he reply. "Go in and give what thou
canst spare to the mosque, and Allah will reward thee."

So Abdul Karim walked through the great court, amidst worshipers from
every city in Asia. With open-mouthed astonishment he gazed on the
riches of the temple, the jewels, the lovely carpets, the silks, the
golden ornaments, and with humility he placed his two pieces of money
on the sacred tomb. Then through the noise and bustle of the crowded
streets, he went until he found the bazaars.

He found the sellers of fruits in one place, in another those who sold
pots and pans, then he came to the jewelers, the bakers, the butchers,
each trade having its own part of the bazaar, and so on, until he
reached that part where there were only those who sold silks.

He entered one of the shops and asked to see some silks, and after much
picking and choosing, fixed upon a superb piece of purple silk with an
embroidered border of exquisite design. "I will take this," he said.
"What is the price?"

"I shall only ask you two hundred krans, as you are a new customer,"
said the shopkeeper. "Anybody else but you would have to pay three or
four hundred."

"Two hundred krans," repeated Abdul Karim, in astonishment. "Surely you
have made a mistake. Do you mean krans like these?" taking one out of
his pocket.

"Certainly I do," replied the shopkeeper, "and let me tell you it is
very cheap at that price."

Abdul Karim pictured the disappointment of his wife. "Poor Zeeba," he
sighed.

"Poor who?" said the silk merchant.

"My wife," said Abdul Karim.

"What have I to do with your wife?" asked the merchant, getting angry
because he saw that all his trouble was in vain.

"I will tell you about it," said Abdul Karim. "Because I did my work
well, my master gave me ten krans, the first time I ever have had any
money. After giving two krans to the shrine, I intended to buy a piece
of silk for my wife, a horse and sword for my little boy Yusuf, and an
Indian handkerchief and a pair of gold slippers for my little girl
Fatima. And here you ask me two hundred krans for one piece of silk.
How can I pay you and buy the other things?"

"Here I have been wasting my time and rumpling my beautiful silks for a
fool like you," cried the angry merchant. "Get out of my shop! Go home
to your stupid Zeeba and your stupid children. Buy them some stale
cakes and some black sugar, and don't put your head in my shop again,
or it will be worse for you."

Then he t