| Show A PERSIAN PARABLE Khaw ajah was the stupidest man in all he had ns no enemies so it was left to his friends to say eay of him A stupider head never carried a turban moreover his wife said eaid so and who should knew better than kadijan Kadi Radi jab now kadijah was as ambitious as woman ever was and ar sha sharp tongued 1 as she was wa s ambitious the b e one hope of her life was that her husband should become a priest in order that she might be called priestess but he would say how can I 1 become a priest I 1 dont donit know enough now allah protect your stupid pate she would cry out you can learn cant you so he set himself diligently aili entry at his books but it casard work and when the time for his ordination had bad come all he had learned was 1 I hai had a chicken ch ieken my chicken flew up and then it flew down glory be to god you see how stupid I 1 am said he to his wife in despair des iti r but kadijah encouraged him m saying but once become a priest and no one will mind what you say my so he was wag ordained and became a priest riest and would stand up lri in his long long robe and holding up his arms would cry in a loud voice over and over again 1 I had a chicken nay my chicken flew up and then it flew down again 11 and then he would say louder than before glory be to godl while all the people declared they had never had a pr priest eat who talked so truly and so wisely before then kadijah said to her husband in triumph what did I 1 tell you by and by the news came to ex Es room that the was about to pay them a visit then Khaw ajah was in despair and said mid to kadijah 41 what shall I 1 dotia have no fear answered anew ered his wire wife do as you have always done your people will protect you 11 so the bishop came and sat mat in the congregation while Khaw ajab ajah held up his arms before the people and cried in a loud voice 1 I 1 had a chicken my iny chicken flew up and then it flew down glory be to god hearing these impious words the bishop rose and would have struck the priest for his impiety but Khaw ajah appealed to his people bayl saying dg am I 1 not your own priest have hae I 1 not baptised baptized sed your living and buried your dead then all the people rose up and said he was their own priest and that he had bad baptized baptised sed their living and buried their dead and had spoken to them more truly than any other man and laying their hands on the bishop they put him out of the church and would have slain him film had not Khaw ajah interfered brt the bishop went back to the council and told what severe things had bad happened to him in and the cou council acil wondered how they should remove this wicked priest finally one bishop rose and said III 1 will undertake not only to punish him and put him out of his church but also to bring you a hair plucked from his beard so the new bishop going to ez room walked into the congregation and when he heard Khaw ajah recite and I 1 1 I had over over again a chicken my chicken flew up and then it abw flew down glory be to god be row rose and said mid truly never did priest speak so wisely as this priest and putting forth his hand as he said these words he plucked a hair from the arit priests ats ts beard now this is the greatest indignity that can happen to one of this order and so Khaw ajah turning fie fiercely reely on the new bishop said how dare you touch my beard because answered the other calmly putting the hair into a little box as he spoke the hair from the face of so good and so wise a mau man will surely carry blessings with it wherever it goes I 1 shall take this to other churches that it may bilag a blessing to them also 4 then all the people rose up and begged a hair from the beard of their priest that it might bring them a blessing bleming and each one reverently plucked a hair from his hia face and departed but when the last manbas man had left behold the face of Khaw ajah was as smooth as the face of a little child dog of an AD ubbe unbeliever liever cried the ishop bishop turning upon him as soon as they were alone how bow dare you thus profane this boja calling do you not know that a beardless man may not enter the priesthood and laying violent hands upon him aim he tore the robe from his figure Khaw ajab ajah called loudly upon his bis people but they had bad all ail departed and secure in their blew bless I 1 ng will willingly I 1 D ay ob chose ow another man in his place then kadijah said to him now see what you have brought me to evening sun |
