The richest man_in_babylon

Uploaded on


  • Full Name Full Name Comment goes here.
    Are you sure you want to
    Your message goes here
    Be the first to comment
    Be the first to like this
No Downloads


Total Views
On Slideshare
From Embeds
Number of Embeds



Embeds 0

No embeds

Report content

Flagged as inappropriate Flag as inappropriate
Flag as inappropriate

Select your reason for flagging this presentation as inappropriate.

    No notes for slide


  • 1. The Richest Man in Babylon byGeorge S. Clason 1
  • 3. Ahead of you stretches your future like a road leading into the distance. Along that road are ambitionsyou wish to accomplish . . . desires you wish to gratify.To bring your ambitions and desires to fulfillment, you must be successful with money. Use thefinancial principles made clear in the pages which follow. Let them guide you away from thestringencies of a lean purse to that fuller, happier life a full purse makes possible.Like the law of gravity, they are universal and unchanging. May they prove for you, as they haveproven to so many others, a sure key to a fat purse, larger bank balances and gratifying financialprogress. LO, MONEY IS PLENTIFUL FOR THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND THE SIMPLE RULES OF ITS ACQUISITION 1. Start thy purse to fattening 2. Control thy expenditures 3. Make thy gold multiply 4. Guard thy treasures from loss 5. Make of thy dwelling a profitable investment 6. Insure a future income 7. Increase thy ability to earn About the authorGEORGE SAMUEL CLASON was born in Louisiana, Missouri, on November 7, 1874. Heattended the University of Nebraska and served in the United States Army during the Spanish-American War. Beginning a long career in publishing, he founded the Clason Map Company of Denver,Colorado, and published the first road atlas of the United States and Canada. In 1926, he issued thefirst of a famous series of pamphlets on thrift and financial success, using parables set in ancientBabylon to make each of his points. These were distributed in large quantities by banks andinsurance companies and became familiar to millions, the most famous being "The Richest Manin Babylon," the parable from which the present volume takes its title. These "Babylonian parables"have become a modern inspirational classic. 3
  • 4. ForewordOur prosperity as a nation depends upon the personal financial prosperity of each of us asindividuals.This book deals with the personal successes of each of us. Success means accomplishments as theresult of our own efforts and abilities. Proper preparation is the key to our success. Our actscan be no wiser than our thoughts. Our thinking can be no wiser than our understanding.This book of cures for lean purses has been termed a guide to financial understanding. That, indeed, isits purpose: to offer those who are ambitious for financial success an insight which will aidthem to acquire money, to keep money and to make their surpluses earn more money.In the pages which follow, we are taken back to Babylon, the cradle in which was nurtured thebasic principles of finance now recognized and used the world over.To new readers the author is happy to extend the wish that its pages may contain for them the sameinspiration for growing bank accounts, greater financial successes and the solution of difficultpersonal financial problems so enthusiastically reported by readers from coast to coast.To the business executives who have distributed these tales in such generous quantities to friends,relatives, employees and associates, the author takes this opportunity to express his gratitude. Noendorsement could be higher than that of practical men who appreciate its teachings because they,themselves, have worked up to important successes by applying the very principles it advocates.Babylon became the wealthiest city of the ancient world because its citizens were the richestpeople of their time. They appreciated the value of money. They practiced sound financial principlesin acquiring money, keeping money and making their money earn more money. They provided forthemselves what we all desire . . . incomes for the future. G. S. C. 4
  • 5. An Historical Sketch of Babylon In the pages of history there lives no city more glamorous than Babylon. Its very name conjuresvisions of wealth and splendor. Its treasures of gold and jewels were fabulous. One naturally picturessuch a wealthy city as located in a suitable setting of tropical luxury, surrounded by rich naturalresources of forests, and mines. Such was not the case. It was located beside the Euphrates River, in aflat, arid valley. It had no forests, no mines—not even stone for building. It was not even located upona natural trade-route. The rainfall was insufficient to raise crops. Babylon is an outstanding example of mans ability to achieve great objectives, using whatevermeans are at his disposal. All of the resources supporting this large city were man-developed. All of itsriches were man-made. Babylon possessed just two natural resources—a fertile soil and water in the river. With one ofthe greatest engineering accomplishments of this or any other day, Babylonian engineers diverted thewaters from the river by means of dams and immense irrigation canals. Far out across that arid valleywent these canals to pour the life giving waters over the fertile soil. This ranks among the firstengineering feats known to history. Such abundant crops as were the reward of this irrigation systemthe world had never seen before. Fortunately, during its long existence, Babylon was ruled by successive lines of kings to whomconquest and plunder were but incidental. While it engaged in many wars, most of these were local ordefensive against ambitious conquerors from other countries who coveted the fabulous treasures ofBabylon. The outstanding rulers of Babylon live in history because of their wisdom, enterprise andjustice. Babylon produced no strutting monarchs who sought to conquer the known world that allnations might pay homage to their egotism. As a city, Babylon exists no more. When those energizing human forces that built andmaintained the city for thousands of years were withdrawn, it soon became a deserted ruin. The site ofthe city is in Asia about six hundred miles east of the Suez Canal, just north of the Persian Gulf. Thelatitude is about thirty degrees above the Equator, practically the same as that of Yuma, Arizona. Itpossessed a climate similar to that of this American city, hot and dry. Today, this valley of the Euphrates, once a populous irrigated farming district, is again a wind-swept arid waste. Scant grass and desert shrubs strive for existence against the windblown sands. Goneare the fertile fields, the mammoth cities and the long caravans of rich merchandise. Nomadic bands ofArabs, securing a scant living by tending small herds, are the only inhabitants. Such it has been sinceabout the beginning of the Christian era. Dotting this valley are earthen hills. For centuries, they were considered by travelers to benothing else. The attention of archaeologists were finally attracted to them because of broken pieces ofpottery and brick washed down by the occasional rain storms. Expeditions, financed by European andAmerican museums, were sent here to excavate and see what could be found. Picks and shovels soonproved these hills to be ancient cities. City graves, they might well be called. Babylon was one of these. Over it for something like twenty centuries, the winds had scatteredthe desert dust. Built originally of brick, all exposed walls had disintegrated and gone back to earthonce more. Such is Babylon, the wealthy city, today. A heap of dirt, so long abandoned that no livingperson even knew its name until it was discovered by carefully removing the refuse of centuries fromthe streets and the fallen wreckage of its noble temples and palaces. Many scientists consider the civilization of Babylon and other cities in this valley to be theoldest of which there is a definite record. Positive dates have been proved reaching back 8000 years.An interesting fact in this connection is the means used to determine these dates. Uncovered in the 5
  • 6. ruins of Babylon were descriptions of an eclipse of the sun. Modern astronomers readily computed thetime when such an eclipse, visible in Babylon, occurred and thus established a known relationshipbetween their calendar and our own. In this way, we have proved that 8000 years ago, the Sumerites, who inhabited Babylonia, wereliving in walled cities. One can only conjecture for how many centuries previous such cities hadexisted. Their inhabitants were not mere barbarians living within protecting walls. They were aneducated and enlightened people. So far as written history goes, they were the first engineers, the firstastronomers, the first mathematicians, the first financiers and the first people to have a writtenlanguage. Mention has already been made of the irrigation systems which transformed the arid valley intoan agricultural paradise. The remains of these canals can still be traced, although they are mostly filledwith accumulated sand. Some of them were of such size that, when empty of water, a dozen horsescould be ridden abreast along their bottoms. In size they compare favorably with the largest canals inColorado and Utah. In addition to irrigating the valley lands, Babylonian engineers completed another project ofsimilar magnitude. By means of an elaborate drainage system they reclaimed an immense area ofswamp land at the mouths of the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers and put this also under cultivation. Herodotus, the Greek traveler and historian, visited Babylon while it was in its prime and hasgiven us the only known description by an outsider. His writings give a graphic description of the cityand some of the unusual customs of its people. He mentions the remarkable fertility of the soil and thebountiful harvest of wheat and barley which they produced. The glory of Babylon has faded but its wisdom has been preserved for us. For this we areindebted to their form of records. In that distant day, the use of paper had not been invented. Instead,they laboriously engraved their writing upon tablets of moist clay. When completed, these were bakedand became hard tile. In size, they were about six by eight inches, and an inch in thickness. These clay tablets, as they are commonly called, were used much as we use modern forms ofwriting. Upon them were engraved legends, poetry, history, transcriptions of royal decrees, the laws ofthe land, titles to property, promissory notes and even letters which were dispatched by messengers todistant cities. From these clay tablets we are permitted an insight into the intimate, personal affairs ofthe people. For example, one tablet, evidently from the records of a country storekeeper, relates thatupon the given date a certain named customer brought in a cow and exchanged it for seven sacks ofwheat, three being delivered at the time and the other four to await the customers pleasure. Safely buried in the wrecked cities, archaeologists have recovered entire libraries of thesetablets, hundreds of thousands of them. One of the outstanding wonders of Babylon was the immense walls surrounding the city. Theancients ranked them with the great pyramid of Egypt as belonging to the "seven wonders of theworld." Queen Semiramis is credited with having erected the first walls during the early history of thecity. Modern excavators have been unable to find any trace of the original walls. Nor is their exactheight known. From mention made by early writers, it is estimated they were about fifty to sixty feethigh, faced on the outer side with burnt brick and further protected by a deep moat of water. The later and more famous walls were started about six hundred years before the time of Christby King Nabopolassar. Upon such a gigantic scale did he plan the rebuilding, he did not live to see thework finished. This was left to his son, Nebuchadnezzar, whose name is familiar in Biblical history. The height and length of these later walls staggers belief. They are reported upon reliableauthority to have been about one hundred and sixty feet high, the equivalent of the height of a modernfifteen story office building. The total length is estimated as between nine and eleven miles. So widewas the top that a six-horse chariot could be driven around them. Of this tremendous structure, little 6
  • 7. now remains except portions of the foundations and the moat. In addition to the ravages of theelements, the Arabs completed the destruction by quarrying the brick for building purposes elsewhere. Against the walls of Babylon marched, in turn, the victorious armies of almost every conquerorof that age of wars of conquest. A host of kings laid siege to Babylon, but always in vain. Invadingarmies of that day were not to be considered lightly. Historians speak of such units as 10,000 horsemen,25,000 chariots, 1200 regiments of foot soldiers with 1000 men to the regiment. Often two or threeyears of preparation would be required to assemble war materials and depots of food along theproposed line of march. The city of Babylon was organized much like a modern city. There were streets and shops.Peddlers offered their wares through residential districts. Priests officiated in magnificent temples.Within the city was an inner enclosure for the royal palaces. The walls about this were said to havebeen higher than those about the city. The Babylonians were skilled in the arts. These included sculpture, painting, weaving, goldworking and the manufacture of metal weapons and agricultural implements. Their Jewelers createdmost artistic jewelry. Many samples have been recovered from the graves of its wealthy citizens andare now on exhibition in the leading museums of the world. At a very early period when the rest of the world was still hacking at trees with stone-headedaxes, or hunting and fighting with flint-pointed spears and arrows, the Babylonians were using axes,spears and arrows with metal heads. The Babylonians were clever financiers and traders. So far as we know, they were the originalinventors of money as a means of exchange, of promissory notes and written titles to property. Babylon was never entered by hostile armies until about 540 years before the birth of Christ.Even then the walls were not captured. The story of the fall of Babylon is most unusual. Cyrus, one ofthe great conquerors of that period, intended to attack the city and hoped to take its impregnable walls.Advisors of Nabonidus, the King of Babylon, persuaded him to go forth to meet Cyrus and give himbattle without waiting for the city to be besieged. In the succeeding defeat to the Babylonian army, itfled away from the city. Cyrus, thereupon, entered the open gates and took possession withoutresistance. Thereafter the power and prestige of the city gradually waned until, in the course of a fewhundred years, it was eventually abandoned, deserted, left for the winds and storms to level once againto that desert earth from which its grandeur had originally been built. Babylon had fallen, never to riseagain, but to it civilization owes much. The eons of time have crumbled to dust the proud walls of its temples, but the wisdom ofBabylon endures. Money is the medium by which earthly success is measured. Money makes possible the enjoyment of the best the earth affords. Money is plentiful for those who understand the simple laws which govern its acquisition. Money is governed today by the same laws which controlled it when prosperous men thronged the streets of Babylon, six thousand years ago. 7
  • 8. The Man Who Desired Gold Bansir, the chariot builder of Babylon, was thoroughly discouraged. From his seat upon the lowwall surrounding his property, he gazed sadly at his simple home and the open workshop in whichstood a partially completed chariot. His wife frequently appeared at the open door. Her furtive glances in his direction remindedhim that the meal bag was almost empty and he should be at work finishing the chariot, hammering andhewing, polishing and painting, stretching taut the leather over the wheel rims, preparing it for deliveryso he could collect from his wealthy customer. Nevertheless, his fat, muscular body sat stolidly upon the wall. His slow mind was strugglingpatiently with a problem for which he could find no answer. The hot, tropical sun, so typical of thisvalley of the Euphrates, beat down upon him mercilessly. Beads of perspiration formed upon his browand trickled down unnoticed to lose themselves in tie hairy jungle on his chest. Beyond his home towered the high terraced wall surrounding the kings palace. Nearby,cleaving the blue heavens, was the painted tower of the Temple of Bel. In the shadow of such grandeurwas his simple home and many others far less neat and well cared for. Babylon was like this—amixture of grandeur and squalor, of dazzling wealth and direst poverty, crowded together without planor system within the protecting walls of the city. Behind him, had he cared to turn and look, the noisy chariots of the rich jostled and crowdedaside the sandaled tradesmen as well as the barefooted beggars. Even the rich were forced to turn intothe gutters to clear the way for the long lines of slave water carriers, on the "Kings Business," 15eachbearing a heavy goatskin of water to be poured upon the hanging gardens. Bansir was too engrossed in his own problem to hear or heed the confused hubbub of the busycity. It was the unexpected twanging of the strings from a familiar lyre that aroused him from hisreverie. He turned and looked into the sensitive, smiling face of his best friend—Kobbi, the musician. "May the Gods bless thee with great liberality, my good friend," began Kobbi with an elaboratesalute. "Yet, it does appear they have already been so generous thou needest not to labor. I rejoice withthee in thy good fortune. More, I would even share it with thee. Pray, from thy purse which must bebulging else thou wouldst be busy in your shop, extract but two humble shekels and lend them to meuntil after the noblemens feast this night. Thou wilt not miss them ere they are returned." "If I did have two shekels," Bansir responded gloomily, "to no one could I lend them—not evento you, my best of friends; for they would be my fortune—my entire fortune. No one lends his entirefortune, not even to his best friend." "What," exclaimed Kobbi with genuine surprise, "Thou hast not one shekel in thy purse, yet sitlike a statue upon a wall! Why not complete that chariot? How else canst thou provide for thy nobleappetite? Tis not like thee, my friend. Where is thy endless energy? Doth something distress thee? Havethe Gods brought to thee troubles?" "A torment from the Gods it must be," Bansir agreed. "It began with a dream, a senselessdream, in which I thought I was a man of means. From my belt hung a handsome purse, heavy withcoins. There were shekels which I cast with careless freedom to the beggars; there were pieces of silverwith which I did buy finery for my wife and whatever I did desire for myself; there were pieces of goldwhich made me feel assured of the future and unafraid to spend the silver. A glorious feeling ofcontentment was within me! You would not have known me for thy hardworking friend. Nor wouldsthave known my wife, so free from wrinkles was her face and shining with happiness. She was again thesmiling maiden of our early married days." 8
  • 9. "A pleasant dream, indeed," commented Kobbi, "but why should such pleasant feelings as itaroused turn thee into a glum statue upon the wall?" "Why, indeed! Because when I awoke and remembered how empty was my purse, a feeling ofrebellion swept over me. Let us talk it over together, for, as the sailors do say, we ride in the same boat,we two. As youngsters, we went together to the priests to learn wisdom. As young men, we shared eachothers pleasures. As grown men, we have always been close friends. We have been contented subjectsof our kind. We have been satisfied to work long hours and spend our earnings freely. We have earnedmuch coin in the years that have passed, yet to know the joys that come from wealth, we must dreamabout them. Bah! Are we more than dumb sheep? We live in the richest city in all the world. Thetravelers do say none equals it in wealth. About us is much display of wealth, but of it we ourselveshave naught. After half a lifetime of hard labor, thou, my best of friends, hast an empty purse and sayestto me, "May I borrow such a trifle as two shekels until after the noblemens feast this night?" Then,what do I reply? Do I say, "Here is my purse; its contents will I gladly share? No, I admit that my purseis as empty as thine. What is the matter? Why cannot we acquire silver and gold—more than enoughfor food and robes? "Consider, also, our sons," Bansir continued, "are they not 17following in the footsteps of theirfathers? Need they and their families and their sons and their sons families live all their lives in themidst of such treasurers of gold, and yet, like us, be content to banquet upon sour goats milk andporridge?" "Never, in all the years of our friendship, didst thou talk like this before, Bansir." Kobbi waspuzzled. "Never in all those years did I think like this before. From early dawn until darkness stoppedme, I have labored to build the finest chariots any man could make, soft- heartedly hoping some day theGods would recognize my worthy deeds and bestow upon me great prosperity. This they have neverdone. At last, I realize this they will never do. Therefore, my heart is sad. I wish to be a man of means. Iwish to own lands and cattle, to have fine robes and coins in my purse. I am willing to work for thesethings with all the strength in my back, with all the skill in my hands, with all the cunning in my mind,but I wish my labors to be fairly rewarded. What is the matter with us? Again I ask you! Why cannotwe have our just share of the good things so plentiful for those who have the gold with which to buythem?" "Would I knew an answer!" Kobbi replied. "No better than thou am I satisfied. My earningsfrom my lyre are quickly gone. Often must I plan and scheme that my family be not hungry. Also,within my breast is a deep longing for a lyre large enough that it may truly sing the strains of music thatdo surge through my mind. With such an instrument could I make music finer than even the king hasheard before." "Such a lyre thou shouldst have. No man in all Babylon could make it sing more sweetly; couldmake it sing so sweetly, not only the king but the Gods themselves would be delighted. But how mayestthou secure it while we both of us are as poor as the kings slaves? Listen to the bell! Here they come."He pointed to the long column of half naked, sweating water bearers plodding laboriously up thenarrow street from the river. Five abreast they marched, each bent under a heavy goatskin of water. "A fine figure of a man, he who doth lead them." Kobbi indicated the wearer of the bell whomarched in front without a load. "A prominent man in his own country, tis easy to see." "There are many good figures in the line," Bansir agreed, "as good men as we. Tall, blond menfrom the north, laughing black men from the south, little brown men from the nearer countries. Allmarching together from the river to the gardens, back and forth, day after day, year after year. Naughtof happiness to look forward to. Beds of straw upon which to sleep—hard grain porridge to eat. Pity thepoor brutes, Kobbi!" 9
  • 10. "Pity them I do. Yet, thou dost make me see how little better off are we, free men though wecall ourselves." That is truth, Kobbi, unpleasant thought though it be. We do not wish to go on year after yearliving slavish lives. Working, working, working! Getting nowhere." "Might we not find out how others acquire gold and do as they do?" Kobbi inquired. “Perhaps there is some secret we might learn if we but sought from those who knew," repliedBansir thoughtfully. “This very day,” suggested Kobbi, "I did pass our old friend, Arkad, riding in his goldenchariot. This I will say, he did not look over my humble head as many in his station might consider hisright. Instead, he did wave his hand that all onlookers might see him pay greetings and bestow his smileof friendship upon Kobbi, the musician." "He is claimed to be the richest man in all Babylon," Bansir mused. "So rich the king is said to seek his golden aid in affairs of the treasury," Kobbi replied. "Sorich," Bansir interrupted, "I fear if I should meet him in the darkness of the night, I should lay myhands upon his fat wallet" "Nonsense," reproved Kobbi, "a mans wealth is not in the purse he carries. A fat purse quicklyempties if there be no golden stream to refill it. Arkad has an income that constantly keeps his pursefull, no matter how liberally he spends." "Income, that is the thing," ejaculated Bansir. "I wish an income that will keep flowing into mypurse whether I sit upon the wall or travel to far lands. Arkad must know how a man can make anincome for himself. Dost suppose it is something he could make clear to a mind as slow as mine?" "Methinks he did teach his knowledge to his son, Nomasir," Kobbi responded. "Did he not goto Nineveh and, so it is told at the inn, become, without aid from his father, one of the richest men inthat city?" "Kobbi, thou bringest to me a rare thought." A new light gleamed in Bansirs eyes. "It costsnothing to ask wise advice from a good friend and Arkad was always that. Never mind though ourpurses be as empty as the falcons nest of a year ago. Let that not detain us. We are weary of beingwithout gold in the midst of plenty. We wish to become men of means. Come, let us go to Arkad andask how we, also, may acquire incomes for ourselves." Thou speakest with true inspiration, Bansir. Thou bringeth to my mind a new understanding.Thou makest me to realize the reason why we have never found any measure of wealth. We neversought it. Thou hast labored patiently to build the staunchest chariots in Babylon. To that purpose wasdevoted your best endeavors. Therefore, at it thou didst succeed. I strove to become a skillful lyreplayer. And, at it I did succeed. "In those things toward which we exerted our best endeavors we succeeded. The Gods werecontent to let us continue thus. Now, at last, we see a light, bright like that from the rising sun. Itbiddeth us to learn more that we may prosper more. With a new understanding we shall find honorableways to accomplish our desires." "Let us go to Arkad this very day," Bansir urged, "Also, let us ask other friends of our boyhooddays, who have fared no better than ourselves, to join us that they, too, may share in his wisdom." "Thou wert ever thus thoughtful of thy friends, Bansir. Therefore hast thou many friends. Itshall be as thou sayest. We go this day and take them with us." 10
