <br> <br> </p><td><p>Two friends on one +carpet may with contentment sleep;<br>Two monarchs in one kingdom the +peace can never keep.<br>While earth revolves, and little children +play,<br>Cats over mice will always hold the sway."</p> +</table> +<p class="HJ">H. J.</p> + + +<br><br><br> +<p align="center"><img src="images/7a.jpg" alt="Contents"></p> +<br><br> +<table border="0"> +<tr> +<td><p><font size="+2"><a href="#story1">The Cat and The Mouse</a><br> +<a href="#story2">The Son of the Soap Seller</a><br> +<a href="#story3">The King's Treasure</a><br> +<a href="#story4">The King and The Fisherman</a></font></p> +<td width="15"><p> </p> +<td><p><font size="+2">13<br>37<br>61<br>85</font></p> +</table> + +<br><br> +<p align="center"><img src="images/7b.jpg" alt="A design"></p> +<br><br><br> +<p align="center"><img src="images/8.jpg" alt="A flower"></p> +<br><br><br> +<p align="center"><img src="images/9.jpg" alt="List of Illustrations"></p> + +<table border="0"> +<tr> +<td><p><font size="+2"> <br> +<a href="#img2">Frontispiece</a><br> +<a href="#img14">"Nobody was happier than this cat"</a><br> +<a href="#img15">" 'Now will you take off my head?' "</a><br> +<a href="#img17">"The cat had a rosary of beads"</a><br> +<a href="#img19">"The mice began to make merry"</a><br> +<a href="#img20">"Discreetly they bore their gifts"</a><br> +<a href="#img21">"And they went forward trembling"</a><br> +<a href="#img23">"Five mice he caught"</a><br> +<a href="#img25">"The King was sitting on his throne"</a><br> +<a href="#img29">"The armies fell upon each other"</a><br> +<a href="#img31">"So he mounted his elephant"</a><br> +<a href="#img36">"The lion sprang upon the Princess"</a><br> +<a href="#img39">" 'O brothers, buy my pure soap' "</a><br> +<a href="#img40">"Things became blacker and blacker"</a><br> +<a href="#img41">"Leading a fine lion by a chain"</a><br> +<a href="#img43">"They set forth on their journey"</a><br> +<a href="#img45">"The rain fell in torrents"</a><br> +<a href="#img47">" 'Give me a drink of water' "</a><br> +<a href="#img49">"They ran here and there"</a><br> +<a href="#img50">" 'Sleep, my son, while I keep watch' "</a><br> +<a href="#img51">"A beautiful young woman appeared"</a><br> +<a href="#img55">"Every morning Ahmed looked in the cup"</a><br> +<a href="#img56">"Ahmed sprang upon the figure"</a><br> +<a href="#img57">" 'Ask for anything in reason' "</a><br> +<a href="#img60">"A brass vessel full of round white stones"</a><br> +<a href="#img63">"Lived in a sheltered valley"</a><br> +<a href="#img64">"Abdul Karim was lost in wonder"</a><br> +<a href="#img65">"Priests were calling the people to prayer"</a><br> +<a href="#img68">"The noise and bustle of the crowded streets"</a><br> +<a href="#img69">" 'Two hundred krans!' repeated Abdul Karim"</a><br> +<a href="#img71">" 'Get out of my shop!' "</a><br> +<a href="#img74">" 'Here are eight krans' "</a><br> +<a href="#img75">"Came in sight of his cottage"</a><br> +<a href="#img79">"He hid most of the treasure"</a><br> +<a href="#img84">" 'Is this fish male or female?' "</a><br> +<a href="#img87">"Begged that he would accept the fish"</a><br> +<a href="#img88">" 'The matter is closed' "</a><br> +<a href="#img89">" 'Are you a human being or a beast?' "</a><br> +<a href="#img93">"The fisherman fell on his knees"</a><br> +<a href="#img94">"His bag laden with money"</a></font></p> +<td width="15"><p> </p> +<td><p align="center"><font +size="+2">Page<br>2<br>14<br>15<br>17<br>19<br>20<br>21<br>23<br>25<br> +29<br>31<br>36<br>39<br>40<br>41<br>43<br>45<br>47<br>49<br>50<br>51 +<br>55<br>56<br>57<br>60<br>63<br>64<br>65<br>68<br>69<br>71<br>74<br>75 +<br>79<br>84<br>87<br>88<br>89<br>93<br>94</font></p> +</table> + + + +<br><br><br> +<p>THE CAT AND THE MOUSE</p> +<br><br><br> +<p align="center"><img src="images/11.jpg" alt="A cat"></p> +<br><br><br><br> +<p align="center"><img src="images/12.jpg" alt="A flower."></p> +<br><br><br><br> +<p align="center"><img src="images/header.jpg" alt="Persian Fairy Tales"></p> +<h1 align="center" id="story1">The Cat and the Mouse</h1> +<p class="storydescription">Showing how one may be lost in wonder at +the story of the cat<br> +and the mouse, when related with a clear and rolling<br> +voice, as if from a pulpit.</p> +<p> +<img src="images/A.jpg" alt="A">CCORDING to the decree of Heaven, there +once lived in the Persian city of Kerman a cat like unto a +dragon—a longsighted cat who hunted like a lion; a cat with +fascinating eyes and long whiskers and sharp teeth. Its body was like a +drum, its beautiful fur like ermine skin. +</p><p> +Nobody was happier than this cat, neither the newly-wedded bride, nor +the hospitable master of the house when he looks round on the smiling +faces of his guests. +</p> +<p align="center" id="img14"> +<img src="images/14.jpg" alt="Nobody was happier than this cat"> +</p><p> +This cat moved in the midst of friends, boon companions of the +saucepan, the cup, and the milk jug of the court, and of the dinner +table when the cloth is spread. +</p><p> +Perceiving the wine cellar open, one day, the cat ran gleefully into it +to see if he could catch a mouse, and hid himself behind a wine jar. At +that moment a mouse ran out of a hole in the wall, quickly climbed the +jar, and putting his head into it, drank so long and so deeply that he +became drunk, talked very stupidly, and fancied he was as bold as a +lion. +</p> +<p align="center" id="img15"> +<img src="images/15.jpg" alt=""Now will you take off my head?""> +</p><p> +"Where is the cat?" shouted he, "that I may off with his head. I would +cut off his head as if on the battlefield. A cat in front of me would +fare worse than any dog who might happen to cross my path." +</p><p> +The cat ground his teeth with rage while hearing this. Quicker than the +eye could follow, he made a spring, seized the mouse in his claws, and +said, "Oh, little mouse, now will you take off my head?" +</p><p> +"I am thy servant," replied the mouse; "forgive my sin. I was drunk. I +am thy slave; a slave whose ear is pierced and on whose shoulder the +yoke is." +</p><p> +"Tell fewer lies," replied the cat. "Was there ever such a liar? I +heard all you said and you shall pay for your sin with your life. I +will make your life less than that of a dead dog." +</p><p> +So the cat killed and ate the mouse; but afterwards, being sorry for +what he had done, he ran to the Mosque, and passed his hands over his +face, poured water on his hands, and anointed himself as he had seen +the faithful do at the appointed hours of prayer. +</p><p> +Then he began to recite the beautiful chapter to Allah in the Holy Book +of the Persians, and to make his confession in this wise: +</p><p> +"I have repented, and will not again tear the body of a mouse with my +teeth. I will give bread to the deserving poor. Forgive my sin, O great +Forgiver, for have I not come to Thee bowed down with sorrow?" +</p><p align="center" id="img17"> +<img src="images/17.jpg" alt="The cat had a rosary of beads"> +</p><p> +He repeated this so many times and with so much feeling that he really +thought he meant it, and finally wept for grief. +</p><p> +A little mouse happened to be behind the pulpit, and overhearing the +cat's vows, speedily carried the glad but surprising news to the other +mice. Breathlessly he related how that the cat had become a true +Mussulman; how that he had seen him in the Mosque weeping and +lamenting, and saying: +</p><p> +"Oh, Creator of the world, put away my sin, for I have offended like a +big fool." Then the mouse went on to describe how that the cat had a +rosary of beads, and made pious reflections in the spirit of a true +penitent. +</p><p> +The mice began to make merry when they heard this startling news, for +they were exceedingly glad. Seven chosen mice, each the headman of the +village, arose and gave thanks that the cat should at last have entered +the fold of the true believers. +</p><p> +All danced and shouted, "Ah! Ah! Hu! Hu!" and drank red wine and white +wine until they were very merry. Two rang bells, two played castanets, +and two sang. One carried a tray behind his back laden with good +things, so that all could help themselves; some smoked water-pipes; +another acted like a clown; others played various tunes on different +instruments of music. +</p><p> +A few days after the feast, the King of the mice said to them, "Oh, +friends, all of you bring costly presents worthy of the cat!" Then the +mice scattered in search of gifts, but soon returned, each bearing +something worthy of presentation, even to a nobleman. +</p><p align="center" id="img19"> +<img src="images/19.jpg" alt="The mice began to make merry"></p><p> +One brought a bottle of wine; another a dish full of raisins; others +came with salted nuts and melon seeds, lumps of cheese, basins of +sugar-candy, pistachio nuts, little cakes iced with sugar, bottles of +lemon juice, Indian shawls, hats, cloaks and many other things. +</p><p align="center" id="img20"> +<img src="images/20.jpg" alt="Discreetly they bore their gifts"></p><p> +Discreetly they bore their gifts before the King of the Cats. When in +the royal presence, they made humble obeisances, touching their +foreheads on the ground, and saluting him, said: +</p><p> +"Oh, master, liberator of the lives of all, we have brought gifts +worthy of thy service. We beseech thee to deign to accept of them." +</p><p align="center" id="img21"> +<img src="images/21.jpg" alt="And they went forward trembling"> +</p><p> +Then the cat thought to himself, "I am rewarded for becoming a pious +Mussulman. Though I have endured much hunger, yet this day finds me +freely and amply provided for. Not for many days have I broken my fast. +It is clear that Allah is appeased." +</p><p> +Then he turned to the mice, and bade them come nearer, calling them his +friends. And they went forward trembling. So frightened were they that +they were hardly aware of what they were doing. When they were close +the cat made a sudden spring upon them. +</p><p> +Five mice he caught, each one the chief of a village; two with his +front paws, two with his hind ones, and one in his mouth. The remaining +mice barely escaped with their lives. +</p><p> +Picking up one of their murdered brothers, they quickly carried the sad +news to the mice, saying: "Why do ye sit still, oh mice? Throw dust on +your heads, oh young men, for the cruel cat has seized five of our +unsuspecting companions with teeth and claws and has killed them." +</p><p> +Then for the space of five days they rent their clothes as do the +mourners, and cast dust on their heads. Then they said: "We must go and +tell our King all that has befallen the mice. We must not fail to tell +him this calamity." +</p><p> +Whereupon they all rose up and went their way in deep sorrow; one +beating the muffled drum, one tolling the bell; all had shawls around +their necks; their tears the while running in little streams down their +whiskers. +</p><p align="center" id="img23"> +<img src="images/23.jpg" alt="Five mice he caught"></p><p> +Arrived where the King was sitting on his throne, the mice paid homage +to him, saying: "Master, we are subjects and thou art King. Behold the +cat has treated us cruelly since he became a pious follower of Mahomet. +Whereas, before his conversion he was wont to catch only one of us in a +year, now that he is a sincere Mussulman his appetite has so increased +that only five at a time will satisfy him." +</p><p> +Whereupon the King fell into such a violent rage that he resembled a +saucepan boiling over. But to the deputation of mice he spoke very +kindly, calling them his newly-arrived and welcome guests, and to +comfort them vowed that he would give the cat such a chastisement that +the news of it should circulate through the world. +</p><p> +Then, observing their grief, he commanded that the dead mouse should be +buried with all pomp and ceremony. Accordingly they made lamentation +for a whole week, as though it had been for one of royal degree; and +having prepared delicious sweetmeats, they placed them in baskets and +carried them with streaming eyes to the grave. +</p><p> +After the burial service, the King ordered the army to assemble on a +given day on the great sandy plain that stretches as far as the eye can +see around the city. Then he addressed them, saying: +</p><p align="center" id="img25"> +<img src="images/25.jpg" alt="The King was sitting on his throne"> +</p><p> +"Oh, men and soldiers, inasmuch as the cat has so cruelly ill-treated +our countrymen, he being a heretic and an evil doer, and brutal in +nature, we must now go to the city of Kerman and fight him." +</p><p> +So three hundred and thirty thousand mice went forth, armed with +swords, guns, and spears; and with flags and pennons bravely flying. A +passing Arab from the desert, skilfully balancing himself on the back +of a swift-traveling camel by means of a long pole, spied the great +army in motion, and was so overcome with astonishment that he lost his +balance and fell off. Several regiments of mice were put out of action +by his fall; but nothing daunted, the army pressed on. +</p><p> +When the army was ready for battle, the King again addressed them +saying: "O young men, an ambassador must be sent to the cat, one who is +able, discreet, and eloquent." Then they all shouted: "The King's +orders shall be carried out! Upon our heads be it." +</p><p> +Now, there was present a learned and eloquent mouse, the ruler of a +province, and he it was that the King commanded to go as an ambassador +to the cat in the city of Kerman. Almost before his name was out of the +King's mouth, he had jumped out of his place in the ranks, and, +traveling swiftly as the winds of the desert, he went in boldly before +the cat and said: +</p><p> +"As an ambassador from the King of the Mice am I come, bowed