How Cobbler Ahmet Became the Chief Astrologer

Every day cobbler Ahmet, year in and year out, measured the breadth of

his tiny cabin with his arms as he stitched old shoes. To do this was

his Kismet, his decreed fate, and he was content--and why not? his

business brought him quite sufficient to provide the necessaries of

life for both himself and his wife. And had it not been for a

coincidence that occurred, in all probability he would have mended old

boots and shoes to the end of his days.

One day cobbler Ahmet's wife went to the Hamam (bath), and while there

she was much annoyed at being obliged to give up her compartment,

owing to the arrival of the Harem and retinue of the Chief Astrologer

to the Sultan. Much hurt, she returned home and vented her pique upon

her innocent husband.

"Why are you not the Chief Astrologer to the Sultan?" she said. "I

will never call or think of you as my husband until you have been

appointed Chief Astrologer to his Majesty."

Ahmet thought that this was another phase in the eccentricity of woman

which in all probability would disappear before morning, so he took

small notice of what his wife said. But Ahmet was wrong. His wife

persisted so much in his giving up his present means of earning a

livelihood and becoming an astrologer, that finally, for the sake of

peace, he complied with her desire. He sold his tools and collection

of sundry old boots and shoes, and, with the proceeds purchased an

inkwell and reeds. But this, alas! did not constitute him an

astrologer, and he explained to his wife that this mad idea of hers

would bring him to an unhappy end. She, however, could not be moved,

and insisted on his going to the highway, there to wisely practise

the art, and thus ultimately become the Chief Astrologer.

In obedience to his wife's instructions, Ahmet sat down on the

highroad, and his oppressed spirit sought comfort in looking at the

heavens and sighing deeply. While in this condition a Hanoum in great

excitement came and asked him if he communicated with the stars. Poor

Ahmet sighed, saying that he was compelled to converse with them.

"Then please tell me where my diamond ring is, and I will both bless

and handsomely reward you."

The Hanoum, with this, immediately squatted on the ground, and began

to tell Ahmet that she had gone to the bath that morning and that she

was positive that she then had the ring, but every corner of the Hamam

had been searched, and the ring was not to be found.

"Oh! astrologer, for the love of Allah, exert your eye to see the

unseen."

"Hanoum Effendi," replied Ahmet, the instant her excited flow of

language had ceased, "I perceive a rent," referring to a tear he had

noticed in her shalvars or baggy trousers. Up jumped the Hanoum,

exclaiming:

"A thousand holy thanks! You are right! Now I remember! I put the ring

in a crevice of the cold water fountain." And in her gratitude she

handed Ahmet several gold pieces.

In the evening he returned to his home, and giving the gold to his

wife, said: "Take this money, wife; may it satisfy you, and in return

all I ask is that you allow me to go back to the trade of my father,

and not expose me to the danger and suffering of trudging the road

shoeless."

But her purpose was unmoved. Until he became the Chief Astrologer she

would neither call him nor think of him as her husband.

In the meantime, owing to the discovery of the ring, the fame of Ahmet

the cobbler spread far and wide. The tongue of the Hanoum never

ceased to sound his praise.

It happened that the wife of a certain Pasha had appropriated a

valuable diamond necklace, and as a last resource, the Pasha

determined, seeing that all the astrologers, Hodjas, and diviners had

failed to discover the article, to consult Ahmet the cobbler, whose

praises were in every mouth.

The Pasha went to Ahmet, and, in fear and trembling, the wife who had

appropriated the necklace sent her confidential slave to overhear what

the astrologer would say. The Pasha told Ahmet all he knew about the

necklace, but this gave no clue, and in despair he asked how many

diamonds the necklace contained. On being told that there were

twenty-four, Ahmet, to put off the evil hour, said it would take an

hour to discover each diamond, consequently would the Pasha come on

the morrow at the same hour when, Inshallah, he would perhaps be able

to give him some news.

The Pasha departed, and no sooner was he out of earshot, than the

troubled Ahmet exclaimed in a loud voice:

"Oh woman! Oh woman! what evil influence impelled you to go the wrong

path, and drag others with you! When the twenty-four hours are up, you

will perhaps repent! Alas! Too late. Your husband gone from you

forever! Without a hope even of being united in paradise."

Ahmet was referring to himself and his wife, for he fully expected to

be cast into prison on the following day as an impostor. But the slave

who had been listening gave another interpretation to his words, and

hurrying off, told her mistress that the astrologer knew all about the

theft. The good man had even bewailed the separation that would

inevitably take place. The Pasha's wife was distracted, and hurried

off to plead her cause in person with the astrologer. On approaching

Ahmet, the first words she said, in her excitement, were:

"Oh learned Hodja, you are a great and good man. Have compassion on

my weakness and do not expose me to the wrath of my husband! I will do

such penance as you may order, and bless you five times daily as long

as I live."

"How can I save you?" innocently asked Ahmet. "What is decreed is

decreed!"

And then, though silent, looked volumes, for he instinctively knew

that words unuttered were arrows still in the quiver.