  • 11. The Richest Man in Babylon In old Babylon there once lived a certain very rich man named Arkad. Far and wide he wasfamed for his great wealth. Also was be famed for his liberality. He was generous in his charities. Hewas generous with his family. He was liberal in his own expenses. But nevertheless each year hiswealth increased more rapidly than he spent it. And there were certain friends of younger days who came to him and said: "You, Arkad, aremore fortunate than we. You have become the richest man in all Babylon while we struggle forexistence. You can wear the finest garments and you can enjoy the rarest foods, while we must becontent if we can clothe our families in raiment that is presentable and feed them as best we can. "Yet, once we were equal. We studied under the same master. We played in the same games.And in neither the studies nor the games did you outshine us. And in the years since, you have been nomore an honorable citizen than we. "Nor have you worked harder or more faithfully, insofar as we can judge. Why, then, should afickle fate single you out to enjoy all the good things of life and ignore us who are equally deserving?" Thereupon Arkad remonstrated with them, saying, "If you have not acquired more than a bareexistence in the years since we were youths, it is because you either have failed to learn the laws thatgovern the building of wealth, or else you do not observe them. " Fickle Fate is a vicious goddess who brings no permanent good to anyone. On the contrary,she brings ruin to almost every man upon whom she showers unearned gold. She makes wantonspenders, who soon dissipate all 22they receive and are left beset by overwhelming appetites anddesires they have not the ability to gratify. Yet others whom she favors become misers and hoard theirwealth, fearing to spend what they have, knowing they do not possess the ability to replace it. Theyfurther are beset by fear of robbers and doom themselves to lives of emptiness and secret misery. "Others there probably are, who can take unearned gold and add to it and continue to be happyand contented citizens. But so few are they, I know of them but by hearsay. Think you of the men whohave inherited sudden wealth, and see if these things are not so. " His friends admitted that of the men they knew who had inherited wealth these words weretrue, and they besought him to explain to them how he had become possessed of so much prosperity, sohe continued: "In my youth I looked about me and saw all the good things there were to bringhappiness and contentment. And I realized that wealth increased the potency of all these. "Wealth is apower. With wealth many things are possible. "One may ornament the home with the richest of furnishings. "One may sail the distant seas."One may feast on the delicacies of far lands. "One may buy the ornaments of the gold worker and the stone polisher. "One may even build mighty temples for the Gods. "One may do all these things and many others in which there is delight for the senses andgratification for the soul. "And, when I realized all this, I decided to myself that I would claim my share of the goodthings of life. I would not be one of those who stand afar off, enviously watching others enjoy. I wouldnot be content to clothe myself in the cheapest raiment that looked respectable. I would not be satisfiedwith the lot of a poor man. On the contrary, I would make myself a guest at this banquet of good things. "Being, as you know, the son of a humble merchant, one of a large family with no hope of aninheritance, and not being endowed, as you have so frankly said, with superior powers or wisdom, Idecided that if I was to achieve what I desired, time and study would be required. "As for time, all men have it in abundance. You, each of you, have let slip by sufficient time to 11
  • 12. have made yourselves wealthy. Yet, you admit; you have nothing to show except your good families, ofwhich you can be justly proud. "As for study, did not our wise teacher teach us that learning was of two kinds: the one kindbeing the things we learned and knew, and the other being the training that taught us how to find outwhat we did not know? "Therefore did I decide to find out how one might accumulate wealth, and when I had foundout, to make this my task and do it well. For, is it not wise that we should enjoy while we dwell in thebrightness of the sunshine, for sorrows enough shall descend upon us when we depart for the darknessof the world of spirit? "I found employment as a scribe in the hall of records, and long hours each day I labored uponthe clay tablets. Week after week, and month after month, I labored, yet for my 24earnings I had naughtto show. Food and clothing and penance to the gods, and other things of which I could remember notwhat, absorbed all my earnings. But my determination did not leave me. "And one day Algamish, the money lender, came to the house of the city master and ordered acopy of the Ninth Law, and he said to me, I must have this in two days, and if the task is done by thattime, two coppers will I give to thee." "So I labored hard, but the law was long, and when Algamish returned the task was unfinished.He was angry, and had I been his slave, he would have beaten me. But knowing the city master wouldnot permit him to injure me, I was unafraid, so I said to him, Algamish, you are a very rich man. Tellme how I may also become rich, and all night I will carve upon the clay, and when the sun rises it shallbe completed. "He smiled at me and replied, You are a forward knave, but we will call it a bargain. "All that night I carved, though my back pained and the smell of the wick made my head acheuntil my eyes could hardly see. But when he returned at sunup, the tablets were complete. " Now, I said, tell me what you promised. " You have fulfilled your part of our bargain, my son, he said to me kindly, and I am ready tofulfill mine. I will tell you these things you wish to know because I am becoming an old man, and anold tongue loves to wag. And when youth comes to age for advice he receives the wisdom of years. Buttoo often does youth think that age knows only the wisdom of days that are gone, and therefore profitsnot. But remember this, the sun that shines today is the sun that shone when thy father was born, andwill still be shining when thy last grandchild shall pass into the darkness. " The thoughts of youth, he continued, are bright lights that shine forth like the meteors thatoft make brilliant the sky, but the wisdom of age is like the fixed stars that shine so unchanged that thesailor may depend upon them to steer his course. " Mark you well my words, for if you do not you will fail to grasp the truth that I will tell you,and you will think that your nights work has been in vain. "Then he looked at me shrewdly from under his shaggy brows and said in a low, forceful tone,I found the road to wealth when I decided that a part of all I earned was mine to keep. And so will you. "Then he continued to look at me with a glance that I could feel pierce me but said no more. " Is that all? I asked. " That was sufficient to change the heart of a sheep herder into the heart of a money lender, hereplied. " But all I earn is mine to keep, is it not? I demanded. " Far from it, he replied. Do you not pay the garment- maker? Do you not pay the sandal-maker? Do you not pay for the things you eat? Can you live in Babylon without spending? What haveyou to show for your earnings of the past mouth? What for the past year? Fool! You pay to everyonebut yourself. Dullard, you labor for others. As well be a slave and work for what your master gives you 12
  • 13. to eat and wear. If you did keep for yourself one-tenth of all 26you earn, how much would you have inten years? "My knowledge of the numbers did not forsake me, and I answered, As much as I earn in oneyear. " You speak but half the truth, he retorted. Every gold piece you save is a slave to work foryou. Every copper it earns is its child that also can earn for you. If you would become wealthy, thenwhat you save must earn, and its children must earn, that all may help to give to you the abundance youcrave. " You think I cheat you for your long nights work, he continued, but I am paying you athousand times over if you have the intelligence to grasp the truth I offer you. " A part of all you earn is yours to keep. It should be not less than a tenth no matter how littleyou earn. It can be as much more as you can afford. Pay yourself first. Do not buy from the clothes-maker and the sandal-maker more than you can pay out of the rest and still have enough for food andcharity and penance to the gods. " Wealth, like a tree, grows from a tiny seed. The first copper you save is the seed from whichyour tree of wealth shall grow. The sooner you plant that seed the sooner shall the tree grow. And themore faithfully you nourish and water that tree with consistent savings, the sooner may you bask incontentment beneath its shade. "So saying, he took his tablets and went away. "I thought much about what he had said to me, and it seemed reasonable. So I decided that Iwould try it. Each time I was paid I took one from each ten pieces of copper and hid it away. Andstrange as it may seem, I was no shorter of funds, than before. I noticed little difference as I managed toget along without it. But often I was tempted, as my hoard began to grow, to spend it for some of thegood things the merchants displayed, brought by camels and ships from the land of the Phoenicians.But I wisely refrained. "A twelfth month after Algamish had gone he again returned and said to me, Son, have youpaid to yourself not less than one-tenth of all you have earned for the past year? "I answered proudly, Yes, master, I have. " That is good, he answered beaming upon me, andwhat have you done with it? " I have given it to Azmur, the brickmaker, who told me he was traveling over the far seas andin Tyre he would buy for me the rare jewels of the Phoenicians. When he returns we shall sell these athigh prices and divide the earnings. " Every fool must learn, he growled, but why trust the knowledge of a brickmaker aboutjewels? Would you go to the breadmaker to inquire about the stars? No, by my tunic, you would go tothe astrologer, if you had power to think. Your savings are gone, youth, you have jerked your wealth-tree up by the roots. But plant another. Try again. And next time if you would have advice about jewels,go to the jewel merchant. If you would know the truth about sheep, go to the herdsman. Advice is onething that is freely given away, but watch that you take only what is worth having. He who takes adviceabout his savings from one who is inexperienced in such matters, shall pay with his savings for provingthe falsity of their opinions. Saying this, he went away. "And it was as he said. For the Phoenicians are scoundrels and sold to Azmur worthless bits ofglass that looked like 28gems. But as Algamish had bid me, I again saved each tenth copper, for I nowhad formed the habit and it was no longer difficult. "Again, twelve months later, Algamish came to the room of the scribes and addressed me.What progress have you made since last I saw you? " I have paid myself faithfully, I replied, and my savings I have entrusted to Agger theshieldmaker, to buy bronze, and each fourth month he does pay me the rental. 13
  • 14. " That is good. And what do you do with the rental? " I do have a great feast with honey andfine wine and spiced cake. Also I have bought me a scarlet tunic. And some day I shall buy me a youngass upon which to ride. "To which Algamish laughed, You do eat the children of your savings. Thenhow do you expect them to work for you? And how can they have children that will also work for you?First get thee an army of golden slaves and then many a rich banquet may you enjoy without regret. Sosaying he again went away. "Nor did I again see him for two years, when he once more returned and his face was full ofdeep lines and his eyes drooped, for he was becoming a very old man. And he said to me, Arkad, hastthou yet achieved the wealth thou dreamed of? "And I answered, Not yet all that I desire, but some I have and it earns more, and its earningsearn more. " And do you still take the advice of brickmakers? " About brickmaking they give good advice, I retorted. " Arkad, he continued, you have learned your lessons well. You first learned to live upon lessthan you could earn. Next you learned to seek advice from those who were competent through theirown experiences to give it. And, lastly, you have learned to make gold work for you. " You have taught yourself how to acquire money, how to keep it, and how to use it. Therefore,you are competent for a responsible position. I am becoming an old man. My sons think only ofspending and give no thought to earning. My interests are great and I fear too much for me to lookafter. If you will go to Nippur and look after my lands there, I shall make you my partner and you shallshare in my estate. "So I went to Nippur and took charge of his holdings, which were large. And because I was fullof ambition and because I had mastered the three laws of successfully handling wealth, I was enabledto increase greatly the value of his properties. So I prospered much, and when the spirit of Algamish departed for the sphere of darkness, I didshare in his estate as he had arranged under the law." So spake Arkad, and when he had finished histale, one of his friends said, "You were indeed fortunate that Algamish made of you an heir." "Fortunate only in that I had the desire to prosper before I first met him. For four years did I notprove my definiteness of purpose by keeping one-tenth of all earned? Would you call a fisherman luckywho for years so studied the habits of the fish that with each changing wind he could cast his nets aboutthem? Opportunity is a haughty goddess who wastes no time with those who are unprepared." "You had strong will power to keep on after you lost your first years savings. You are unusualin that way," spoke up another. "Will power!" retorted Arkad. "What nonsense. Do you think will power gives a man thestrength to lift a burden the camel cannot carry, or to draw a load the oxen cannot budge? Will power isbut the unflinching purpose to carry a task you set for yourself to fulfillment. If I set for myself a task,be it ever so trifling, I shall see it through. How else shall I have confidence in myself to do importantthings? Should I say to myself, For a hundred days as I walk across the bridge into the city, I will pickfrom the road a pebble and cast it into the stream, I would do it. If on the seventh day I passed bywithout remembering, I would not say to myself, Tomorrow I will cast two pebbles which will do aswell. Instead, I would retrace my steps and cast the pebble. Nor on the twentieth day would I say tomyself, Arkad, this is useless. What does it avail you to cast a pebble every day? Throw in a handfuland be done with it. No, I would not say that nor do it. When I set a task for myself, I complete it.Therefore, I am careful not to start difficult and impractical tasks, because I love leisure." And then another friend spoke up and said, "If what you tell is true, and it does seem as youhave said, reasonable, then being so simple, if all men did it, there would not be enough wealth to goaround." 14
  • 15. "Wealth grows wherever men exert energy," Arkad replied. "If a rich man builds him a newpalace, is the gold he pays out gone? No, the brickmaker has part of it and the laborer has part of it, andthe artist has part of it. And everyone who labors upon the house has part of it Yet when the palace iscompleted, is it not worth all it cost? And is the ground upon which it stands not worth more because itis there? And is the ground that adjoins it not worth more because it is there? Wealth grows in magicways. No man can prophesy the limit of it. Have not the Phoenicians built great cities on barren coastswith the wealth that comes from their ships of commerce on the seas?" "What then do you advise us to do that we also may become rich?" asked still another of hisfriends. "The years have passed and we are no longer young men and we have nothing put by." "I advise that you take the wisdom of Algamish and say to yourselves, A part of all I earn ismine to keep. Say it in the morning when you first arise. Say it at noon. Say it at night. Say it eachhour of every day. Say it to yourself until the words stand out like letters of fire across the sky. "Impress yourself with the idea. Fill yourself with the thought. Then take whatever portionseems wise. Let it be not less than one-tenth and lay it by. Arrange your other expenditures to do this ifnecessary. But lay by that portion first. Soon you will realize what a rich feeling it is to own a treasureupon which you alone have claim. As it grows it will stimulate you. A new joy of life will thrill you.Greater efforts will come to you to earn more. For of your increased earnings, will not the samepercentage be also yours to keep? "Then learn to make your treasure work for you. Make it your slave. Make its children and itschildrens children work for you. "Insure an income for thy future. Look thou at the aged and forget not that in the days to comethou also will be numbered among them. Therefore invest thy treasure with greatest caution that it benot lost. Usurious rates of return are deceitful sirens that sing but to lure the unwary upon the rocks ofloss and remorse. "Provide also that thy family may not want should the Gods call thee to their realms. For suchprotection it is always possible to make provision with small payments at regular intervals. Thereforethe provident man delays not in expectation of a large sum becoming available for such a wise purpose. "Counsel with wise men. Seek the advice of men whose daily work is handling money. Letthem save you from such an error as I myself made in entrusting my money to the judgment of Azmur,the brickmaker. A small return and a safe one is far more desirable than risk. "Enjoy life while you are here. Do not overstrain or try to save too much. If one-tenth of all youearn is as much as you can comfortably keep, be content to keep this portion. Live otherwise accordingto your income and let not yourself get niggardly and afraid to spend. Life is good and life is rich withthings worthwhile and things to enjoy." His friends thanked him and went away. Some were silent because they had no imagination andcould not understand. Some were sarcastic because they thought that one so rich should divide with oldfriends not so fortunate. But some had in their eyes a new light. They realized that Algamish had comeback each time to the room of the scribes because he was watching a man work his way out of darknessinto light. When that man had found the light, a place awaited him. No one could fill that place until hehad for himself worked out his own understanding, until he was ready for opportunity. These latter were the ones, who, in the following years, frequently revisited Arkad, whoreceived them gladly. He counseled with them and gave them freely of his wisdom as men of broadexperience are always glad to do. And he assisted them in so investing their savings that it would bringin a good interest with safety and would neither be lost nor entangled in investments that paid nodividends. The turning point in these mens lives came upon that day when they realized the truth that hadcome from Algamish to Arkad and from Arkad to them. 15
  • 17. Seven Cures For a Lean Purse The glory of Babylon endures. Down through the ages its reputation comes to us as the richestof cities, its treasures as fabulous. Yet it was not always so. The riches of Babylon were the results of the wisdom of its people.They first had to learn how to become wealthy. When the Good King, Sargon, returned to Babylon after defeating his enemies, the Elamites, hewas confronted with a serious situation. The Royal Chancellor explained it to the King thus: "After many years of great prosperity brought to our people because your majesty built thegreat irrigation canals and the mighty temples of the Gods, now that these works are completed thepeople seem unable to support themselves. "The laborers are without employment. The merchants have few customers. The farmers areunable to sell their produce. The people have not enough gold to buy food." "But where has all the gold gone that we spent for these great improvements?" demanded theKing. "It has found its way, I fear," responded the Chancellor, "into the possession of a few very richmen of our city. It filtered through the fingers of most our people as quickly as the goats milk goesthrough the strainer. Now that the stream of gold has ceased to flow, most of our people have nothing tofor their earnings." The King was thoughtful for some time. Then he asked, "Why should so few men be able toacquire all the gold?" "Because they know how," replied the Chancellor. "One may not condemn a man forsucceeding because he knows how. Neither may one with justice take away from a man what he hasfairly earned, to give to men of less ability." "But why," demanded the King, "should not all the people learn how to accumulate gold andtherefore become themselves rich and prosperous?" Quite possible, your excellency. But who can teach them? Certainly not the priests, becausethey know naught of money making." "Who knows best in all our city how to become wealthy, Chancellor?" asked the King. "Thy question answers itself, your majesty. Who has amassed the greatest wealth, in Babylon?" "Well said, my able Chancellor. It is Arkad. He is richest man in Babylon. Bring him before meon the morrow." Upon the following day, as the King had decreed, Arkad appeared before him, straight andsprightly despite his three score years and ten. "Arkad," spoke the King, "is it true thou art the richest man in Babylon?" "So it is reported, your majesty, and no man disputes it" "How becamest thou so wealthy?" "By taking advantage of opportunities available to all citizens of our good city." "Thou hadst nothing to start with?" "Only a great desire for wealth. Besides this, nothing." "Arkad," continued the King, "our city is in a very unhappy state because a few men know howto acquire wealth and therefore monopolize it, while the mass of our citizens lack the knowledge ofhow to keep any part of the gold they receive. " It is my desire that Babylon be the wealthiest city in the world. Therefore, it must be a city ofmany wealthy men. Therefore, we must teach all the people how to acquire riches. Tell me, Arkad, isthere any secret to acquiring wealth? Can it be taught?" 17
  • 18. "It is practical, your majesty. That which one man knows can be taught to others." The kings eyes glowed. "Arkad, thou speaketh the words I wish to hear. Wilt thou lend thyselfto this great cause? Wilt thou teach thy knowledge to a school for teachers, each of whom shall teachothers until there are enough trained to teach these truths to every worthy subject in my domain?" Arkad bowed and said, "I am thy humble servant to command. Whatever knowledge I possesswill I gladly give for the betterment of my fellowmen and the glory of my King. Let your goodchancellor arrange for me a class of one hundred men and I will teach to them those seven cures whichdid fatten my purse, than which there was none leaner in all Babylon." A fortnight later, in compliance with the Kings command, the chosen hundred assembled in thegreat hall of the Temple of Learning, seated upon colorful rings in a semicircle. Arkad sat beside asmall taboret upon which smoked a sacred lamp sending forth a strange and pleasing odor. "Behold the richest man in Babylon," whispered a student, nudging his neighbor as Arkadarose. "He is but a man even as the rest of us." "As a dutiful subject of our great King," Arkad began, "I stand before you in his service.Because once I was a poor youth who did greatly desire gold, and because I found knowledge thatenabled me to acquire it, he asks that I impart unto you my knowledge. "I started my fortune in the humblest way. I had no advantage not enjoyed as fully by you andevery citizen in Babylon. " The first storehouse of my treasure was a well-purse. I loathed its useless emptiness. I desired itbe round and full, clinking with the sound of gold. Therefore, I sought every remedy for a lean purse. Ifound seven. "To you, who are assembled before me, shall I explain the seven cures for a lean purse which Ido recommend to all men who desire much gold. Each day for seven days will I explain to you one ofthe seven remedies. "Listen attentively to the knowledge that I will impart. Debate it with me. Discuss it amongyourselves. Learn these lessons thoroughly, that ye may also plant in your own purse the seed ofwealth. First must each of you start wisely to build a fortune of his own. Then wilt thou be competent,and only then, to teach these truths to others. "I shall teach to you in simple ways how to fatten your purses. This is the first step leading tothe temple of wealth, and no man may climb who cannot plant his feet firmly upon the first step. "We shall now consider the first cure." THE FIRST CURE Start thy purse to fattening Arkad addressed a thoughtful man in the second row. "My good friend, at what craft workestthou?" "I," replied the man, "am a scribe and carve records upon the clay tablets." "Even at such labordid I myself earn my first coppers. Therefore, thou hast the same opportunity to build a fortune." He spoke to a florid-faced man, farther back. "Pray tell also what dost thou to earn thy bread?" "I," responded this man, "am a meat butcher. I do buy the goats the farmers raise and kill themand sell the meat to the housewives and the hides to the sandal makers." "Because thou dost also labor and earn, thou hast every advantage to succeed that I did 18
