Allan Ramsay

Told in the Coffee House Allan Ramsay

Book Excerpt: ... He was very young; he could not see. Finally, the young man picked up courage and gave expression to his thoughts."Father," he said, "I wish to become a great man.""That is very easy," said the father."And to be a great man," continued the son, "I must first go to Mecca." For no Mohammedan priest or theologian, or even layman, has fulfilled all of the cardinal precepts of his faith unless he has made the pilgrimage to the Holy City. To his son's last observation the father blandly replied: "It is very easy to go to Mecca.""How, easy?" asked the son. "On the contrary, it is very difficult; for the journey is costly, and I have no money.""Listen, my son," said the father. "You must become a scribe, the writer of the thoughts of your brethren, and your fortune is made.""But I have not even the implements necessary for a scribe," said the son."All that can be easily arranged," said the father; "your grandfather had an ink-horn; I will...