Page:Three crump twin-brothers of Damascus.pdf/23

 TURKISH JUSTICE 23 ſuch viſited the markets, and inſpected the weights and meaſures of all retail dealers. One day, as this officer was going his rounds, the neighbours, who knew enough of his father's character to ſuf- pect that he might ſtand in need of the caution, adviſed him to move his weights for fear of the worſt : but the old cheat deperding on his rela- tion to the inſpector, andſfure, as he thought, that his ſon would not expoſe him to a public af- front, laughed at their advice, and food very calmly at his ſhop.door, waited for his coming, The naib however was well aſured of the diſho- neſty and unfair dealing of his father, and reſolv- ed to detect his villany and make an example of him: accordingly, he ſtopt at the door, and ſaid coolly to him, " Good man, fetch out your weights, that we may examine them:" Inthead of obeying, the grocer would fain have put it off with a laugh, but was ſoon convinced his ſon was ſeriaus, by hearing him order the officers to ſearch his ſhop, and ſeeing them produce the inſtruments of his fraud, which, after an impartial examina- tion, were openly condemned and broken to pie- ces. His ſhame and confuſion, however, he hop- ed would plead with a ſon to excuſe him all fur- ther puniſhment of his crime; but even this, though entirely arbitrary, the naib made as ſevere as for the moſt indifferent offender, for he ſen- tenced him to a fine of fifty piaſtres, and to re- ceive a baſtinado of as many blows on the ſoles of his feet. All this was exscuted upon the ſpot, after which the paib leaping from his horſe, threw himſelf at his feet, and watering them with his tears, addreſſed him thus: “ Father I have diſ- charged my duty to my God, my ſovereign, my country, and my ſtation; permit me now, by my reſpect and ſubmiſſion, to acquit the debt I owe a parent.