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lf and said； 'Hath God then created this newborn child； without ＇an appointed＇ provision？ This may never be； He who slits the corners of the mouth hath engaged for its provision； for He is the Bountiful； the Provider！' So saying； he shouldered his and turned homeward； brokenspirited and heavy at heart for his family； for that he had left them without food； more by token that his wife was in the straw。
As he trudged along； saying in himself； 'How shall I do and what shall I say to the children tonight？' he came to a baker's oven and saw a crowd about it； for it was a time of dearth and food was scant with the folk； so they were proffering the baker money； but he paid no heed to any of them； by reason of the much crowd。 The fisherman stood looking and snuffing the smell of the hot bread； and indeed his soul longed for it； by reason of his hunger； till the baker caught sight of him and cried out to him； saying； 'e hither； O fisherman！' So he went up to him； and the baker said to him； 'Dost thou want bread？' But he was silent。 'Speak；' said the baker； 'and be not ashamed； for God is bountiful。 If thou have no money； I will give thee ＇bread＇ and have patience with thee till good ＇fortune＇ betide thee。' 'By Allah； O master；' replied Abdallah； 'I have indeed no money！ But give me bread enough for my family； and I will leave thee this in pawn till the morrow。' 'Nay； good fellow；' rejoined the baker； 'this is ＇as it were＇ thy shop and the means of thy livelihood； （195） so； if thou pawn it； wherewithal wilt thou fish？ Tell me； how much ＇bread＇ will suffice thee？' 'Ten pares' worth；' replied the fisherman。
So he gave him ten pares' worth of bread and ten pares in money； saying； 'Take these ten pares and cook thyself a mess of meat therewith； so wilt thou owe me twenty pares； for which bring me fish tomorrow； but； if thou catch nothing again； e and take thy bread and thy ten pares； and I will have patience with thee till better luck betide thee； when thou shalt bring me fish for all thou owest me。' 'May God the Most High reward thee' said the fisherman； 'and requite thee for me with all good！' Then he took the bread and the money and went away； glad at heart； and buying what he could ＇of meat and vegetables＇； returned to his wife； whom he found sitting up； soothing the children； who were weeping for hunger； and saying to them； 'Your father will be here with what ye may eat。' So he set the bread before them and they ate； whilst he told his wife what had befallen him； and she said； 'God is bountiful。'
On the morrow； he shouldered his and went forth of his house； saying； 'I beseech thee； O Lord； to vouchsafe me this day what shall whiten my face with the baker！' When he came to the seashore； he proceeded to cast his and pull it in； but there came up no fish therein； and he toiled thus till ended day and caught nothing。 Then he set out homeward； in sore concern； and the way to his house lay past the baker's shop； so he said in himself； 'How shall I go home？ But I will hasten past that the baker may not see me。' When he reached the shop； he saw a crowd about it and quickened his pace； being ashamed to face the baker； but the latter raised his eyes to him and cried out to him； saying； 'Ho； fisherman！ e and take thy bread and spendingmoney。 Meseems thou fettest。' 'By Allah；' answered Abdallah； 'I had not fotten； but I was ashamed to face thee； because I have caught no fish today。' 'Be not ashamed；' answered the baker。 'Said I not to thee； 〃At thy leisure； till good hap betide thee？〃'
Then he gave him the bread and the ten pares and he returned and told his wife； who said； 'God is bountiful。 If it please the Most High； good luck shall yet betide thee and thou shalt give the baker his due。' On this wise he did forty days； betaking himself daily to the sea； from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof； and returning ＇at nightfall＇； without fish； and still he took bread and spendingmoney of the baker； who never named the fish to him nor neglected him nor kept him waiting； like the folk； （196） but gave him the bread and the ten pares ＇forthright＇。 Whenever the fisherman said to him； 'O my brother； reckon with me；' he would say； 'Go thy ways； this is no time for reckoning。 ＇Wait＇ till good luck betide thee； and then I will reckon with thee。' And the fisherman would go away； blessing and thanking him。
