STORY OF THE COFFEE-MAKER’S APPRENTICE
The tellers of stories and narrators of tales relate that, once upon a time, there was a valiant youth who had fallen into very poor circumstances, which it seemed impossible to mend. Therefore he decided to try his fortunes in other lands; and, the thought occurring to him that he would not like every chance passer to discover his identity, he disguised himself and fared forth.
After going and going, for a long time, he found himself in another country; and, being weary, he entered the coffeehouse of an old, old man whom, after he had refreshed himself with the unsatisfactory coffee, he asked permission to serve as an apprentice.
The proprietor of the little shop regarded him sadly and replied: “Ai, my son! the coffeehouse is old and does not attract customers—as you see. I have only one or two. They bring me in not more than five or ten paras (ten paras = one cent) a [[169]]day; out of which I must buy bread for the evening. That is all I have to live on. Even should you offer to serve me for nothing, how could I take you?”
But this did not abash the young applicant. “Father,” he replied, “I ask nothing whatever from you. Only I beg that you permit me to thrust my head into this refuge, that I may know myself to be out of harm’s way.”
It would have required a harder heart than beat in the old coffee-maker’s bosom, to deny so simple a request. “Very well, my son,” he answered. “Remain! and may peace be upon us! We will get on with whatever Allah sends.”
The youth then kissed his master’s hand and went into the shop, where he sat down to think upon his new estate and to plan what he could do to increase the fortune of his discouraged master.
When evening came, the old man arose. “My son,” he said, “I am going home now. When you are ready to sleep, lock the house carefully.” With these words he went away, leaning heavily upon his stick—for he was very old.
The apprentice locked the door after him and lay down above the counter, where, after a little, he composed himself to sleep.
Exactly at midnight there was a knock upon the [[170]]door. The sleeping youth wakened but did not arise. Another moment and the door—which was locked—opened, without difficulty, and a dervish entered with a salaam!
The astonished apprentice returned the salute, without feeling quite sure whether he were asleep or awake.
“Arise, boy!” commanded the midnight visitor, “and make me a cup of coffee; but expect no money for it.”
The boy, thus commanded, arose at once and made the coffee, which the dervish drank without a word, and directly left the shop. The apprentice looked after his departing figure and said: “May Allah grant success to your journey!”
Afterward he relocked the door, lay down in his place, but could not sleep again that night. When morning brought his master to the shop, the two greeted each other, but no word concerning the strange visitor of the night before passed between them.
The day passed slowly enough to the apprentice lad, and, when the shop was closed at night, he lay down and went to sleep as before. “Such occurrences come not often in pairs,” he said to himself. “I shall have peace to-night.”
But exactly at midnight there was the same knock [[171]]which had startled him twenty-four hours earlier. He had only time to sit up in his place when the door opened, noiselessly, and two dervishes entered, made each a salaam, and commanded: “Arise, youth! Prepare us two cups of coffee; but expect no money for them.”
Their command was obeyed; the coffee was drunk in utter silence; after which they departed, without a word of thanks or so much as a glance toward the one who had served them.
“May Allah grant success to your journey!” said the youth, as he closed the door after them and returned to his place; where he lay until morning thinking about the strange visitors and wondering what he would better do.
The following day passed as the first one had. After the old coffee-maker had gone at night, the lad locked the door and piled everything he could find in front of it.
“My master’s goods shall not be devoured in this thankless way, if I can prevent it. Should these midnight visitors be Allah’s messengers, nothing I can do will obstruct their coming; so this will do no harm.” Feeling quite sure that he would not be disturbed, he went to sleep.
Exactly at midnight came the same knock, followed by a great noise as the barricade tumbled [[172]]away from the door to give space for the entrance of three dervishes, who made salaams and said, as with one voice: “Arise, lad! Make us three cups of coffee; but do not expect us to give you money.”
The surprised youth arose, made and served the coffee. As they received it each one arose. The first one said: “In whatever coffeehouse this youth chooses to be, may the coffee and sugar boxes never be empty! May their contents continue level with the top!”
The second dervish said: “In whatever coffeehouse this youth chooses to be, may customers never be lacking! Like ants may they flock thither!”
