PERSEVERE AND PROSPER
ADAPTED BY A. R. MONTALBA
"H
E that seeketh, shall find, and to him that knocketh shall be opened," says an old Arab proverb.
"I will try that," said a youth one day. To carry out his [page 474] intention he journeyed to Bagdad, where he presented himself before the Vizier.
"Lord!" said he, "for many years I have lived a quiet and solitary life, the monotony of which wearies me. I have never permitted myself earnestly to will any thing. But as my teacher daily repeated to me, 'He that seeketh shall find, and to him that knocketh shall be opened,' so have I now come to the resolution with might and heart to will, and the resolution of my will is nothing less than to have the Caliph's daughter for my wife."
The Vizier thought the poor man was mad, and told him to call again some other time.
Perseveringly he daily returned, and never felt disconcerted at the same often repeated answer. One day, the Caliph called on the Vizier, as the youth was repeating his statement.