Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 August 1873 — AN EASTERN ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE. [ARTICLE]

AN EASTERN ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.

Mr. ,T. M. Francis, our Consul tit Athens, Greece, writes to the Troy Times as follows: A few years since there lived in Bcbek, a village on the Bosphorus some six miles above Constantinople, an elderly Greek "gentleman named Tcirctby Yorgaky. A warm-hearted, genial old gentleman was Mr. Yorgaky. ile was the possessor of some property in real estate, and a sufficient income was derived from this source to supply the moderate wants of himself and liis amiable wife, leaving a balance more or less which was distributed for charitable objects. They had no children. The venerable couple were very happy in each other’s society: they had few intimate associates outside. l?ut among these was a friend of ours, an eminent American citizen, who for some time resided near their dwelling in Bebek. One day our friend was invited to spend a social evening with Mr. Yorgaky, the latter saying that if agreeable'he would on this occasion relnie some facts of his family history which might possibly prove interesting -as constituting: a strange chapter of real life at the East. Our friend promptly accepted the invitation, as any live Yankee would have done under this stimulus to curiosity. The old gentleman’s statement —and our friend vouchsafed for Yorgaky’s character for truthfulness after an intimate acquaintance with him for many years—was substantially as follows: # My father’s name was Yohannis Giros. Ilis father carried on the bakery business. At quite an early age Yohannis was employed as bread-seller at ltis father’s stall, near the Egyptian bazaar at Stamboul. There he made the acquaintance of a Turkish boy, of about his own age, named Ibrahim, who was. employed as salesman in his father’s tobacco shop close l>y. A remarkable friendship grew up between these two boys. All their leisure time they spent in each other’s society. They indulged in sports together. Theylalked over plans of business by which in future years they might - not be separated a single day.-—They v uld achieve .fortune, and share their wealth together. These were the day dreams of Yohannis and Ibrahim. Time wore on. The boys had attained the age of seventeen or eighteen years. Ibrahim’s father secured for his son a situation as tchiboukgi (pipe hearer) to the Pasha of Bagdad. This was great honor for a boy in humble circumstances. But Ibrahim did not desire the place, for it would take him far, far away from Yohannis. Parental decision, however, was omnipotent in the case, and go ho must,.. But before separating the boys had a long conference together. “I must go,” said Ibrahim, “hut I shall return to Constantinople as a pasha, and then vou will share my honors and fortune.” The sejiaration of Yohannis and Ibrahim was painful. When tho final adieu wag. spoken, each pledged the other that his friendship should remain constant so long as life endured. Yohannis sorrowfully returned to his business at the bread-stall ; Ibrahim accompanied his master on the long journey to Bagdad. Years passed by; Yohannis succeeded to the humble business bfhis father on the decease of the latter; he married, and was blessed, as the poor are so often blessed, with many children. By steady industry and strict economy lie was barely enabled kvflupport his large family**comfortably. His mind frequently dwelt upon the scenes and loves of youthful days, and the Turkish boy Ibrahim was always a central figure in these memories. ’ A dozen years prior to this time he heard that his dear friend of boyhood’s days had died, but. the memory of that friend was reverently cherished by him; one so dearly loved in the fervor of youth could not be forgotten by the generous-hearted Yohannis amid the cares and struggles of a life of toil. . * One afternoon, while partaking of his frugal meal, and while surrounded by his youthful family,-Yohannis was startled by ilie appearance of a very unwelcome visitor—the chief police officer of the Sublime Porte. The official announced to Yolian-