down with +grief and fatigue. Know this, my master has determined to wage war, and +is even now come with his army to take off your head." +</p><p> +The cat roared out in reply, "Go tell your King to eat dust! I come not +out of this city except at my good pleasure!" Then he sent messengers +to bring up quickly some fighting and hunting cats from +Khorassan—the land of the sun—to Kerman. +</p><p> +As soon as the cat's army was ready, the King of the Cats gave them +marching orders, promising to come himself to the battle on the next +day. The cats came out on horseback, each one like a hungry tiger. The +mice also mounted their steeds, armed to the teeth, and boiling with +rage. Shouting "Allah! Allah!" the armies fell upon each other with +unsheathed swords. +</p><p align="center" id="img29"> +<img src="images/29.jpg" alt="The armies fell upon each other"> +</p><p> +So many cats and mice were killed that there was no room for the +horses' feet. The cats fought valiantly, their fierce attacks carrying +them through the first line of the mice, then through the second, and +many Ameers and chiefs were killed. The mice, thinking the battle lost, +turned to flee, crying out: +</p><p> +"Throw dust upon your heads, young men!" +</p><p> +But afterwards, rallying again, they faced their pursuers and attacked +the right wing of the cat's army, shouting their battle cry of "Allah! +Allah!" +</p><p> +In the thickest of the fray a mounted mouse speared the King of the +Cats, so that he fell fainting to the ground. Before he could rise, the +mouse leaped upon him and brought him captive to the King. So the cats +were defeated on that day and sullenly retreated to the city of Kerman. +</p><p> +Having bound the cat, the mice beat him until he became unconscious. +Then the plain echoed with the beating of tom-toms and shouts of joy. +Then the King of the Mice seated himself on his throne and ordered the +cat to be brought before him. +</p><p> +"Scoundrel!" he said to him, "Why hast thou eaten up my army? Hear now +the King of the Mice." The cat hung his head in fear, and remained +silent. After a few minutes, he said: "I am thy servant, even to +death." Then the King replied: +</p><p align="center" id="img31"> +<img src="images/31.jpg" alt="So he mounted his elephant"></p><p> +"Carry this black-faced dog to the execution ground. I will come in +person without delay to kill him in revenge for the blood of my +slaughtered subjects." +</p><p> +So he mounted his elephant, and his guard marched proudly before him. +The cat, with his hands tied together, stood weeping. Upon arriving at +the execution grounds and discerning that the cat was not yet executed, +the King said angrily to the hangman: "Why is it this prisoner is still +alive? Hang him immediately!" +</p><p> +At that very moment a horseman came galloping furiously from the city +and besought the King, saying: "Forgive this miserable cat; in future +he will do us no harm." However, the King turned a deaf ear to his +entreaties, ordering that the cat be killed at once. The mice +hesitated, being unwilling, through fear, to carry out the order. +</p><p> +Of course, this made the King very angry. "O foolish mice!" he cried, +"Ye will all take pity on the cat, in order that he may again make a +sacrifice of you." +</p><p> +Directly the cat saw the horseman, his courage revived. With one bound +he sprang from his place as does the tiger on his prey, burst his bonds +asunder, and seized five unfortunate mice. The other mice, filled with +dismay and terror, ran hither and thither, crying wildly: +</p><p> +"Allah! Allah! Shoot him! Cut off his head, as did Rastam his enemies +on the day of battle!" +</p><p> +When the King of the Mice saw what, had happened, he fainted; whereupon +the cat leaped on him, pulled off his crown, and placing the rope over +his head, hanged him, so that he died immediately. +</p><p> +Then he darted here and there, seizing and slaying, and dashing mice to +the earth, till the whole army of mice was routed, and there was none +left to oppose him. +</p> + + + + + +<br><br><br> +<p align="center"><img src="images/34.jpg" alt="A flower."></p> +<br><br><br> +<p>THE SON OF THE SOAP SELLER</p> +<br><br><br> +<p align="center"><img src="images/35.jpg" alt="The son of the soap seller"></p> +<br><br><br><br> +<p align="center" id="img36"> +<img src="images/36.jpg" alt="The lion sprang upon the Princess"> +</p> +<br><br><br><br> +<p align="center"><img src="images/header.jpg" alt="Persian Fairy Tales"></p> +<h1 align="center" id="story2">The Son of the Soap Seller</h1> +<p class="storydescription">Cleverly proving that a princess with a +necklace can frustrate the<br>intentions of a Ghool, and that every +king should have<br>near his person the owner of a crystal cup.</p> +<p><img src="images/T.jpg" alt="T">HERE once dwelt a poor but worthy +man named Abdullah in Meshed, the Holy City, the place of pilgrimage, +whose beautiful mosque with the golden dome is the glory of the kingdom +of Persia. He barely managed to get a living by the sale of soap.</p> +<p>All day long, from sunrise to sunset, he tramped the city, crying +out: "O brothers, buy my pure soap. There is none better in the city, +as every one knows. Even the little babes would say so if they could +but speak."</p> +<p>Still, if you looked closely at it, you would never guess it to be +soap; it was black and coarse, and more like wood than anything else. +If any unlucky pilgrim used it on his face or hands, it would make his +skin burn like fire. But this did not often happen, for the people in +Persia do not use much soap on themselves, or their clothes, and sand +does very well for cleaning cooking pots and pans. So it was that there +were many days when poor Abdullah did not sell enough to buy sufficient +bread for himself and his little boy Ahmed.</p> +<p>At such times, the father would creep sadly into his wretched mud- +built hovel, and bury his face in his hands, so that he might not see +his son trying to keep back the tears caused by hunger. The little +fellow, however, now ten years of age, would comfort his father by +saying:</p> +<p>"Inshallah"—if God wills—"to-morrow you will sell more +soap than you have done for weeks past." And the father, looking into +the bright, open face of his boy, would take courage, and pray that +this might be so.</p> +<p align="center" id="img39"><img src="images/39.jpg" +alt=""O brothers, buy my pure soap""></p> +<p>But the days went on and things became blacker and blacker, when one +day an adventure befell little Ahmed. He was on his way to school, and +as the sun was very hot, he sought the shelter of the big plane-trees +that lined the banks of the stream flowing down the center of the +principal street.</p> +<p align="center" id="img40"> +<img src="images/40.jpg" alt="Things became blacker and blacker."></p> +<p>Women were filling their water jugs, or washing clothes; a string of +camels were drinking; several donkeys were rolling playfully over and +over in the water, and some dyers were wringing out newly-dyed +garments, causing waves of many colors to flow past.</p> +<p>Just as Ahmed had stopped to look, a dervish, leading a fine lion by +a chain, and some runners with curious hats and coats rushed past, +shouting:</p> +<p align="center" id="img41"> +<img src="images/41.jpg" alt="Leading a fine lion by a chain."></p> +<p>"Make way for the King! Turn your faces to the wall!" And there was +the great King, seated on a beautiful Arabian horse, surrounded by +soldiers. Then there passed a palanquin borne on the backs of four +mules.</p> +<p>The party stopped just opposite to Ahmed, and from the palanquin +there alighted a lady closely veiled, evidently wishing to inspect some +beautiful Meshed silver work. Before she could reach the shop, a great +tumult arose among the people. The lion had broken his chain and was +madly leaping here and there, tearing and rending and dashing people to +the ground. Women fainted, men fled, little children stood still and +cried pitifully, some jumped into the stream; the frightened horses +dashed madly through the crowd. All was terror and confusion.</p> +<p>Then with a roar the lion sprang upon the princess, and bore her to +the ground; but ere he could tear her to pieces, Ahmed had sprang +forward, seized a piece of iron, one end of which was red hot, from the +shop of a blacksmith, and thrust it furiously into the face of the +lion. With a cry of pain and rage the lion left the princess and +bounded off to the bazaars, where he did great damage.</p> +<p>As soon as the princess had recovered from her fright, she beckoned +to Ahmed to come near, and removing her veil, told him he was a brave +little fellow, and ordered one of her servants to give him a purse of +gold. Ahmed had never seen anyone so beautiful, and was so lost in +wonder, that before he could find words of thanks, the party had passed +on.</p> +<p align="center" id="img43"> +<img src="images/43.jpg" alt="They set forth on their journey."></p> +<p>But when the money was spent, Ahmed and his father began to be in +want again. A Jewish pedlar having told him how much better trade was +in the capital, they determined to set forth to that city, though the +way was long and full of danger. "Better to die in the desert, than in +the heart of a great city," said Ahmed.</p> +<p>So they set forth on their journey, sometimes climbing up winding +paths among the mountains, at other times traversing the desert, +footsore, and weary almost to death, often hungry and thirsty, +tormented by the thought that they would fall into the hands of the +man-stealing robbers who haunted this great pilgrim road.</p> +<p>On account of the intense heat and the cruel robbers, they traveled +by night. In every shadow cast by the moon upon the ground, they +thought they saw a robber on his big horse. During the day they slept +at wayside inns, and in return for little services rendered by Ahmed to +the muleteers, they would give him a handful of rice or bread, or a few +dried fruits which kept them from starvation.</p> +<p>So it went on until one night, when searching for the bridge that +crosses the Salt River, the sky became suddenly overcast, the rain fell +in torrents, and soon the river was in flood. There was nothing to be +done but to sit down and wait until the moon should rise. The fierce +wind buffeted them, the rain drenched them; they had lost their way, +and were at the mercy of wild beasts.</p> +<p align="center" id="img45"> +<img src="images/45.jpg" alt="The rain fell in torrents."></p> +<p>Once, when the wind dropped for a little, out of the darkness came a +groan. "Keep still as death, my son," said the father to Ahmed, "for it +is the Old Man of the Desert."</p> +<p>Now Ahmed had never before heard of the Old Man of the Desert, and +therefore knew no fear, so despite his father's warning, he got up and +went in the direction from whence came the groans. As he reached the +spot, the moon came out from behind a bank of clouds, and Ahmed saw a +poor dervish lying on the sand. He had a leopard skin thrown over his +shoulders; by his side lay a big stick studded with sharp nails, and a +basin made of the outer skin of a pumpkin in which he collected +alms.</p> +<p>"For the sake of the Prophet," he moaned when he saw Ahmed, "give me +a drink of water." And Ahmed, filling his pitcher from the river gave +him to drink, though the water was somewhat salty.</p> +<p>The water revived the dervish, and he said: "I am Ali, the dervish, +and am known throughout Persia. Two months ago I left Mazandaran to go +to Meshed. But yesterday the fever seized me. This is the third attack, +and, as you know, it is always fatal.</p> +<p>"Stay with me, my son, in this dark hour when I shall pass through +the valley of the shadow of death. And when my soul shall have crossed +the Bridge of Death, take this little leather bag hanging round my +neck, and therein you shall find a tiny cup, cut from a crystal, which +if used rightly, shall lift thee to great power and wealth.</p> +<p align="center" id="img47"> +<img src="images/47.jpg" alt=""Give me a drink of water.""></p> +<p>"Each morning when you rise, place a drop of pure water in the cup, +and look intently therein, and should any danger threaten you or those +near and dear to you, it will be made manifest. And if—" but here +his strength failed him, his head fell back, and he passed away. Ahmed +found the bag and the beautifully cut crystal, just as the dervish had +said, and returning to his father, told him all that had happened.</p> +<p>Ahmed did as the dervish had directed him for several mornings, but +seeing nothing in the crystal, he dropped the practice. There came a +day, however, when they were overtaken by a dreadful dust storm. From +across the wide stretch of sand, the wind raged, the sky and sun were +blotted out, the air was laden with dust, and the small pebbles and +stones carried in the wind cut them until they cried with pain. Shelter +there was none.</p> +<p>In fear and pain they ran here and there, and when after several +hours of misery, the storm had passed, they could not see each other. +They were lost in the cruel desert, with no food, and worse still, no +water. Sobbing in despair, Ahmed straggled on. He went like one in a +dream. Time after time he fell tripping over rocks and bushes, but he +pressed onward. Then came a time when he could go no further, and he +lay down to die.</p> +<p align="center" id="img49"> +<img src="images/49.jpg" alt="They ran here and there"></p> +<p>For a long time he slept, and then he was awakened by being shaken. +Looking up, he saw an old man smiling and saying: "Why, it's little +Ahmed, the son of Abdullah, the Soap Seller. Don't you know me, Ahmed? +I am your uncle. Don't cry because you have lost your way. Come, take +my hand and we will soon find your father."