In the town of Adrianople there lived an Armenian patriarch, Munadi Hagop by name, respected and loved alike by Mussulman and Christian. He was a man of wide reading and profound judgment.

The Ottoman governor of the same place, Usref Pasha, happened also to be a man of considerable acquirements and education. The patriarch and the governor therefore associated much together. Common literary tastes made them the best of friends, as common literary tastes sometimes bring together in close intimacy the Protestant rector and the Catholic parish priest in a remote Connemara parish wherein these two are the only educated persons. They were frequently seen walking out together or visiting one another at their respective houses. This went on for some time, and the twelve wise men who were judges in the city thought that their governor was doing wrong in associating so much with a dog of a Christian; so they resolved to call him to account.

This resolution taken, the entire twelve proceeded to the house of the governor and told him that he was setting a bad example to his subjects. They feared, too, that the salvation of his own soul and of his posterity was in danger, should this Armenian in any way influence his mind.

"My friends," answered the governor, " this man is very learned, and the only reason why we so often come together is because a great sympathy exists between us with regard to literary and philosophical subjects, and that we therefore much mutual pleasure from our friendship. I ask his advice, and he gives me a clear explanation. He asks my advice, and frequently I am able to enlighten him. He is my friend, and I would gladly see him your friend also."

"Oh," said the spokesman of the judges, "It is his wise answers, then, that act like magic on you? Well, we will give him a question to answer, and if he solves it to our satis faction we shall freely admit that he is a really great man."

"I am sure you will not be disappointed!" said the pasha. "He has never failed me, and I have sometimes put questions to him which appeared unanswerable. He will surely call to-morrow. Shall I send him to you or bring him myself?"

"We wish to see him alone," said the judges. "I shall not fail to send him to you to-morrow, and I assure you that after you have seen him once you will often seek his company."

On the following day the pasha told the patriarch how matters stood, and begged him to call on the gentlemen who took so lively an interest in their friendly relations.

The patriarch, never dreaming of what would happen, called on the twelve wise men and introduced himself. They were holding the divan, and the entrance of the patriarch gave considerable pleasure to them. On the table lay a turban and a drawn sword.

The customary salutations having been duly exchanged, the patriarch seated himself, and at once told them that his friend the governor had asked him to call, and he took much pleasure in making their acquaintance, adding that he would be happy to do anything in his power that they might wish.

The spokesman of the divan rose and said: "Effendi, our friend the governor has told us of your great learning, and we have decided to put a question to you. The reason of our taking this liberty is because the governor told us that he had never put a question to you which had remained unanswered." And as he spoke he moved toward the table. "Effendi, our question will consist of only a few words." And laying his right hand on the turban and his left hand on the sword, he said: "Is this right? ... or is this right?"

The patriarch paused, aghast at the terrible nature of the interrogation. He saw destruction staring him in the face. Nevertheless, he said with great composure: "Gentlemen, you have put an exceedingly difficult question to me, the most difficult that could be put to man. However, it is a question put, and now, according to your laws, it cannot be recalled."

"No," answered in one voice the twelve wise men, "It cannot be recalled."

"I will only say that it grieves me much that I must reply to this question," the patriarch continued, "and I cannot do so without fervent long-continued prayers for guidance. Therefore I beg to request a week's time before giving my answer."

To this no objection was made, and the patriarch prepared to go. Respectfully bowing to all present, as if nothing out of the common had happened, he slowly moved toward the door apparently in deep thought. Just as he reached the door he turned back, and addressing the judges said: "Gentlemen, one of the reasons why I had great pleasure in meeting you to-day was this: I wished to have your advice on a difficult legal problem which has been presented to me by some members of my community. Knowing your great wisdom, I thought you might assist me, and, as you are now sitting in lawful council I shall, if it be agreeable to you, put the case before you and be very grateful to have your opinion."

The judges, whose curiosity was aroused, and who were flattered that a man of such a high reputation for wisdom should ask for their advice, begged him to proceed.

