Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1869 — An Eastern Story. [ARTICLE]

An Eastern Story.

A poor Arab travelling in the desert met with a spring of clear, sweet, sparkling water. Used as lid w/tg only to brackish wri’,3, such water as this appealed to his simple mind worthy of a mop arch’, and filling his leather bottle from the spring, he determided to go and present it to the caliph himself. TKe poor inan travelled a Jong way before he reached the presence of his sovereign, and laid his humble offering at his feet. The caliph .did not despise the little gift brought to him with so much trouble. lie ordered some of the water to be poured into a cup, drank it, and thanking the Arab •with a smile, ordered him to be presented with a reward. The courtiers around pressed forward, eager to tasto the wonderful water; but, to the surprise of all, the caliph forbade them to touch a single drop.

After the poor man had quitted the royal presenoe with a light and joyful heart, the caliph turned to his courtiers and thus explained his conduct: “During the travels of the Arub ? ” said he, “the water in his leathern bottlo became impure and distasteful. But St tvas an offering of love, and as such I received it with - pleasure. But I well knew that had I. sufTeTCtUnnother to partake of it, he would not have concealed his disgust, and therefore, I forbade yoti to touch the draught, lest the heart of the poor man should have been wounded.” The act of the. Caliph was worthy of a Christian gentleman. It is tlio truly great who are kind to the humble. It is the mean spirit which treats the lowly with contempt.