</p> +<p>Now Ahmed wondered why he had never seen or even heard his father +speak of this particular uncle, but he took the old man's hand, and +together they set forth. Mile after mile they went, but no trace of his +father could be found. Then he sat down crying, and said: "I am so +tired, I can go no further." And the old man replied: "Sleep, my son, +while I keep watch."</p> +<p align="center" id="img50"> +<img src="images/50.jpg" alt=""Sleep, my son, while I keep watch""></p> +<p>But just as Ahmed was closing his eyes, the old man turned, and +Ahmed saw that he had thin legs like those of a sheep. "The Ghool! the +Ghool!" he shrieked, and fainted. Then this wicked ogre of the desert +began to open Ahmed's coat in order to suck his blood.</p> +<p>But another cry answered that of the boy, and then appeared on the +scene a beautiful young woman, carrying in her harid a necklace of gold +and silver beads. Casting but one glance at the beads, the old man flew +swifter than the wild sheep of the mountains, for the sight of metal +rendered him powerless to do harm.</p> +<p align="center" id="img51"> +<img src="images/51.jpg" alt="A beautiful young woman appeared"></p> +<p>Of course, it was the princess whose life Ahmed had saved in Meshed. +The King, her father, happened to be returning from a pilgrimage, and +to give a fright to her servants, she had scampered off the track, and +thus had found Ahmed. At her request, Ahmed became one of the King's +followers, and together with his father, whom they found the next day, +they journeyed to the capital.</p> +<p>Some three days' march from the capital, in the mountains near +Kazveen, there lived the Old Man of the Mountains, or as he is +generally known, the King of the Assassins, with his followers. So +great was his power that he had but to say the word and any of his men +would throw themselves from the topmost crags to the valleys beneath +and be dashed to pieces, or at his bidding, they would travel forth to +the most distant parts of the world in order to kill any persons, +however great they might be.</p> +<p>When he heard that the King of Persia was collecting an army to +destroy both him and his tribe, he became very angry, and said to one +of his followers: "Go, rid me of the King of Persia;" and the mart-took +bread and water and a sharp dagger, and went.</p> +<p>Now after his narrow escape from the Old Man of the Desert, Ahmed +took pains every morning to place a drop of water in the crystal cup +and look therein. Nothing appeared until one morning he saw in the bead +of water a vision of the King asleep, and standing by him a robber with +an uplifted dagger, about to strike. Hurrying to the King's presence, +he warned him of the danger, but the King only laughed, for he trusted +his guards.</p> +<p align="center" id="img55"> +<img src="images/55.jpg" alt="Every morning Ahmed looked in the cup"></p> +<p>Nevertheless, Ahmed determined to keep watch. Darkness came, and the +guards slept. The palace was silent. The hours slipped by, and Ahmed, +weary with much waiting was about to retire, when he perceived a dark +shadow creeping into that part of the palace where the King slept.</p> +<p>The figure noiselessly made its way to the very threshold of the +King's room, when Ahmed sprang upon it, at the same time giving the +alarm. The whole palace was aroused and the murdered secured.</p> +<p align="center" id="img56"> +<img src="images/56.jpg" alt="Ahmed sprang upon the figure"></p> +<p>When the messenger did not return, the Old Man of the Mountains sent +a second, and then a third, and finally the most daring and skilful of +all his followers; but thanks to Ahmed's crystal cup, all attempts upon +the life of the King failed.</p> +<p align="center" id="img57"> +<img src="images/57.jpg" alt=""Ask for anything within reason""></p> +<p>Then the King sent for Ahmed, and said: "Ask for anything in reason, +and it shall be given thee." And though he was trembling in every limb, +Ahmed replied: "Neither wealth nor power does thy slave desire, save +the hand of thy daughter."</p> +<p>"If she loves you, it shall be so," replied the King, and she did +love him; they were married, and Ahmed became the King's Prime +Minister.</p> +<br><br><br> +<p align="center" id="img58"><img src="images/58.jpg" alt="A design"></p> + + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<p align="center">THE KING'S TREASURE</p> +<p align="center" id="img59"><img src="images/59.jpg" alt="A boy and a stork"></p> +<br><br><br><br> +<p align="center" id="img60"> +<img src="images/60.jpg" alt="A brass vessel full of round, white stones"> +</p> +<br><br><br><br> +<p align="center"><img src="images/header.jpg" alt="Persian Fairy +Tales"> +<h1 id="story3">The King's Treasure</h1> +<p class="storydescription">Accurately relating how a marked advance in +material and political<br>prosperity accrued to Abdul Karim, and the +part played by<br>a monarch whose philosophy included the +immediate<br>advancement of a worthy subject.</p> +<p><img src="images/A.jpg" alt="A"> LABORING man named Abdul Karim, +with his wife, Zeeba—"the beautiful one"—lived in a +sheltered valley, surrounded by hills, the sides of which were covered +with fine gardens, in which the peach, the grape, the mulberry, and +other delicious fruits grew in great profusion.</p> +<p>Although his wife's name was Zeeba, as a matter of fact, she was +very plain in appearance. But from having been named Zeeba, she really +thought she was beautiful, and thus it came about that, moved by +vanity, her two children were named, the boy, Yusuf, or Joseph, who as +you know, was sold by his brethren into Egypt and became next to the +King; and the girl, Fatima, after Fatima, the favorite daughter of +Mahomet, and the wife of the famous Ali.</p> +<p>Now Abdul Karim was only a laborer on the land, receiving no wages, +merely being paid in grain and cloth sufficient for the wants of +himself and family. Of money he knew nothing except by name.</p> +<p>One day his master was so pleased with his work that he actually +gave him ten "krans," equivalent to about a dollar of our money. To +Abdul Karim this seemed great wealth, and directly his day's work was +done, he ran home to his wife and said: "Look, Zeeba, there's riches +for you!" and spread out the money before her. His good wife was +delighted, and so were the children.</p> +<p align="center" id="img63"> +<img src="images/63.jpg" alt="Lived in a sheltered valley"></p> +<p>Then Abdul Karim said: "How shall we spend this great sum? The +master has also given me a day's holiday, so if you don't mind, I will +go to the famous city of Meshed, which is only twenty miles from here, +and after placing two krans on the shrine of the holy Imam, I will then +visit the bazaars and buy everything you and the children desire."</p> +<p>"You would better buy me a piece of silk for a new dress," said +Zeeba.</p> +<p>"I want a fine horse and a sword," said little Yusuf.</p> +<p>"I would like an Indian handkerchief and a pair of gold slippers," +said Fatima.</p> +<p align="center" id="img64"> +<img src="images/64.jpg" alt="Abdul Karim was lost in wonder"></p> +<p>"They shall be here by to-morrow night," said the father, and taking +a big stick, he set off on his journey.</p> +<p align="center" id="img65"> +<img src="images/65.jpg" alt="Priests were calling the people to prayer"></p> +<p>When he had come down from the mountains to the plain below, Abdul +Karim saw stretched before him the glorious city, and was lost in +wonder at the sight of the splendid domes, where roofs glittered with +gold, and the minarets, from the tops of which the priests were calling +the people to prayer.</p> +<p>Then coming to the gate of the shrine, he asked an old priest if he +might enter. "Yes, my son," was the reply. "Go in and give what thou +canst spare to the mosque, and Allah will reward thee."</p> +<p>So Abdul Karim walked through the great court, amidst worshipers +from every city in Asia. With open-mouthed astonishment he gazed on the +riches of the temple, the jewels, the lovely carpets, the silks, the +golden ornaments, and with humility he placed his two pieces of money +on the sacred tomb. Then through the noise and bustle of the crowded +streets, he went until he found the bazaars.</p> +<p>He found the sellers of fruits in one place, in another those who +sold pots and pans, then he came to the jewelers, the bakers, the +butchers, each trade having its own part of the bazaar, and so on, +until he reached that part where there were only those who sold +silks.</p> +<p align="center" id="img68"> +<img src="images/68.jpg" alt="The noise and bustle of the crowded streets"></p> +<p>He entered one of the shops and asked to see some silks, and after +much picking and choosing, fixed upon a superb piece of purple silk +with an embroidered border of exquisite design. "I will take this," he +said. "What is the price?"</p> +<p>"I shall only ask you two hundred krans, as you are a new customer," +said the shopkeeper. "Anybody else but you would have to pay three or +four hundred."</p> +<p align="center" id="img69"> +<img src="images/69.jpg" alt=""Two hundred krans," repeated Abdul Karim"></p> +<p>"Two hundred krans," repeated Abdul Karim, in astonishment. "Surely +you have made a mistake. Do you mean krans like these?" taking one out +of his pocket.</p> +<p>"Certainly I do," replied the shopkeeper, "and let me tell you it is +very cheap at that price."</p> +<p>Abdul Karim pictured the disappointment of his wife. "Poor Zeeba," +he sighed.</p> +<p>"Poor who?" said the silk merchant.</p> +<p>"My wife," said Abdul Karim.</p> +<p>"What have I to do with your wife?" asked the merchant, getting +angry because he saw that all his trouble was in vain.</p> +<p>"I will tell you about it," said Abdul Karim. "Because I did my work +well, my master gave me ten krans, the first time I ever have had any +money. After giving two krans to the shrine, I intended to buy a piece +of silk for my wife, a horse and sword for my little boy Yusuf, and an +Indian handkerchief and a pair of gold slippers for my little girl +Fatima. And here you ask me two hundred krans for one piece of silk. +How can I pay you and buy the other things?"</p> +<p align="center" id="img71"> +<img src="images/71.jpg" alt=""Get out of my shop!""></p> +<p>"Here I have been wasting my time and rumpling my beautiful silks +for a fool like you," cried the angry merchant. "Get out of my shop! Go +home to your stupid Zeeba and your stupid children. Buy them some stale +cakes and some black sugar, and don't put your head in my shop again, +or it will be worse for you."</p> +<p>Then he took off his slipper, and with many blows drove poor Abdul +Karim out into the street. Then Abdul Karim went to the horse market, +only to find that the lowest-priced horse would cost two hundred and +fifty krans.</p> +<p>The horse dealer mocked him when they found he had only eight krans, +and suggested that he buy the sixteenth part of a donkey for his little +son. As for a sword, he found that it would cost at least thirty krans; +while a pair of golden slippers would run into many hundreds of krans; +and for an Indian handkerchief, the price was twelve krans.</p> +<p>As poor Abdul Karim bent his weary way home, he met a beggar crying: +"Dear friend, give me something, for to-morrow is Friday"—the +Mahommedan Sunday. "He that giveth to the poor, lendeth to the Lord, +and of a certainty the Lord will pay him back a hundredfold."</p> +<p align="center" id="img74"> +<img src="images/74.jpg" alt=""Here are eight krans""></p> +<p>"Of all the men I have met to-day, you are the only one with whom I +can deal," said simple Abdul Karim. "Here are eight krans. Use them in +the service of God, and don't forget to pay me back a hundredfold."</p> +<p>Wrapping up the eight krans very carefully, the cunning beggar +promised some day to return them a hundredfold.</p> +<p>At last Abdul Karim came in sight of his cottage, and little Yusuf, +who had been all day on the look-out for him, ran breathlessly to meet +him. "Where's my horse and sword, father?" he cried. And Fatima, who +had just come up, called out, "And my handkerchief and golden +slippers?" And Zeeba asked for her bit of silk.</p> +<p align="center" id="img75"> +<img src="images/75.jpg" alt="Came in sight of his cottage"></p> +<p>Poor Abdul Karim looked so confused, that his wife said: "Be quiet, +my dears. Your father could not bring them all with him, so he has +packed them on Yusuf's horse and left him in charge of a servant, who +will be here presently." But when she heard his story, and above all +that he had given eight krans to a beggar, she got very angry, and +marched off and told the master.</p> +<p>But the master was still more angry, and said: "What! the blockhead +gave his eight krans to a beggar? Send him to me." And when Abdul Karim +came before him, he said scornfully: "You must fancy yourself a big +man, Abdul. I never give more than a copper coin to a beggar, but your +Excellency gives them silver. The beggar promised that you should be +repaid a hundredfold, did he? And it shall be so, even now." Then as +Abdul's face brightened, he laughed and said: "Not in money, but in +stripes." And his servants threw Abdul on the ground and gave him one +hundred blows on his bare feet.</p> +<p>The next day, Abdul's master sent for him again, and after calling +him a fool, said: "I have a nice little job for you, that will bring +you to your proper senses. Go into the field and dig for water, day +after day until you find it."</p> +<p>So for many days Abdul labored under the scorching sun, until he had +dug down to a depth of about thirty feet, and then he came upon a brass +vessel, finely chased, full of round white stones, which fairly dazzled +his eyes in the fierce sunlight. He put one in his mouth and tried to +break it with his teeth, but could not.