The Prayer Rug and the Dishonest Steward

A poor Hamal (porter) brought to the Pasha of Stamboul his savings,

consisting of a small canvas bag of medjidies (Turkish silver

dollars), to be kept for him, while he was absent on a visit to his

home. The Pasha, being a kind-hearted man, consented, and after

sealing the bag, called his steward, instructing him to keep it till

the owner called for it. The steward gave the man a receipt, to the

effect that he had received a sealed bag containing money.

When the poor man returned, he went to the Pasha and received his bag

of money. On reaching his room he opened the bag, and to his horror

found that it contained, instead of the medjidies he had put in it,

copper piasters, which are about the same size as medjidies. The poor

Hamal was miserable, his hard-earned savings gone.

He at last gathered courage to go and put his case before the Pasha.

He took the bag of piasters, and with trembling voice and faltering

heart he assured the Pasha that though he had received his bag

apparently intact, on opening it he found that it contained copper

piasters and not the medjidies he had put in it. The Pasha took the

bag, examined it closely, and after some time noticed a part that had

apparently been darned by a master-hand. The Pasha told the Hamal to

go away and come back in a week; in the meantime he would see what he

could do for him. The grateful man departed, uttering prayers for the

life and prosperity of his Excellency.

The next morning after the Pasha had said his prayers kneeling on a

most magnificent and expensive rug, he took a knife and cut a long

rent in it. He then left his Konak without saying a word to any one.

In the evening when he returned he found that the rent had been so

well repaired that it was with difficulty that he discovered where it

had been. Calling his steward, he demanded who had repaired his prayer

rug. The steward told the Pasha that he thought the rug had been cut

by accident by some of the servants, so he had sent to the Bazaar for

the darner, Mustapha, and had it mended, the steward, by way of

apology, adding that it was very well done.

"Send for Mustapha immediately," said the Pasha, "and when he comes

bring him to my room."

When Mustapha arrived, the Pasha asked him if he had repaired the rug.

Mustapha at once replied that he had mended it that very morning.

"It is indeed well done," said the Pasha; "much better than the darn

you made in that canvas bag."

Mustapha agreed, saying that it was very difficult to mend the bag as

it was full of copper piasters. On hearing this, the Pasha gave him a

backsheesh (present) and told him to retire. The Pasha then called his

steward, and not only compelled him to pay the Hamal his money, but

discharged him from his service, in which he had been engaged for many

years.