But the third dervish said: “May all things whatsoever this youth desires to know, be told to him by a little bird!”
After these strange words the three left the shop; and the boy, wishing them the customary good speed, locked the door, put the scattered articles in their proper places, and lay down in his place. But if it had been difficult for him to sleep after the strange occurrences of the previous nights, how could it be other than impossible this time?
He arose earlier than usual and opened the door, to find—verily!—customers, like ants, without; waiting, in varying degrees of impatience, to be served. [[173]]
“Praise be to Allah!” he exclaimed. “The prophecy of the second dervish is fulfilled!”
Greeting them courteously, he hastened to the stove to prepare the coffee, and, as he opened the boxes, behold! they were full to the top!
Without in any degree lessening his speed to serve the customers, his thoughts ran upon all that the dervishes had said. He could not pause an instant, for, as soon as one was served, another came to take his place; so that when the master approached, what was there but a sight that made him rub his old eyes, to make sure that they were not imagining vain things?
“What mystery is this!” he exclaimed, and remained still, perfectly overcome, having strength only to put his finger between his teeth, in order to assure himself that it was, indeed, he, and that he stood before his own shop. “Every day and every day I had one customer—or perhaps two—never three. There certainly must be some magic about this!”
Approaching nearer, with difficulty he found a place by which to enter; but, within, there was none in which to sit. So he turned to the busy youth and said: “My son, the coffee and sugar must be exhausted.”
“I have provided both,” was the cheery response. [[174]]“Let me persuade you to sit down, my master, and look to your own comfort and enjoyment.”
The bewildered proprietor retired to a corner and sat down; while on, through the day, his apprentice continued to labor.
At night, when it was time to close the shop, the master went to the money drawer; and there—above all wonders!—what should he see? It was level to the top with money!
The gratified man almost went out of his senses. He cried: “Bravo! my lad. Thy feet are the bearers of good fortune!” Then, in his joy, he kissed the youth’s eyes.
The money sacks were filled, and the delighted master took them home. The apprentice cleared up the shop and retired to his place above the counter, where he slept undisturbed until morning.
During several months the youth remained in the coffeehouse and continued his services to the customers, who came in such great numbers that there was no place to put the money. When this had come to pass he said: “Master, I desire to return to my own country once more. Will you grant permission?”
“Ai, my son! I do not like to part with thee. Not only hast thou brought great riches to me and my family, but I have come to love thee from my heart.” [[175]]
Nevertheless, when the request was repeated, he replied: “Very well; go, my son! And may Allah prosper you as he has prospered me!”
Thereupon the boy kissed the old man’s hand; who went out and bought him a suit of clothes, the like of which he had never seen. The garments were rich with gold embroidery; and precious stones made them fit for a prince. When the old man had delighted his eyes with looking at his apprentice in his new garb, he let him fare forth.
After days of journeying, and before he had come into his own country, the young adventurer decided to stop for a while. He hired a coffeehouse, and, no sooner had he opened it, than so many customers flocked thither that it was almost impossible to count them. In short, this coffee-maker became famous throughout the town; so much so, that a very rich man—one noted in those parts—was unable longer to control his curiosity and made a visit to the coffeehouse of which he had heard such flattering reports.
While the youth was preparing an especially delicious cup for him, the visitor sat in almost open-mouthed admiration of his attractive young host. After drinking the coffee he astonished the young man with these words:
“Ai, master coffee-maker! I have a daughter [[176]]whose hand many are seeking in marriage. If Allah wills, and you so desire, I will give her to you. What say you?”
When he had recovered himself, the youth bowed low and said, “Verily, honored sir, would it be possible for me to refuse a daughter whom you would give to me?”
Other conversation followed, during which the visitor was more deeply impressed with the desirability of this young man for a son-in-law. He proposed to take him to his own house, and, once there, summoned guests, and the two young people were married that very day. The guests partook of costly refreshments, wished unalloyed happiness to the young pair, and departed.
When the festivities were over and the bridegroom had a moment in which to withdraw from everyone, he summoned the little bird, whose services the third dervish had promised, but of which he had not felt the need before, and asked if his wife would love him.