</p> +<p>Then he said to himself, "The master has planted some rice and it +has turned into stones. Perhaps there are some more." And going down a +few feet lower, he found another pot filled with sparkling stones of +various colors.</p> +<p>Then he remembered that he had seen pretty pieces of glass like +these for sale in Meshed, and made up his mind that on the first +opportunity he would again visit the city and take the stones with him. +Meanwhile, he would hide them, and say nothing.</p> +<p>Abdul did not have to wait long for a holiday, for on finding water +a little lower down, his master was so pleased that he gave him a well- +deserved rest, and then Abdul set off for Meshed. But before entering +the city, he hid most of the treasure at the foot of a tree under a big +stone. Then with still a pocket full, he went straight to the shop +where he had seen such stones, and spoke to the shopkeeper who was +seated at the entrance to his shop, calmly smoking his water-pipe.</p> +<p>"Do you want to buy any more stones like those?" he asked, pointing +to some in a brass tray. "Yes, have you got one?" replied the merchant, +for Abdul did not look like a man who was likely to have more than one, +if any.</p> +<p>"I have a pocket full of them," said Abdul.</p> +<p>"You have a pocket full of pebbles, more likely," said the jeweler. +But when Abdul took out a handful and showed him, he was so astonished +that he could hardly speak. Trembling in every limb, he bade Abdul wait +a minute, and leaving his apprentice in charge, he hastily left the +shop. When he returned, the chief of the police was with him.</p> +<p>"I am innocent," cried the jeweler. "There is the man. His pockets +are filled with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and pearls of great price. +Without doubt he has found the long-lost treasure of Cyrus."</p> +<p align="center" id="img79"> +<img src="images/79.jpg" alt="He hid most of the treasure"></p> +<p>Then Abdul was searched; the precious stones were found upon him; +and when they had brought Zeeba and the children, the whole family were +sent under a guard of five hundred soldiers to the capital.</p> +<p>While all these things were taking place, the King saw in his +dreams, for three nights, one after the other, the Holy Prophet, who, +looking steadfastly at him, exclaimed: "Abbas, protect and favor my +friend." And on the third night, the King took courage and said to the +Prophet: "And who is thy friend?" And the answer came:</p> +<p>"He is a poor laboring man, Abdul Karim by name, who of his poverty +gave one-fifth to the shrine at Meshed, and now, because he has found +the King's treasure, they have bound him, and are bringing him to this +city to oppress him."</p> +<p>So the King went forth two days' journey to meet Abdul. First came +one hundred horsemen. Next, poor Abdul, seated on a camel, with his +arms bound tightly. Walking behind the camel were the weeping children +and their mother. Then came the foot soldiers guarding the treasure. +The King made the camel kneel down, and with his own hands undid the +cruel bonds.</p> +<p>Then with tears running down his face, Abdul knelt before the King +and pleaded for his dear ones, saying: "If thou slay me, at least let +these innocent ones go free!"</p> +<p>Lifting Abdul from the ground, the King then said: "I am come to +honor, not to slay thee. When thou hast rested, thou shalt return to +thine own province, not as a prisoner, but as the Governor thereof." +And smiling, he added:</p> +<p>"Already is the silk dress prepared for Zeeba; the horse and sword +for Yusuf; and the Indian handkerchief and the golden slippers for +Fatima have not been forgotten." For the King had read in the report of +the chief of police all the details of Abdul's case.</p> +<p>And so it was that Abdul's piety and gift to the shrine had come +back, not a hundredfold, but beyond his wildest dreams, and the shrine +and the poor benefited greatly thereby.</p> +<br><br><br><br> + + + + +<p align="center"><img src="images/82.jpg" alt="A flower"></p> +<br><br><br> +<p align="center">THE KING AND THE FISHERMAN<br><br><img +src="images/83.jpg" alt="A design"></p> +<br><br><br><br> +<p align="center" id="img84"> +<img src="images/84.jpg" alt=""Is this fish male or female?""></p> +<p align="center"><img src="images/header.jpg" alt="Persian Fairy Tales"></p> +<h1 id="story4">The King and the Fisherman</h1> +<p class="storydescription">Illustrating the advantage of being able to +formulate a judicious<br>reply to an embarrassing question, especially +when<br>material plenitude may ensue.</p> +<p><img src="images/T.jpg" alt="T">HE countries washed by the great +rivers Tigris and Euphrates were once ruled by a certain King who was +passionately fond of fish.</p> +<p>He was seated one day with Sherem, his wife, in the royal gardens +that stretch down to the banks of the Tigris, at the point where it is +spanned by the wonderful bridge of boats; and looking up spied a boat +gliding by, in which was seated a fisherman having a large fish.</p> +<p>Noticing that the King was looking closely at him, and knowing how +much the King liked this particular kind of fish, the fisherman made +his obeisance, and skilfully bringing his boat to the shore, came +before the King and begged that he would accept the fish as a present. +The King was greatly pleased at this, and ordered that a large sum of +money be given to the fisherman.</p> +<p>But before the fisherman had left the royal presence, the Queen +turned towards the King and said: "You have done a foolish thing." The +King was astonished to hear her speak in this way, and asked how that +could be. The Queen replied:</p> +<p>"The news of your having given so large a reward for so small a gift +will spread through the city and it will be known as the fisherman's +gift. Every fisherman who catches a big fish will bring it to the +palace, and should he not be paid in like manner, he will go away +discontented, and secretly speak evil of you among his fellows."</p> +<p align="center" id="img87"> +<img src="images/87.jpg" alt="Begged that he would accept the fish"></p> +<p>"Thou speakest the truth, light of my eyes," said the King, "but can +not you see how mean it would be for a King, if for that reason he were +to take back his gift?" Then perceiving that the Queen was ready to +argue the matter, he turned away angrily, saying: "The matter is +closed."</p> +<p align="center" id="img88"> +<img src="images/88.jpg" alt=""The matter is closed""></p> +<p>However, later in the day, when he was in a more amiable frame of +mind, the Queen again approached him, and said that if that was his +only reason for not taking back his gift, she would arrange it. "You +must summon the fisherman," she said, "and then ask him, 'Is this fish +male or female?' If he says male, then you will tell him that you +wanted a female fish; but if he should say female, your reply will be +that you wanted a male fish. In this way the matter will be properly +adjusted."</p> +<p>The King thought this an easy way out of the difficulty, and +commanded the fisherman to be brought before him. When the fisherman, +who by the way, was a most intelligent man, stood before the King, the +King said to him: "O fisherman, tell me, is this fish male or +female?"</p> +<p>The fisherman replied, "The fish is neither male nor female." +Whereupon the King smiled at the clever answer, and to add to the +Queen's annoyance, directed the keeper of the royal purse to give the +fisherman a further sum of money.</p> +<p>Then the fisherman placed the money in his leather bag, thanked the +King, and swinging the bag over his shoulder, hurried away, but not so +quickly that he did not notice that he had dropped one small coin. +Placing the bag on the ground, he stooped and picked up the coin, and +again went on his way, with the King and Queen carefully watching his +every action.</p> +<p>"Look! what a miser he is!" said Sherem, triumphantly. "He actually +put down his bag to pick up one small coin because it grieved him to +think that it might reach the hands of one of the King's servants, or +some poor person, who, needing it, would buy bread and pray for the +long life of the King."</p> +<p>"Again thou speakest the truth," replied the King, feeling the +justice of this remark; and once more was the fisherman brought into +the royal presence. "Are you a human being or a beast?" the King asked +him. "Although I made it possible for you to become rich without toil, +yet the miser within you could not allow you to leave even one small +piece of money for others." Then the King bade him to go forth and show +his face no more within the city.</p> +<p align="center" id="img89"> +<img src="images/89.jpg" alt=""Are you a human being or a beast?""></p> +<p>At this the fisherman fell on his knees and cried: "Hear me, O King, +protector of the poor! May God grant the King a long life. Not for its +value did thy servant pick up the coin, but because on one side it bore +the name of God, and on the other the likeness of the King. Thy servant +feared that someone, not seeing the coin, would tread it into the dirt, +and thus defile both the name of God and the face of the King. Let the +King judge if by so doing I have merited reproach."</p> +<p align="center" id="img93"> +<img src="images/93.jpg" alt=""The fisherman fell on his knees"></p> +<p>This answer pleased the King beyond all measure, and he gave the +fisherman another large sum of money. And the Queen's wrath was turned +away, and she looked kindly upon the fisherman as he departed with his +bag laden with money.</p> +<p align="center" id="img94"> +<img src="images/94.jpg" alt="His bag laden with money"></p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" noshade> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAT AND THE MOUSE***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 24473-h.txt or 24473-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/4/7/24473">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/4/7/24473</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution.</p> + + + +<pre> +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license">http://www.gutenberg.org/license)</a>. + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org">http://www.gutenberg.org</a> + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext06/">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext06/</a> + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/GUTINDEX.ALL</a> + +*** END: FULL LICENSE *** +</pre> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/24473-h/images/1.jpg b/24473-h/images/1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..77933b9 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/1.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/11.jpg b/24473-h/images/11.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3225906 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/11.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/12.jpg b/24473-h/images/12.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d93dadb --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/12.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/14.jpg b/24473-h/images/14.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..375d40e --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/14.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/15.jpg b/24473-h/images/15.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..007f7d6 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/15.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/17.jpg b/24473-h/images/17.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d63f0ae --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/17.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/19.jpg b/24473-h/images/19.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7375398 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/19.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/2.jpg b/24473-h/images/2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0172895 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/2.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/20.jpg b/24473-h/images/20.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..567a249 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/20.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/21.jpg b/24473-h/images/21.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3ec76fd --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/21.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/23.jpg b/24473-h/images/23.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..da46ed5 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/23.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/25.jpg b/24473-h/images/25.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a8a23ad --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/25.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/29.jpg b/24473-h/images/29.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c530772 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/29.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/31.jpg b/24473-h/images/31.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3a77a9d --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/31.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/34.jpg b/24473-h/images/34.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..944292a --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/34.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/35.jpg b/24473-h/images/35.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b4cc567 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/35.