  • 19. possess." In this way did Arkad proceed to find out how each man labored to earn his living. When hehad done questioning them, he said: "Now, my students, ye can see that there are many trades and labors at which men may earncoins. Each of the ways of earning is a stream of gold from which the worker doth divert by his labors aportion to his own purse. Therefore into the purse of each of you flows a stream of coins large or smallaccording to his ability. Is it not so?" Thereupon they agreed that it was so. "Then," continued Arkad, "if each of you desireth to buildfor himself a fortune, is it not wise to start by utilizing that source of wealth which he already hasestablished?" To this they agreed. Then Arkad turned to a humble man who had declared himself an egg merchant. "If thou selectone of thy baskets and put into it each morning ten eggs and take out from it each evening nine eggs,what will eventually happen?" "It will become in time overflowing." "Why?" "Because each day I put in one more egg than I take out." Arkad turned to the class with a smile. "Does any man here have a lean purse?" First they looked amused. Then they laughed. Lastly they waved their purses in jest. "All right," he continued, "Now I shall tell thee the first remedy I learned to cure a lean purse.Do exactly as I have suggested to the egg merchant. For every ten coins thou placest within thy pursetake out for use but nine. Thy purse will start to fatten at once and its increasing weight will feel goodin thy hand and bring satisfaction to thy soul. "Deride not what I say because of its simplicity. Truth is always simple. I told thee I would tellhow built my fortune. This was my beginning. I, too, carried a lean purse and cursed it because therewas naught within to satisfy my desires. But when I began to take out from my purse but nine parts often I put in, it began to fatten. So will thine. "Now I will tell a strange truth, the reason for which I know not. When I ceased to pay outmore than nine-tenths of my earnings, I managed to get along just as well. I was not shorter thanbefore. Also, ere long, did coins come to me more easily than before. Surely it is a law of the Gods thatunto him who keepeth and spendeth not a certain part of all his earnings, shall gold come more easily.Likewise, him whose purse is empty does gold avoid. "Which desirest thou the most? Is it the gratification of thy desires of each day, a jewel, a bit offinery, better raiment, more food; things quickly gone and forgotten? Or is it substantial belongings,gold, lands, herds, merchandise, income-bringing investments? The coins thou takest from thy pursebring the first. The coins thou leavest within it will bring the latter. "This, my students, was the first cure I did discover for my lean purse: For each ten coins I putin, to spend but nine. Debate this amongst yourselves. If any man proves it untrue, tell me upon themorrow when we shall meet again." THE SECOND CURE Control thy expenditures 19
  • 20. "Some of your members, my students, have asked me this: How can a man keep one-tenth of allhe earns in his purse when all the coins he earns are not enough for his necessary expenses?" So didArkad address his students upon the second day. "Yesterday how many of thee carried lean purses?" "All of us," answered the class. "Yet, thou do not all earn the same. Some earn much more than others. Some have much largerfamilies to support. Yet, all purses were equally lean. Now I will tell thee an unusual truth about menand sons of men. It is this; That what each of us calls our necessary expenses will always grow toequal our incomes unless we protest to the contrary. "Confuse not the necessary expenses with thy desires. Each of you, together with your goodfamilies, have more desires than your earnings can gratify. Therefore are thy earnings spent to gratifythese desires insofar as they will go. Still thou retainest many ungratified desires. "All men are burdened with more desires than they can gratify. Because of my wealth thinkestthou I may gratify every desire? Tis a false idea. There are limits to my time. There are limits to mystrength. There are limits to the distance I may travel. There are limits to what I may eat. There arelimits to the zest with which I may enjoy. "I say to you that just as weeds grow in a field wherever the farmer leaves space for their roots,even so freely do desires grow in men whenever there is a possibility of their being gratified. Thydesires are a multitude and those that thou mayest gratify are but few. "Study thoughtfully thy accustomed habits of living. Herein may be most often found certainaccepted expenses that may wisely be reduced or eliminated. Let thy motto be one hundred percent ofappreciated value demanded for each coin spent. "Therefore, engrave upon the clay each thing for which thou desireth to spend. Select those thatare necessary and others that are possible through the expenditure of nine- tenths of thy income. Crossout the rest and consider them but a part of that great multitude of desires that must go unsatisfied andregret them not. "Budget then thy necessary expenses. Touch not the one- tenth that is fattening thy purse. Letthis be thy great desire that is being fulfilled. Keep working with thy budget, keep adjusting it to helpthee. Make it thy first assistant in defending thy fattening purse." Hereupon one of the students, wearing a robe of red and gold, arose and said, "I am a free man.I believe that it is my right to enjoy the good things of life. Therefore do I rebel against the slavery of abudget which determines just how much I may spend and for what. I feel it would take much pleasurefrom my life and make me little more than a pack-ass to carry a burden." To him Arkad replied, "Who, my friend, would determine thy budget?" "I would make it for myself," responded the protesting one. "In that case were a pack-ass to budget his burden would he include therein jewels and rugs andheavy bars of gold? Not so. He would include hay and grain and a bag of water for the desert trail. "The purpose of a budget is to help thy purse to fatten. It is to assist thee to have thy necessitiesand, insofar as attainable, thy other desires. It is to enable thee to realize thy most cherished desires bydefending them from thy casual wishes. Like a bright light in a dark cave thy budget shows up the leaksfrom thy purse and enables thee to stop them and control thy expenditures for definite and gratifyingpurposes. "This, then, is the second cure for a lean purse. Budget thy 43expenses that thou mayest havecoins to pay for thy necessities, to pay for thy enjoyments and to gratify thy worthwhile desires withoutspending more than nine-tenths of thy earnings." 20
  • 21. THE THIRD CURE Make thy gold multiply "Behold thy lean purse is fattening. Thou hast disciplined thyself to leave therein one-tenth ofall thou earneth. Thou hast controlled thy expenditures to protect thy growing treasure. Next, we willconsider means to put thy treasure to labor and to increase. Gold in a purse is gratifying to own andsatisfieth a miserly soul but earns nothing. The gold we may retain from our earnings is but the start.The earnings it will make shall build our fortunes." So spoke Arkad upon the third day to his class. "How therefore may we put our gold to work? My first investment was unfortunate, for I lostall. Its tale I will relate later. My first profitable investment was a loan I made to a man named Aggar, ashield maker. Once each year did he buy large shipments of bronze brought from across the sea to usein his trade. Lacking sufficient capital to pay the merchants, he would borrow from those who had extracoins. He was an honorable man. His borrowing he would repay, together with a liberal rental, as hesold his shields. "Each time I loaned to him I loaned back also the rental he had paid to me. Therefore not onlydid my capital increase, but its earnings likewise increased. Most gratifying was it to have these sumsreturn to my purse. "I tell you, my students, a mans wealth is not in the coins he carries in his purse; it is theincome he buildeth, the golden stream that continually floweth into his purse and keepeth it alwaysbulging. That is what every man desireth. That is what thou, each one of thee desireth; an income thatcontinueth to come whether thou work or travel. "Great income I have acquired. So great that I am called a very rich man. My loans to Aggarwere my first training in profitable investment. Gaining wisdom from this experience, I extended myloans and investments as my capital increased. From a few sources at first, from many sources later,flowed into my purse a golden stream of wealth available for such wise uses as I should decide. "Behold, from my humble earnings I had begotten a hoard of golden slaves, each laboring andearning more gold. As they labored for me, so their children also labored and their childrens childrenuntil great was the income from their combined efforts. "Gold increaseth rapidly when making reasonable earnings as thou wilt see from the following:A farmer, when his first son was born, took ten pieces of silver to a money lender and asked him tokeep it on rental for his son until he became twenty years of age. This the money lender did, and agreedthe rental should be one-fourth of its value each four years. The farmer asked, because this sum he hadset aside as belonging to his son, that the rental be add to the principal. "When the boy had reached the age of twenty years, the farmer again went to the money lenderto inquire about the silver. The money lender explained that because this sum had been increased bycompound interest, the original ten pieces of silver had now grown to thirty and one-half pieces. "The farmer was well pleased and because the son did not need the coins, he left them with themoney lender. When the son became fifty years of age, the father meantime having passed to the otherworld, the money lender paid the son in settlement one hundred and sixty-seven pieces of silver. "Thus in fifty years had the investment multiplied itself at rental almost seventeen times. "This, then, is the third cure for a lean purse: to put each coin to laboring that it may reproduceits kind even as the flocks of the field and help bring to thee income, a stream of wealth that shall flowconstantly into thy purse." 21
  • 22. THE FOURTH CURE Guard thy treasures from loss "Misfortune loves a shining mark. Gold in a mans purse must be guarded with firmness, else itbe lost. Thus it is wise that we must first secure small amounts and learn to protect them before theGods entrust us with larger." So spoke Arkad upon the fourth day to his class. "Every owner of gold is tempted by opportunities whereby it would seem that he could makelarge sums by its investment in most plausible projects. Often friends and relatives are eagerly enteringsuch investment and urge him to follow. "The first sound principle of investment is security for thy principal. Is it wise to be intriguedby larger earnings when thy principal may be lost? I say not. The penalty of risk is probable loss. Studycarefully, before parting with thy treasure, each assurance that it may be safely reclaimed. Be notmisled by thine own romantic desires to make wealth rapidly. "Before thou loan it to any man assure thyself of his ability to repay and his reputation fordoing so, that thou mayest not unwittingly be making him a present of thy hard-earned treasure. "Before thou entrust it as an investment in any field acquaint thyself with the dangers whichmay beset it. "My own first investment was a tragedy to me at the time. The guarded savings of a year I didentrust to a brickmaker, named Azmur, who was traveling over the far seas and in Tyre agreed to buyfor me the rare jewels of the Phoenicians. These we would sell upon his return and divide the profits.The Phoenicians were scoundrels and sold him bits of glass. My treasure was lost. Today, my trainingwould show to me at once the folly of entrusting a brickmaker to buy jewels. "Therefore, do I advise thee from the wisdom of my experiences: be not too confident of thineown wisdom in entrusting thy treasures to the possible pitfalls of investments. Better by far to consultthe wisdom of those experienced in handling money for profit. Such advice is freely given for theasking and may readily possess a value equal in gold to the sum thou considerest investing. In truth,such is its actual value if it save thee from loss. "This, then, is the fourth cure for a lean purse, and of great importance if it prevent thy pursefrom being emptied once it has become well filled. Guard thy treasure from loss by investing onlywhere thy principal is safe, where it may be reclaimed if desirable, and where thou will not fail tocollect a fair rental. Consult with wise men. Secure the advice of those experienced in the profitablehandling of gold. Let their wisdom protect thy treasure from unsafe 47investments." THE FIFTH CURE Make of thy dwelling a profitable investment "If a man setteth aside nine parts of his earnings upon which to live and enjoy life, and if anypart of this nine parts he can turn into a profitable investment without detriment to his wellbeing, thenso much faster will his treasures grow." So spake Arkad to his class at their fifth lesson. "All too many of our men of Babylon do raise their families in unseemly quarters. They do payto exacting landlords liberal rentals for rooms where their wives have not a spot to raise the blooms thatgladden a womans heart and their children have no place to play their games except in the unclean 22
  • 23. alleys. "No mans family can fully enjoy life unless they do have a plot of ground wherein children canplay in the clean earth and where the wife may raise not only blossoms but good rich herbs to feed herfamily. "To a mans heart it brings gladness to eat the figs from his own trees and the grapes of his ownvines. To own his own domicile and to have it a place he is proud to care for, putteth confidence in hisheart and greater effort behind all his endeavors. Therefore, do I recommend that every man own theroof that sheltereth him and his. "Nor is it beyond the ability of any well intentioned man to own his home. Hath not our greatking so widely extended the walls of Babylon that within them much land is now 48unused and may bepurchased at sums most reasonable? "Also I say to you, my students, that the money lenders gladly consider the desires of men whoseek homes and land for their families. Readily may thou borrow to pay the brickmaker and the builderfor such commendable purposes, if thou can show a reasonable portion of the necessary sum whichthou thyself hath provided for the purpose. "Then when the house be built, thou canst pay the money lender with the same regularity asthou didst pay the landlord. Because each payment will reduce thy indebtedness to the money lender, afew years will satisfy his loan. "Then will thy heart be glad because thou wilt own in thy own right a valuable property and thyonly cost will be the kings taxes. "Also wilt thy good wife go more often to the river to wash thy robes, that each time returningshe may bring a goatskin of water to pour upon the growing things. "Thus come many blessings to the man who owneth his own house. And greatly will it reducehis cost of living, making available more of his earnings for pleasures and the gratification of hisdesires. This, then, is the fifth cure for a lean purse: Own thy own home" THE SIXTH CURE Insure a future income "The life of every man proceedeth from his childhood to his old age. This is the path of life andno man may deviate from it unless the Gods call him prematurely to the world beyond. Therefore do Isay that it behooves a man to make preparation for a suitable income in the days to come, when he is nolonger young, and to make preparations for his family should he be no longer with them to comfort andsupport them. This lesson shall instruct thee in providing a full purse when time has made thee less ableto learn." So Arkad addressed his class upon the sixth day. "The man who, because of his understanding of the laws of wealth, acquireth a growingsurplus, should give thought to those future days. He should plan certain investments or provision thatmay endure safely for many years, yet will be available when the time arrives which he has so wiselyanticipated. "There are diverse ways by which a man may provide with safety for his future. He mayprovide a hiding place and there bury a secret treasure. Yet, no matter with what skill it be hidden, itmay nevertheless become the loot of thieves. For this reason I recommend not this plan. "A man may buy houses or lands for this purpose. If wisely chosen as to their usefulness and 23
  • 24. value in the future, they are permanent in their value and their earnings or their sale will provide wellfor his purpose. "A man may loan a small sum to the money lender and increase it at regular periods. The rentalwhich the money lender adds to this will largely add to its increase. I do know a sandal maker, namedAnsan, who explained to me not long ago that each week for eight years he had deposited with hismoney lender two pieces of silver. The money lender had but recently given him an accounting overwhich he greatly rejoiced. The total of his small deposits with their rental at the customary rate of one-fourth their value for each four years, had now become a thousand and forty pieces of silver. "I did gladly encourage him further by demonstrating to him with my knowledge of thenumbers that in twelve years more, if he would keep his regular deposits of but two pieces of silvereach week, the money lender would then owe him four thousand pieces of silver, a worthy competencefor the rest of his life. "Surely, when such a small payment made with regularity doth produce such profitable results,no man can afford not to insure a treasure for his old age and the protection of his family, no matterhow prosperous his business and his investments may be. "I would that I might say more about this. In my mind rests a belief that some day wise-thinking men will devise a plan to insure against death whereby many men pay in but a trifling sumregularly, the aggregate making a handsome sum for the family of each member who passeth to thebeyond. This do I see as something desirable and which I could highly recommend. But today it is not possible because it must reach beyond the life of any man or any partnershipto operate. It must be as stable as the Kings throne. Some day do I feel that such a plan shall come topass and be a great blessing to many men, because even the first small payment will make available asnug fortune for the family of a member should he pass on. "But because we live in our own day and not in the days which are to come, must we takeadvantage of those means and ways of accomplishing our purposes. Therefore do I recommend to allmen, that they, by wise and well thought out methods, do provide against a lean purse in their matureyears. For a lean purse to a man no longer able to earn or to a family without its head is a sore tragedy."This, then, is the sixth cure for a lean purse. Provide in advance for the needs of thy growing age andthe protection of thy family." THE SEVENTH CURE Increase thy ability to earn "This day do I speak to thee, my students, of one of the most vital remedies for a lean purse.Yet, I will talk not of gold but of yourselves, of the men beneath the robes of many colors who do sitbefore me. I will talk to you of those things within the minds and lives of men which do work for oragainst their success." So did Arkad address his class upon the seventh day. "Not long ago came to me a young man seeking to borrow. When I questioned him the cause ofhis necessity, he complained that his earnings were insufficient to pay his expenses. Thereupon Iexplained to him, this being the case, he was a poor customer for the money lender, as he possessed nosurplus earning capacity to repay the loan. " What you need, young man, I told him, is to earn more coins. What dost thou to increase thycapacity to earn? " All that I can do he replied. Six times within two moons have I approached my master to 24
  • 25. request my pay be increased, but without success. No man can go oftener than that. "We may smile at his simplicity, yet he did possess one of the vital requirements to increase hisearnings. Within him was a strong desire to earn more, a proper and commendable desire. "Preceding accomplishment must be desire. Thy desires must be strong and definite. Generaldesires are but weak longings. For a man to wish to be rich is of little purpose. For a man to desire fivepieces of gold is a tangible desire which he can press to fulfillment. After he has backed his desire forfive pieces of gold with strength of purpose to secure it, next he can find similar ways to obtain tenpieces and then twenty pieces and later a thousand pieces and, behold, he has become wealthy. Inlearning to secure his one definite small desire, he hath trained himself to secure a larger one. This isthe process by which wealth is accumulated: first in small sums, then in larger ones as a man learns andbecomes more capable. "Desires must be simple and definite. They defeat their own purpose should they be too many,too confusing, or beyond a mans training to accomplish. " As a man perfecteth himself in his calling even so doth his ability to earn increase. In thosedays when I was a humble scribe carving upon the clay for a few coppers each day, I observed thatother workers did more than I and were paid more. Therefore, did I determine that I would be exceededby none. Nor did it take long for me to discover the reason for their greater success. More interest inmy work, more concentration upon my task, more persistence in my effort, and, behold, few men couldcarve more tablets in a day than I. With reasonable promptness my increased skill was rewarded, norwas it necessary for me to go six times to my master to request recognition. "The more of wisdom we know, the more we may earn. That man who seeks to learn more ofhis craft shall be richly rewarded. If he is an artisan, he may seek to learn the methods and the tools ofthose most skillful in the same line. If he laboreth at the law or at healing, he may consult and exchangeknowledge with others of his calling. If he be a merchant, he may continually seek better goods that canbe purchased at lower prices. "Always do the affairs of man change and improve because keen-minded men seek greater skillthat they may better serve those upon whose patronage they depend. Therefore, I urge all men to be inthe front rank of progress and not to stand still, lest they be left behind. "Many things come to make amans life rich with gainful experiences. Such things as the following, a man must do if he respecthimself: "He must pay his debts with all the promptness within his power, not purchasing that for whichhe is unable to pay. "He must take care of his family that they may think and speak well of him. "He must make a will of record that, in case the Gods call him, proper and honorable divisionof his property be accomplished. "He must have compassion upon those who are injured and smitten by misfortune and aid themwithin reasonable limits. He must do deeds of thoughtfulness to those dear to him. "Thus the seventh and last remedy for a lean purse is to cultivate thy own powers, to study andbecome wiser, to become more skillful, to so act as to respect thyself. Thereby shalt thou acquireconfidence in thy self to achieve thy carefully considered desires. "These then are the seven cures for a lean purse, which, out of the experience of a long andsuccessful life, I do urge for all men who desire wealth. "There is more gold in Babylon, my students, 25
  • 26. than thou 54dreamest of. There is abundance for all. "Go thou forth and practice these truths that thou mayest prosper and grow wealthy, as is thyright. "Go thou forth and teach these truths that every honorable subject of his majesty may also shareliberally in the ample wealth of our beloved city." 26
  • 27. Meet the Goddess of Good Luck "If a man be lucky, there is no foretelling the possible extent of his good fortune. Pitch him into the Euphrates and like as not he will swim out with a pearl in his hand." —Babylonian Proverb. The desire to be lucky is universal. It was just as strong in the breasts of men four thousandyears ago in ancient Babylon as it is in the hearts of men today. We all hope to be favored by thewhimsical Goddess of Good Luck. Is there some way we can meet her and attract, not only her favorable attention, but hergenerous favors? Is there a way to attract good luck? That is just what the men of ancient Babylon wished to know. It is exactly what they decided tofind out. They were shrewd men and keen thinkers. That explains why their city became the richest andmost powerful city of their time. In that distant past, they had no schools or colleges. Nevertheless they had a center of learningand a very practical one it was. Among the towered buildings in Babylon was one that ranked inimportance with the Palace of the King, the Hanging Gardens and the temples of the Gods. You willfind scant mention of it in the history books, more likely no mention at all, yet it exerted a powerfulinfluence upon the thought of that time. This building was the Temple of Learning where the wisdom of the past was expounded byvoluntary teachers and where subjects of popular interest were discussed in open forums. Within itswalls all men met as equals. The humblest of slaves could dispute with impunity the opinions of aprince of the royal house. Among the many who frequented the Temple of Learning, was a wise rich man named Arkad,called the richest man in Babylon. He had his own special hall where almost any evening a large groupof men, some old, some very young, but mostly middle-aged, gathered to discuss and argue interestingsubjects. Suppose we listen in to see whether they knew how to attract good luck. The sun had just set like a great red ball of fire shining through the haze of desert dust whenArkad strolled to his accustomed platform. Already full four score men were awaiting his arrival,reclining on their small rugs spread upon the floor. More were still arriving. "What shall we discuss this night?" Arkad inquired. After a brief hesitation, a tall cloth weaver addressed him, arising as was the custom. "I have asubject I would like to hear discussed yet hesitate to offer lest it seem ridiculous to you, Arkad, and mygood friends here." Upon being urged to offer it, both by Arkad and by calls from the others, he continued: "Thisday I have been lucky, for I have found a purse in which there are pieces of gold. To continue to belucky is my great desire. Feeling that all men share with me this desire, I do suggest we debate how toattract good luck that we may discover ways it can be enticed to one." "A most interesting subject has been offered, Arkad commented, "one most worthy of ourdiscussion. To some men, good luck bespeaks but a chance happening that, like an accident, may befallone without purpose or reason. Others do believe that the instigator of all good fortune is our mostbounteous goddess, Ashtar, ever anxious to reward with generous gifts those who please her. Speak up,my friends, what say you, shall we seek to find if there be means by which good luck may be enticed tovisit each and all of us?" "Yea! Yea! And much of it!" responded the growing group of eager listeners. Thereupon Arkad continued, "To start our discussion, let us first hear from those among us who 27
