A Tale From the Arabian Nights

They were greatly pleased to see quiet,peace and order everywhere.No thieves or suspicious people were around.Fully satisfied. they were retuming to the palace when an old blind begger stopped them and asked for money.O kind sir,I have had nothing to eat all day.giveme some money to buy food.He was given some money.Obviously the caliph refused to do such a foolish thing.Hit an old blind beggar. No why do you ask me to do such a thing.asked the caliph Sir said the beggar. it is night that I should be punished for I have done great wrong in my life.The caliph hesitated and then fimly said. Whatever wrong you have done i cannot hit you.No said the beggar.Hit me hard to hurt me for my evil doing.it is a self imposed punishment.Forced into it by the logic of the situation.the caliph hit him hard.Not as hard as he could but still hard enough to satisfy the old man troubling conscience.and walked away.

The old man was brought to the palace.He knew where he was and the stranger whom he had met last night was the caliph.He stood before the great caliph unafraid His name was Abdullh.He was born in baghdad.His parents were rich .but unfortunateiy died when he was in hes teens.

Riches should made a man generous and public spirited bot they made him mean spirited selfish and greedy.Love is blind,ways and byways.This was happening to Abdullah thoughhe was unaware of it at that time.

Abdullah ran after the Dervish and with that plea got one came back from him.He kept on going back to the Dervish and finally begged all the fove camils from him.Telling him.if a Dervish like you enters a town with camels loaded with gold and jewels people will ask some searching questions and will take you not as a Dervish but as Dervish but as a thier.Then there will be nothing but trial trouble for you.

As the dervish was going away Abdullh noticed that there was a small box under his arm.Not satisfied with all the gold and jewels he also begged for the box.it contained magic powder.Poured on left eye it would reveal hidden treasures but was not to be used on the right eye.By way of advice the dervish said Riches fly aeay ff we keep them for ourselves.The poor are atour gates so that we keep them for ourselves. the poor are at our gates so that we may help them and do good.Abdullah never heard what he said.