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/36.jpg b/24473-h/images/36.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..56d5211 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/36.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/39.jpg b/24473-h/images/39.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..05c63ec --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/39.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/3a.jpg b/24473-h/images/3a.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..57259f1 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/3a.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/3b.jpg b/24473-h/images/3b.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..803120e --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/3b.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/3c.jpg b/24473-h/images/3c.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3167642 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/3c.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/40.jpg b/24473-h/images/40.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1788b0f --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/40.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/41.jpg b/24473-h/images/41.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..512316c --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/41.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/43.jpg b/24473-h/images/43.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..db329a8 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/43.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/45.jpg b/24473-h/images/45.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..905366e --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/45.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/47.jpg b/24473-h/images/47.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..730cb37 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/47.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/49.jpg b/24473-h/images/49.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..700efab --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/49.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/5.jpg b/24473-h/images/5.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..46cf68d --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/5.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/50.jpg b/24473-h/images/50.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7ccd700 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/50.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/51.jpg b/24473-h/images/51.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e662d30 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/51.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/55.jpg b/24473-h/images/55.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f36a3da --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/55.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/56.jpg b/24473-h/images/56.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..763b9fb --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/56.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/57.jpg b/24473-h/images/57.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..37eb265 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/57.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/58.jpg b/24473-h/images/58.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5226c4c --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/58.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/59.jpg b/24473-h/images/59.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..49f7985 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/59.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/60.jpg b/24473-h/images/60.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a00d52e --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/60.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/63.jpg b/24473-h/images/63.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7d68f97 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/63.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/64.jpg b/24473-h/images/64.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bc06519 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/64.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/65.jpg b/24473-h/images/65.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3286951 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/65.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/68.jpg b/24473-h/images/68.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..833abf2 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/68.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/69.jpg b/24473-h/images/69.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..16d7f1a --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/69.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/71.jpg b/24473-h/images/71.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9818eb5 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/71.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/74.jpg b/24473-h/images/74.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..929b065 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/74.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/75.jpg b/24473-h/images/75.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f3e3eb4 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/75.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/79.jpg b/24473-h/images/79.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7c504c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/79.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/7a.jpg b/24473-h/images/7a.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9d5caff --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/7a.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/7b.jpg b/24473-h/images/7b.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..19e418a --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/7b.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/8.jpg b/24473-h/images/8.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a528828 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/8.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/82.jpg b/24473-h/images/82.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0e22c7d --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/82.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/83.jpg b/24473-h/images/83.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9e5368b --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/83.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/84.jpg b/24473-h/images/84.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..09a109b --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/84.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/87.jpg b/24473-h/images/87.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c692439 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/87.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/88.jpg b/24473-h/images/88.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9e0d7cd --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/88.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/89.jpg b/24473-h/images/89.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8b9668d --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/89.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/9.jpg b/24473-h/images/9.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8772b5f --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/9.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/93.jpg b/24473-h/images/93.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c658c2f --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/93.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/94.jpg b/24473-h/images/94.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..40b51ff --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/94.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/A.jpg b/24473-h/images/A.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..282b632 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/A.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/T.jpg b/24473-h/images/T.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4a388de --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/T.jpg diff --git a/24473-h/images/header.jpg b/24473-h/images/header.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e743d7d --- /dev/null +++ b/24473-h/images/header.jpg diff --git a/24473.txt b/24473.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ed49688 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1396 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Cat and the Mouse, Edited by Hartwell +James, Illustrated by John R. Neill + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Cat and the Mouse + A Book of Persian Fairy Tales + + +Editor: Hartwell James + +Release Date: January 31, 2008 [eBook #24473] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAT AND THE MOUSE*** + + +E-text prepared by Michael Gray (Lost_Gamer@comcast.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 24473-h.htm or 24473-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/4/7/24473/24473-h/24473-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/4/7/24473/24473-h.zip) + + + + + +Persian Fairy Tales + +Altemus' Fairy Tales Series + +THE CAT AND THE MOUSE + +A Book of Persian Fairy Tales + +Edited with an Introduction by + +HARTWELL JAMES + +With Forty Illustrations by John R. Neill + + + + + + +Philadelphia +Henry Altemus Company + + * * * * * + +Altemus' +Illustrated +Fairy Tales Series + + +The Magic Bed + A Book of East Indian Tales +The Cat and the Mouse + A Book of Persian Tales +The Jeweled Sea + A Book of Chinese Tales +The Magic Jaw Bone + A Book of South Sea Islands Tales +The Man Elephant + A Book of African Tales +The Enchanted Castle + A Book of Tales from Flower Land + +Fifty Cents Each + + * * * * * + +Copyright, 1906 +by Henry Altemus + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +Persia is rich in folk lore. For hundreds and hundreds of years the +stories in this book, and many others as well, have been told to the +wondering boys and girls of that country, who, as they hear them, +picture their native land as one of roses and tulips, where beautiful +fairies build their castles in the rosy morn, and black gnomes fly +around in the darkness of midnight. + +A land, too, where the sun gleams like a fire above the blue mountains, +and the water lilies are mirrored in the deep lakes. A land where the +eyes of the tigers gleam through the reeds by the riverside, and +dark-eyed, sunburned people are quick to love and quick to hate. + +The belief in the "Ghool," or "Old Man of the Desert," is still +prevalent in Persia, which probably accounts for the popularity of the +story of "The Son of the Soap Seller." The other stories selected for +this volume are great favorites, but the story of "The Cat and the +Mouse" is perhaps the most popular of all. + +The frontispiece to this volume is a reduced facsimile of a whole page +in a Persian book, showing both the pictures and the reading as they +were published in Persia. The other illustrations for "The Cat and the +Mouse" are copies of drawings by a Persian artist. + +"Two friends on one carpet may with contentment sleep; + Two monarchs in one kingdom the peace can never keep. + While earth revolves, and little children play, + Cats over mice will always hold the sway." + + H. J. + + + +CONTENTS + + The Cat and The Mouse + The Son of the Soap Seller + The King's Treasure + The King and The Fisherman + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + Frontispiece + "Nobody was happier than this cat" + "'Now will you take off my head?'" + "The cat had a rosary of beads" + "The mice began to make merry" + "Discreetly they bore their gifts" + "And they went forward trembling" + "Five mice he caught" + "The King was sitting on his throne" + "The armies fell upon each other" + "So he mounted his elephant" + "The lion sprang upon the Princess" + "'O brothers, buy my pure soap'" + "Things became blacker and blacker" + "Leading a fine lion by a chain" + "They set forth on their journey" + "The rain fell in torrents" + "'Give me a drink of water'" + "They ran here and there" + "'Sleep, my son, while I keep watch'" + "A beautiful young woman appeared" + "Every morning Ahmed looked in the cup" + "Ahmed sprang upon the figure" + "'Ask for anything in reason'" + "A brass vessel full of round white stones" + "Lived in a sheltered valley" + "Abdul Karim was lost in wonder" + "Priests were calling the people to prayer" + "The noise and bustle of the crowded streets" + "'Two hundred krans!' repeated Abdul Karim" + "'Get out of my shop!'" + "'Here are eight krans'" + "Came in sight of his cottage" + "He hid most of the treasure" + "'Is this fish male or female?'" + "Begged that he would accept the fish" + "'The matter is closed'" + "'Are you a human being or a beast?'" + "The fisherman fell on his knees" + "His bag laden with money" + + + +THE CAT AND THE MOUSE + + + + +PERSIAN FAIRY TALES + + +The Cat and the Mouse + + +Showing how one may be lost in wonder at the story of the cat and the +mouse, when related with a clear and rolling voice, as if from a +pulpit. + + +ACCORDING to the decree of Heaven, there once lived in the Persian city +of Kerman a cat like unto a dragon--a longsighted cat who hunted like a +lion; a cat with fascinating eyes and long whiskers and sharp teeth. +Its body was like a drum, its beautiful fur like ermine