  • 28. have enjoyed experiences similar to that of the cloth weaver in finding or receiving, without effort upontheir part, valuable treasures or jewels." There was a pause in which all looked about expecting someone to reply but no one did. "What, no one?" Arkad said, "then rare indeed must be this kind of good luck. Who now willoffer a suggestion as to where we shall continue our search?" That I will do," spoke a well-robed young man, arising. "When a man speaketh of luck is it notnatural that his thoughts turn to the gaining tables? Is it not there we find many men courting the favorof the goddess in hope she will bless them with rich winnings?" As he resumed his seat a voice called, "Do not stop! Continue thy story! Tell us, didst thou findfavor with the goddess at the gaming tables? Did she turn the cubes with red side up so thou filled thypurse at the dealers expense or did she permit the blue sides to come up so the dealer raked in thy hard-earned pieces of silver?" The young man joined the good-natured laughter, then replied, "I am not averse to admittingshe seemed not to know I was even there. But how about the rest of you? Have you found her waiting about such places to roll the cubes, in your favor? We are eager tohear as well as to learn." "A wise start," broke in Arkad. "We meet here to consider all sides of each question. To ignorethe gaming table would be to overlook an instinct common to most men, the love of taking a chancewith a small amount of silver in the hope of winning much gold." "That doth remind me of the races but yesterday," called out another listener. "If the goddessfrequents the gaming tables, certainly she dost not overlook the races where the gilded chariots and thefoaming horses offer far more excitement. Tell us honestly, Arkad, didst she whisper to you to placeyour bet upon those grey horses from Nineveh yesterday? I was standing just behind thee and couldscarce believe my ears when I heard thee place thy bet upon the greys. Thou knowest as well as any ofus that no team in all Assyria can beat our beloved bays in a fair race. "Didst the goddess whisper in thy ear to bet upon the greys because at the last turn the insideblack would stumble and so interfere with our bays that the greys would win the race and score anunearned victory?" Arkad smiled indulgently at the banter. "What reason have we to feel the good goddess wouldtake that much interest in any mans bet upon a horse race? To me she is a goddess of love and dignitywhose pleasure it is to aid those who are in need and to reward those who are deserving. I look to findher, not at the gaming tables or the races where men lose more gold than they win but in other placeswhere the doings of men are more worthwhile and more worthy of reward. "In tilling the soil, in honest trading, in all of mans occupations, there is opportunity to make aprofit upon his efforts and his transactions. Perhaps not all the time will he be rewarded becausesometimes his judgment may be faulty and other times the winds and the weather may defeat hisefforts. Yet, if he persists, he may usually expect to realize his profit. This is so because the chances ofprofit are always in his favor. "But, when a man playeth the games, the situation is reversed for the chances of profit arealways against him and always in favor of the game keeper. The game is so arranged that it will alwaysfavor the keeper. It is his business at which he plans to make a liberal profit for himself from the coinsbet by the players. Few players realize how certain are the game keepers profits and how uncertain aretheir own chances to win. "For example, let us consider wagers placed upon the cube. Each time it is cast we bet whichside will be uppermost. If it be the red side the game master pays to us four times our bet. But if anyother of the five sides come uppermost, we lose our bet. Thus the figures show that for each cast wehave five chances to lose, but because the red pays four for one, we have four chances to win. In a 28
  • 29. nights play the game master can expect to keep for his profit one-fifth of all the coins wagered. Can aman expect to win more than occasionally against odds so arranged that he should lose one-fifth of allhis bets?" "Yet some men do win large sums at times," volunteered one of the listeners. "Quite so, they do," Arkad continued. "Realizing this, the question comes to me whether moneysecured in such ways brings permanent value to those who are thus lucky. Among my acquaintancesare many of the successful men of Babylon, yet among them I am unable to name a single one whostarted his success from such a source. "You who are gathered here tonight know many more of our substantial citizens. To me itwould be of much interest to learn how many of our successful citizens can credit the gaming tableswith their start to success. Suppose each of you tell of those you know. What say you?" After a prolonged silence, a wag ventured, Wouldst thy inquiry include the game keepers?" "Ifyou think of no one else," Arkad responded. "If not one of you can think of anyone else, then how about yourselves? Are there anyconsistent winners with us who hesitate to advise such a source for their incomes?" His challenge was answered by a series of groans from the rear taken up and spread amid muchlaughter. . "It would seem we are not seeking good luck in such places as the goddess frequents," hecontinued. "Therefore let us explore other fields. We have not found it in picking up lost wallets.Neither have we found it haunting the gaming tables. As to the races, I must confess to have lost farmore coins there than I have ever won. "Now, suppose we consider our trades and businesses. Is it not natural if we conclude aprofitable transaction to consider it not good luck but a just reward for our efforts? I am inclined tothink we may be overlooking the gifts of the goddess. Perhaps she really does assist us when we do notappreciate her generosity. Who can suggest further discussion?" Thereupon an elderly merchant arose, smoothing his genteel white robe. "With thy permission,most honorable Arkad and my friends, I offer a suggestion. If, as you have 61said, we take credit to ourown industry and ability for our business success, why not consider the successes we almost enjoyedbut which escaped us, happenings which would have been most profitable. They would have been rareexamples of good luck if they had actually happened. Because they were not brought to fulfillment wecannot consider them as our just rewards. Surely many men here have such experiences to relate." "Here is a wise approach," Arkad approved. "Who among you have had good luck within yourgrasp only to see it escape?" Many hands were raised, among them that of the merchant. Arkad motioned to him to speak."As you suggested this approach, we should like to hear first from you." "I will gladly relate a tale," he resumed, "that doth illustrate how closely unto a man good luckmay approach and how blindly he may permit it to escape, much to his loss and later regret. "Many years ago, when I was a young man, just married and well-started to earning, my fatherdid come one day and urge most strongly that I enter in an investment. The son of one of his goodfriends had taken notice of a barren tract of land not far beyond the outer walls of our city. It lay highabove the canal where no water could reach it. "The son of my fathers friend devised a plan to purchase this land, build three large waterwheels that could be operated by oxen and thereby raise the life-giving waters to the fertile soil. Thisaccomplished, he planned to divide into small tracts and sell to the residents of the city for herbpatches. "The son of my fathers friend did not possess sufficient 62gold to complete such anundertaking. Like myself, he was a young man earning a fair sum. His father, like mine, was a man of 29
  • 30. large family and small means. He, therefore, decided to interest a group of men to enter the enterprisewith him. The group was to comprise twelve, each of whom must be a money earner and agree to payone-tenth of his earnings into the enterprise until the land was made ready for sale. All would thenshare justly in the profits in proportion to their investment. " Thou, my son, bespoke my father unto me, art now in thy young manhood. It is my deepdesire that thou begin the building of a valuable estate for myself that thou mayest become respectedamong men. I desire to see thou profit from a knowledge of the thoughtless mistakes of thy father. " This do I most ardently desire, my father, I replied. " Then, this do I advise. Do what I should have done at thy age. From thy earnings keep outone-tenth to put into favorable investments. With this one-tenth of thy earnings and what it will alsoearn, thou canst, before thou art my age, accumulate for thyself a valuable estate. " Thy words are words of wisdom, my father. Greatly do I desire riches. Yet there are manyuses to which my earnings are called. Therefore, do I hesitate to do as thou dost advise. I am young.There is plenty of time. " So I thought at thy age, yet behold, many years have passed and I have not yet made thebeginning. " We live in a different age, my father. I shall avoid thy mistakes. " Opportunity stands before thee, my son. It is offering a chance that may lead to wealth. I begof thee, do not delay. Go upon the morrow to the son of my friend and bargain with him to pay tenpercent of thy earnings into this investment. Go promptly upon the morrow. Opportunity waits for noman. Today it is here; soon it is gone. Therefore, delay not! "In spite of the advice of my father, I did hesitate. There were beautiful new robes just broughtby the tradesmen from the East, robes of such richness and beauty my good wife and I felt we musteach possess one. Should I agree to pay one-tenth of my earnings into the enterprise, we must depriveourselves of these and other pleasures we dearly desired. I delayed making a decision until it was toolate, much to my subsequent regret. The enterprise did prove to be more profitable than any man hadprophesied. This is my tale, showing how I did permit good luck to escape." "In this tale we see how good luck waits to come to that man who accepts opportunity,"commented a swarthy man of the desert. "To the building of an estate there must always be thebeginning. That start may be a few pieces of gold or silver which a man diverts from his earnings to hisfirst investment. I, myself, am the owner of many herds. The start of my herds I did begin when I was amere boy and did purchase with one piece of silver a young calf. This, being the beginning of mywealth, was of great importance to me. "To take his first start to building an estate is as good luck as can come to any man. With allmen, that first step, which changes them from men who earn from their own labor to men who drawdividends from the earnings of their gold, is important. Some, fortunately, take it when young andthereby outstrip in financial success those who do take it later or those unfortunate men, like the fatherof this merchant, who never take it. "Had our friend, the merchant, taken this step in his early manhood when this opportunity cameto him, this day he would be blessed with much more of this worlds goods. Should the good luck ofour friend, the cloth weaver, cause him to take such a step at this time, it will indeed be but thebeginning of much greater good fortune." "Thank you! I like to speak, also." A stranger from another country arose. "I am a Syrian. Notso well do I speak your tongue. I wish to call this friend, the merchant, a name. Maybe you think it notpolite, this name. Yet I wish to call him that. But, alas, I not know your word for it. If I do call it inSyrian, you will not understand. Therefore, please some good gentlemen, tell me that right name youcall man who puts off doing those things that mighty good for him." 30
  • 31. "Procrastinator," called a voice. "Thats him," shouted the Syrian, waving his hands excitedly, "he accepts not opportunity whenshe comes. He waits. He says I have much business right now. Bye and bye I talk to you. Opportunity,she will not wait for such slow fellow. She thinks if a man desires to be lucky he will step quick. Anyman not step quick when opportunity comes, he big procrastinator like our friend, this merchant." The merchant arose and bowed good naturedly in response to the laughter. "My admiration tothee, stranger within our gates, who hesitates not to speak the truth." "And now let us hear another tale of opportunity. Who has for us another experience?"demanded Arkad. "I have," responded a red-robed man of middle age. "I am a buyer of animals, mostly camelsand horses. Sometimes I do also buy the sheep and goats. The tale I am about to 65relate will telltruthfully how opportunity came one night when I did least expect it. Perhaps for this reason I did let itescape. Of this you shall be the judge. "Returning to the city one evening after a disheartening ten- days journey in search of camels, Iwas much angered to find the gates of the city closed and locked. While my slaves spread our tent forthe night, which we looked to spend with little food and no I water, I was approached by an elderlyfarmer who, like ourselves, found himself locked outside. " Honored sir, he addressed me, from thy appearance, I do judge thee to be a buyer. If this beso, much would I like to sell to thee the most excellent flock of sheep just driven up. Alas, my goodwife lies very sick with the fever. I must return with all haste. Buy thou my sheep that I and my slavesmay mount our camels and travel back without delay." "So dark it was that I could not see his flock, but from the bleating I did know it must be large.Having wasted ten days searching for camels I could not find, I was glad to bargain with him. In hisanxiety, he did set a most reasonable price. I accepted, well knowing my slaves could drive the flockthrough the city gates in the morning and sell at a substantial profit. The bargain concluded, I called my slaves to bring torches that we might count the flock whichthe farmer declared to contain nine hundred. I shall not burden you, my friends, with a description ofour difficulty in attempting to count so many thirsty, restless, milling sheep. It proved to be animpossible task. Therefore, I bluntly informed the farmer I would count them at daylight and pay himthen. " Please, most honorable sir, he pleaded, pay me but two-thirds of the price tonight that I maybe on my way. I will leave my most intelligent and educated slave to assist to make the count in themorning. He is trustworthy and to him thou canst pay the balance. "But I was stubborn and refused to make payment that night. Next morning, before I awoke,the city gates opened and four buyers rushed out in search of flocks. They were most eager and willingto pay high prices because the city was threatened with siege, and food was not plentiful. Nearly threetimes the price at which he had offered the flock to me did the old farmer receive for it. Thus was raregood luck allowed to escape." "Here is a tale most unusual," commented Arkad. "What wisdom doth it suggest?" "The wisdom of making a payment immediately when we are convinced our bargain is wise,"suggested a venerable saddle maker. "If the bargain be good, then dost thou need protection against thyown weaknesses as much as against any other man. We mortals are changeable. Alas, I must say moreapt to change our minds when right than wrong. Wrong, we are stubborn indeed. Right, we are prone tovacillate and let opportunity escape. My first judgment is my best. Yet always have I found it difficultto compel myself to proceed with a good bargain when made. Therefore, as a protection against myown weaknesses, I do make a prompt deposit thereon. This doth save me from later regrets for the goodluck that should have been mine." 31
  • 32. "Thank you! Again I like to speak." The Syrian was upon his feet once more. "These tales muchalike. Each time opportunity fly away for same reason. Each time she come to procrastinator, bringinggood plan. Each time they hesitate, not say, right now best time, I do it quick. How can men succeedthat way?" "Wise are thy words, my friend," responded the buyer. "Good luck fled from procrastination inboth these tales. Yet, this is not unusual. The spirit of procrastination is within all men. We desireriches; yet, how often when opportunity doth appear before us, that spirit of procrastination from withindoth urge various delays in our acceptance. In listening to it we do become our own worst enemies. "In my younger days I did not know itby this long word our friend from Syria doth enjoy. I did think at first it was my own poor judgmentthat did cause me loss of many profitable trades. Later, I did credit it to my stubborn disposition. Atlast, I did recognize it for what it was—a habit of needless delaying where action was required, actionprompt and decisive. How I did hate it when its true character stood revealed. With the bitterness of awild ass hitched to a chariot, I did break loose from this enemy to my success." "Thank you! I like ask question from Mr. Merchant." The Syrian was speaking. "You wear finerobes, not like those of poor man. You speak like successful man. Tell us, do you listen now whenprocrastination whispers in your ear?" "Like our friend the buyer, I also had to recognize and conquer procrastination," responded themerchant. "To me, it proved to be an enemy, ever watching and waiting to thwart my accomplishments.The tale I did relate is but one of many similar instances I could tell to show how it drove away myopportunities. Tis not difficult to conquer, once understood. No man willingly permits the thief to robhis bins of grain. Nor does any man willingly permit an enemy to drive away his customers and robhim of his profits. When once I did recognize that such acts as these my enemy was committing, withdetermination I conquered him. So must every man master his own spirit of procrastination before hecan expect to share in the rich treasures of Babylon. "What sayest, Arkad? Because thou art the richest man in Babylon, many do proclaim thee tobe the luckiest. Dost agree with me that no man can arrive at a full measure of success until he hathcompletely crushed the spirit of procrastination within him?" "It is even as thou sayest," Arkad admitted. "During my long life I have watched generationfollowing generation, marching forward along those avenues of trade, science and learning that lead tosuccess in life. Opportunities came to all these men. Some grasped theirs and moved steadily to thegratification of their deepest desires, but the majority hesitated, faltered and fell behind." Arkad turned to the cloth weaver. Thou didst suggest that we debate good luck. Let us hearwhat thou now thinkest upon the subject." "I do see good luck in a different light. I had thought of it as something most desirable thatmight happen to a man without effort upon his part. Now, I do realize such happenings are not the sortof thing one may attract to himself. From our discussion have I learned that to attract good luck tooneself, it is necessary to take advantage of opportunities. Therefore, in the future, I shall endeavor tomake the best of such opportunities as do come to me." "Thou hast well grasped the truths brought forth in our discussion," Arkad replied. "Good luck,we do find, often follows opportunity but seldom comes otherwise. Our merchant friend would havefound great good luck had he accepted the opportunity the good goddess did present to him. Our friendthe buyer, likewise, would have enjoyed good luck had he completed the purchase of the flock and soldat such a handsome profit. "We did pursue this discussion to find a means by which good luck could be enticed to us. I feelthat we have found the way. Both the tales did illustrate how good luck follows opportunity. Herein liesa truth that many similar tales of good luck, won or lost, could not change. The truth is this: Good luck 32
  • 33. can be enticed by accepting opportunity. "Those eager to grasp opportunities for their betterment, do attract the interest of the goodgoddess. She is ever anxious to aid those who please her. Men of action please her best . "Action will lead thee forward to the successes thou dost desire." MEN OF ACTION ARE FAVORED BY THE GODDESS OF GOOD LUCK 33
  • 34. The Five Laws of Gold "A bag heavy with gold or a clay tablet carved with words of wisdom; if thou hadst thy choice,which wouldst thou choose?" By the flickering light from the fire of desert shrubs, the sun-tanned faces of the listenersgleamed with interest. "The gold, the gold," chorused the twenty-seven. Old Kalabab smiled knowingly. "Hark," he resumed, raising his hand. "Hear the wild dogs out there in the night. They howl andwail because they are lean with hunger. Yet feed them, and what do they? Fight and strut. Then fightand strut some more, giving no thought to the morrow that will surely come. "Just so it is with the sons of men. Give them a choice of gold and wisdom—what do they do?Ignore the wisdom and waste the gold. On the morrow they wail because they have no more gold. "Gold is reserved for those who know its laws and abide by them." Kalabab drew his white robe close about his lean legs, for a cool night wind was blowing. "Because thou hast served me faithfully upon our long journey, because thou cared well for mycamels, because thou toiled uncomplainingly across the hot sands of the desert, because thou foughtbravely the robbers that sought to despoil my merchandise, I will tell thee this night the tale of the fivelaws of gold, such a tale as thou never hast heard before. "Hark ye, with deep attention to the words I speak, for if you grasp their meaning and heedthem, in the days that come thou shalt have much gold." He paused impressively. Above in a canopy of blue, the stars shone brightly in the crystal clearskies of Babylonia. Behind the group loomed their faded tents tightly staked against possible desertstorms. Beside the tents were neatly stacked bales of merchandise covered with skins. Nearby thecamel herd sprawled in the sand, some chewing their cuds contentedly, others snoring in hoarsediscord. "Thou hast told us many good tales, Kalabab," spoke up the chief packer. "We look to thywisdom to guide us upon the morrow when our service with thee shall be at an end." "I have but told thee of my adventures in strange and distant lands, but this night I shall tell theeof the wisdom of Arkad, the wise rich man." "Much have we heard of him," acknowledged the chief packer, "for he was the richest man thatever lived in Babylon." "The richest man he was, and that because be was wise in the ways of gold, even as no man hadever been before him. This night shall I tell you of his great wisdom as it was told to me by Nomasir,his son, many years ago in Nineveh, when I was but a lad. "My master and myself had tarried long into the night in the palace of Nomasir. I had helpedmy master bring great bundles of fine rugs, each one to be tried by Nomasir until his choice of colorswas satisfied. At last he was well pleased and commanded us to sit with him and to drink a rare vintageodorous to the nostrils and most warming to my stomach, which was unaccustomed to such a drink. "Then, did he tell us this tale of the great wisdom of Arkad, his father, even as I shall tell it toyou. "In Babylon it is the custom, as you know, that the sons of wealthy fathers live with theirparents in expectation of inheriting the estate. Arkad did not approve of this custom. Therefore, whenNomasir reached mans estate, he sent for the young man and addressed him: " My son, it is my desire that thou succeed to my estate. Thou must, however, first prove thatthou art capable of wisely handling it. Therefore, I wish that thou go out into the world and show thy 34
  • 35. ability both to acquire gold and to make thyself respected among men. " To start thee well, I will give thee two things of which I, myself, was denied when I started asa poor youth to build up a fortune. " First, I give thee this bag of gold. If thou use it wisely, it will be the basis of thy futuresuccess. " Second, I give thee this clay tablet upon which is carved the five laws of gold. If thou dostbut interpret them in thy own acts, they shall bring thee competence and security. " Ten years from this day come thou back to the house of thy father and give account ofthyself. If thou prove worthy, I will then make thee the heir to my estate. Otherwise, I will give it to thepriests that they may barter for my soul the land consideration of the gods. "So Nomasir went forth to make his own way, taking his bag of gold, the clay tablet carefullywrapped in silken cloth, his slave and the horses upon which they rode. "The ten years passed, and Nomasir, as he had agreed, returned to the house of his father whoprovided a great feast in his honor, to which he invited many friends and relatives. After the feast wasover, the father and mother mounted their throne-like seats at one side of the great hall, and Nomasirstood before them to give an account of himself as he had promised his father. It was evening. The room was hazy with smoke from the wicks of the oil lamps that but dimlylighted it. Slaves in white woven jackets and tunics fanned the humid air rhythmically with long-stemmed palm leaves. A stately dignity colored the scene. The wife of Nomasir and his two youngsons, with friends and other members of the family, sat upon rugs behind him, eager listeners. " My father, he began deferentially, I bow before thy wisdom. Ten years ago when I stood atthe gates of manhood, thou bade me go forth and become a man among men, instead of remaining avassal to thy fortune. " Thou gave me liberally of thy gold. Thou gave me liberally of thy wisdom. Of the gold, alas!I must admit of a disastrous handling. It fled, indeed, from my inexperienced hands even as a wild hareflees at the first opportunity from the youth who captures it. "The father smiled indulgently. Continue, my son, thy tale interests me in all its details. " I decided to go to Nineveh, as it was a growing city, believing that I might find thereopportunities. I joined a caravan and among its members made numerous friends. Two well-spokenmen who had a most beautiful white horse as fleet as the wind were among these. " As we journeyed, they told me in confidence that in Nineveh was a wealthy man who owneda horse so swift that it had never been beaten. Its owner believed that no horse living could run withgreater speed. Therefore, would he wager any sum however large that his horse could outspeed anyhorse in all Babylonia. Compared to their horse, so my friends said, it was but a lumbering ass thatcould be beaten with ease. " They offered, as a great favor, to permit me to join them in a wager. I was quite carried awaywith the plan. " Our horse was badly beaten and I lost much of my gold. The father laughed. Later, Idiscovered that this was a deceitful plan of these men and they constantly journeyed with caravansseeking victims. You see, the man in Nineveh was their partner and shared with them the bets he won.This shrewd deceit taught me my first lesson in looking out for myself. " I was soon to learn another, equally bitter. In the caravan was another young man with whomI became quite friendly. He was the son of wealthy parents and, like myself, journeying to Nineveh tofind a suitable location. Not long after our arrival, he told me that a merchant had died and his shopwith its rich merchandise and patronage could be secured at a paltry price. Saying that we would beequal partners but first he must return to Babylon to secure his gold, he prevailed upon me to purchasethe stock with my gold, agreeing that his would be used later to carry on our venture. 35
