The Recorder

THE WIDOW AND HER SON.
A POPULAR TURKISH TALE.

An aged widow had an only son, who repeatedly transgressed the rules time-honored in the sacred Koran, to be observed by all true believers: he neglected the customary ablutions, he gave no alms, and ate meat before the stars appeared during the holy feast of Ramadan, when the gates of paradise are open and those of hell are shut; he intoxicated himself with opium and wine, and bowed not his body to the omnipotent Allah, the maker of the world.

His mother, rendered superlatively unhappy by his misconduct, tried numberless methods to reclaim him without effect. At last, with great difficulty she prevailed on him, when he committed a bad action, to drive a nail into the wall of his chamber, and when he performed a good action, to take one out.

In a short time the wall was nearly covered with the marks of his guilt; but the worst people may become the best. After a long time had elapsed he began to refrain from his evil courses, and conducted himself with so much propriety, that the nails gradually diminished, and were at last all drawn out; of which circumstance he exultingly informed his venerable parent, who, with the greatest composure, addressed him as follows:

"My son," said she, "you have, it is true, dutifully attended to my advice, and entered into the pleasant paths of virtue: but be not too proud that the nails are all drawn out, for the marks where they have been still remain; so, likewise, the odium of your former misconduct, will not be erased from your character, unless you continue to pursue the road to the blessed waters of Paradise, and never replunge into the dreadful gulph of pollution, from which you have fortunately escaped."

NOTE.

During the month of Ramadan, the Mahomedans neither eat, drink, smoke nor wash their mouths, nor even swallow their spittle, till the stars appear in the firmament.