skin. + +Nobody was happier than this cat, neither the newly-wedded bride, nor +the hospitable master of the house when he looks round on the smiling +faces of his guests. + +This cat moved in the midst of friends, boon companions of the +saucepan, the cup, and the milk jug of the court, and of the dinner +table when the cloth is spread. + +Perceiving the wine cellar open, one day, the cat ran gleefully into it +to see if he could catch a mouse, and hid himself behind a wine jar. At +that moment a mouse ran out of a hole in the wall, quickly climbed the +jar, and putting his head into it, drank so long and so deeply that he +became drunk, talked very stupidly, and fancied he was as bold as a +lion. + +"Where is the cat?" shouted he, "that I may off with his head. I would +cut off his head as if on the battlefield. A cat in front of me would +fare worse than any dog who might happen to cross my path." + +The cat ground his teeth with rage while hearing this. Quicker than the +eye could follow, he made a spring, seized the mouse in his claws, and +said, "Oh, little mouse, now will you take off my head?" + +"I am thy servant," replied the mouse; "forgive my sin. I was drunk. I +am thy slave; a slave whose ear is pierced and on whose shoulder the +yoke is." + +"Tell fewer lies," replied the cat. "Was there ever such a liar? I +heard all you said and you shall pay for your sin with your life. I +will make your life less than that of a dead dog." + +So the cat killed and ate the mouse; but afterwards, being sorry for +what he had done, he ran to the Mosque, and passed his hands over his +face, poured water on his hands, and anointed himself as he had seen +the faithful do at the appointed hours of prayer. + +Then he began to recite the beautiful chapter to Allah in the Holy Book +of the Persians, and to make his confession in this wise: + +"I have repented, and will not again tear the body of a mouse with my +teeth. I will give bread to the deserving poor. Forgive my sin, O great +Forgiver, for have I not come to Thee bowed down with sorrow?" + +He repeated this so many times and with so much feeling that he really +thought he meant it, and finally wept for grief. + +A little mouse happened to be behind the pulpit, and overhearing the +cat's vows, speedily carried the glad but surprising news to the other +mice. Breathlessly he related how that the cat had become a true +Mussulman; how that he had seen him in the Mosque weeping and +lamenting, and saying: + +"Oh, Creator of the world, put away my sin, for I have offended like a +big fool." Then the mouse went on to describe how that the cat had a +rosary of beads, and made pious reflections in the spirit of a true +penitent. + +The mice began to make merry when they heard this startling news, for +they were exceedingly glad. Seven chosen mice, each the headman of the +village, arose and gave thanks that the cat should at last have entered +the fold of the true believers. + +All danced and shouted, "Ah! Ah! Hu! Hu!" and drank red wine and white +wine until they were very merry. Two rang bells, two played castanets, +and two sang. One carried a tray behind his back laden with good +things, so that all could help themselves; some smoked water-pipes; +another acted like a clown; others played various tunes on different +instruments of music. + +A few days after the feast, the King of the mice said to them, "Oh, +friends, all of you bring costly presents worthy of the cat!" Then the +mice scattered in search of gifts, but soon returned, each bearing +something worthy of presentation, even to a nobleman. + +One brought a bottle of wine; another a dish full of raisins; others +came with salted nuts and melon seeds, lumps of cheese, basins of +sugar-candy, pistachio nuts, little cakes iced with sugar, bottles of +lemon juice, Indian shawls, hats, cloaks and many other things. + +Discreetly they bore their gifts before the King of the Cats. When in +the royal presence, they made humble obeisances, touching their +foreheads on the ground, and saluting him, said: + +"Oh, master, liberator of the lives of all, we have brought gifts +worthy of thy service. We beseech thee to deign to accept of them." + +Then the cat thought to himself, "I am rewarded for becoming a pious +Mussulman. Though I have endured much hunger, yet this day finds me +freely and amply provided for. Not for many days have I broken my fast. +It is clear that Allah is appeased." + +Then he turned to the mice, and bade them come nearer, calling them his +friends. And they went forward trembling. So frightened were they that +they were hardly aware of what they were doing. When they were close +the cat made a sudden spring upon them. + +Five mice he caught, each one the chief of a village; two with his +front paws, two with his hind ones, and one in his mouth. The remaining +mice barely escaped with their lives. + +Picking up one of their murdered brothers, they quickly carried the sad +news to the mice, saying: "Why do ye sit still, oh mice? Throw dust on +your heads, oh young men, for the cruel cat has seized five of our +unsuspecting companions with teeth and claws and has killed them." + +Then for the space of five days they rent their clothes as do the +mourners, and cast dust on their heads. Then they said: "We must go and +tell our King all that has befallen the mice. We must not fail to tell +him this calamity." + +Whereupon they all rose up and went their way in deep sorrow; one +beating the muffled drum, one tolling the bell; all had shawls around +their necks; their tears the while running in little streams down their +whiskers. + +Arrived where the King was sitting on his throne, the mice paid homage +to him, saying: "Master, we are subjects and thou art King. Behold the +cat has treated us cruelly since he became a pious follower of Mahomet. +Whereas, before his conversion he was wont to catch only one of us in a +year, now that he is a sincere Mussulman his appetite has so increased +that only five at a time will satisfy him." + +Whereupon the King fell into such a violent rage that he resembled a +saucepan boiling over. But to the deputation of mice he spoke very +kindly, calling them his newly-arrived and welcome guests, and to +comfort them vowed that he would give the cat such a chastisement that +the news of it should circulate through the world. + +Then, observing their grief, he commanded that the dead mouse should be +buried with all pomp and ceremony. Accordingly they made lamentation +for a whole week, as though it had been for one of royal degree; and +having prepared delicious sweetmeats, they placed them in baskets and +carried them with streaming eyes to the grave. + +After the burial service, the King ordered the army to assemble on a +given day on the great sandy plain that stretches as far as the eye can +see around the city. Then he addressed them, saying: + +"Oh, men and soldiers, inasmuch as the cat has so cruelly ill-treated +our countrymen, he being a heretic and an evil doer, and brutal in +nature, we must now go to the city of Kerman and fight him." + +So three hundred and thirty thousand mice went forth, armed with +swords, guns, and spears; and with flags and pennons bravely flying. A +passing Arab from the desert, skilfully balancing himself on the back +of a swift-traveling camel by means of a long pole, spied the great +army in motion, and was so overcome with astonishment that he lost his +balance and fell off. Several regiments of mice were put out of action +by his fall; but nothing daunted, the army pressed on. + +When the army was ready for battle, the King again addressed them +saying: "O young men, an ambassador must be sent to the cat, one who is +able, discreet, and eloquent." Then they all shouted: "The King's +orders shall be carried out! Upon our heads be it." + +Now, there was present a learned and eloquent mouse, the ruler of a +province, and he it was that the King commanded to go as an ambassador +to the cat in the city of Kerman. Almost before his name was out of the +King's mouth, he had jumped out of his place in the ranks, and, +traveling swiftly as the winds of the desert, he went in boldly before +the cat and said: + +"As an ambassador from the King of the Mice am I come, bowed down with +grief and fatigue. Know this, my master has determined to wage war, and +is even now come with his army to take off your head." + +The cat roared out in reply, "Go tell your King to eat dust! I come not +out of this city except at my good pleasure!" Then he sent messengers +to bring up quickly some fighting and hunting cats from Khorassan--the +land of the sun--to Kerman. + +As soon as the cat's army was ready, the King of the Cats gave them +marching orders, promising to come himself to the battle on the next +day. The cats came out on horseback, each one like a hungry tiger. The +mice also mounted their steeds, armed to the teeth, and boiling with +rage. Shouting "Allah! Allah!" the armies fell upon each other with +unsheathed swords. + +So many cats and mice were killed that there was no room for the +horses' feet. The cats fought valiantly, their fierce attacks carrying +them through the first line of the mice, then through the second, and +many Ameers and chiefs were killed. The mice, thinking the battle lost, +turned to flee, crying out: + +"Throw dust upon your heads, young men!" + +But afterwards, rallying again, they faced their pursuers and attacked +the right wing of the cat's army, shouting their battle cry of "Allah! +Allah!" + +In the thickest of the fray a mounted mouse speared the King of the +Cats, so that he fell fainting to the ground. Before he could rise, the +mouse leaped upon him and brought him captive to the King. So the cats +were defeated on that day and sullenly retreated to the city of Kerman. + +Having bound the cat, the mice beat him until he became unconscious. +Then the plain echoed with the beating of tom-toms and shouts of joy. +Then the King of the Mice seated himself on his throne and ordered the +cat to be brought before him. + +"Scoundrel!" he said to him, "Why hast thou eaten up my army? Hear now +the King of the Mice." The cat hung his head in fear, and remained +silent. After a few minutes, he said: "I am thy servant, even to +death." Then the King replied: + +"Carry this black-faced dog to the execution ground. I will come in +person without delay to kill him in revenge for the blood of my +slaughtered subjects." + +So he mounted his elephant, and his guard marched proudly before him. +The cat, with his hands tied together, stood weeping. Upon arriving at +the execution grounds and discerning that the cat was not yet executed, +the King said angrily to the hangman: "Why is it this prisoner is still +alive? Hang him immediately!" + +At that very moment a horseman came galloping furiously from the city +and besought the King, saying: "Forgive this miserable cat; in future +he will do us no harm." However, the King turned a deaf ear to his +entreaties, ordering that the cat be killed at once. The mice +hesitated, being unwilling, through fear, to carry out the order. + +Of course, this made the King very angry. "O foolish mice!" he cried, +"Ye will all take pity on the cat, in order that he may again make a +sacrifice of you." + +Directly the cat saw the horseman, his courage revived. With one bound +he sprang from his place as does the tiger on his prey, burst his bonds +asunder, and seized five unfortunate mice. The other mice, filled with +dismay and terror, ran hither and thither, crying wildly: + +"Allah! Allah! Shoot him! Cut off his head, as did Rastam his enemies +on the day of battle!" + +When the King of the Mice saw what, had happened, he fainted; whereupon +the cat leaped on him, pulled off his crown, and placing the rope over +his head, hanged him, so that he died immediately. + +Then he darted here and there, seizing and slaying, and dashing mice to +the earth, till the whole army of mice was routed, and there was none +left to oppose him. + + + + +THE SON OF THE SOAP SELLER + + +PERSIAN FAIRY TALES + + +The Son of the Soap Seller + + +Cleverly proving that a princess with a necklace can frustrate the +intentions of a Ghool, and that every king should have near his person +the owner of a crystal cup. + + +THERE once dwelt a poor but worthy man named Abdullah in Meshed, the +Holy City, the place of pilgrimage, whose beautiful mosque with the +golden dome is the glory of the kingdom of Persia. He barely managed to +get a living by the sale of soap. + +All day long, from sunrise to sunset, he tramped the city, crying out: +"O brothers, buy my pure soap. There is none better in the city, as +every one knows. Even the little babes would say so if they could but +speak." + +Still, if you looked closely at it, you would never guess it to be +soap; it was black and coarse, and more like wood than anything else. +If any unlucky pilgrim used it on his face or hands, it would make his +skin burn like fire. But this did not often happen, for the people in +Persia do not use much soap on themselves, or their clothes, and sand +does very well for cleaning cooking pots and pans. So it was that there +were many days when poor Abdullah did not sell enough to buy sufficient +bread for himself and his little boy Ahmed. + +At such times, the father would creep sadly into his wretched mud-built +hovel, and bury his face in his hands, so that he might not see his son +trying to keep back the tears caused by hunger. The little fellow, +however, now ten years of age, would comfort his father by saying: + +"Inshallah"--if God wills--"to-morrow you will sell more soap than you +have done for weeks past." And the father, looking into the bright, +open face of his boy, would take courage, and pray that this might be +so. + +But the days went on and things became blacker and