  • 36. " He long delayed the trip to Babylon, proving in the meantime to be an unwise buyer and afoolish spender. I finally put him out, but not before the business had deteriorated to where we had onlyunsalable goods and no gold to buy other goods. I sacrificed what was left to an Israelite for a pitifulsum. " Soon there followed, I tell you, my father, bitter days. I sought employment and found it not,for I was without trade or training that would enable me to earn. I sold my horses. I sold my slave. Isold my extra robes that I might have food and a place to sleep, but each day grim want crouchedcloser. " But in those bitter days, I remembered thy confidence in me, my father. Thou hadst sent meforth to become a man, and this I was determined to accomplish. The mother buried her face and weptsoftly. " At this time, I bethought me of the table thou had given to me upon which thou had carved thefive laws of gold. Thereupon, I read most carefully thy words of wisdom, and realized that had I butsought wisdom first, my gold would not have been lost to me. I learned by heart each law and determined that, when once more the goddess of good fortunesmiled upon me, I would be guided by the wisdom of age and not by the inexperience of youth. " For the benefit of you who are seated here this night, I will read the wisdom of my father asengraved upon the clay tablet which he gave to me ten years ago: THE FIVE LAWS OF GOLD I. Gold cometh gladly and in increasing quantity to any man who will put by not less than one-tenth of his earngs to create an estate for his future and that of his family. II. Gold laboreth diligently and contentedly for the wise owner who finds for it profitable employment, multiplying even as the flocks of the field. III. Gold clingeth to the protection of the cautious owner who invests it under the advice of men wise in its handling. IV. Gold slippeth away from the man who invests it in businesses or purposes with which he is not familiar or which are not approved by those skilled in its keep. V. Gold flees the man who would force it to impossible earnings or who followeth the alluring advice of tricksters and schemers or who trusts it to his own inexperience and romantic desires in investment. " These are the five laws of gold as written by my father. I do proclaim them as of greater valuethan gold itself, as I will show by the continuance of my tale. "He again faced his father. I have told thee of the depth of poverty and despair to which myinexperience brought me. " However, there is no chain of disasters that will not come to an end. Mine came when Isecured employment managing a crew of slaves working upon the new outer wall of the city. " Profiting from my knowledge of the first law of gold, I saved a copper from my first earnings,adding to it at every opportunity until I had a piece of silver. It was a slow procedure, for one must live.I did spend grudgingly, I admit, because I was determined to earn back before the ten years were overas much gold as you, my father, had given to me. " One day the slave master, with whom I had become quite friendly, said to me: "Thou art athrifty youth who spends not wantonly what he earns. Hast thou gold put by that is not earning?" " Yes, I replied, It is my greatest desire to accumulate gold to replace that which my father gave 36
  • 37. to me and which I have lost. " Tis a worthy ambition, I will grant, and do you know that the gold which you have saved canwork for you and earn much more gold?" " Alas! my experience has been bitter, for my fathers gold has fled from me, and I am in muchfear lest my own do the same. " If thou hast confidence in me, I will give thee a lesson in the profitable handling of gold," hereplied. "Within a year the outer wall will be complete and ready for the great gates of bronze that willbe built at each entrance to protect the city from the kings enemies. In all Nineveh there is not enough metal to make these gates and the king has not thought toprovide it. Here is my plan: A group of us will pool our gold and send a caravan to the mines of copperand tin, which are distant, and bring to Nineveh the metal for the gates. When the king says, Make thegreat gates, we alone can supply the metal and a rich price he will pay. If the king will not buy from us,we will yet have the metal which can be sold for a fair price." " In his offer I recognized an opportunity to abide by the third law and invest my savings underthe guidance of wise men. Nor was I disappointed. Our pool was a success, and my small store of goldwas greatly increased by the transaction. " In due time, I was accepted as a member of this same group in other ventures. They were menwise in the profitable handling of gold. They talked over each plan presented with great care, beforeentering upon it. They would take no chance on losing their principal or tying it up in unprofitableinvestments from which their gold could not be recovered. Such foolish things as the horse race and thepartnership into which I had entered with my inexperience would have had scant consideration withthem. They would have immediately pointed out their weaknesses. " Through my association with these men, I learned to safely invest gold to bring profitablereturns. As the years went on, my treasure increased more and more rapidly. I not only made back asmuch as I lost, but much more. " Through my misfortunes, my trials and my success, I have tested time and again the wisdomof the five laws of gold, my father, and have proven them true in every test. To him who is withoutknowledge of the five laws, gold comes not often, and goeth away quickly. But to him who abide bythe five laws, gold comes and works as his dutiful slave. "Nomasir ceased speaking and motioned to a slave in the back of the room. The slave broughtforward, one at a time, three heavy leather bags. One of these Nomasir took and placed upon the floorbefore his father addressing him again: " Thou didst give to me a bag of gold, Babylon gold. Behold in its place, I do return to thee abag of Nineveh gold of equal weight An equal exchange, as all will agree. " Thou didst give to me a clay tablet inscribed with wisdom. Behold, in its stead, I do returntwo bags of gold. So saying, he took from the slave the other two bags and, likewise, placed them uponthe floor before his father. " This I do to prove to thee, my father, of how much greater value I consider thy wisdom thanthy gold. Yet, who can measure in bags of gold, the value of wisdom? Without wisdom, gold is quicklylost by those who have it, but with wisdom, gold can be secured by those who have it not, as these threebags of gold do prove. " It does, indeed, give to me the deepest satisfaction, my father, to stand before thee and saythat, because of thy wisdom, I have been able to become rich and respected before men. "The father placed his hand fondly upon the head of Nomasir. Thou hast learned well thylessons, and I am, indeed, fortunate to have a son to whom I may entrust my wealth. " Kalabab ceased his tale and looked critically at his listeners. 37
  • 38. "What means this to thee, this tale of Nomasir?" he continued. "Who amongst thee can go to thy father or to the father of thy wife and give an account of wisehandling of his earnings? "What would these venerable men think were you to say: I have traveled much and learnedmuch and labored much and earned much, yet alas, of gold I have little. Some I spent wisely, some Ispent foolishly and much I lost in unwise ways. "Dost still think it but an inconsistency of fate that some men have much gold and others havenaught? Then you err. "Men have much gold when they know the five laws of gold and abide thereby. "Because I learned these five laws in my youth and abided by them, I have become a wealthymerchant. Not by some strange magic did I accumulate my wealth. "Wealth that comes quickly goeth the same way. "Wealth that stayeth to give enjoyment and satisfaction to its owner comes gradually, because itis a child born of knowledge and persistent purpose. "To earn wealth is but a slight burden upon the thoughtful man. Bearing the burden consistentlyfrom year to year accomplishes the final purpose. "The five laws of gold offer to thee a rich reward for their observance. "Each of these five lawsis rich with meaning and lest thou overlook this in the briefness of my tale, I will now repeat them. I doknow them each by heart because in my youth, I could see their value and would not be content until Iknew them word for word. The First Law of Gold Gold cometh gladly and in increasing quantity to any man who will put by not less than one-tenth of his earnings to create an estate for his future and that of his family. "Any man who will put by one-tenth of his earnings consistently and invest it wisely will surelycreate a valuable estate that will provide an income for him in the future and further guarantee safetyfor his family in case the gods call him to the world of darkness. This law always sayeth that goldcometh gladly to such a man. I can truly certify this in my own life. The more gold I accumulate, themore readily it comes to me and in increased quantities. The gold which I save earns more, even asyours will, and its earnings earn more, and this is the working out of the first law." The Second Law of Gold Gold laboreth diligently and contentedly for the wise owner who finds for it profitable employment, multiplying even as the flocks of the field. "Gold, indeed, is a willing worker. It is ever eager to multiply when opportunity presents itself.To every man who hath a store of gold set by, opportunity comes for its most profitable use. As theyears pass, it multiplies itself in surprising fashion." 38
  • 39. The Third Law of Gold Gold clingeth to the protection of the cautious owner who invests it under the advice of men wise in its handling. "Gold, indeed, clingeth to the cautious owner, even as it flees the careless owner. The man whoseeks the advice of men wise in handling gold soon learneth not to jeopardize his treasure, but topreserve in safety and to enjoy in contentment its consistent increase." The Fourth Law of Gold Gold slippeth away from the man who invests it in businesses or purposes with which he is not familiar or which are not approved by those skilled in its keep. To the man who hath gold, yet is not skilled in its handling, many uses for it appear mostprofitable. Too often these are fraught with danger of loss, and if properly analyzed by wise men, showsmall possibility of profit. Therefore, the inexperienced owner of gold who trusts to his own judgmentand invests it in business or purposes with which he is not familiar, too often finds his judgmentimperfect, 82and pays with his treasure for his inexperience. Wise, indeed is he who investeth histreasures under the advice of men skilled In the ways of gold." The Fifth Law of Gold Gold flees the man who would force it to impossible earnings or who followeth the alluring advice of tricksters and schemers or who trusts it to his own inexperience and romantic desires in investment. "Fanciful propositions that thrill like adventure tales always come to the new owner of gold.These appear to endow his treasure with magic powers that will enable it to make impossible earnings.Yet heed ye the wise men for verily they know the risks that lurk behind every plan to make greatwealth suddenly. "Forget not the rich men of Nineveh who would take no chance of losing their principal ortying it up in unprofitable investments. "This ends my tale of the five laws of gold. In telling it to thee,I have told the secrets of my own success. "Yet, they are not secrets but truths which every man must first learn and then follow whowishes to step out of the multitude that, like you wild dogs, must worry each day for food to eat."Tomorrow, we enter Babylon. Look! See the fire that burns eternal above the Temple of Bel! We arealready in sight of the golden city. Tomorrow, each of thee shall have gold, the gold thou has so well earned by thy faithfulservices. "Ten years from this night, what can you tell about this 83gold? "If there be men among you, who, like Nomasir, will use a portion of their gold to start forthemselves an estate and be thenceforth wisely guided by the wisdom of Arkad, ten years from now, tisa safe wager, like the son of Arkad, they will be rich and respected among men. 39
  • 40. "Our wise acts accompany us through life to please us and to help us. Just as surely, our unwiseacts follow us to plague and torment us. Alas, they cannot be forgotten. In the front rank of the tormentsthat do follow us are the memories of the things we should have done, of the opportunities which cameto us and we took not. "Rich are the treasures of Babylon, so rich no man can count their value in pieces of gold. Eachyear, they grow richer and more valuable. Like the treasures of every land, they are a reward, a richreward awaiting those men of purpose who determine to secure their just share. "In the strength of thine own desires is a magic power. Guide this power with thy knowledge ofthe five laws of gold and thou shall share the treasures of Babylon." 40
  • 41. The Gold Lender of Babylon Fifty pieces of gold! Never before had Rodan, the spearmaker of old Babylon, carried so muchgold in his leather wallet. Happily down the kings highway from the palace of his most liberal Majestyhe strode. Cheerfully the gold clinked as the wallet at his belt swayed with each step—the sweetestmusic he had ever heard. Fifty pieces of gold! All his! He could hardly realize his good fortune. What power in thoseclinking discs! They could purchase anything he wanted, a grand house, land, cattle, camels, horses,chariots, whatever he might desire. What use should he make of it? This evening as he turned into a side street towards the home ofhis sister, he could think of nothing he would rather possess than those same glittering, heavy pieces ofgold—his to keep. It was upon an evening some days later that a perplexed Rodan entered the shop of Mathon, thelender of gold and dealer in jewels and rare fabrics. Glancing neither to the right nor the left at thecolorful articles artfully displayed, he passed through to the living quarters at the rear. Here he foundthe genteel Mathon lounging upon a rug partaking of a meal served by a black slave. "I would counsel with thee for I know not what to do." Rodan stood stolidly, feet apart, hairybreast exposed by the gaping front of his leather jacket. Mathons narrow, sallow face smiled a friendly greeting. "What indiscretions hast thou donethat thou shouldst seek the lender of gold? Hast been unlucky at the gaming table? Or hath some plumpdame entangled thee? For many years have I known thee, yet never hast thou sought me to aid thee inthy troubles." "No, no. Not such as that. I seek no gold. Instead I crave thy wise advice." "Hear! Hear! What this man doth say. No one comes to the lender of gold for advice. My earsmust play me false." "They listen true." "Can this be so? Rodan, the spearmaker, doth display more cunning than all the rest, for hecomes to Mathon, not for gold, but for advice. Many men come to me for gold to pay for their follies,but as for advice, they want it not. Yet who is more able to advise than the lender of gold to whommany men come in trouble? "Thou shalt eat with me, Rodan," he continued. Thou shalt be my guest for the evening. Andol"he commanded of the black slave, "draw up a rag for my friend, Rodan, the spearmaker, who comes foradvice. He shall be mine honored guest. Bring to him much food and get for him my largest cup.Choose well of the best wine that he may have satisfaction in the drinking. "Now, tell me what troubles thee." "It is the kings gift." "The kings gift? The king did make thee a gift and it gives thee trouble? What manner of gift?" "Because he was much pleased with the design I did submit to him for a new point on thespears of the royal guard, he did present me with fifty pieces of gold, and now I am much perplexed. "I am beseeched each hour the sun doth travel across the sky by those who would share it withme." "That is natural. More men want gold than have it, and would wish one who comes by it easilyto divide. But can you not say "No?" Is thy will not as strong as thy fist?" "To many I can say no, yet sometimes it would be easier to say yes. Can one refuse to sharewith ones sister to whom he is deeply devoted?" "Surely, thy own sister would not wish to deprive thee of enjoying thy reward." 41
  • 42. "But it is for the sake of Araman, her husband, whom she wishes to see a rich merchant. Shedoes feel that he has never had a chance and she beseeches me to loan to him this gold that he maybecome a prosperous merchant and repay me from his profits." "My friend," resumed Mathon, " tis a worthy subject thou bringest to discuss. Gold bringethunto its possessor responsibility and a changed position with his fellow men. It bringeth fear lest helose it or it be tricked away from him. It bringeth a feeling of power and ability to do good. Likewise, itbringeth opportunities whereby his very good intentions may bring him into difficulties. "Didst ever hear of the farmer of Nineveh who could understand the language of animals? I wotnot, for tis not the kind of tale men like to tell over the bronze casters forge. I will tell it to thee forthou shouldst know that to borrowing and lending there is more than the passing of gold from the handsof one to the hands of another. "This farmer, who could understand what the animals said to each other, did linger in the farmyard each evening just to listen to their words. One evening he did hear the ox bemoaning to the ass thehardness of his lot: I do labor pulling the plow from morning until night. No matter how 87hot the day,or how tired my legs, or how the bow doth chafe my neck, still must I work. But you are a creature ofleisure. You are trapped with a colorful blanket and do nothing more than carry our master about wherehe wishes to go. When he goes nowhere you do rest and eat the green grass all the day. "Now the ass, in spite of his vicious heels, was a goodly fellow and sympathized with the ox.My good friend, he replied, you do work very hard and I would help ease your lot. Therefore, will Itell you how you may have a day of rest. In the morning when the slave comes to fetch you to the plow,lie upon the ground and bellow much that he may say you are sick and cannot work. "So the ox took the advice of the ass and the next morning the slave returned to the farmer andtold him the ox was sick and could not pull the plow. " Then, said the farmer, "hitch the ass to the plow for the plowing must go on. "All that day the ass, who had only intended to help his friend, found himself compelled to dothe oxs task. When night came and he was released from the plow his heart was bitter and his legswere weary and his neck was sore where the bow had chafed it. "The farmer lingered in the barnyard to listen. "The ox began first. You are my good friend. Because of your wise advice I have enjoyed a dayof rest. " And I, retorted the ass, am like many another simplehearted one who starts to help a friendand ends up by doing his task for him. Hereafter you draw your own plow, for I did hear the master tellthe slave to send for the butcher were you sick again. I wish he would, for you are a lazy fellow.Thereafter they spoke to each other no more— this ended their friendship. Canst thou tell the moral tothis tale, Rodan?" " Tis a good tale," responded Rodan, "but I see not the moral." "I thought not that you would. But it is there and simple too. Just this: If you desire to help thyfriend, do so in a way that will not bring thy friends burdens upon thyself." "I had not thought of that. It is a wise moral. I wish not to assume the burdens of my sistershusband. But tell me. You lend to many. Do not the borrowers repay?" Mathon smiled the smile of one whose soul is rich with much experience. "Could a loan be wellmade if the borrower cannot repay? Must not the lender be wise and judge carefully whether his goldcan perform a useful purpose to the borrower and return to him once more; or whether it will be wastedby one unable to use it wisely and leave him without his treasure, and leave the borrower with a debt hecannot repay? I will show to thee the tokens in my token chest and let them tell thee some of theirstories." Into the room he brought a chest as long as his arm covered with red pigskin and ornamented 42
  • 43. with bronze designs. He placed it upon the floor and squatted before it, both hands upon the lid. "From each person to whom I lend, I do exact a token for my token chest, to remain there untilthe loan is repaid. When they repay I give back, but if they never repay it will always remind me of onewho was not faithful to my confidence. "The safest loans, my token box tells me, are to those whose possessions are of more value thanthe one they desire. They own lands, or jewels, or camels, or other things which could be sold to repaythe loan. Some of the tokens given to me are jewels of more value than the loan. Others are promisesthat if the loan be not repaid as agreed they will deliver to me certain property settlement. On loans likethose I am assured that my gold will be returned with the rental thereon, for the loan is based onproperty. "In another class are those who have the capacity to earn. They are such as you, who labor orserve and are paid. They have income and if they are honest and suffer no misfortune, I know that theyalso can repay the gold I loan them and the rental to which I am entitled. Such loans are based onhuman effort. "Others are those who have neither property nor assured earning capacity. Life is hard and therewill always be some who cannot adjust themselves to it. Alas for the loans I make them, even thoughthey be no larger than a pence, my token box may censure me in the years to come unless they beguaranteed by good friends of the borrower who know him honorable." Mathon released the clasp and opened the lid. Rodan leaned forward eagerly. At the top of the chest a bronze neck-piece lay upon a scarlet cloth. Mathon picked up the pieceand patted it affectionately. "This shall always remain in my token chest because the owner has passedon into the great darkness. I treasure, it, his token, and I treasure his memory; for he was my goodfriend. We traded together with much success until out of the east he brought a woman to wed,beautiful, but not like our women. A dazzling creature. He spent his gold lavishly to gratify her desires.He came to me in 90distress when his gold was gone. I counseled with him. I told him I would helphim to once more master his own affairs. He swore by the sign of the Great Bull that he would. But itwas not to be. In a quarrel she thrust a knife into the heart he dared her to pierce." "And she?" questioned Rodan. "Yes, of course, this was hers." He picked up the scarlet cloth. "In bitter remorse she threwherself into the Euphrates. These two loans will never be repaid. The chest tells you, Rodan, that humans in the throes of great emotionsare not safe risks for the gold lender. "Here! Now this is different." He reached for a ring carved of ox bone. "This belongs to afarmer. I buy the rugs of his women. The locusts came and they had not food. I helped him and whenthe new crop came he repaid me. Later he came again and told of strange goats in a distant land asdescribed by a traveler. They had long hair so fine and soft it would weave into rugs more beautifulthan any ever seen in Babylon. He wanted a herd but he had no money. So I did lend him gold to makethe journey and bring back goats. Now his herd is begun and next year I shall surprise the lords ofBabylon with the most expensive rugs it has been their good fortune to buy. Soon I must return his ring.He doth insist on repaying promptly." "Some borrowers do that? queried Rodan. "If they borrow for purposes that bring money back to them, I find it so. But if they borrowbecause of their indiscretions, I warn thee to be cautious if thou wouldst ever have thy gold back inhand again." “Tell me about this,” requested Rodan, picking up a heavy gold bracelet inset with jewels inrare designs. "The women do appeal to my good friend," bantered Mathon. 43