On the oneandfortieth day； he said to his wife； 'I have a mind to tear up the and be quit of this life。' 'Why wilt thou do this？' asked she。 And he said； 'Meseems there is an end of my getting my living from the sea。 How long shall this last？ By Allah； I am consumed with shame before the baker； and I will go no more to the sea； so I may not pass by his shop； for I have no other way home； and every time I pass； he calls me and gives me the bread and the ten pares。 How much longer shall I run in debt to him？' 'Praised be God the Most High；' replied his wife； 'who hath inclined his heart to thee； so that he giveth thee our daily bread！ What dislikest thou in this？' Quoth he； 'I owe him now a great sum of money； and he will without fail demand his due。' 'Hath he vexed thee with words？' asked his wife。 'Nay；' answered Abdallah； 'on the contrary； he still refuses to reckon with me； saying； 〃＇Wait＇ till good luck betide thee。〃' And his wife said； 'If he press thee； say to him； 〃＇Wait＇ till there e the good luck for which we hope； thou and I。〃' 'And when will the good luck e that we hope for？' asked the fisherman。 'God is bountiful；' answered she； and he said； 'Thou sayst sooth。'
Then he shouldered his and went down to the seaside； saying； 'O Lord； provide Thou me； though but with one fish； that I may give it to the baker！' And he cast his into the sea and pulling it in； found it heavy； so he tugged at it till； after sore travail； he got it ashore and found in it a dead ass； swollen and stinking； whereat his soul sickened and he freed it from the ； saying； 'There is no power and no virtue save in God the Most High； the Supreme！ Verily； I can no more！ I say to yonder woman； （197） 〃There is no more provision for me in the sea； let me leave this craft。〃 And she still answers me； 〃God is bountiful； good will betide thee。〃 Is this dead ass the good of which she speaks？' And he was sore chagrined。
Then he removed to another place； so he might be quit of the stench of the dead ass； and cast his there。 He waited awhile； then drew it in and found it heavy； whereupon quoth he； 'Good； we are hauling up all the dead asses in the sea and ridding it of its rubbish。' However he gave not over tugging at the ； till the blood streamed from the palms of his hands； and when he got it ashore； he saw a man in it and took him for one of the Afrits of the lord Solomon； whom he was wont to imprison in vessels of brass and cast into the sea； supposing that the vessel had burst for length of years and that the Atrit had e forth and fallen into the ； wherefore he fled from him； crying out and saying； 'Mercy； mercy； O Afrit of Solomon！' But the creature called out to him from within the and said； 'e hither； O fisherman； and flee not from me； for I am a human being like thyself Release me； so thou mayst get a repense for me ＇of God＇。'
So the fisherman took heart and ing up to him； said to him； 'Art thou not an Afrit of the Jinn？' 'Nay；' replied the other； 'I am a mortal and a believer in God and His Apostle。' 'Who threw thee into the sea？' asked the fisherman； and he answered； 'I am of the children of the sea and was going about therein； when thou castest the over me。 We are people who obey God's mandments and show lovingkindness unto the creatures of the Most High； and but that I fear and dread to be of the disobedient； I had torn thy ； but I accept that which God hath decreed unto me； wherefore thou art bee my owner and I thy captive。 Wilt thou then set me free for the love of God the Most High and make a covenant with me and bee my friend？ I will e to thee every day in this place； and do thou e to me and bring me a gift of the fruits of the land。 For with you are grapes and figs and melons and peaches and pomegranates and what not else； and all thou bringest me will be acceptable unto me。 Moreover； with us are coral and pearls and chrysolites and emeralds and rubies and other precious stones； and I will fill thee the basket； wherein thou bringest me the fruit； with precious stones of the jewels of the sea。 What sayst thou to this； O my brother？'
Quoth the fisherman； 'Be the first chapter of the Koran between thee and me upon this。' So they recited the Fatiheh； （198） ＇in token of their agreement＇； and the fisherman loosed the merman from the and said to him； 'What is thy name？' 'My name is Abdallah of the sea；' answered he； 'and if thou e hither and see me not； do thou call out and say； 〃Where art thou； O Abdallah； O merman？〃 And I will be with thee presently。 But thou； what is thy name？' 'My name also is Abdallah；' answered the fisherman。 Quoth the other； 'Thou art Abdallah of the land and I am Abdallah of the sea； but abide here till I go and fetch thee a present。' And the fisherman said； 'I hear and obey。'
Then the merman went down into the sea ＇and disappeared＇； whereupon the fisherman repented him of having released him and said in himself； 'How kn