"Gentlemen and wise men," began the patriarch, "there was once a father, and this father had thirteen sons, who were esteemed by all who knew them. As time with sure hand marked its progress on the issue of this good man, and the children grew into youth, they one by one went into the world, spreading to the four known quarters of the globe, and carrying with them the good influence given by their father. Through them the name of the father spread, causing a great moral and mental revolution throughout the world. The father in his native home, however, saw that he was old and well stricken in age, and he knew not the day of his death. And, behold, he yearned to see his sons once more that he might bless them before he died. He accordingly sent messengers all over the world, saying: 'Come, my sons, and receive your father's blessing before the Lord before my death. Come and take each one of ye your portion of the worldly possessions I have, together with my blessing. And when my soul hath blessed you go ye forth again, doing each one his duty to God and man.' "

One by one the sons of the aged father came, and once more were they united in the ancient home of their childhood. They all returned thus with the exception of one son. The remaining days of the old man were spent with his twelve sons, and the brothers found that all of them had retained the teachings of their infancy, and their mutual pleasure was great. This period of reunion, though it was of comparatively short duration, was happier by far than the years of childhood and youth which the father and the sons had spent together. Still it was marked by a cloud: the thirteenth son had not been found. The messengers returned one after the other, bearing no tidings of him.

The old father saw that he could wait no longer, that he must dispose of his worldly possessions, give his blessing to his twelve sons, and rejoin his Father. So he called them to his side, and spake unto them thus, saying: " ' My sons, as you have done unto me, so likewise may it be done unto you. You have cheered my last steps to the grave, and I bless you.'

"And the father's blessing was bestowed on each.

" ' Of all I possess,' said the father, ' I give unto each of you an equal share with my blessing. You are my offspring; and may God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful, that ye may be a multitude of people. You are my twelve sons, and I have no others. Your brother who was is no longer. We have waited long, that he should take his portion and my blessing; but he hath tarried elsewhere, and now the hand of my Father is on me, and as you have come unto me, so must I go unto Him.'

" So the father ordained that the twelve should be his sole heirs, and declared that anyone coming afterwards and claiming to be his lost son was an impostor. Then the aged patriarch gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

"The twelve sons again went forth into the world, and carried with them the blessings and teachings of their father, and those teachings developed and grew, and the memory of their father was cherished and blessed among them.

"And it came to pass that, many years after, a person came claiming to be the missing son, and sought to obtain the part of the inheritance due to him. Not only did he wish his own share, but he claimed the whole worldly possessions of his father. He said that he was the only son who had been blessed by his father, and he exhorted all to follow his teachings. By those who knew, he was not believed; but many were ignorant of the father, and were inclined to believe in the impostor.

"Now, gentlemen, this is the case that has troubled me much. As you are sitting in lawful council, it would give me much pleasure if you would cast some light on it. Your statement will help me, and I will be ever grateful to you. Had this son, the late returned person, any right to all the worldly possessions of the father? Had he any right even to an equal share in the inheritance?"

Having thus spoken, he turned to the hodjas with an inquiring look. They one and all, unanimously and in a breath, said that the will of the father was law, that it should be respected, and that the thirteenth son was therefore in the wrong. On returning he should have gone to his brothers, and no doubt he would have been received as a brother; but he acted otherwise. He should receive nothing.

"I am glad to see that you look at it in that light, and I will now say that such has always been my own opinion. Your decision, however, now adds strength to my own conviction, and, had there been any doubt on my part, your unanimous declaration would have dispelled it. I would further esteem it a great kindness and favour if you would affix your signatures to a written statement declaring that the thirteenth son had no right to any of the possessions he claimed."

Flattered to find their opinion so highly valued, the judges at once consented to do this; and the patriarch set about drawing up the case. Then he read the statement to them, and each put his hand and seal to the document. The patriarch thanked them and departed.

A week had passed, and the judges had entirely forgotten the case that had been put to them, but they had not forgotten the patriarch, and eagerly awaited his answer to their question. In their own opinion that fatal question left no loophole of escape except apostasy, and it would almost certainly lead to the patriarch's head being separated from his body by a blow of the executioner's axe. But the patriarch did not make his appearance, and as the prescribed time had passed, the judges went to the governor to see what steps should be taken.

The governor was deeply grieved when the judges told him of the terrible question they had put to the patriarch. But he had seen the patriarch only that morning, and as the holy man did not then seem to be at all anxious, he felt convinced that a satisfactory answer would be forthcoming. He questioned the hodjas as to what had taken place, and they answered that nothing had been said beyond the question that had been put to him, and his request for a week's time in which to answer.

"Did he say nothing at all," asked the pasha, "before he left?"

"Nothing," said the spokesman of the judges, "except that he put to us a case which he had been called on to decide, and asked our opinion about it."

"What was the case?" asked the pasha.

And the judges recited it to him, told what opinion they had given, and stated that they had, at the patriarch's request, placed their seals to the document embodying this opinion.

"Go home, you heads of asses," said the governor, "and thank Allah that it is to a noble and great man who would make no unworthy use of it that you have delivered a document testifying that Mohammed is an impostor. In future, venture not to enter into judgment with men to whom it has pleased God to give more wit than to yourselves." [1]