  • 44. "I am still much younger than you," retorted Rodan. "I grant that, but this time thou doth suspicion romance where it is not. The owner of this is fatand wrinkled and doth talk so much and say so little she drives me mad. Once they had much moneyand were good customers, but ill times came upon them. She has a son of whom she would make amerchant. So she came to me and borrowed gold that he might become a partner of a caravan ownerwho travels with his camels bartering in one city what he buys in another. "This man proved a rascal for he left the poor boy in a distant city without money and withoutfriends, pulling out early while the youth slept. Perhaps when this youth has grown to manhood, he willrepay; until then I get no rental for the loan—only much talk. But I do admit the jewels are worthy ofthe loan." "Did this lady ask thy advice as to the wisdom of the loan?" "Quite otherwise. She had pictured to herself this son of hers as a wealthy and powerful man ofBabylon. To suggest the contrary was to infuriate her. A fair rebuke I had. I knew the risk for thisinexperienced boy, but as she offered security I could not refuse her. "This," continued Mathon, waving a bit of pack rope tied into a knot, "belongs to Nebatur, thecamel trader. When he would buy a herd larger than his funds he brings to me this knot and I lend tohim according to his needs. He is a wise trader. I have confidence in his good judgment and can lendhim freely. Many other merchants of Babylon have my confidence because of their honorable behavior.Their 92tokens come and go frequently in my token box. Good merchants are an asset to our city and itprofits me to aid them to keep trade moving that Babylon be prosperous." Mathon picked out a beetle carved in turquoise and tossed it contemptuously on the floor. "Abug from Egypt. The lad who owns this does not care whether I ever receive back my gold. When Ireproach him he replies, How can I repay when ill fate pursues me? You have plenty more. What can Ido? The token is his fathers—a worthy man of small means who did pledge his land and herd to backhis sons enterprises. The youth found success at first and then was over-zealous to gain great wealth.His knowledge was immature. His enterprises collapsed. "Youth is ambitious. Youth would take shortcuts to wealth and the desirable things for which it stands. To secure wealth quickly youth oftenborrows unwisely. Youth, never having had experience, cannot realize that hopeless debt is like a deep pit intowhich one may descend quickly and where one may struggle vainly for many days. It is a pit of sorrowand regrets where the brightness of the sun is overcast and night is made unhappy by restless sleeping.Yet, I do not discourage borrowing gold. I encourage it. I recommend it if it be for a wise purpose. Imyself made my first real success as a merchant with borrowed gold. "Yet, what should the lender do in such a case? The youth is in despair and accomplishesnothing. He is discouraged. He makes no effort to repay. My heart turns against depriving the father ofhis land and cattle." "You tell me much that I am interested to hear," ventured Rodan, "but, I hear no answer to myquestion. Should I lend my fifty pieces of gold to my sisters husband? They mean much to me." "Thy sister is a sterling woman whom I do much esteem. Should her husband come to me andask to borrow fifty pieces of gold I should ask him for what purpose he would use it. "If he answered that he desired to become a merchant like myself and deal in jewels and richfurnishings. I would say, What knowledge have you of the ways of trade? Do you know where you canbuy at lowest cost? Do you know where you can sell at a fair price?" Could he say Yes to thesequestions?" "No, he could not," Rodan admitted. "He has helped me much in making spears and he hashelped some in the shops." "Then, would I say to him that his purpose was not wise. Merchants must learn their trade. His 44
  • 45. ambition, though worthy, is not practical and I would not lend him any gold. "But, supposing he could say: Yes, I have helped merchants much. I know how to travel toSmyrna and to buy at low cost the rugs the housewives weave. I also know many of the rich people ofBabylon to whom I can sell these at a large profit. Then I would say: Your purpose is wise and yourambition honorable. I shall be glad to lend you the fifty pieces of gold if you can give me security thatthey will be returned." But would he say, I have no security other than that I am an honored man andwill pay you well for the loan. Then would I reply, I treasure much each piece of gold. Were therobbers to take it from you as you journeyed to Smyrna or take the rugs from you as you returned, thenyou would have no means of repaying me and my gold would be gone. "Gold, you see, Rodan, is the merchandise of the lender of money. It is easy to lend. If it is lentunwisely then it is 94difficult to get back. The wise lender wishes not the risk of the undertaking butthe guarantee of safe repayment. " Tis well," he continued, "to assist those that are in trouble, tis well to help those upon whomfate has laid a heavy hand. Tis well to help those who are starting that they may progress and becomevaluable citizens. But help must be given wisely, lest, like the farmers ass, in our desire to help we buttake upon ourselves the burden that belongs to another. "Again I wandered from thy question, Rodan, but hear my answer: Keep thy fifty pieces ofgold. What thy labor earns for thee and what is given thee for reward is thine own and no man can putan obligation upon thee to part with it unless it do be thy wish. If thee wouldst lend it so that it mayearn thee more gold, then lend with caution and in many places. I like not idle gold, even less I like toomuch of risk. "How many years hast thou labored as a spearmaker?" "Fully three." "How much besides the Kings gift hast saved?" "Three gold pieces." "Each year that thou hast labored thou has denied thyself good things to save from thineearnings one piece of gold?" " Tis as you say." "Then mightest save in fifty years of labor fifty pieces of gold by thy self-denial?" "A lifetime of labor it would be." "Thinkest thou thy sister would wish to jeopardize the savings of fifty years of labor over thebronze melting pot that her husband might experiment on being a merchant?" "Not if I spoke in your words." "Then go to her and say: Three years I have labored each day except fast days, from morninguntil night, and I have denied myself many things that my heart craved. For each year of labor and self-denial I have to show one piece of gold. Thou art my favored sister and I wish that thy husband mayengage in business in which he will prosper greatly. If he will submit to me a plan that seems wise andpossible to my friend, Mathon, then will I gladly lend to him my savings of an entire year that he mayhave an opportunity to prove that he can succeed. Do that, I say, and if he has within him the soul tosucceed he can prove it. If he fails he will not owe thee more than he can hope some day to repay. "I am a gold lender because I own more gold than I can use in my own trade. I desire mysurplus gold to labor for others and thereby earn more gold. I do not wish to take risk of losing my goldfor I have labored much and denied myself much to secure it. Therefore, I will no longer lend any of itwhere I am not confident that it is safe and will be returned to me. Neither will I lend it where I am notconvinced that its earnings will be promptly paid to me. "I have told to thee, Rodan, a few of the secrets of my token chest. From them you mayunderstand the weakness of men and their eagerness to borrow that which they have no certain meansto repay. From this you can see how often their high hopes of the great earnings they could make, if 45
  • 46. they but had gold, are but false hopes they have not the ability or training to fulfill. "Thou, Rodan, now have gold which thou shouldst put to earning more gold for thee. Thou artabout to become even as I, a gold lender. If thou dost safely preserve thy treasure it will produce liberalearnings for thee and be a rich source of pleasure and profit during all thy days. But if thou dost let itescape from thee, it will be a source of constant sorrow and regret as long as thy memory doth last. "What desirest thou most of this gold in thy wallet?" "To keep it safe." "Wisely spoken," replied Mathon approvingly. "Thy first desire is for safety. Thinkest thou thatin the custody of thy sisters husband it would be truly safe from possible loss?" "I fear not, for he is not wise in guarding gold." "Then be not swayed by foolish sentiments of obligation to trust thy treasure to any person. Ifthou wouldst help thy family or thy friends, find other ways than risking the loss of thy treasure. Forgetnot that gold slippeth away in unexpected ways from those unskilled in guarding it. As well waste thytreasure in extravagance as let others lose it for thee. "What next after safety dost desire of this treasure of thine?" "That it earn more gold." "Again thou speakest with wisdom. It should be made to earn and grow larger. Gold wisely lentmay even double itself with its earnings before a man like you groweth old. If you risk losing it yourisk losing all that it would earn as well. "Therefore, be not swayed by the fantastic plans of impractical men who think they see ways toforce thy gold to make earnings unusually large. Such plans are the creations of dreamers unskilled inthe safe and dependable laws of trade. Be conservative in what thou expect it to earn that thou mayestkeep and enjoy thy treasure. To hire it out with a promise of usurious returns is to invite loss. "Seek to associate thyself with men and enterprises whose success is established that thytreasure may earn liberally under their skillful use and be guarded safely by their wisdom andexperience. "Thus, mayest thou avoid the misfortunes that follow most of the sons of men to whom thegods see fit to entrust gold." When Rodan would thank him for his wise advice he would not listen, saying, "The kings giftshall teach thee much wisdom. If wouldst keep thy fifty pieces of gold thou must be discreet indeed.Many uses will tempt thee. Much advice will be spoken to thee. Numerous opportunities to make largeprofits will be offered thee. The stories from my token box should warn thee, before thou let any pieceof gold leave thy pouch to be sure that thou hast a safe way to pull it back again. Should my furtheradvice appeal to thee, return again. It is gladly given. " Ere thou goest read this which I have carved beneath the lid of my token box. It appliesequally to the borrower and the lender: BETTER A LITTLE CAUTION THAN A GREAT REGRET 46
  • 47. The Walls of Babylon Old Banzar, grim warrior of another day, stood guard at the passageway leading to the top ofthe ancient walls of Babylon. Up above, valiant defenders were battling to hold the walls. Upon themdepended the future existence of this great city with its hundreds of thousands of citizens. Over the walls came the roar of the attacking armies, the yelling of many men, the trampling ofthousands of horses, the deafening boom of the battering rams pounding the bronzed gates. In the street behind the gate lounged the spearmen, waiting to defend the entrance should thegates give way. They were but few for the task. The main armies of Babylon were with their king, faraway in the east on the great expedition against the Elamites. No attack upon the city having beenanticipated during their absence, the defending forces were small. Unexpectedly, from the north, boredown the mighty armies of the Assyrians. And now the walls must hold or Babylon was doomed. About Banzar were great crowds of citizens, white-faced and terrified, eagerly seeking news ofthe battle. With hushed awe they viewed the stream of wounded and dead being carried or led out of thepassageway. Here was the crucial point of attack. After three days of circling about the city, the enemy hadsuddenly thrown his great strength against this section and this gate. The defenders from the top of the wall fought off the climbing platforms and the scaling laddersof the attackers with arrows, burning oil and, if any reached the top, spears. Against the defenders,thousands of the enemys archers poured a deadly barrage of arrows. Old Banzar had the vantage point for news. He was closest to the conflict and first to hear ofeach fresh repulse of the frenzied attackers. An elderly merchant crowded close to him, his palsied hands quivering. "Tell me! Tell me!" hepleaded. "They cannot get in. My sons are with the good king. There is no one to protect my old wife.My goods, they will steal all. My food, they will leave nothing. We are old, too old to defend ourselves—too old for slaves. We shall starve. We shall die. Tell me they cannot get in." "Calm thyself, good merchant," the guard responded. "The walls of Babylon are strong. Goback to the bazaar and tell your wife that the walls will protect you and all of your possessions as safelyas they protect the rich treasures of the king. Keep close to the walls, lest the arrows flying over strikeyou!" A woman with a babe in arms took the old mans place as he withdrew. "Sergeant, what newsfrom the top? Tell me truly that I may reassure my poor husband. He lies with fever from his terriblewounds, yet insists upon his armor and his spear to protect me, who am with child. Terrible he says willbe the vengeful lust of our enemies should they break in." "Be thou of good heart, thou mother that is, and is again to be, the walls of Babylon will protectyou and your babes. They are high and strong. Hear ye not the yells of our valiant defenders as theyempty the caldrons of burning oil upon the ladder scalers?" "Yes, that do I hear and also the roar of the battering rams that do hammer at our gates." "Back to thy husband. Tell him the gates are strong and withstand the rams. Also that thescalers climb the walls but to receive the waiting spear thrust. Watch, thy way and hasten behind youbuildings." Banzar stepped aside to clear the passage for heavily armed reinforcements. As, with clankingbronze shields and heavy tread, they tramped by, a small girl plucked at his girdle. "Tell me please, soldier, are we safe?" she pleaded. I hear the awful noises. I see the men allbleeding. I am so frightened. What will become of our family, of my mother, little brother and thebaby?" 47
  • 48. The grim old campaigner blinked his eyes and thrust forward his chin as he beheld the child. "Be not afraid, little one," he reassured her. "The walls of Babylon will protect you and motherand little brother and the baby. It was for the safety of such as you that the good Queen Semiramis builtthem over a hundred years ago. Never have they been broken through. Go back and tell your motherand little brother and the baby that the walls of Babylon will protect them and they need have no fear." Day after day old Banzar stood at his post and watched the reinforcements file up thepassageway, there to stay and fight until wounded or dead they came down once more. Around him,unceasingly crowded the throngs of frightened citizens eagerly seeking to learn if the walls would hold.To all he gave his answer with the fine dignity of an old soldier, "The walls of Babylon will protectyou." For three weeks and five days the attack waged with scarcely ceasing violence. Harder andgrimmer set the jaw of Banzar as the passage behind, wet with the blood of the many wounded, waschurned into mud by the never ceasing streams of men passing up and staggering down. Each day theslaughtered attackers piled up in heaps before the wall. Each night they were carried back and buriedby their comrades. Upon the fifth night of the fourth week the clamor without diminished. The firststreaks of daylight, illuminating the plains, disclosed great clouds of dust raised by the retreatingarmies. A mighty shout went up from the defenders. There was no mistaking its meaning. It wasrepeated by the waiting troops behind the walls. It was echoed by the citizens upon the streets. It sweptover the city with the violence of a storm. People rushed from the houses. The streets were jammed with a throbbing mob. The pent-upfear of weeks found an outlet in the wild chorus of joy. From the top of the high tower of the Temple ofBel burst forth the flames of victory. Skyward floated the column of blue smoke to carry the messagefar and wide. The walls of Babylon had once again repulsed a mighty and viscous foe determined to loot herrich treasures and to ravish and enslave her citizens. Babylon endured century after century because it was fully protected. It could not afford to beotherwise. The walls of Babylon were an outstanding example of mans need and desire for protection.This desire is inherent in the human race. It is just as strong today as it ever was, but we havedeveloped broader and better plans to accomplish the same purpose. In this day, behind the impregnable walls of insurance, savings accounts and dependableinvestments, we can guard ourselves against the unexpected tragedies that may enter any door and seatthemselves before any fireside. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT ADEQUATE PROTECTION 48
  • 49. The Camel Trader of Babylon The hungrier one becomes, the clearer ones mind works— also the more sensitive one becomesto the odors of food. Tarkad, the son of Azure, certainly thought so. For two whole days he had tasted no food excepttwo small figs purloined from over the wall of a garden. Not another could he grab before the angrywoman rushed forth and chased him down the street. Her shrill cries were still ringing in his ears as hewalked through the market place. They helped him to retrain his restless fingers from snatching thetempting fruits from the baskets of the market women. Never before had he realized how much food was brought to the markets of Babylon and howgood it smelled. Leaving the market, he walked across to the inn and paced back and forth in front ofthe eating house. Perhaps here he might meet someone he knew; someone from whom he could borrowa copper that would gain him a smile from the unfriendly keeper of the inn and, with it, a liberalhelping. Without the copper he knew all too well how unwelcome he would be. In his abstraction he unexpectedly found himself face to face with the one man he wished mostto avoid, the tall bony figure of Dabasir, the camel trader. Of all the friends and others from whom hehad borrowed small sums, Dabasir made him feel the most uncomfortable because of his failure to keephis promises to repay promptly. Dabasirs face lighted up at the sight of him. "Ha! Tis Tarkad, just the one I have been seekingthat he might repay the two pieces of copper which I lent him a moon ago; also the piece of silverwhich I lent to him before that. We are well met. I can make good use of the coins this very day. Whatsay, boy? What say?" Tarkad stuttered and his face flushed. He had naught in his empty stomach to nerve him toargue with the outspoken Dabasir. "I am sorry, very sorry," he mumbled weakly, "but this day I haveneither the copper nor the silver with which I could repay." "Then get it," Dabasir insisted. "Surely thoucanst get hold of a few coppers and a piece of silver to repay the generosity of an old friend of thyfather who aided thee whenst thou wast in need?" " Tis because ill fortune does pursue me that I cannot pay." "Ill fortune! Wouldst blame the gods for thine own weakness. Ill fortune pursues every manwho thinks more of borrowing than of repaying. Come with me, boy, while I eat. I am hungry and Iwould tell thee a tale." Tarkad flinched from the brutal frankness of Dabasir, but here at least was an invitation to enterthe coveted doorway of the eating house. Dabasir pushed him to a far corner of the room where they seated themselves upon small rugs. When Kauskor, the proprietor, appeared smiling, Dabasir addressed him with his usualfreedom, "Fat lizard of the desert, bring to me a leg of the goat, brown with much juice, and bread andall of the vegetables for I am hungry and want much food. Do not forget my friend here. Bring to him ajug of water. Have it cooled, for the day is hot." Tarkads heart sank. Must he sit here and drink water while he watched this man devour anentire goat leg? He said nothing. He thought of nothing he could say. Dabasir, however, knew no such thing as silence. Smiling and waving his hand good-naturedlyto the other customers, all of whom knew him, he continued. "I did hear from a traveler just returned from Urfa of a certain rich man who has a piece ofstone cut so thin that one can look through it. He put it in the window of his house to keep out the rains.It is yellow, so this traveler does relate, and he was permitted to look through it and all the outsideworld looked strange and not like it really is. What say you to that, Tarkad? Thinkest all the world 49
  • 50. could look to a man a different color from what it is?" "I dare say," responded the youth, much more interested in the fat leg of goat placed beforeDabasir. "Well, I know it to be true for I myself have seen the world all of a different color from what itreally is and the tale I am about to tell relates how I came to see it in its right color once more." "Dabasir will tell a tale," whispered a neighboring diner to his neighbor, and dragged his rugclose. Other diners brought their food and crowded in a semi-circle. They crunched noisily in the earsof Tarkad and brushed him with their meaty bones. He alone was without food. Dabasir did not offer toshare with him nor even motion him to a small corner of the hard bread that was broken off and hadfallen from the platter to the floor. "The tale that I am about to tell," began Dabasir, pausing to bite a goodly chunk from the goatleg, "relates to my early life and how I came to be a camel trader. Didst anyone know that I once was aslave in Syria?" A murmur of surprise ran through the audience to which Dabasir listened with satisfaction. "When I was a young man," continued Dabasir after another vicious onslaught on the goat leg,"I learned the trade of my father, the making of saddles. I worked with him in his shop and took tomyself a wife. Being young and not greatly skilled, I could earn but little, just enough to support my excellentwife in a modest way. I craved good things which I could not afford. Soon I found that the shop keeperswould trust me to pay later even though I could not pay at the time. "Being young and without experience I did not know that he whospends more than he earns is sowing the winds of needless self-indulgence from which he is sure toreap the whirlwinds of trouble and humiliation. So I indulged my whims for fine raiment and boughtluxuries for my good wife and our home, beyond our means. "I paid as I could and for a while all wentwell. But in time I discovered I could not use my earnings both to live upon and to pay my debts.Creditors began to pursue me to pay for my extravagant purchases and my life became miserable. Iborrowed from my friends, but could not repay them either. Things went from bad to worse. My wifereturned to her father and I decided to leave Babylon and seek another city where a young man mighthave better chances. "For two years I had a restless and unsuccessful life working for caravan traders. From this Ifell in with a set of likeable robbers who scoured the desert for unarmed caravans. Such deeds wereunworthy of the son of my father, but I was seeing the world through a colored stone and did not realizeto what degradation I had fallen. "We met with success on our first trip, capturing a rich haul of gold and silks and valuablemerchandise. This loot we took to Ginir and squandered. "The second time we were not so fortunate. Just after we had made our capture, we wereattacked by the spearsmen of a native chief to whom the caravans paid for protection. Our two leaderswere killed, and the rest of us were taken to Damascus where we were stripped of our clothing and soldas slaves. "I was purchased for two pieces of silver by a Syrian desert chief. With my hair shorn and but aloin cloth to wear, I was not so different from the other slaves. Being a reckless youth, I thought itmerely an adventure until my master took me before his four wives and told them they could have mefor a eunuch. Then, indeed, did I realize the hopelessness of my situation. These men of the desert werefierce and warlike. I was subject to their will without weapons or means of escape. "Fearful I stood, as those four women looked me over. I wondered if I could expect pity fromthem. Sira, the first wife, was older than the others. Her face was impassive as she looked upon me. I 50
  • 51. turned from her with little consolation. The next was a contemptuous beauty who gazed at me asindifferently as if I had been a worm of the earth. The two younger ones tittered as though it were all anexciting joke. "It seemed an age that I stood waiting sentence. Each woman appeared willing for the others todecide. Finally Sira spoke up in a cold voice. " Of eunuchs we have plenty, but of camel tenders we have few and they are a worthless lot.Even this day I would visit my mother who is sick with the fever and there is no slave I would trust tolead my camel. Ask this slave if he can lead a camel. "My master thereupon questioned me, What know you of camels? "Striving to conceal my eagerness, I replied, I can make them kneel, I can load them, I can leadthem on long trips without tiring. If need be, I can repair their trappings." " The slave speaks forward enough, observed my master. If thou so desire, Sira, take this manfor thy camel tender. "So I was turned over to Sira and that day I led her camel upon a long journey to her sickmother. I took the occasion to thank her for her intercession and also to tell her that I was not a slave bybirth, but the son of a freeman, an honorable saddle maker of Babylon. I also told her much of mystory. Her comments were disconcerting to me and I pondered much afterwards on what she said. " How can you call yourself a free man when your weakness has brought you to this? If a manhas in himself the soul of a slave will he not become one no matter what his birth, even as water seeksits level? If a man has within him the soul of a free man, will he not become respected and honored inhis own city in spite of his misfortune? "For over a year I was a slave and lived with the slaves, but I could not become as one of them.One day Sira asked me, In the eventime when the other slaves can mingle and enjoy the society ofeach other, why dost thou sit in thy tent alone? "To which I responded, I am pondering what you have said to me. I wonder if I have the soulof a slave. I cannot join them, so I must sit apart. " I, too, must sit apart, she confided. My dowry was large and my lord married me because ofit. Yet he does not desire me. What every woman longs for is to be desired. Because of this and becauseI am barren and have neither son nor daughter, must I sit apart. Were I a man I would rather die than besuch a slave, but the conventions of our tribe make slaves of women. " What think thou of me by this time? I asked her suddenly, Have I the soul of a man or have Ithe soul of a slave? " Have you a desire to repay the just debts you owe in Babylon? she parried. " Yes, I have the desire, but I see no way. " If thou contentedly let the years slip by and make no effort to repay, then thou hast but thecontemptible soul of a slave. No man is otherwise who cannot respect himself and no man can respecthimself who does not repay honest debts. " But what can I do who am a slave in Syria? " Stay a slave in Syria, thou weakling. " I am not a weakling, I denied hotly. " Then prove it. " How? " Does not thy great king fight his enemies in every way he can and with every force he has?Thy debts are thy enemies. They ran thee out of Babylon. You left them alone and they grew too strongfor thee. Hadst fought them as a man, thou couldst have conquered them and been one honored amongthe townspeople. But thou had not the soul to fight them and behold thy pride hast gone down until 51
