Who Was the Thirteenth Son

In the town of Adrianople there lived an Armenian Patriarch, Munadi

Hagop by name, respected and loved alike by Mussulman and Christian.

He was a man of wide reading and profound judgment. The Ottoman

Governor of the same place, Usref Pasha, happened also to be a man of

considerable acquirements and education. The Armenian and the Turk

associated much together. In fact, they were always either walking out

together or visiting, one at the residence of the other. This went on

for some time, and the twelve wise men who were judges in the city

thought that their Governor was doing wrong in associating so much

with a dog of a Christian; so they resolved to call him to account.

This resolution taken, the entire twelve proceeded to the house of the

Governor and told him that he was setting a bad example to his

subjects. They feared, too, that the salvation of his own soul and of

his posterity was in danger, should this Armenian in any way influence

his mind.

"My friends," answered the Governor, "this man is very learned, and

the only reason why we so often come together is because a great

sympathy exists between us, and much mutual pleasure is derived from

this friendship. I ask his advice, and he gives me a clear

explanation. He is my friend, and I would gladly see him your friend."

"Oh," said the spokesman of the judges, "it is his wise answers that

act as magic upon you? We will give him a question to answer, and if

he solves this to our satisfaction, he will then in reality be a great

man."

"I am sure you will not be disappointed!" said the Pasha. "He has

never failed me, and I have sometimes put questions to him which

appeared unanswerable. He will surely call to-morrow. Shall I send him

to you or bring him myself?"

"We wish to see him alone," said the judges.

"I shall not fail to send him to you to-morrow, after which I am sure

you will often seek his company."

On the following day the Pasha told the Patriarch how matters stood,

and begged him to call on the gentlemen who took so lively an interest

in their friendly association.

The Patriarch, never dreaming of what would happen, called on the

twelve wise men and introduced himself. They were holding the Divan,

and the entrance of the Patriarch gave considerable pleasure to them.

On the table lay a turban and a drawn sword.

The customary salutations having been duly exchanged, the Patriarch

seated himself, and at once told them that his friend the Governor had

asked him to call, and he took much pleasure in making their

acquaintance, adding that he would be happy to do anything in his

power that they might wish.

The spokesman of the Divan rose and said: "Effendi, our friend the

Governor has told us of your great learning, and we have decided to

put a question to you. The reason of our taking this liberty is

because the Governor told us that he had never put a question to you

which had remained unanswered."

And as he spoke he moved toward the table.

"Effendi, our question will consist of only a few words." And laying

his right hand on the turban and his left hand on the sword, he said:

"Is this the right, or is this the right?"

The Patriarch paused aghast at the terrible feature of the

interrogation. He saw destruction staring him in the face.

Nevertheless he said to them with great composure: "Gentlemen, you

have put an exceedingly difficult question to me, the most difficult

that could be put to man. However, it is a question put, and now,

according to your laws, cannot be recalled."

"No," answered the twelve wise men, rubbing their hands, "it cannot be

recalled."

"I will but say that it grieves me much to have to reply to this," the

Patriarch continued, "and I cannot do so without continued prayers for

guidance. Therefore I beg to request a week's time before giving my

answer."

To this no objection was made, and the Patriarch prepared to go.

Respectfully bowing to all present, as if nothing out of the common

had happened, he slowly moved toward the door apparently in deep

thought.

Just as he reached the door he turned back and addressing the judges,

said:

"Gentlemen, one of the reasons I had great pleasure in meeting you

to-day was because I wished to have your advice on a difficult legal

problem which has been presented to me by some members of my

community. Knowing your great wisdom, I thought you might assist me,

and as you are now sitting in lawful council I shall, if agreeable to

you, put the case before you and be greatly pleased to learn your

opinion."

The judges, whose curiosity was aroused, and who were flattered that a

man of such reputation for wisdom should submit a matter to them for

their opinion, signified to him to proceed.

"Gentlemen and wise men," began the Patriarch, "there was once a

father, and this father had thirteen sons, who were esteemed by all

who knew them. As time with sure hand marked its progress on the issue

of this good man, and the children grew into youth, they one by one

went into the world, spreading to the four known quarters of the

globe, and carrying with them the good influence given by their

father. Through them the name of the father spread, causing a great

moral and mental revolution throughout the world. The father in his

native home, however, saw that his days were few, that he had

well-nigh turned the leaves of the book of life, and yearned to see

his sons once more. He accordingly sent messengers all over the

world, saying: 'Come, my sons, and receive your father's blessing; he

is about to depart this life, come and get each one your portion of

the worldly possessions I have, together with my blessing, and again

go forth, doing each your duty to God and man.'