The little creature hopped close to his ear and chirped into it, “How is it possible for her to love you, when she already is in love with her own cousin?”
This answer decided the youth to abandon his new relations and return to the coffeehouse; which he accordingly did. [[177]]
The rich man and his family asked each other, “What manner of man is this, who leaves his wife upon the very day of their marriage?”
But all their questioning would not induce the return of the bridegroom. “It were better to consult your daughter before giving her in marriage to a stranger,” was all he would vouchsafe in explanation.
Shortly after, another rich man came and made the same proposal, allowing no time for serious thought or for consultation with the small oracle.
“There can be hardly such another case,” said the youth to himself, as the rich man pressed his suit; so the matter was accepted and carried out as was the other. But when the small bird was summoned, it answered that the father had married his daughter to the coffee-maker, well knowing that her heart had been given to a son of their neighbor.
So the second time the bridegroom left the house of his father-in-law and returned again to his own place.
One day, not long after, as he was walking by the seashore, meditating upon the strange way in which life was leading him, he came upon a shepherd accompanied by his daughter. The shepherd’s lassie was young and very winsome. It was not strange that the lonely young coffee-maker should [[178]]look at her a second and even a third time, or that he should address the father with:
“Ai, good shepherd, is this your daughter?”
“Thanks be to Allah, yes!”
“Then, O, shepherd and dear! according to the law of the Prophet, will you marry her to me?”
To which the father made answer, “My lord, is a shepherd’s daughter worthy to marry such an one as you?”
“I have found her so,” was the answer; and, after further words, he led the two to his own home and engaged the girl to himself.
Afterward he consulted the bird, which assured him that the shepherd’s daughter had never seen anything of the world; that her life had been plain and simple, and that her heart was pure and good.
At this the young man was filled with delight. He cried, “I have found the one whom my heart has been seeking all my life.”
Let these stay here while we go to the rich men, whose daughters this youth had slighted.
When they learned that he, who had spurned their daughters, was about to marry a simple shepherd lass, they became filled with indignation and determined to bring him before the law. [[179]]
Upon receipt of the summons the accused young man went, most willingly, to appear in court. There he found gathered together, with their friends, all those who were against him. After the assembly was called to order, the plaintiffs arose and said, each after the other:
“Verily, O, coffee-maker! you married my daughter in accordance with the divine law; but you left her at once after the marriage. I demand your reason for such action. What fault have you against my daughter? Now I learn that you are about to marry—and with satisfaction—a shepherd’s daughter. Is such an act worthy of you? Know, then, that I am bringing a suit at law against you.”
Upon the utterance of these words the faces of all in the room became severe and threatening.
However, the youth arose and made courteous answer: “My masters, let your lady daughters be called! Examine into this matter well. If I have committed a fault, let me receive equal punishment!”
Accordingly, while all waited, swift messengers were sent, and the young women came, each in her own fine carriage. After all present had gazed upon them, taking note of their gorgeous apparel and self-consequent airs, they turned to the accused man, who summoned the little bird and, receiving it upon his finger, held it up before them all and [[180]]asked concerning the characters of the two who had just entered.
“They are vain, selfish, and worldly,” was the delicate, chirped answer. “They would make unfaithful wives.”
“Did you hear, my masters? And you, assembled people? Would you take such an one into your lives and close to your hearts?”
Although he waited, no one answered. Some shook their heads.
“And, if you would not, how can you expect it of me? And, furthermore, I would add that should any of you have doubt concerning the truthfulness of this little diviner, do not hesitate to express it; and, in proof, I will call upon him to tell your characters and those of your wives.”
But they all arose in dismay, crying: “O, no; my son! We will not ask such foolish questions. Our time is precious. We would not vex the little creature with further words. Take this gold and go in peace!”
They hastened out, one after another, leaving the coffee-maker and his little bird alone.
“Ai, my birdling!” he said, smiling, “there is not one who dares dispute thee. Let us, also, depart!” [[181]]
So saying, he returned to his own house, where, during forty days and forty nights, he celebrated his marriage with the daughter of the poor shepherd.
So these two had peace and their hearts’ desire of happiness, and lived happily ever afterward. Salaam! [[182]]