Page:Gems of Arabic Literature.djvu/69

 and, after looking right and left, he went up to a bag of flour containing over a hundred pounds. 'Umar then said to me, 'O 'Abbās! lift it on to my shoulder' and I did so. He then pointed at a jar that was there and said to me, 'Carry that jar of ghee,' and I lifted it up, and we both went out. He locked the door, and we went on our way, flour falling on his beard, his eyes, and his forehead. We walked on until we reached half our way, when the load wearied him, because the place was at a great distance off. So I offered my services saying, 'May my father and mother be thy ransom, O Prince of the Faithful! transfer the bag from your shoulder, and let me carry it.' 'Umar answered, 'No, by God! thou wilt not bear my sins and burdens for me on the day of judgment. Know, O 'Abbās! that verily the burden and the carrying of mountains of iron is better than to have to account for an unjust act, be it great or small, especially as has been done to this old woman who has been diverting her children with small pebbles. Oh! what a great sin it must be in the eyes of God! Let us hasten and go, O 'Abbās! before the children get wearied of crying, and fall asleep, as she said.'

He then went on, quickening his pace, and I accompanied him. He was panting like an ox from fatigue, until we reached the old woman's tent. He then put down the bag of flour from his shoulder and I laid the jar of ghee before him. Then he himself went forward, and, taking the cooking-pot, poured out its contents, and, putting some of the ghee into it, added some flour. Just then he looked at the fire and lo! it was nearly out. He asked the old woman, 'Hast thou any firewood?' She replied, 'Yes, O my son!' and pointed it out to him. He then arose and fetched some of the wood; but it was green. He put some of it on the fire, and set the pot on the fireplace, bent his