One night in winter Tughral passed by a Hindu sentinel, who was shivering like the star Canopus in the icy rain. Moved to pity, he said: “Thou shalt have my fur coat. Wait by the terrace and I will send it by the hand of a slave.” On entering his palace he was met by a beautiful slave, at the sight of whom the poor sentinel passed from his mind. The fur coat slipped through the latter’s ears; through his ill-luck it never reached his shoulders. The king slept through the night devoid of care; but what said the chief watchman to him in the morning?— “Perhaps thou didst forget that ‘lucky man’ when thy hand was upon the bosom of thy slave. By thee the night was spent in tranquillity and joy; what knowest thou how the night has gone with us?” They with the caravan bend their heads over the cauldron; what care they for them that toil on foot through the desert sand? Tarry, O active youths, for old and feeble men are with the caravan. Well hast thou slept in the litter while the driver held the nose-string of the camel. What of the desert and mountains? what of the stones and the sand? Ask how it fares with them that lag behind. STORY OF A THIEF A thief was arrested by a night-watchman and bound by the hands. Thus, crestfallen and afflicted, he remained. During the night he heard some one cry out in want. “How long wilt thou bewail thy lot?” he asked. “Go, sleep, O wretched man! give thanks to God that the watchman has not tied thee by the hands.” Bemoan not thine own misfortune when thou seest another more wretched than thyself. STORY OF ONE WHO WAS NOT WHAT HE SEEMED Some one passed by a pious man whom he took for a Jew, and, therefore, struck him on the neck. The latter bestowed his robe upon the aggressor, who, becoming ashamed, remarked: “I acted wrongly and thou hast forgiven me. But what occasion is this for a gift?” “I stood not up in anger,” was the reply, “being thankful that I was not a Jew, as thou didst suppose.” STORY OF A SAGE DONKEY One left behind on the road wept, saying, “Who in this desert is more distressed than I?” A pack-donkey answered: “O senseless man! how long wilt thou bewail the tyranny of Fate? Go, and give thanks that, though thou ridest not upon a donkey, thou art not a donkey upon which men ride.” STORY ILLUSTRATING THE EVILS OF PRIDE A theologian passed by a drunkard who had fallen by the wayside. Filled with pride at his own piety, he disdained even to regard him. The young man raised his head and said: “Go, old man, and give thanks that thou art in the Divine favour—misfortune comes from pride. Laugh not when thou seest one in bonds lest thou likewise become involved. After all, is it not within the bounds of possibility that to-morrow thou mayest fall, like me, by the roadside?” If with a mosque the heavens have befriended thee, revile not them that worship in the fire-temple. O Mussulman! fold thy hands and render thanks that He has not bound the idolater’s thread about thy waist.