whithr:Appointment in SamarraA merchant ofBaghdad was sipping tea in his garden when his servant ran
whithr:Appointment in SamarraA merchant ofBaghdad was sipping tea in his garden when his servant ran up to him,breathless and trembling.“Master,” he cried. “I have justseen Death in your garden. She pointed at me with such a ghastlystare that I knew she had come for me.”“So you have seenDeath,” the merchant replied, “as each man must. Iunderstand your alarm.”“I must leave Baghdad and go far awayfrom Death. I have a brother in Samarra. I will go there tonight,Master, and escape my fate.”“Then take my swiftest horse, andgo with my blessing.”As the hoofbeats of the fleeing servantfaded in his ears, the merchant, curious, walked through his gardensto confront Death.“My servant has done no harm. Why do you disturb him with your ghastly stare?”Death smiled. “I did not mean to.I was merely surprised to see him in Baghdad when I have anappointment with him this evening, at his brother’s house inSamarra.”old illustration from last yearpublished in Cricket magazine -- source link