blacker, when one +day an adventure befell little Ahmed. He was on his way to school, and +as the sun was very hot, he sought the shelter of the big plane-trees +that lined the banks of the stream flowing down the center of the +principal street. + +Women were filling their water jugs, or washing clothes; a string of +camels were drinking; several donkeys were rolling playfully over and +over in the water, and some dyers were wringing out newly-dyed +garments, causing waves of many colors to flow past. + +Just as Ahmed had stopped to look, a dervish, leading a fine lion by a +chain, and some runners with curious hats and coats rushed past, +shouting: + +"Make way for the King! Turn your faces to the wall!" And there was the +great King, seated on a beautiful Arabian horse, surrounded by +soldiers. Then there passed a palanquin borne on the backs of four +mules. + +The party stopped just opposite to Ahmed, and from the palanquin there +alighted a lady closely veiled, evidently wishing to inspect some +beautiful Meshed silver work. Before she could reach the shop, a great +tumult arose among the people. The lion had broken his chain and was +madly leaping here and there, tearing and rending and dashing people to +the ground. Women fainted, men fled, little children stood still and +cried pitifully, some jumped into the stream; the frightened horses +dashed madly through the crowd. All was terror and confusion. + +Then with a roar the lion sprang upon the princess, and bore her to the +ground; but ere he could tear her to pieces, Ahmed had sprang forward, +seized a piece of iron, one end of which was red hot, from the shop of +a blacksmith, and thrust it furiously into the face of the lion. With a +cry of pain and rage the lion left the princess and bounded off to the +bazaars, where he did great damage. + +As soon as the princess had recovered from her fright, she beckoned to +Ahmed to come near, and removing her veil, told him he was a brave +little fellow, and ordered one of her servants to give him a purse of +gold. Ahmed had never seen anyone so beautiful, and was so lost in +wonder, that before he could find words of thanks, the party had passed +on. + +But when the money was spent, Ahmed and his father began to be in want +again. A Jewish pedlar having told him how much better trade was in the +capital, they determined to set forth to that city, though the way was +long and full of danger. "Better to die in the desert, than in the +heart of a great city," said Ahmed. + +So they set forth on their journey, sometimes climbing up winding paths +among the mountains, at other times traversing the desert, footsore, +and weary almost to death, often hungry and thirsty, tormented by the +thought that they would fall into the hands of the man-stealing robbers +who haunted this great pilgrim road. + +On account of the intense heat and the cruel robbers, they traveled by +night. In every shadow cast by the moon upon the ground, they thought +they saw a robber on his big horse. During the day they slept at +wayside inns, and in return for little services rendered by Ahmed to +the muleteers, they would give him a handful of rice or bread, or a few +dried fruits which kept them from starvation. + +So it went on until one night, when searching for the bridge that +crosses the Salt River, the sky became suddenly overcast, the rain fell +in torrents, and soon the river was in flood. There was nothing to be +done but to sit down and wait until the moon should rise. The fierce +wind buffeted them, the rain drenched them; they had lost their way, +and were at the mercy of wild beasts. + +Once, when the wind dropped for a little, out of the darkness came a +groan. "Keep still as death, my son," said the father to Ahmed, "for it +is the Old Man of the Desert." + +Now Ahmed had never before heard of the Old Man of the Desert, and +therefore knew no fear, so despite his father's warning, he got up and +went in the direction from whence came the groans. As he reached the +spot, the moon came out from behind a bank of clouds, and Ahmed saw a +poor dervish lying on the sand. He had a leopard skin thrown over his +shoulders; by his side lay a big stick studded with sharp nails, and a +basin made of the outer skin of a pumpkin in which he collected alms. + +"For the sake of the Prophet," he moaned when he saw Ahmed, "give me a +drink of water." And Ahmed, filling his pitcher from the river gave him +to drink, though the water was somewhat salty. + +The water revived the dervish, and he said: "I am Ali, the dervish, and +am known throughout Persia. Two months ago I left Mazandaran to go to +Meshed. But yesterday the fever seized me. This is the third attack, +and, as you know, it is always fatal. + +"Stay with me, my son, in this dark hour when I shall pass through the +valley of the shadow of death. And when my soul shall have crossed the +Bridge of Death, take this little leather bag hanging round my neck, +and therein you shall find a tiny cup, cut from a crystal, which if +used rightly, shall lift thee to great power and wealth. + +"Each morning when you rise, place a drop of pure water in the cup, and +look intently therein, and should any danger threaten you or those near +and dear to you, it will be made manifest. And if--" but here his +strength failed him, his head fell back, and he passed away. Ahmed +found the bag and the beautifully cut crystal, just as the dervish had +said, and returning to his father, told him all that had happened. + +Ahmed did as the dervish had directed him for several mornings, but +seeing nothing in the crystal, he dropped the practice. There came a +day, however, when they were overtaken by a dreadful dust storm. From +across the wide stretch of sand, the wind raged, the sky and sun were +blotted out, the air was laden with dust, and the small pebbles and +stones carried in the wind cut them until they cried with pain. Shelter +there was none. + +In fear and pain they ran here and there, and when after several hours +of misery, the storm had passed, they could not see each other. They +were lost in the cruel desert, with no food, and worse still, no water. +Sobbing in despair, Ahmed straggled on. He went like one in a dream. +Time after time he fell tripping over rocks and bushes, but he pressed +onward. Then came a time when he could go no further, and he lay down +to die. + +For a long time he slept, and then he was awakened by being shaken. +Looking up, he saw an old man smiling and saying: "Why, it's little +Ahmed, the son of Abdullah, the Soap Seller. Don't you know me, Ahmed? +I am your uncle. Don't cry because you have lost your way. Come, take +my hand and we will soon find your father." + +Now Ahmed wondered why he had never seen or even heard his father speak +of this particular uncle, but he took the old man's hand, and together +they set forth. Mile after mile they went, but no trace of his father +could be found. Then he sat down crying, and said: "I am so tired, I +can go no further." And the old man replied: "Sleep, my son, while I +keep watch." + +But just as Ahmed was closing his eyes, the old man turned, and Ahmed +saw that he had thin legs like those of a sheep. "The Ghool! the +Ghool!" he shrieked, and fainted. Then this wicked ogre of the desert +began to open Ahmed's coat in order to suck his blood. + +But another cry answered that of the boy, and then appeared on the +scene a beautiful young woman, carrying in her harid a necklace of gold +and silver beads. Casting but one glance at the beads, the old man flew +swifter than the wild sheep of the mountains, for the sight of metal +rendered him powerless to do harm. + +Of course, it was the princess whose life Ahmed had saved in Meshed. +The King, her father, happened to be returning from a pilgrimage, and +to give a fright to her servants, she had scampered off the track, and +thus had found Ahmed. At her request, Ahmed became one of the King's +followers, and together with his father, whom they found the next day, +they journeyed to the capital. + +Some three days' march from the capital, in the mountains near Kazveen, +there lived the Old Man of the Mountains, or as he is generally known, +the King of the Assassins, with his followers. So great was his power +that he had but to say the word and any of his men would throw +themselves from the topmost crags to the valleys beneath and be dashed +to pieces, or at his bidding, they would travel forth to the most +distant parts of the world in order to kill any persons, however great +they might be. + +When he heard that the King of Persia was collecting an army to destroy +both him and his tribe, he became very angry, and said to one of his +followers: "Go, rid me of the King of Persia;" and the mart-took bread +and water and a sharp dagger, and went. + +Now after his narrow escape from the Old Man of the Desert, Ahmed took +pains every morning to place a drop of water in the crystal cup and +look therein. Nothing appeared until one morning he saw in the bead of +water a vision of the King asleep, and standing by him a robber with an +uplifted dagger, about to strike. Hurrying to the King's presence, he +warned him of the danger, but the King only laughed, for he trusted his +guards. + +Nevertheless, Ahmed determined to keep watch. Darkness came, and the +guards slept. The palace was silent. The hours slipped by, and Ahmed, +weary with much waiting was about to retire, when he perceived a dark +shadow creeping into that part of the palace where the King slept. + +The figure noiselessly made its way to the very threshold of the King's +room, when Ahmed sprang upon it, at the same time giving the alarm. The +whole palace was aroused and the murdered secured. + +When the messenger did not return, the Old Man of the Mountains sent a +second, and then a third, and finally the most daring and skilful of +all his followers; but thanks to Ahmed's crystal cup, all attempts upon +the life of the King failed. + +Then the King sent for Ahmed, and said: "Ask for anything in reason, +and it shall be given thee." And though he was trembling in every limb, +Ahmed replied: "Neither wealth nor power does thy slave desire, save +the hand of thy daughter." + +"If she loves you, it shall be so," replied the King, and she did love +him; they were married, and Ahmed became the King's Prime Minister. + + + +THE KING'S TREASURE + +PERSIAN FAIRY TALES + + +The King's Treasure + + +Accurately relating how a marked advance in material and political +prosperity accrued to Abdul Karim, and the part played by a monarch +whose philosophy included the immediate advancement of a worthy +subject. + + +A LABORING man named Abdul Karim, with his wife, Zeeba--"the beautiful +one"--lived in a sheltered valley, surrounded by hills, the sides of +which were covered with fine gardens, in which the peach, the grape, +the mulberry, and other delicious fruits grew in great profusion. + +Although his wife's name was Zeeba, as a matter of fact, she was very +plain in appearance. But from having been named Zeeba, she really +thought she was beautiful, and thus it came about that, moved by +vanity, her two children were named, the boy, Yusuf, or Joseph, who as +you know, was sold by his brethren into Egypt and became next to the +King; and the girl, Fatima, after Fatima, the favorite daughter of +Mahomet, and the wife of the famous Ali. + +Now Abdul Karim was only a laborer on the land, receiving no wages, +merely being paid in grain and cloth sufficient for the wants of +himself and family. Of money he knew nothing except by name. + +One day his master was so pleased with his work that he actually gave +him ten "krans," equivalent to about a dollar of our money. To Abdul +Karim this seemed great wealth, and directly his day's work was done, +he ran home to his wife and said: "Look, Zeeba, there's riches for +you!" and spread out the money before her. His good wife was delighted, +and so were the children. + +Then Abdul Karim said: "How shall we spend this great sum? The master +has also given me a day's holiday, so if you don't mind, I will go to +the famous city of Meshed, which is only twenty miles from here, and +after placing two krans on the shrine of the holy Imam, I will then +visit the bazaars and buy everything you and the children desire." + +"You would better buy me a piece of silk for a new dress," said Zeeba. + +"I want a fine horse and a sword," said little Yusuf. + +"I would like an Indian handkerchief and a pair of gold slippers," said +Fatima. + +"They shall be here by to-morrow night," said the father, and taking a +big stick, he set off on his journey. + +When he had come down from the mountains to the plain below, Abdul +Karim saw stretched before him the glorious city, and was lost in +wonder at the sight of the splendid domes, where roofs glittered with +gold, and the minarets, from the tops of which the priests were calling +the people to prayer. + +Then coming to the gate of the shrine, he asked an old priest if he +might enter. "Yes, my son," was the reply. "Go in and give what thou +canst spare to the mosque, and Allah will reward thee." + +So Abdul Karim walked through the great court, amidst worshipers from +every city in Asia. With open-mouthed astonishment he gazed on the +riches of the temple, the jewels, the lovely carpets, the silks, the +golden ornaments, and with humility he placed his two pieces of money +on the sacred tomb. Then through the noise and bustle of the crowded +streets, he went until he found the bazaars. + +He found the sellers of fruits in one place, in another those who sold +pots and pans, then he came to the jewelers, the bakers, the butchers, +each trade having its own part of the bazaar, and so on, until he +reached that part where there were only those who sold silks. + +He entered one of the shops and asked to see