Page:Swahili tales.djvu/233

Rh get children is health. How is it that my getting children is death? Two young men of you have gone to the garden, and not one son has given me a date to taste. With this getting children then, how is it that people say, he that gets children gets health? Is this health? Don't say, you children, that you will give me life; my health is to want a thing and get it, and my soul to be glad, this is my health; it is to see a man wanting to strike me and you fight with him, and you strive for me your father, this is my health; if I send you anywhere and you go, and know how to speak with people, and know how to converse with people, and know great from small, and know rich from poor, this is my health. And so my sons, this second year I have not succeeded in eating a date; as for my dates I hear of them with my ears without seeing them with my eyes. Get away from me then, and go about your business." And he went and departed.

And he said, "You my sons, you four that are left. When the date-tree bears, he that shall go and watch it till I get the dates and taste them, I will make him a wedding feast of three months."

Each one of those youths who were there said, "Father, I will go;" and another said, "Father, I will go;" and another said, "Father,I will go;" and another said, "Father, I will go." And he said, "Very good, every one that wishes, let him go, but I want you to go one by one." And they said, "Very good, father."

And he waited for many months, and the date-tree bore, and it bore much, and left off bearing, and swayed down. And he said to his children, "The date-tree has borne, and its bearing this year is the greatest of any year." And the eldest of them said, "I will go, father." And he said, "Wait a bit, let them get their full growth." So he waited till news was brought, "Sultan, the dates are