"If you won't pity me," continued the Hanoum, in despair, "I will go

and confess to my Pasha, and perhaps he will forgive me."

To this appeal Ahmet said he must ask the stars for their views on the

subject. The Hanoum inquired if the answer would come before the

twenty-four hours were up. Ahmet's reply to this was a long and

concentrated gaze at the heavens.

"Oh Hodja Effendi, I must go now, or the Pasha will miss me. Shall I

give you the necklace to restore to the Pasha without explanation,

when he comes to-morrow for the answer?"

Ahmet now realized what all the trouble was about, and in

consideration of a fee, he promised not to reveal her theft on the

condition that she would at once return home and place the necklace

between the mattresses of her Pasha's bed. This the grateful woman

agreed to do, and departed invoking blessings on Ahmet, who in return

promised to exercise his influence in her behalf for astral

intervention.

When the Pasha came to the astrologer at the appointed time, he

explained to him, that if he wanted both the necklace and the thief or

thieves, it would take a long time, as it was impossible to hurry the

stars; but if he would be content with the necklace alone, the

horoscope indicated that the stars would oblige him at once. The Pasha

said that he would be quite satisfied if he could get his diamonds

again, and Ahmet at once told him where to find them. The Pasha

returned to his home not a little sceptical, and immediately searched

for the necklace where Ahmet had told him it was to be found. His joy

and astonishment on discovering the long-lost article knew no bounds,

and the fame of Ahmet the cobbler was the theme of every tongue.

Having received handsome payment from both the Pasha and the Hanoum,

Ahmet earnestly begged of his wife to desist and not bring down sorrow

and calamity upon his head. But his pleadings were in vain. Satan had

closed his wife's ear to reason with envy. Resigned to his fate, all

he could do was to consult the stars, and after mature thought give

their communication, or assert that the stars had, for some reason

best known to the applicant, refused to commune on the subject.

It happened that forty cases of gold were stolen from the Imperial

Treasury, and every astrologer having failed to get even a clue as to

where the money was or how it had disappeared, Ahmet was approached.

Poor man, his case now looked hopeless! Even the Chief Astrologer was

in disgrace. What might be his punishment he did not know--most

probably death. Ahmet had no idea of the numerical importance of

forty; but concluding that it must be large he asked for a delay of

forty days to discover the forty cases of gold. Ahmet gathered up the

implements of his occult art, and before returning to his home, went

to a shop and asked for forty beans--neither one more nor one less.

When he got home and laid them down before him he appreciated the

number of cases of gold that had been stolen, and also the number of

days he had to live. He knew it would be useless to explain to his

wife the seriousness of the case, so that evening he took from his

pocket the forty beans and mournfully said:

"Forty cases of gold,--forty thieves,--forty days; and here is one of

them," handing a bean to his wife. "The rest remain in their place

until the time comes to give them up."

While Ahmet was saying this to his wife one of the thieves was

listening at the window. The thief was sure he had been discovered

when he heard Ahmet say, "And here is one of them," and hurried off to

tell his companions.

The thieves were greatly distressed, but decided to wait till the next

evening and see what would happen then, and another of the number was

sent to listen and see if the report would be verified. The listener

had not long been stationed at his post when he heard Ahmet say to his

wife: "And here is another of them," meaning another of the forty days

of his life. But the thief understood the words otherwise, and hurried

off to tell his chief that the astrologer knew all about it and knew

that he had been there. The thieves consequently decided to send a

delegation to Ahmet, confessing their guilt and offering to return the

forty cases of gold intact. Ahmet received them, and on hearing their

confession, accompanied with their condition to return the gold,

boldly told them that he did not require their aid; that it was in his

power to take possession of the forty cases of gold whenever he

wished, but that he had no special desire to see them all executed,

and he would plead their cause if they would go and put the gold in a

place he indicated. This was agreed to, and Ahmet continued to give

his wife a bean daily--but now with another purpose; he no longer

feared the loss of his head, but discounted by degrees the great

reward he hoped to receive. At last the final bean was given to his

wife, and Ahmet was summoned to the Palace. He went, and explained to

his Majesty that the stars refused both to reveal the thieves and the

gold, but whichever of the two his Majesty wished would be immediately

granted. The Treasury being low, it was decided that, provided the

cases were returned with the gold intact, his Majesty would be

satisfied. Ahmet conducted them to the place where the gold was

buried, and amidst great rejoicing it was taken back to the Palace.

The Sultan was so pleased with Ahmet, that he appointed him to the

office of Chief Astrologer, and his wife attained her desire.

The Sultan was one day walking in his Palace grounds accompanied by

his Chief Astrologer; wishing to test his powers he caught a

grasshopper, and holding his closed hand out to the astrologer asked

him what it contained. Ahmet, in a pained and reproachful tone,

answered the Sultan by a much-quoted proverb: "Alas! Your Majesty! the

grasshopper never knows where its third leap will land it,"

figuratively alluding to himself and the dangerous hazard of guessing

what was in the clenched hand of his Majesty. The Sultan was so struck

by the reply that Ahmet was never again troubled to demonstrate his

powers.