some silks, and after much +picking and choosing, fixed upon a superb piece of purple silk with an +embroidered border of exquisite design. "I will take this," he said. +"What is the price?" + +"I shall only ask you two hundred krans, as you are a new customer," +said the shopkeeper. "Anybody else but you would have to pay three or +four hundred." + +"Two hundred krans," repeated Abdul Karim, in astonishment. "Surely you +have made a mistake. Do you mean krans like these?" taking one out of +his pocket. + +"Certainly I do," replied the shopkeeper, "and let me tell you it is +very cheap at that price." + +Abdul Karim pictured the disappointment of his wife. "Poor Zeeba," he +sighed. + +"Poor who?" said the silk merchant. + +"My wife," said Abdul Karim. + +"What have I to do with your wife?" asked the merchant, getting angry +because he saw that all his trouble was in vain. + +"I will tell you about it," said Abdul Karim. "Because I did my work +well, my master gave me ten krans, the first time I ever have had any +money. After giving two krans to the shrine, I intended to buy a piece +of silk for my wife, a horse and sword for my little boy Yusuf, and an +Indian handkerchief and a pair of gold slippers for my little girl +Fatima. And here you ask me two hundred krans for one piece of silk. +How can I pay you and buy the other things?" + +"Here I have been wasting my time and rumpling my beautiful silks for a +fool like you," cried the angry merchant. "Get out of my shop! Go home +to your stupid Zeeba and your stupid children. Buy them some stale +cakes and some black sugar, and don't put your head in my shop again, +or it will be worse for you." + +Then he took off his slipper, and with many blows drove poor Abdul +Karim out into the street. Then Abdul Karim went to the horse market, +only to find that the lowest-priced horse would cost two hundred and +fifty krans. + +The horse dealer mocked him when they found he had only eight krans, +and suggested that he buy the sixteenth part of a donkey for his little +son. As for a sword, he found that it would cost at least thirty krans; +while a pair of golden slippers would run into many hundreds of krans; +and for an Indian handkerchief, the price was twelve krans. + +As poor Abdul Karim bent his weary way home, he met a beggar crying: +"Dear friend, give me something, for to-morrow is Friday"--the +Mahommedan Sunday. "He that giveth to the poor, lendeth to the Lord, +and of a certainty the Lord will pay him back a hundredfold." + +"Of all the men I have met to-day, you are the only one with whom I can +deal," said simple Abdul Karim. "Here are eight krans. Use them in the +service of God, and don't forget to pay me back a hundredfold." + +Wrapping up the eight krans very carefully, the cunning beggar promised +some day to return them a hundredfold. + +At last Abdul Karim came in sight of his cottage, and little Yusuf, who +had been all day on the look-out for him, ran breathlessly to meet him. +"Where's my horse and sword, father?" he cried. And Fatima, who had +just come up, called out, "And my handkerchief and golden slippers?" +And Zeeba asked for her bit of silk. + +Poor Abdul Karim looked so confused, that his wife said: "Be quiet, my +dears. Your father could not bring them all with him, so he has packed +them on Yusuf's horse and left him in charge of a servant, who will be +here presently." But when she heard his story, and above all that he +had given eight krans to a beggar, she got very angry, and marched off +and told the master. + +But the master was still more angry, and said: "What! the blockhead +gave his eight krans to a beggar? Send him to me." And when Abdul Karim +came before him, he said scornfully: "You must fancy yourself a big +man, Abdul. I never give more than a copper coin to a beggar, but your +Excellency gives them silver. The beggar promised that you should be +repaid a hundredfold, did he? And it shall be so, even now." Then as +Abdul's face brightened, he laughed and said: "Not in money, but in +stripes." And his servants threw Abdul on the ground and gave him one +hundred blows on his bare feet. + +The next day, Abdul's master sent for him again, and after calling him +a fool, said: "I have a nice little job for you, that will bring you to +your proper senses. Go into the field and dig for water, day after day +until you find it." + +So for many days Abdul labored under the scorching sun, until he had +dug down to a depth of about thirty feet, and then he came upon a brass +vessel, finely chased, full of round white stones, which fairly dazzled +his eyes in the fierce sunlight. He put one in his mouth and tried to +break it with his teeth, but could not. + +Then he said to himself, "The master has planted some rice and it has +turned into stones. Perhaps there are some more." And going down a few +feet lower, he found another pot filled with sparkling stones of +various colors. + +Then he remembered that he had seen pretty pieces of glass like these +for sale in Meshed, and made up his mind that on the first opportunity +he would again visit the city and take the stones with him. Meanwhile, +he would hide them, and say nothing. + +Abdul did not have to wait long for a holiday, for on finding water a +little lower down, his master was so pleased that he gave him a +well-deserved rest, and then Abdul set off for Meshed. But before +entering the city, he hid most of the treasure at the foot of a tree +under a big stone. Then with still a pocket full, he went straight to +the shop where he had seen such stones, and spoke to the shopkeeper who +was seated at the entrance to his shop, calmly smoking his water-pipe. + +"Do you want to buy any more stones like those?" he asked, pointing to +some in a brass tray. "Yes, have you got one?" replied the merchant, +for Abdul did not look like a man who was likely to have more than one, +if any. + +"I have a pocket full of them," said Abdul. + +"You have a pocket full of pebbles, more likely," said the jeweler. But +when Abdul took out a handful and showed him, he was so astonished that +he could hardly speak. Trembling in every limb, he bade Abdul wait a +minute, and leaving his apprentice in charge, he hastily left the shop. +When he returned, the chief of the police was with him. + +"I am innocent," cried the jeweler. "There is the man. His pockets are +filled with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and pearls of great price. +Without doubt he has found the long-lost treasure of Cyrus." + +Then Abdul was searched; the precious stones were found upon him; and +when they had brought Zeeba and the children, the whole family were +sent under a guard of five hundred soldiers to the capital. + +While all these things were taking place, the King saw in his dreams, +for three nights, one after the other, the Holy Prophet, who, looking +steadfastly at him, exclaimed: "Abbas, protect and favor my friend." +And on the third night, the King took courage and said to the Prophet: +"And who is thy friend?" And the answer came: + +"He is a poor laboring man, Abdul Karim by name, who of his poverty +gave one-fifth to the shrine at Meshed, and now, because he has found +the King's treasure, they have bound him, and are bringing him to this +city to oppress him." + +So the King went forth two days' journey to meet Abdul. First came one +hundred horsemen. Next, poor Abdul, seated on a camel, with his arms +bound tightly. Walking behind the camel were the weeping children and +their mother. Then came the foot soldiers guarding the treasure. The +King made the camel kneel down, and with his own hands undid the cruel +bonds. + +Then with tears running down his face, Abdul knelt before the King and +pleaded for his dear ones, saying: "If thou slay me, at least let these +innocent ones go free!" + +Lifting Abdul from the ground, the King then said: "I am come to honor, +not to slay thee. When thou hast rested, thou shalt return to thine own +province, not as a prisoner, but as the Governor thereof." And smiling, +he added: + +"Already is the silk dress prepared for Zeeba; the horse and sword for +Yusuf; and the Indian handkerchief and the golden slippers for Fatima +have not been forgotten." For the King had read in the report of the +chief of police all the details of Abdul's case. + +And so it was that Abdul's piety and gift to the shrine had come back, +not a hundredfold, but beyond his wildest dreams, and the shrine and +the poor benefited greatly thereby. + + + +THE KING AND THE FISHERMAN + + +PERSIAN FAIRY TALES + + +The King and the Fisherman + + +Illustrating the advantage of being able to formulate a judicious reply +to an embarrassing question, especially when material plenitude may +ensue. + +THE countries washed by the great rivers Tigris and Euphrates were once +ruled by a certain King who was passionately fond of fish. + +He was seated one day with Sherem, his wife, in the royal gardens that +stretch down to the banks of the Tigris, at the point where it is +spanned by the wonderful bridge of boats; and looking up spied a boat +gliding by, in which was seated a fisherman having a large fish. + +Noticing that the King was looking closely at him, and knowing how much +the King liked this particular kind of fish, the fisherman made his +obeisance, and skilfully bringing his boat to the shore, came before +the King and begged that he would accept the fish as a present. The +King was greatly pleased at this, and ordered that a large sum of money +be given to the fisherman. + +But before the fisherman had left the royal presence, the Queen turned +towards the King and said: "You have done a foolish thing." The King +was astonished to hear her speak in this way, and asked how that could +be. The Queen replied: + +"The news of your having given so large a reward for so small a gift +will spread through the city and it will be known as the fisherman's +gift. Every fisherman who catches a big fish will bring it to the +palace, and should he not be paid in like manner, he will go away +discontented, and secretly speak evil of you among his fellows." + +"Thou speakest the truth, light of my eyes," said the King, "but can +not you see how mean it would be for a King, if for that reason he were +to take back his gift?" Then perceiving that the Queen was ready to +argue the matter, he turned away angrily, saying: "The matter is +closed." + +However, later in the day, when he was in a more amiable frame of mind, +the Queen again approached him, and said that if that was his only +reason for not taking back his gift, she would arrange it. "You must +summon the fisherman," she said, "and then ask him, 'Is this fish male +or female?' If he says male, then you will tell him that you wanted a +female fish; but if he should say female, your reply will be that you +wanted a male fish. In this way the matter will be properly adjusted." + +The King thought this an easy way out of the difficulty, and commanded +the fisherman to be brought before him. When the fisherman, who by the +way, was a most intelligent man, stood before the King, the King said +to him: "O fisherman, tell me, is this fish male or female?" + +The fisherman replied, "The fish is neither male nor female." Whereupon +the King smiled at the clever answer, and to add to the Queen's +annoyance, directed the keeper of the royal purse to give the fisherman +a further sum of money. + +Then the fisherman placed the money in his leather bag, thanked the +King, and swinging the bag over his shoulder, hurried away, but not so +quickly that he did not notice that he had dropped one small coin. +Placing the bag on the ground, he stooped and picked up the coin, and +again went on his way, with the King and Queen carefully watching his +every action. + +"Look! what a miser he is!" said Sherem, triumphantly. "He actually put +down his bag to pick up one small coin because it grieved him to think +that it might reach the hands of one of the King's servants, or some +poor person, who, needing it, would buy bread and pray for the long +life of the King." + +"Again thou speakest the truth," replied the King, feeling the justice +of this remark; and once more was the fisherman brought into the royal +presence. "Are you a human being or a beast?" the King asked him. +"Although I made it possible for you to become rich without toil, yet +the miser within you could not allow you to leave even one small piece +of money for others." Then the King bade him to go forth and show his +face no more within the city. + +At this the fisherman fell on his knees and cried: "Hear me, O King, +protector of the poor! May God grant the King a long life. Not for its +value did thy servant pick up the coin, but because on one side it bore +the name of God, and on the other the likeness of the King. Thy servant +feared that someone, not seeing the coin, would tread it into the dirt, +and thus defile both the name of God and the face of the King. Let the +King judge if by so doing I have merited reproach." + +This answer pleased the King beyond all measure, and he gave the +fisherman another large sum of money. And the Queen's wrath was turned +away, and she looked kindly upon the fisherman as he departed with his +bag laden with money. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAT AND THE MOUSE*** + + +******* This file should be named 24473.txt or 24473.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/4/7/24473 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: +https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/24473.zip b/24473.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..dfb6a09 --- /dev/null +++ b/24473.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d9e3c72 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #24473 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24473) |