  • 52. thou art a slave in Syria. "Much I thought over her unkind accusations and many defensive phrases I worded to provemyself not a slave at heart, but I was not to have the chance to use them. Three days later the maid ofSira took me to her mistress. " My mother is again very sick, she said. Saddle the two best camels in my husbands herd. Tieon water skins and saddle bags for a long journey. The maid will give thee food at the kitchen tent. Ipacked the camels wondering much at the quantity of provisions the maid provided, for the motherdwelt less than a days journey away. The maid rode the rear camel which followed and I led the camelof my mistress. When we reached her mothers house it was just dark. Sira dismissed the maid and saidto me: " Dabasir, hast thou the soul of a free man or the soul of a slave? " The soul of a free man, I insisted. " Now is thy chance to prove it. Thy master hath imbibed deeply and his chiefs are in a stupor.Take then these camels and make thy escape. Here in this bag is raiment of thy masters to disguisethee. I will say thou stole the camels and ran away while I visited my sick mother. " Thou hast the soul of a queen, I told her. Much do I wish that I might lead thee to happiness. " Happiness, she responded, awaits not the runaway wife who seeks it in far lands amongstrange people. Go thy own way and may the gods of the desert protect thee for the way is far andbarren of food or water. "I needed no further urging, but thanked her warmly and was away into the night. I knew notthis strange country and had only a dim idea of the direction in which lay Babylon, but struck outbravely across the desert toward the hills. One camel I rode and the other I led. All that night I traveledand all the nest day, urged on by the knowledge of the terrible fate that was meted out to slaves whostole their masters property and tried to escape. "Late that afternoon, I reached a rough country as uninhabitable as the desert. The sharp rocksbruised the feet of my faithful camels and soon they were picking their way slowly and painfully along.I met neither man nor beast and could well understand why they shunned this inhospitable land. "It was such a journey from then on as few men live to tell of. Day after day we plodded along.Food and water gave out. The heat of the sun was merciless. At the end of the ninth day, I slid from theback of my mount with the feeling that I was too weak to ever remount and I would surely die, lost inthis abandoned country. "I stretched out upon the ground and slept, not waking until the first gleam of daylight. "I sat up and looked about me. There was a coolness in the morning air. My camels lay dejectednot far away. About me was a vast waste of broken country covered with rock and sand and thornythings, no sign of water, naught to eat for man or camel. "Could it be that in this peaceful quiet I faced my end? My mind was clearer than it had everbeen before. My body now seemed of little importance. My parched and bleeding lips, my dry andswollen tongue, my empty stomach, all had lost their supreme agonies of the day before. "I looked across into the uninviting distance and once again came to me the question, Have Ithe soul of a slave or the soul of a free man? Then with clearness I realized that if I had the soul of aslave, I should give up, lie down in the desert and die, a fitting end for a runaway slave. "But if I had the soul of a free man, what then? Surely I would force my way back to Babylon,repay the people who had trusted me, bring happiness to my wife who truly loved me and bring peaceand contentment to my parents. " Thy debts are thine enemies who have run thee out of Babylon, Sira had said. Yes it was so.Why had I refused to stand my ground like a man? Why had I permitted my wife to go back to herfather? 52
  • 53. "Then a strange thing happened. All the world seemed to be of a different color as though I hadbeen looking at it through a colored stone which had suddenly been removed. At last I saw the truevalues in life. "Die in the desert! Not I! With a new vision, I saw the things that I must do. First I would goback to Babylon and face every man to whom I owed an unpaid debt. I should tell them that after yearsof wandering and misfortune, I had come back to pay my debts as fast as the gods would permit. Next Ishould make a home for my wife and become a citizen of whom my parents should be proud. "My debts were my enemies, but the men I owed were my friends for they had trusted me andbelieved in me. "I staggered weakly to my feet. What mattered hunger? What mattered thirst? They were butincidents on the road to Babylon. Within me surged the soul of a free man going back to conquer hisenemies and reward his friends. I thrilled with the great resolve. "The glazed eyes of my camels brightened at the new note in my husky voice. With great effort,after many attempts, they gained their feet. With pitiful perseverance, they pushed on toward the northwhere something within me said we would find Babylon. "We found water. We passed into a more fertile country where were grass and fruit. We foundthe trail to Babylon because the soul of a free man looks at life as a series of problems to be solved andsolves them, while the soul of a slave whines, What can I do who am but a slave? "How about thee, Tarkad? Dost thy empty stomach make thy head exceedingly clear? Art readyto take the road that leads back to self respect? Canst thou see the world in its true color? Hast thou thedesire to pay thy honest debts, however many they may be, and once again be a man respected inBabylon?" Moisture came to the eyes of the youth. He rose eagerly to his knees. "Thou has shown me avision; already I feel the soul of a free man surge within me." "But how fared you upon your return?" questioned an interested listener. "Where the determination is, the way can be found" Dabasir replied. "I now had thedetermination so I set out to find a way. First I visited every man to whom I was indebted and beggedhis indulgence until I could earn that with which to repay. Most of them met me gladly. Several reviledme but others offered to help me; one indeed did give me the very help I needed. It was Mathon, thegold lender. Learning that I had been a camel tender in Syria; he sent me to old Nebatur, the cameltrader, just commissioned by our good king to purchase many herds of sound camels for the greatexpedition. With him, my knowledge of camels I put to good use. Gradually I was able to repay everycopper and every piece of silver. Then at last I could hold up my head and feel that I was an honorableman among men." Again Dabasir turned to his food. "Kauskor, thou snail," he called loudly to be heard in thekitchen, "the food is cold. Bring me more meat fresh from the roasting. Bring thou also a very largeportion for Tarkad, the son of my old friend, who is hungry and shall eat with me." So ended the tale of Dabasir the camel trader of old Babylon. He found his own soul when herealized a great truth, a truth that had been known and used by wise men long before his time. It has led men of all ages out of difficulties and into success and it will continue to do so forthose who have the wisdom to understand its magic power. It is for any man to use who reads theselines. WHERE THE DETERMINATION IS, THE WAY CAN BE FOUND 53
  • 54. The Clay Tablets From Babylon St. Swithins College Nottingham University Newark-on-Trent NottinghamProfessor Franklin Caldwell,Care of British Scientific Expedition,Hillah, Mesopotamia. October 21, 1934.My dear Professor: The five clay tablets from your recent excavationin the ruins of Babylon arrived on the same boat with your letter. Ihave been fascinated no end, and have spent many pleasant hourstranslating their inscriptions. I should have answered your letter atonce but delayed until I could complete the translations which areattached.The tablets arrived without damage, thanks to your careful use ofpreservatives and excellent packing.You will be as astonished as we in the laboratory at the story theyrelate. One expects the dim and distant past to speak of romance andadventure. "Arabian Nights" sort of things, you know. When instead itdiscloses the problem of a person named Dabasir to pay off his debts,one realizes that conditions upon this old world have not changed asmuch in five thousand years as one might expect.Its odd, you know , but these old inscriptions rather “rage” me, asthe students say. Being a college professor, I am supposed to be athinking human being possessing a working knowledge of most subjects.Yet, here comes this old chap out of the dust-covered ruins ofBabylon to offer a way I had never heard of to pay off my debts andat the same time acquire gold to jingle in my wallet.Pleasant thought, I say, and interesting to prove whether it willwork as well nowadays as it did in old Babylon. Mrs. Shrewsbury andmyself are planning to try out his plan upon our own affairs whichcould be much improved.Wishing you the best of luck in your worthy undertaking and waitingeagerly another opportunity to assist, I am Yours sincerely, 54
  • 55. Alfred H. Shewsbury,Department of Archaeology. 55
  • 56. Tablet No. I Now, when the moon becometh full, I, Dabasir, who am but recently returned from slavery inSyria, with the determination to pay my many just debts and become a man of means worthy of respectin my native city of Babylon, do here engrave upon the clay a permanent record of my affairs to guideand assist me in carrying through my high desires. Under the wise advice of my good friend Mathon, the gold lender, I am determined to follow anexact plan that he doth say will lead any honorable man out of debt into means and self respect. This plan includeth three purposes which are my hope and desire. First, the plan doth provide for my future prosperity. Therefore one-tenth of all I earn shall be set aside as my own to keep. For Mathon speakethwisely when he saith: "That man who keepeth in his purse both gold and silver that he need not spend is good to hisfamily and loyal to his king. "The man who hath but a few coppers in his purse is indifferent to his family and indifferent tohis king. "But the man who hath naught in his purse is unkind to his family and is disloyal to his king,for his own heart is bitter. "Therefore, the man who wisheth to achieve must have coin that he may keep to jingle in hispurse, that he have in his heart love for his family and loyalty to his king." Second, the plan doth provide that I shall support and clothe my good wife who hath returnedto me with loyalty from the house of her father. For Mathon doth say that to take good care of a faithfulwife putteth self-respect into the heart of a man and addeth strength and determination to his purposes. Therefore seven-tenths of all I earn shall be used to provide a home, clothes to wear, and foodto eat, with a bit extra to spend, that our lives be not lacking in pleasure and enjoyment. But he dothfurther enjoin the greatest care that we spend not greater than seven-tenths of what I earn for theseworthy purposes. Herein lieth the success of the plan. I must live upon this portion and never use more nor buy what I may not pay for out of thisportion. Tablet No. II Third, the plan doth provide that out of my earnings my debts shall be paid. Therefore each time the moon is full, two-tenths of all I have earned shall be divided honorablyand fairly among those who have trusted me and to whom I am indebted. Thus in due time will all myindebtedness be surely paid. Therefore, do I here engrave the name of every man to whom I amindebted and the honest amount of my debt. Fahru, the cloth weaver, 2 silver, 6 copper. Sinjar, the couch maker, 1 silver. Ahmar, my friend, 3 silver, 1 copper. Zankar, my friend, 4 silver, 7 copper, Askamir, my friend, 1 silver, 3 copper. Harinsir, the Jewelmaker, 6 silver, 2 copper. Diarbeker, my fathers friend, 4 silver, 1 copper. Alkahad, the house owner, 14 silver. Mathon, the gold lender, 9 silver. 56
  • 57. Birejik, the farmer, 1 silver, 7 copper. (From here on, disintegrated. Cannot be deciphered.) Tablet No. III To these creditors do I owe in total one hundred and nineteen pieces of silver and one hundredand forty-one pieces of copper. Because I did owe these sums and saw no way to repay, in my folly Idid permit my wife to return to her father and didst leave my native city and seek easy wealthelsewhere, only to find disaster and to see myself sold into the degradation of slavery. Now that Mathon doth show me how I can repay my debts in small sums of my earnings, do Irealize the great extent of my folly in running away from the results of my extravagances. Thereforehave I visited my creditors and explained to them that I have no resources with which to pay except myability to earn, and that I intent to apply two tenths of all I earn upon my indebtedness evenly andhonestly. This much can I pay but no more. Therefore if they be patient, in time my obligations will bepaid in full. Ahmar, whom I thought my best friend, reviled me bitterly and I left him in humiliation.Birejik, the farmer, pleaded that I pay him first as he didst badly need help. Alkahad, the house owner,was indeed disagreeable and insisted that he would make me trouble unless I didst soon settle in fullwith him. All the rest willingly accepted my proposal. Therefore am I more determined than ever to carrythrough, being convinced that it is easier to pay ones just debts than to avoid them. Even though Icannot meet the needs and demands of a few of my creditors I will deal impartially with all. Tablet No. IV Again the moon shines full. I have worked hard with a free mind. My good wife hath supportedmy intentions to pay my creditors. Because of our wise determination, I have earned during the pastmoon, buying camels of sound wind and good legs, for Nebatur, the sum of nineteen pieces of silver. This I have divided according to the plan. One-tenth have I set aside to keep as my own, seven-tenths have I divided with my good wife to pay for our living. Two-tenths have I divided among mycreditors as evenly as could be done in coppers. I did not see Ahmar but left it with his wife. Birejik was so pleased he would kiss my hand. OldAlkahad alone was grouchy and said I must pay faster. To which I replied that if I were permitted to bewell fed and not worried, that alone would enable me to pay faster. All the others thanked me and spokewell of my efforts. Therefore, at the end of one moon, my indebtedness is reduced by almost four pieces of silverand I possess almost two pieces of silver besides, upon which no man hath claim. My heart is lighterthan it hath been for a long time. Again the moon shines full. I have worked hard but with poor success. Few camels have I beenable to buy. Only eleven pieces of silver have I earned. Nevertheless my good wife and I have stood bythe plan even though we have bought no new raiment and eaten little but herbs. Again I paid ourselves one-tenth of the eleven pieces, while we lived upon seven-tenths. I wassurprised when Ahmar commended my payment, even though small. So did Birejik. Alkahad flew intoa rage but when told to give back his portion if he did not wish it, he became reconciled. The others, asbefore, were content Again the moon shines full and I am greatly rejoiced. I intercepted a fine herd ofcamels and bought many sound ones, therefore my earnings were forty-two pieces of silver. This moonmy wife and myself have bought much needed sandals and raiment Also we have dined well on meat 57
  • 58. and fowl. More than eight pieces of silver we have paid to our creditors. Even Alkahad did not protest. Great is the plan for it leadeth us out of debt and giveth us wealth which is ours to keep. Three times the moon had been full since I last carved upon this clay. Each time I paid tomyself one-tenth of all I earned. Each time my good wife and I have lived upon seven-tenths eventhough at times it was difficult. Each time have I paid to my creditors two-tenths. In my purse I now have twenty one pieces of silver that are mine. It maketh my head to standstraight upon my shoulders and maketh me proud to walk among my friends. My wife keepeth well ourhome and is becomingly gowned. We are happy to live together. The plan is of untold value. Hath it not made an honorable man of an ex-slave? Tablet No. V Again the moon shines full and I remember that it is long since I carved upon the clay. Twelvemoons in truth have come and gone. But this day I will not neglect my record because upon this day Ihave paid the last of my debts. This is the day upon which my good wife and my thankful self celebratewith great feasting that our determination hath been achieved. Many things occurred upon my final visit to my creditors that I shall long remember. Ahmarbegged my forgiveness for his unkind words and said that I was one of all others he most desired for afriend. Old Alkahad is not so bad after all, for he said, "Thou wert once a piece of soft clay to bepressed and moulded by any hand that touched thee, but now thou art a piece of bronze capable ofholding an edge. If thou needst silver or gold at any time come to me." Nor is he the only one who holdeth me in high regard. Many others speak deferentially to me.My good wife looketh upon me with a light in her eyes that doth make a man have confidence inhimself. Yet it is the plan that hath made my success. It hath enabled me to pay all my debts and tojingle both gold and silver in my purse. I do commend it to all who wish to get ahead. For truly if it willenable an ex-slave to pay his debts and have gold in his purse, will it not aid any man to findindependence? Nor am I, myself, finished with it, for I am convinced that if I follow it further it willmake me rich among men. 58
  • 59. St. Swithins College Nottingham University Newark-on-Trent NottinghamProfessor Franklin Caldwell,Care of British Scientific Expedition,Hillah, Mesopotamia. November 7th, 1936.My dear professor:If, in your further digging into those ruins of Babylon, youencounter the ghost of a former resident, an old camel trader namedDabasir, do me a favor. Tell him that his scribbling upon those claytablets, so long ago, has earned for him the life long gratitude of acouple of college folks back here in England.You will possibly remember my writing a year ago that Mrs. Shrewsburyand myself intended to try his plan for getting out of debt and atthe same time having gold to jingle. You may have guessed, eventhough we tried to keep it from our friends, our desperate straits.We were frightfully humiliated for years by a lot of old debts andworried sick for fear some of the tradespeople might start a scandalthat would force me out of the college. We paid and paid—everyshilling we could squeeze out of income—but it was hardly enough tohold things even. Besides we were forced to do all our buying wherewe could get further credit regardless of higher costs.It developed into one of those vicious circles that grow worseinstead of better. Our struggles were getting hopeless. We could notmove to less costly rooms because we owed the landlord. There did notappear to be anything we could do to improve our situation.Then, here comes your acquaintance, the old camel trader fromBabylon, with a plan to do just what we wished to accomplish. Hejolly well stirred us up to follow his system. We made a list of allour debts and I took it around and showed it to everyone we owed.I explained how it was simply impossible for me to ever pay them theway things were going along. They could readily see this themselvesfrom the figures. Then I explained that the only way I saw to pay infull was to set aside twenty percent of my income each month to bedivided pro rata, which would pay them in full in a little over twoyears. That, in the meantime, we would go on a cash basis and give 59
  • 60. them the further benefit of our cash purchases.They were really quite decent. Our greengrocer, a wise old chap, putit in a way that helped to bring around the rest. "If you pay for allyou buy and then pay some on what you owe, that is better than youhave done, for ye aint paid down the account none in three years."Finally I secured all their names to an agreement binding them not tomolest us as long as the twenty percent of income was paid regularly.Then we began scheming on how to live upon seventy percent. We weredetermined to keep that extra ten percent to jingle. The thought ofsilver and possibly gold was most alluring.It was like having an adventure to make the change. We enjoyedfiguring this way and that, to live comfortably upon that remainingseventy percent. We started with rent and managed to secure a fairreduction. Next we put our favorite brands of tea and such undersuspicion and were agreeably surprised how often we could purchasesuperior qualities at less cost.It is too long a story for a letter but anyhow it did not provedifficult. We managed and right cheerfully at that. What a relief itproved to have our affairs in such a shape we were no longerpersecuted by past due accounts.I must not neglect, however, to tell you about that extra ten percentwe were supposed to jingle. Well, we did jingle it for some time. Nowdont laugh too soon. You see, that is the sporty part. It is thereal fun, to start accumulating money that you do not want to spend.There is more pleasure in running up such a surplus than there couldbe in spending it.After we had jingled to our hearts content, we found a moreprofitable use for it. We took up an investment upon which we couldpay that ten percent each month. This is proving to be the mostsatisfying part of our regeneration. It is the first thing we pay outof my check.There is a most gratifying sense of security to know our investmentis growing steadily. By the time my teaching days are over it shouldbe a snug sum, large enough so the income will take care of us fromthen on.All this out of my same old check. Difficult to believe, yetabsolutely true. All our debts being gradually paid and at the sametime our investment increasing. Besides we get along, financially,even better than before. Who would believe there could be such a 60
  • 61. difference in results between following a financial plan and justdrifting along.At the end of the next year, when all our old bills shall have beenpaid, we will have more to pay upon our investment besides some extrafor travel.We are determined never again to permit our living expenses to exceedseventy percent of our income. Now you can understand why we wouldlike to extend our personal thanks to that old chap whose plan savedus from our "Hell on Earth."He knew. He had been through it all. He wanted others to benefit fromhis own bitter experiences. That is why he spent tedious hourscarving his message upon the clay. He had a real message for fellowsufferers, a message so important that after five thousand years ithas risen out of the ruins of Babylon, just as true and just as vitalas the day it was buried.Yours sincerely,Alfred H. Shrewsbury,Department of Archaeology. 61
  • 62. The Luckiest Man in Babylon At the head of his caravan, proudly rode Sharru Nada, the merchant prince of Babylon. Heliked fine cloth and wore rich and becoming robes. He liked fine animals and sat easily upon hisspirited Arabian stallion. To look at him one would hardly have guessed his advanced years. Certainlythey would not have suspected that he was inwardly troubled. The journey from Damascus is long and the hardships of the desert many. These he minded not.The Arab tribes are fierce and eager to loot rich caravans. These he feared not for his many fleetmounted guards were a safe protection. About the youth at his side, whom he was bringing from Damascus, was he disturbed. This wasHadan Gula, the grandson of his partner of other years, Arad Gula, to whom he felt he owed a debt ofgratitude which could never be repaid. He would like to do something for this grandson, but the morehe considered this, the more difficult it seemed because of the youth himself. Eyeing the young mans rings and earrings, he thought to himself, "He thinks jewels are formen, still he has his grandfathers strong face. But his grandfather wore no such gaudy robes. Yet, Isought him to come, hoping I might help him get a start for himself and get away from the wreck hisfather has made of their inheritance." Hadan Gula broke in upon his thoughts, "Why dost thou work so hard, riding always with thycaravan upon its long journeys? Dost thou never take time to enjoy life?" Sharru Nada smiled. "To enjoy life?" he repeated. "What wouldst thou do to enjoy life if thouwert Sharru Nada?" "If I had wealth equal to thine, I would live like a prince. Never across the hot desert would Iride. I would spend the shekels as fast as they came to my purse. I would wear the richest of robes andthe rarest of jewels. That would be a life to my liking, a life worth living." Both men laughed. "Thy grandfather wore no jewels." Sharru Nada spoke before he thought, then continuedjokingly, "Wouldst thou leave no time for work?" "Work was made for slaves," Hadan Gula responded. Sharra Nada bit his lip but made no reply, riding in silence until the trail led them to the slope.Here he reined his mount and pointing to the green valley far away, "See, there is the valley. Look fardown and thou canst faintly see the walls of Babylon. The tower is the Temple of Bel. If thine eyes aresharp thou mayest even see the smoke from the eternal fire upon its crest." "So that is Babylon? Always have I longed to see the wealthiest city in all the world," HadanGula commented. "Babylon, where my grandfather started his fortune. Would he were still alive. Wewould not be so sorely pressed." "Why wish his spirit to linger on earth beyond its allotted time? Thou and thy father can wellcarry on his good work." "Alas, of us, neither has his gift. Father and myself know not his secret for attracting the goldenshekels." Sharru Nada did not reply but gave rein to his mount and rode thoughtfully down the trail to thevalley. Behind them followed the caravan in a cloud of reddish dust. Some time later they reached theKings highway and turned south through the irrigated farms. Three old men plowing a field caught Sharru Nadas attention. They seemed strangely familiar.How ridiculous! One does not pass a field after forty years and find the same men plowing there. Yet,something within him said they were the same. One, with an uncertain grip, held the plow. The otherslaboriously plodded beside the oxen, ineffectually beating them with their barrel staves to keep thempulling. 62
