A Wreath of Indian Stories

by A. L. O. E.

Sheo Deo lived; and in the following year, after much instruction from the missionary, he and his father received the water of baptism, believing that which is written in the holy Scriptures: This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.

III.—THE MARKS ON THE SAND.

A Mohammedan youth, Hakim Alí by name, on his return from a journey through Arabia, visited his friend Yuhanna, the Christian. Though the two held not the same faith, there was much friendship between them.[49] They sat together under a pépul tree, and Hakim Alí, with great animation, gave to Yuhanna an account of all that he had seen in his travels. For a long time Yuhanna had all the listening, and his friend had all the talking. In almost every sentence uttered by Hakim Alí, he brought in the name of Allah (God); if he were but describing how a mule stumbled, or what evil fare he had had at an inn, he called God to bear witness to what he said—even if he were laughing when the holy name was on his lips. Yuhanna had a stick in his hand, and every time that Hakim Alí uttered the sacred name, Yuhanna with the stick made a mark on the sand. Hakim Alí at last noticed with surprise this act of Yuhanna.

“What are you marking?” he cried.

“Debts,” was the brief reply.

“You have many,” laughed Hakim Alí, again using the name of the Highest; and again Yuhanna drew a line on the sand.

Then Yuhanna, turning, asked a question: “You have visited many holy shrines and sacred tombs in your life, O Hakim Alí!” said he; “did you ever take off your slippers before entering?”[50]

Hakim Alí was so much astonished at the question, that more loudly than ever he uttered the name of Allah. “Do you count me as an unclean swine?” he exclaimed; “do you doubt that I always take off my slippers on such occasions? Never without due reverence do I approach that which is holy.”

Yuhanna pointed to the marks on the sand. “O my friend!” said he, “fifteen times within the last hour have you shown no reverence for that which is most holy.”