d by a monarch
whose philosophy included the immediate advancement of a worthy
subject.

A LABORING man named Abdul Karim, with his wife, Zeeba--"the beautiful
one"--lived in a sheltered valley, surrounded by hills, the sides of
which were covered with fine gardens, in which the peach, the grape,
the mulberry, and other delicious fruits grew in great profusion.

Although his wife's name was Zeeba, as a matter of fact, she was very
plain in appearance. But from having been named Zeeba, she really
thought she was beautiful, and thus it came about that, moved by
vanity, her two children were named, the boy, Yusuf, or Joseph, who as
you know, was sold by his brethren into Egypt and became next to the
King; and the girl, Fatima, after Fatima, the favorite daughter of
Mahomet, and the wife of the famous Ali.

Now Abdul Karim was only a laborer on the land, receiving no wages,
merely being paid in grain and cloth sufficient for the wants of
himself and family. Of money he knew nothing except by name.

One day his master was so pleased with his work that he actually gave
him ten "krans," equivalent to about a dollar of our money. To Abdul
Karim this seemed great wealth, and directly his day's work was done,
he ran home to his wife and said: "Look, Zeeba, there's riches for
you!" and spread out the money before her. His good wife was delighted,
and so were the children.

Then Abdul Karim said: "How shall we spend this great sum? The master
has also given me a day's holiday, so if you don't mind, I will go to
the famous city of Meshed, which is only twenty miles from here, and
after placing two krans on the shrine of the holy Imam, I will then
visit the bazaars and buy everything you and the children desire."

"You would better buy me a piece of silk for a new dress," said Zeeba.

"I want a fine horse and a sword," said little Yusuf.

"I would like an Indian handkerchief and a pair of gold slippers," said
Fatima.

"They shall be here by to-morrow night," said the father, and taking a
big stick, he set off on his journey.

When he had come down from the mountains to the plain below, Abdul
Karim saw stretched before him the glorious city, and was lost in
wonder at the sight of the splendid domes, where roofs glittered with
gold, and the minarets, from the tops of which the priests were calling
the people to prayer.

Then coming to the gate of the shrine, he asked an old priest if he
might enter. "Yes, my son," was t