  • 63. Forty years ago he had envied these men! How gladly he would have exchanged places! Butwhat a difference now. With pride he looked back at his trailing caravan, well- chosen camels anddonkeys, loaded high with valuable goods from Damascus. All this was but one of his possessions. He pointed to the plowers, saying, "Still plowing the same field where they were forty yearsago." "They look it, but why thinkest thou they are the same?" "I saw them there," Sharru Nada replied. Recollections were racing rapidly through his mind.Why could he not bury the past and live in the present? Then he saw, as in a picture, the smiling face ofArad Gula. The barrier between himself and the cynical youth beside him dissolved. But how could he help such a superior youth with his spendthrift ideas and bejeweled hands?Work he could offer in plenty to willing workers, but naught for men who considered themselves toogood for work. Yet he owed it to Arad Gula to do something, not a half-hearted attempt. He and AradGula had never done things that way. They were not that sort of men. A plan came almost in a flash. There were objections. He must consider his own family and hisown standing. It would be cruel; it would hurt. Being a man of quick decisions, he waived objectionsand decided to act. "Wouldst thou be interested in hearing how thy worthy grandfather and myself joined in thepartnership which proved so profitable?" he questioned. "Why not just tell me how thou madest the golden shekels? That is all I need to know," theyoung man parried. Sharru Nada ignored the reply and continued, "We start with those men plowing. I was no olderthan thou. As the column of men in which I marched approached, good old Megiddo, the farmer,scoffed at the slip-shod way in which they plowed. Megiddo was chained next to me. Look at the lazyfellows, he protested, the plow holder makes no effort to plow deep, nor do the beaters keep the oxenin the furrow. How can they expect to raise a good crop with poor plowing?" "Didst thou say Megiddo was chained to thee?" Hadan Gula asked in surprise. "Yes, with bronze collars about our necks and a length of heavy chain between us. Next to himwas Zabado, the sheep thief. I had known him in Harroun. At the end was a man we called Piratebecause he told us not his name. We judged him as a sailor as he had entwined serpents tattooed uponhis chest in sailor fashion. The column was made up thus so the men could walk in fours." "Thou wert chained as a slave?" Hadan Gula asked incredulously. "Did not thy grandfather tell thee I was once a slave?" "He often spoke of thee but never hinted of this." "He was a man thou couldst trust with innermost secrets. Thou, too, are a man I may trust, am Inot right?" Sharru Nada looked him squarely in the eye. "Thou mayest rely upon my silence, but I am amazed. Tell me how didst thou come to be aslave?" Sharru Nada shrugged his shoulders, "Any man may find himself a slave. It was a gaminghouse and barley beer that brought me disaster. I was the victim of my brothers indiscretions. In abrawl he killed his friend. I was bonded to the widow by my fattier, desperate to keep my brother frombeing prosecuted under the law. When my father could not raise the silver to free me, she in anger soldme to the slave dealer." "What a shame and injustice!" Hadan Gula protested. "But tell me, how didst thou regainfreedom?" "We shall come to that, but not yet. Let us continue my tale. As we passed, the plowers jeered atus. One did doff his ragged hat and bow low, calling out, "Welcome to Babylon, guests of the King. Hewaits for thee on the city walls where the banquet is spread, mud bricks and onion soup. With that they 63
  • 64. laughed uproariously. "Pirate flew into a rage and cursed them roundly. What do those men mean by the Kingawaiting us on the walls? I asked him. "To the city walls ye march to carry bricks until the back breaks. Maybe they beat thee to deathbefore it breaks. They wont beat me. Ill kill em. "Then Megiddo spoke up, It doesnt make sense to me to talk of masters beating willing, hard-working slaves to death. Masters like good slaves and treat them well." " Who wants to work hard? commented Zabado. Those plowers are wise fellows. Theyre notbreaking their backs. Just letting on as if they be. " Thou cant get ahead by shirking, Megiddo protested. If thou plow a hectare, thats a gooddays work and any master knows it. But when thou plow only a half, thats shirking. I dont shirk. I liketo work and I like to do good work, for work is the best friend Ive ever known. It has brought me allthe good things Ive had, my farm and cows and crops, everything. " Yea, and where be these things now? scoffed Zabado. I figure it pays better to be smart andget by without working. You watch Zabado, if were sold to the walls, hell be carrying the water bag orsome easy job when thou, who like to work, will be breaking thy back carrying bricks. He laughed hissilly laugh. "Terror gripped me that night. I could not sleep. I crowded close to the guard rope, and whenthe others slept, I attracted the attention of Godoso who was doing the first guard watch. He was one ofthose brigand Arabs, the sort of rogue who, if he robbed thee of thy purse, would think he must also cutthy throat. " Tell me, Godoso, I whispered, when we get to Babylon will we be sold to the walls? " Why want to know? he questioned cautiously. " Canst thou not understand? I pleaded. I am young. I want to live. I dont want to be workedor beaten to death on the walls. Is there any chance for me to get a good master? "He whispered back, I tell something. Thou good fellow, give Godoso no trouble. Most timeswe go first to slave market. Listen now. When buyers come, tell em you good worker, like to workhard for good master. Make em want to buy. You not make em buy, next day you carry brick. Mightyhard work. "After he walked away, I lay in the warm sand, looking up at the stars and thinking about work.What Megiddo had said about it being his best friend made me wonder if it would be my best friend.Certainly it would be if it helped me out of this. "When Megiddo awoke, I whispered my good news to him. It was our one ray of hope as wemarched toward Babylon. Late in the afternoon we approached the walls and could see the lines ofmen, like black ants, climbing up and down the steep diagonal paths. As we drew closer, we wereamazed at the thousands of men working; some were digging in the moat, others mixed the dirt intomud bricks. The greatest number were carrying the bricks in large baskets up those steep trails to themasons.* "Overseers cursed the laggards and cracked bullock whips over the backs of those who failed tokeep in line. Poor, worn-out fellows were seen to stagger and fall beneath their heavy baskets, unable torise again. If the lash failed to bring them to their feet, they were pushed to the side of the paths and leftwrithing in agony. Soon they would be dragged down to join other craven bodies beside the roadway toawait un-sanctified graves. As I beheld the ghastly sight, I shuddered. So this was what awaited myfathers son if he failed at the slave market.___________________________________________________________________________________ *The famous works of ancient Babylon, its walls, temples, hanging gardens and great canals, 64
  • 65. were built by slave labor, mainly prisoners of war, which explains the inhuman treatment they received.This force of workmen also included many citizens of Babylon and its provinces who had been soldinto slavery because of crimes or financial troubles. It was a common custom for men to putthemselves, their wives or their children up as a bond to guarantee payment of loans, legal judgmentsor other obligations. In case of default, those so bonded were sold into slavery. 65
  • 66. "Godoso had been right. We were taken through the gates of the city to the slave prison andnext morning marched to the pens in the market. Here the rest of the men huddled in fear and only thewhips of our guard could keep them moving so the buyers could examine them. Megiddo and myselfeagerly talked to every man who permitted us to address him. "The slave dealer brought soldiers from the Kings Guard who shackled Pirate and brutally beathim when he protested. As they led him away, I felt sorry for him. "Megiddo felt that we would soon part. When no buyers were near, he talked to me earnestly toimpress upon me how valuable work would be to me in the future: Some men hate it. They make ittheir enemy. Better to treat it like a friend, make thyself like it. Dont mind because it is hard. If thouthinkest about what a good house thou build, then who cares if the beams are heavy and it is far fromthe well to carry the water for the plaster. Promise me, boy, if thou get a master, work for him as hard asthou canst. If he does not appreciate all thou do, never mind. Remember, work, well-done, does good tothe man who does it. It makes him a better man. He stopped as a burly farmer came to the enclosureand looked at us critically. "Megiddo asked about his farm and crops, soon convincing him that he would be a valuableman. After violent bargaining with the slave dealer, the farmer drew a fat purse from beneath his robe,and soon Megiddo had followed his new master out of sight. "A few other men were sold during the morning. At noon Godoso confided to me that the dealerwas disgusted and would not stay over another night but would take all who remained at sundown tothe Kings buyer. I was becoming desperate when a fat, good-natured man walked up to the wall andinquired if there was a baker among us. "I approached him saying, "Why should a good baker like thyself seek another baker of inferiorways? Would it not be easier to teach a willing man like myself thy skilled ways? Look at me, I amyoung, strong and like to work. Give me a chance and I will do my best to earn gold and silver for thypurse." "He was impressed by my willingness and began bargaining with the dealer who had nevernoticed me since he had bought me but now waxed eloquent on my abilities, good health and gooddisposition. I felt like a fat ox being sold to a butcher. At last, much to my joy, the deal was closed. Ifollowed my new master away, thinking I was the luckiest man in Babylon. "My new home was much to my liking. Nana-naid, my master, taught me how to grind thebarley in the stone bowl that stood in the courtyard, how to build the fire in the oven and then how togrind very fine the sesame flour for the honey cakes. I had a couch in the shed where his grain wasstored. The old slave housekeeper, Swasti, fed me well and was pleased at the way I helped her with theheavy tasks. "Here was the chance I had longed for to make myself valuable to my master and, I hoped, tofind a way to earn my freedom. "I asked Nana-naid to show me how to knead the bread and to bake. This he did, much pleasedat my willingness. Later, when I could do this well, I asked him to show me how to make the honeycakes, and soon I was doing all the baking. My master was glad to be idle, but Swasti shook her head indisapproval, No work to do is bad for any man, she declared. "I felt it was time for me to think of a way by which I might start to earn coins to buy myfreedom. As the baking was finished at noon, I thought Nana-naid would approve if I found profitableemployment for the afternoons and might share my earnings with me. Then the thought came to me,why not bake more of the honey cakes and peddle them to hungry men upon the streets of the city? "I presented my plan to Nana-naid this way: If I can use my afternoons after the baking isfinished to earn for thee coins, would it be only fair for thee to share my earnings with me that I mighthave money of my own to spend for those things which every man desires and needs? 66
  • 67. " Fair enough, fair enough, he admitted. When I told him of my plan to peddle our honeycakes, he was well pleased. Here is what we will do, he suggested. Thou sellest them at two for apenny, then half of the pennies will be mine to pay for the flour and the honey and the wood to bakethem. Of the rest, I shall take half and thou shall keep half. "I was much pleased by his generous offer that I might keep for myself, one-fourth of my sales.That night I worked late to make a tray upon which to display them. Nana-naid gave me one of hisworn robes that I might look well, and Swasti helped me patch it and wash it clean. "The next day I baked an extra supply of honey cakes. They looked brown and tempting uponthe tray as I went along the street, loudly calling my wares. At first no one seemed interested, and Ibecame discouraged. I kept on and later in the afternoon as men became hungry, the cakes began to selland soon my tray was empty. "Nana-naid was well pleased with my success and gladly paid me my share. I was delighted toown pennies. Megiddo had been right when he said a master appreciated good work from his slaves.That night I was so excited over my success I could hardly sleep and tried to figure how much I couldearn in a year and how many years would be required to buy my freedom. "As I went forth with my tray of cakes every day, I soon found regular customers. One of thesewas none other than thy grandfather, Arad Gula. He was a rug merchant and sold to the housewives,going from one end of the city the other, accompanied by a donkey loaded high with rugs and a blackslave to tend it. He would buy two cakes for himself and two for his slave, always tarrying to talk withme while they ate them. Thy grandfather said something to me one day that I shall always remember. I like thy cakes,boy, but better still I like the fine enterprise with which thou offerest them. Such spirit can carry theefar on the road to success. "But how canst thou understand, Hadan Gula, what such words of encouragement could meanto a slave boy, lonesome in a great city, struggling with all he had in him to find a way out of hishumiliation? "As the months went by I continued to add pennies to my purse. It began to have a comfortingweight upon my belt. Work was proving to be my best friend Just as Megiddo had said. I was happy butSwasti was worried. " Thy master, I fear to have him spend so much time at the gaming houses, she protested. "I was overjoyed one day to meet my friend Megiddo upon the street. He was leading threedonkeys loaded with vegetables to the market. I am doing mighty well, he said. My master doesappreciate my good work for now I am a foreman. See, he does trust the marketing to me, and also heis sending for my family. Work is helping me to recover from my great trouble. Some day it will helpme to buy my freedom and once more own a farm of my own. "Time went on and Nana-naid became more and more anxious for me to return from selling. Hewould be waiting when I returned and would eagerly count and divide our money. He would also urgeme to seek further markets and increase my sales. "Often I went outside the city gates to solicit the overseers of the slaves building the walls. Ihated to return to the disagreeable sights but found the overseers liberal buyers. One day I wassurprised to see Zabado waiting in line to fill his basket with bricks. He was gaunt and bent, and hisback was covered with welts and sores from the whips of the overseers. I was sorry for him and handedhim a cake which he crushed into his mouth like a hungry animal. Seeing the greedy look in his eyes, Iran before he could grab my tray. " Why dost thou work so hard? Arad Gula said to me one day. Almost the same question thouasked of me today, dost thou remember? I told him what Megiddo had said about work and how it wasproving to be my best friend. I showed him with pride my wallet of pennies and explained how I was 67
  • 68. saving them to buy my freedom. " When thou art free, what wilt thou do? he inquired. " Then, I answered, I intend to become a merchant. "At that, he confided in me. Something I had never suspected. Thou knowest not that I, also,am a slave. I am in partnership with my master. " "Stop," demanded Hadan Gula. I will not listen to lies defaming my grandfather. He was noslave." His eyes blazed in anger. Sharru Nada remained calm. "I honor him for rising above his misfortune and becoming aleading citizen of Damascus. Art thou, his grandson, cast of the same mold? Art thou man enough toface true facts, or dost thou prefer to live under false illusions?" Hadan Gula straightened in his saddle. In a voice suppressed with deep emotion he replied,"My grandfather was beloved by all. Countless were his good deeds. When the famine came did not hisgold buy grain in Egypt and did not his caravan bring it to Damascus and distribute it to the people sonone would starve? Now thou sayest he was but a despised slave in Babylon." "Had he remained a slave in Babylon, then he might well have been despised, but when,through his own efforts, he became a great man in Damascus, the Gods indeed condoned hismisfortunes and honored him with their respect," Sharru Nada replied. "After telling me that he was a slave," Sharru Nada continued, he explained how anxious hehad been to earn his freedom. Now that he had enough money to buy this he was much disturbed as towhat he should do. He was no longer making good sales and feared to leave the support of his master. "I protested his indecision: Cling no longer to thy master. Get once again the feeling of being afree man. Act like a free man and succeed like one! Decide what thou desirest to accomplish and thenwork will aid thee to achieve it! He went on his way saying he was glad I had shamed him for hiscowardice.* "One day I went outside the gates again, and was surprised to find a great crowd gatheringthere. When I asked a man for an explanation he replied: Hast thou not heard? An escaped slave whomurdered one of the Kings guards has been brought to justice and will this day be flogged to death forhis crime. Even the King himself is to be here. "So dense was the crowd about the flogging post, I feared to go near lest my tray of honeycakes be upset. Therefore, I climbed up the unfinished wall to see over the heads of the people. I wasfortunate in having a view of Nebuchadnezzar himself as he rode by in his golden chariot. Never had Ibeheld such grandeur, such robes and hangings of gold cloth and velvet. "I could not see the flogging though I could hear the shrieks of the poor slave. I wandered howone so noble as our handsome King could endure to see such suffering, yet when I saw he was laughingand joking with his nobles, I knew he was cruel and understood why such inhuman tasks weredemanded of the slaves building the walls. "After the slave was dead, his body was hung upon a pole by a rope attached to his leg so allmight see. As the crowd began to thin, I went close. On the hairy chest, I saw tattooed, two entwinedserpents. It was Pirate. "The next time I met Arad Gula he was a changed man.Full of enthusiasm hegreeted me: Behold, the slave thou knewest is now a free man. There was magic in thy words. Alreadymy sales and my profits are increasing. My wife is overjoyed. She was a free woman, the niece of mymaster. She much desires that we move to a strange city where no man shall know I was once a slave.Thus our children shall be above reproach for their fathers misfortune. Work has become my besthelper. It has enabled me to recapture my confidence and my skill to sell. "I was overjoyed that I had been able even in a small way, to repay him for the encouragementhe had given me.___________________________________________________________________________________ 68
  • 69. *Slave customs in ancient Babylon, though they may seem inconsistent to us, were strictly regulated bylaw. For example, a slave could own property of any kind, even other slaves upon which his master hadno claim. Slaves intermarried freely with non-slaves. Children of free mothers were free. Most of thecity merchants were slaves. Many of these were in partnership with their masters and wealthy in theirown right. 69
  • 70. "One evening Swasti came to me in deep distress: Thy master is in trouble. I fear for him.Some months ago he lost much at the gaming tables. He pays not the farmer for his grain nor his honey.He pays not the money lender. They are angry and threaten him. " "Why should we worry over his folly. We are not his keepers, I replied thoughtlessly. " Foolish youth, thou understandeth not. To the money lender didst he give thy title to secure aloan. Under the law he can claim thee and sell thee. I know not what to do. He is a good master. Why?Oh why, should such trouble come upon him? "Not were Swastis fears groundless. While I was doing the baking next morning, the moneylender returned with a man he called Sasi. This man looked me over and said I would do. "The money lender waited not for my master to return but told Swasti to tell him he had takenme. With only the robe on my back and the purse of pennies hanging safely from my belt, I was hurriedaway from the unfinished baking. "I was whirled away from my dearest hopes as the hurricane snatches the tree from the forestand casts it into the surging sea. Again a gaming house and barley beer had caused me disaster. "Sasi was a blunt, gruff man. As he led me across the city, I told him of the good work I hadbeen doing for Nana-naid and said I hoped to do good work for him. His reply offered noencouragement: " I like not this work. My master likes it not. The King has told him to send me to build asection of the Grand Canal. Master tells Sasi to buy more slaves, work hard and finish quick. Bah, howcan any man finish a big job quick? "Picture a desert with not a tree, just low shrubs and a sun burning with such fury the water inour barrels became so hot we could scarcely drink it. Then picture rows of men, going down into thedeep escavation and lugging heavy baskets of dirt up soft, dusty trails from daylight until dark. Picturefood served in open troughs from which we helped ourselves like swine. We had no tents, no straw forbeds. That was the situation in which I found myself. I buried my wallet in a marked spot, wondering ifI would ever dig it up again. "At first I worked with good will, but as the months dragged on, I felt my spirit breaking. Thenthe heat fever took hold of my weary body. I lost my appetite and could scarcely eat the mutton andvegetables. At night I would toss in unhappy wakefulness. "In my misery, I wondered if Zabado had not the best plan, to shirk and keep his back frombeing broken in work. Then I recalled my last sight of him and knew his plan was not good. "I thought of Pirate with his bitterness and wondered if it might be just as well to fight and kill.The memory of his bleeding body reminded me that his plan was also useless. "Then I remembered my last sight of Megiddo. His hands were deeply calloused from hardwork but his heart was light and there was happiness on his face. His was the best plan. "Yet I was just as willing to work as Megiddo; he could not have worked harder than I. Whydid not my work bring me happiness and success? Was it work that brought Megiddo happiness, or washappiness and success merely in the laps of the Gods? Was I to work the rest of my life without gainingmy desires, without happiness and success? All of these questions were jumbled in my mind and I hadnot an answer. Indeed, I was sorely confused. "Several days later when it seemed that I was at the endof my endurance and my questions still unanswered, Sasi sent for me. A messenger had come from mymaster to take me back to Babylon. I dug up my precious wallet, wrapped myself in the tatteredremnants of my robe and was on my way. "As we rode, the same thoughts of a hurricane whirling me hither and thither kept racingthrough my feverish brain. I seemed to be living the weird words of a chant from my native town ofHarroun: 70
  • 71. Besetting a man like a whirlwind, Driving him like a storm, Whose course no one can foliate, Whose destiny no one can foretell. "Was I destined to be ever thus punished for I knew not what? What new miseries anddisappointments awaited me? "When we rode to the courtyard of my masters house, imagine my surprise when I saw AradGula awaiting me. He helped me down and hugged me like a long lost brother. "As we went our way I would have followed him as a slave should follow his master, but hewould not permit me. He put his arm about me, saying, I hunted everywhere for thee. When I hadalmost given up hope, I did meet Swasti who told me of the money lender, who directed me to thynoble owner. A hard bargain he did drive and made me pay an outrageous price, but thou art worth it.Thy philosophy and thy enterprise have been my inspiration to this new success." " Megiddos philosophy, not mine, I interrupted. " Megiddos and thine. Thanks to thee both, we are going to Damascus and I need thee for mypartner. See, he exclaimed, in one moment thou will be a free man! So saying he drew from beneathhis robe the clay tablet carrying my title. This he raised above his head and hurled it to break in ahundred pieces upon the cobble stones. With glee he stamped upon the fragments until they were butdust. "Tears of gratitude filled my eyes. I knew I was the luckiest man in Babylon. "Work, thou see, by this, in the time of my greatest distress, didst prove to be my best friend.My willingness to work enabled me to escape from being sold to join the slave gangs upon the walls. Italso so impressed thy grandfather, he selected me for his partner." Then Hadan Gula questioned, "Was work my grandfathers secret key to the golden shekels?""It was the only key he had when I first knew him," Sharru Nada replied. "Thy grandfather enjoyedworking. The Gods appreciated his efforts and rewarded him liberally." "I begin to see," Hadan Gula was speaking thoughtfully. "Work attracted his many friends whoadmired his industry and the success it brought. Work brought him the honors he enjoyed so much inDamascus. Work brought him all those things I have approved. And I thought work was fit only forslaves." "Life is rich with many pleasures for men to enjoy," Sharru Nada commented. "Each has itsplace. I am glad that work is not reserved for slaves. Were that the case I would be deprived of mygreatest pleasure. Many things do I enjoy but nothing takes the place of work." Sharru Nada and Hadan Gula rode in the shadows of the towering walls up to the massive,bronze gates of Babylon. At their approach the gate guards jumped to attention and respectfully salutedan honored citizen. With head held high Sharru Nada led the long caravan through the gates and up thestreets of the city. "I have always hoped to be a man like my grandfather," Hadan Gula confided to him. "Neverbefore did I realize just what kind of man he was. This thou hast shown me. Now that I understand, I doadmire him all the more and feel more determined to be like him. I fear I can never repay thee forgiving me the true key to his success. From this day forth, I shall use his key. I shall start humbly as hestarted, which befits my true station far better than jewels and fine robes." So saying Hadan Gula pulled the jeweled baubles from his ears and the rings from his fingers.Then reining his horse, He dropped back and rode with deep respect behind the Leader of the caravan. 71
  • 72. 72