* * * * *
ARABIAN STORIES
* * * * *
THE STORY OF CALIPH STORK
Caliph Charid, of Bagdad, was reclining on his divan one pleasant
afternoon, smoking his long pipe and sipping coffee from a handsome
dish which a slave was holding for him, when his Grand Vizier, Mansor,
entered and told him of a peddler in the court below whose wares might
interest him. The Caliph, being in an affable state of mind, summoned
the peddler, who, delighted with the opportunity, displayed all the
treasures of his pack. There were pearls, rings, silks, and many other
rich things. The Caliph selected something for himself, a handsome
present for the Vizier, and another for the Vizier's wife.
Just as the peddler was putting the things back into his box, the
Caliph noticed a small drawer and asked what it contained.
"Only something of no value, which I picked up in a street of Mecca,"
the peddler replied. He thereupon opened the drawer and showed the
Caliph a small box, containing a black powder and a scroll written in
characters which neither the Caliph nor his Grand Vizier could make
out. The Caliph immediately decided that he wanted this strange
scroll, and the peddler was persuaded to part with it for a trifle.
Pages:
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641