"One by one the sons of the aged father came, and once more were

united in the ancient home of their childhood, with the exception of

one son. The remaining days of the old man were spent with his twelve

sons, and the brothers found that all of them had retained the

teachings of infancy, and the pleasure was great. The reuniting of the

family, though of comparatively short duration, was happier by far

than the years of childhood and youth which they had spent together.

Still the thirteenth son was not found. The messengers returned one

after the other, bearing no tidings of him. The old father saw that he

could wait no longer, that he must dispose of his worldly

possessions, give his blessing to his twelve sons and rejoin his

Father. So he called them to his side and thus spoke to them:

"'My sons, as you have done may it be done unto you. You have cheered

my last steps to the grave, and I bless you.'

"And the father's blessing was bestowed on each.

"'Of all I possess I give to each of you an equal share with my

blessing. You are my offspring and the representatives of your father

on earth. It is my will that you should continue as you have begun.

You are my twelve sons, and I have no other. Your brother who was, is

no longer. We have waited long, that he should take his portion and my

blessing; but he has tarried elsewhere, and now the hand of my Father

is on me, and as you have come to me, so I must go to show Him my

work.'

"So the father ordained that the twelve should be his heirs, and

declared that any one coming after claiming to be his son, was an

impostor. He also confirmed in the existing and competent courts that

these alone were his representatives on earth. This was duly

registered in conformity with the law, and the old father passed away

to rejoin his forefathers.

"The twelve sons again went forth into the world and carried with them

the blessings and teachings of their father, and these teachings and

ideas developed and grew, and the memory of their father was cherished

and blessed.

"Many years after, a person turned up claiming to be the missing son,

and sought to obtain the part due to him. Not only did he wish his

share, but he claimed the whole worldly possessions of his father,

that he was the son blessed by his father, and exhorted all to follow

his teachings. By those who knew the circumstances, he was not

believed; but many were ignorant of the father, and also ignorant of

the registering in the courts of law, and were inclined to believe in

the impostor.

"Now, gentlemen, this is the case that has troubled me much. As you

are sitting in lawful council, it would give me much pleasure if you

could cast light on the case. Your statement will help me, and I will

be ever grateful to you. Had this son, the late returned person, any

right to all the worldly possessions of the father, or, in fact, even

any right to an equal share?"

Thus having spoken he turned to the Hodjas with an inquiring look.

They one and all, unanimously, and in a breath said, that all the

legal formalities having been carried out, the will of the father was

law, and the law he passed should be respected, therefore the

thirteenth son was an impostor. On returning he should have gone to

his brothers, and no doubt he would have been received as a brother,

but he acted otherwise. He should receive nothing.

"I am glad to see that you look at it in that light, and I will now

say that that has always been my opinion, but your statement now adds

strength to the conviction, and had there been any doubt on my part,

your unanimous declaration would have dispelled it. I would further

esteem it a great kindness and a favor if, as a reference and as a

proof of my authority, or rather as a corroboration of many proofs,

you would, as you are sitting in lawful Divan, give your signatures to

the effect that the decision of the learned council was unanimous, and

to this said effect, that the thirteenth son was an impostor, and had

no right to any of the possessions he claimed."

Flattered that their opinion had such weight, the judges also

consented to do this, and the Patriarch set about drawing up the case.

This he read to them, and each put his hand and seal to the document.

The Patriarch thanked them and departed.

A week had passed, and the judges had entirely forgotten the case that

had been put to them, but they had not forgotten the Patriarch, and

eagerly awaited his answer to their question which left no

alternative, and which would cause his head to be separated from his

body by a blow of the executioner. But the Patriarch did not make his

appearance, and as the prescribed time had passed, the judges went to

the Governor to see what steps should be taken.

The Governor was deeply grieved when the judges told him of the

terrible question they had put to the Patriarch, yet remembering

leaving that morning the Patriarch who had been with him, and who

seemed in no wise anxious, he said that he was convinced that either a

satisfactory answer had been given or would be forthcoming. He

questioned the Hodjas as to what had taken place, and they answered

that nothing had been said beyond the question that had been put to

him and his request for a week's time in which to answer.

"Did he say nothing at all," asked the Pasha, "before he left?"

"Nothing," said the spokesman of the judges, "except that he put to us

a case which he had been called on to decide and asked our opinion."

"What was this case?" asked the Pasha. And the judges recited it to

him, told what opinion they had given, and stated that they had, at

the Patriarch's request and for his use, placed their seal to this

opinion.

"Go home, you heads of asses," said the Governor, "and thank Allah

that it is to a noble and a great man who would make no unworthy use

of it that you have delivered a document testifying that Mohammed is

an impostor. In future, venture not to enter into judgment with men

whom it has pleased God to give more wit than to yourselves."