dy of the Koran. Daily he might be seen seated, swaying his
body to and fro, and reciting to himself the verses of the Holy Book.

The dearest wish of a Mohammedan theological student is to be able to
recite the entire Koran by heart. Many years are spent in memorizing
the Holy Book, which must be recited with a prescribed cantillation,
and in acquiring a rhythmical movement of the body which accompanies
the chant.

When Abdul, for that was the young man's name, had reached his
nineteenth year, he had, by the most assiduous study, finally
succeeded in mastering three-fourths of the Koran. At this achievement
his pride rose, his ambition was fired, and he determined to become a
great man.

The day that he reached this decision he did not go to the Mosque, but
stopped at home, in his father's house, and sat staring at the fire
burning in the grate. Several times the father asked:

"My son, what do you see in the fire?"

And each time the son answered:

"Nothing, father."

He was very young; he could not see.

Finally, the young man picked up courage and gave expression to his
thoughts.

"Father," he said, "I wish to become a great man."

"That is very easy," said the father.

"And to be a great man," continued the son, "I must first go to
Mecca." For no Mohammedan priest or theologian, or even layman, has
fulfilled all of the cardinal precepts of his faith unless he has made
the pilgrimage to the Holy City.

To his son's last observation the father blandly replied: "It is very
easy to go to Mecca."

"How, easy?" asked the son. "On the contrary, it is very difficult;
for the journey is costly, and I have no money."

"Listen, my son," said the father. "You must become a scribe, the
writer of the thoughts of your brethren, and your fortune is made."

"But I have not even the implements necessary for a scribe," said the
son.

"All that can be easily arranged," said the father; "your grandfather
had an ink-horn; I will give it you; I will buy you some
writing-paper, and we will get you a box to sit in; all that you need
to do is to sit still, look wise and your fortune is made."

And indeed the advice was good. For letter-writing is an art which
only the few possess. The ability to write by no means carries with it
the ability to compose. Epistolary genius is rare.

Abdul was much rejoiced at the counsel that had been given him, and
lost no time in carrying out the plan. He took his grandfather's
ink-h