COGIA HASSAN ALHABBAL. 39!

One day as I was working at my trade, two wealthy citizens
of Bagdad, named Saad and Saadi, passed along the street where
I was and accosted me, They both gave me the common
salutation of saying, “Peace be with you,” and Saadi asked me
my name, I returned them the same salutation, and to answer
the question of Saadi, “ Sir,” said I, “my name is Hassan, and
because of my employment, I am commonly known by the name
of Hassan Alhabbal.” “ Hassan,” returned Saadi, “as there is
not any trade which does not support its master, I do not doubt
that yours maintains you at your ease, and I am even astonished
that you have not saved something, and that you have not bought
a good stock of hemp to increase your business, as well for your-
self as for the people you have hired to assist you, and to enable
you, by degrees, to deal to a larger amount.” :

“ Sir,” I replied, “ you will cease to be surprised that I do not
make any savings, and that I do not take the method, as you
say, to become rich, when I tell you that, though I work hard
from morning till night, it is with difficulty I can earn enough to
procure bread and vegetables for myself and my family. [havea
wife and five children, and not one of the latter is of an age to
give me the least assistance. I must feed and clothe them ; and
in a family, be it ever so small, there are always a thousand
necessary things which you cannot do without. Although hemp
is not an expensive thing, one must nevertheless have money to
purchase it, and that money is the first which I lay by from the
sale of my goods, otherwise I should not be able to maintain my
family. Judge, sir,” I added, “ whether it is possible for me to
save, and thus better myself and my family. It is sufficient that
we are contented with the little it pleases Heaven to give us;
but we do not feel any wants, when we have enough to live in
the way we are accustomed to, and are not under the necessity
of begging.”

When I had given this account of myself to Saadi, “ Hassan,”
said he, “my wonder has ceased, and I comprehend all the rea-
sons which oblige you to be contented with the situation in
which you are; but if I made you a present of a purse with two
hundred pieces of gold, would you not make a good use of it?
and do you not think that with this sum you would soon be-
come as rich as the principal people in your business?” “Sir,”
| replied, “1 dare affirm, without too much presumption, that 4