" They seemed to weave themselves into the symbolism of Benn
Claridge's letter, written from the hills of Bagdad.
"But," the letter continued, "the Governor passed by with his suite, the
buckles of the harness of his horses all silver, his carriage shining
with inlay of gold, his turban full of precious stones. When he had
passed, I said to a shepherd standing by, 'If thou hadst all his wealth,
shepherd, what wouldst thou do?' and he answered, 'If I had his wealth, I
would sit on the south side of my house in the sun all day and every
day.' To a messenger of the Palace, who must ever be ready night and day
to run at his master's order, I asked the same. He replied, 'If I had all
the Effendina's wealth, I would sleep till I died.' To a blind beggar,
shaking the copper in his cup in the highways, pleading dumbly to those
who passed, I made similar inquisition, and he replied 'If the wealth of
the exalted one were mine, I would sit on the mastaba by the bake-house,
and eat three times a day, save at Ramadan, when I would bless Allah the
compassionate and merciful, and breakfast at sunset with the flesh of a
kid and a dish of dates.
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