nis that he must accompany him immediately to the Porte. In those barbaric -days such a summons meant condemnation and death, often without any assignable or known cause. Yohannis and liis family were terrified; they pleaded for delay. But the officer was inexorable. Yohannis was dragged away amid the piteous cries and pleadings of his wife and children. Arrived at the Porte, the officer conducted liis prisoner through along hall with guards stationed on either side, to the door of an apartment, where at a given signal the door opened, and Yohannis was at onco brought face to face with the Grand Vizier. “This is our sublime master, the Grand Vizier,” said the officer. Yohonnis immediately prostrated himself before that august personage, and commenced pleading vehy earnestly for his life. “Spare me, sublime master, spare me,” he ejaculated; “spare me for the sake of my innocent and dependent wife and children, if not on account of my innocence of all wrong-doing Why should I be brought here to be made the victim of the bowstring or the axe ? I have been a good and peaceable subject of his majesty; I have earned bread for myself and family by honest labor; I have wronged no man. Let me go, and you shall have their blessing ana my prayers in return for your mercy. If lam killed they will die, for they cannot earn bread to support life.” “You cannot go back to your business,” said the Grand Vizier, calmly. “Then, sir,” responded Yohannis, in a more resolute tone, ‘‘the blood of an innoment man and liis family you are about to murder be on your garments; the avenging power ot Almighty justice pursue you, sir, to the end; your crime shall not go unpunished.” “Yohannis,” replied the Grand Vizier, “arise and answer my questions.” “Yes, sire, sublime master.” “When a boy you served as bread-seller for your father, close by the Egyptian bazaar?” “Yes, sire, and I now keep that came stall.” “Yon had a friend named Ibrahim, who attended his father’s tobacco shop, very near you?” “Oh, yes, sire; oh, yes,” answered Yohannis, nearly overcome with emotion. “And you nnd Ibrahim, on parting, pledged each other to friendship for life; Ibrahim saying that he should return some day wi Ih the honors and wealtb of a pasha, and he would share with you the benefits of his position ?” “Most truly you have spoken, sublime master; but this was long ago, and poor Ibrahim —I shall soon meet him in a better world than this—has been dead these many, many years.” “Ibrahim is not dead,” said the Grand Vizier; ‘‘lie lives and is in good health; he remembers Yohannis Giros; he never forgot the pledge made to him at the time they parted; and now he has the ability anu determination to make good that pledge. Yohannis Giros,” exclaimed his excellency, rising from his seat nnd extending his arms, “Yohannis Giros, behold in me your friend in boyhood, Ibrahim the tobacco seller.” The two embraced and kissed each other; tears flowed freely. Yohannis was almost crazed by the mental reaction. He sobbed and cried 1 ike a child. The great heart of the Grand Vizier was filled with gladness. As soon as the emotion awakened by this exciting scene could he controlled Ibrahim saiu to Yohannis: “Now you are appointed to a responsible post; you will be my saroff (banker). You will at once receive your outfit of dress. When properly attired go hence with the ..attendants of my staff to your home and tell the good news to your wife and children. The horse and equipage suitable to your rank are ready for you. You will at once be provided with all the means required to place your family in a position becoming the dignity of your Attend: to these duties to your family first of alt; close up your-little business, and then report to me for duty. Yohannis and Ibrahim are reunited; the pledge of boyhood is fulfilled. Great is the Lord God, and Mohomet is liis prophet." Yohannis was then arrayed in the glittering uniform of his rank; a beautiful Arabian charger handsomely caparisoned was furnished him,' and witli personal ■ servants and a guard of honor he rode rapidly to his humble dwelling at Stamboul. having been absent little more than two hours. The family could scarcely credit their own senses when Yohannis reappeared so wonderfully changed externally, and with his retinue of attendants. They were- overcome with joy. The scene can be better imagined than described. From that day forth they enjoyed happiness and prosperity. Ibrahim’s course had been this: From the humble position of tchiboukgi (or pipe-bearer) to the Pasha of Bagdad, he was successively promoted to be clerk, secretary, and Iveyha Bey; then as Pasha, subsequently as Pasha of Bagdad, succeeding liis former master; then as Pasha of Aleppo, and finally, in recognition of liis great ability and successful aclministratioiUof affairs, he was appointed by the Sultan as Grand Vizier of the Turkish Empire. “And this,” said tho old gentleman to my friend at Bebek, “is the true story about my father, which I promised to tell yob, and which, I think, presents an example of sublime fidelity in friendship. As I bless the memory of my noble father, so also do I bless the memory of his benefactor and friend, the true-hearted Turk Ibraham, once tlie boy tobacco seller at Stamboul.” I have given this narrative as related to me, without embellishment. The property owned by Tehelby Yorgaky at Bebek was inherited by him from liis father, and the latter became its possessor from that pledge in boyhood exchanged between Yohannis and Ibrahim. , ... .. i ***!___ * A set of swindlers are traveling over lowa representing themselves as friends to Grangers, and offering to sell goods much cheaper than they can purchase them of home merchants. They carry with them samples of the goods that they propose to furnish, take the farmers’ notes for the goods, and sell the notes at a discount. The goods never come. Another set is operating in the southwest part of the State in the same way, and carry their goods with them and deliver them to their customers. The goods universally prove to be worthless shoddy. No action has been taken by the 'New Orleans authorities in earnest to bring Rhett to punishment for the murder or Judge Cooley in the late duel. Rhett keeps shady, but yet edits the Picayune , and is in np danger of molestation. The reports of big having fled are sheer fabri cations.