Gibran Stories Omnibus

grass. When Farris
Effandi started to leave, he put his left hand on my shoulder and shook
my right hand, saying, “ I have not seen your father for twenty years.
I hope you will l take his place in frequent visits to my house.” I
promised gratefully to do my duty toward a dear friend of my father.
      Then the old man left the house, I asked my friend to tell me more
about him. He said, “I do not know any other man in Beirut whose wealth
has made him kind and whose kindness has made him wealthy. He is one of
the few who come to this world and leave it without harming any one,
but people of that kind are usually miserable and oppressed because
they are not clever enough to save themselves from the crookedness of
others. Farris Effandi has one daughter whose character is similar to
his and whose beauty and gracefulness are beyond description, and she
will also be miserable because her father's wealth is placing her
already at the edge of a horrible precipice.”
      As he uttered these words, I noticed that his face clouded. Then he
continued, “Farris Effandi is a good old man with a noble heart, but he
lacks will power. People lead him like a blind man. His daughter obeys
him in spite of her pride and intelligence, and this is the secret
which lurks in the life of father and daughter. This secret was
discovered by an evil man who is a bishop and whose wickedness hides in
the shadow of his Gospel. He makes the people believe that he is kind
and noble. He is the head of religion in this land of the religions.
The people obey and worship him. he leads them like a flock of lambs to
the slaughter house. This bishop has a nephew who is full of
hatefulness and corruption. The day will come sooner or later when he
will place his nephew on his right and Farris Effandi's daughter on
this left, and, holding with his evil hand the wreath of matrimony over
their heads, will tie a pure virgin to a filthy degenerate, placing the
heart of the day in the bosom of the night.
      That is all I can tell you about Farris Effandi and his daughter, so
do not ask me any more questions.”
      Saying this, he turned his head toward the window as if he were
trying to solve the problems of human existence by concentrating on the
beauty of the universe.
      As I left the house I told my friend that I was going to visit
Farris Effandi in a few days for the purpose of fulfilling my promise
and for the sake of the friendship which had joined him and my father.
He stared at me for a moment, and I noticed a change in his expression
as if my few simple words had revealed to him a new idea. Then he
looked straight through my eyes in a strange manner, a look of love,
mercy, and fear —the look of a prophet who foresees what no one else
can divine. Then his lips trembled a little, but he said nothing when I
started towards the door. That strange look followed me, the meaning of
which I could not understand until I grew up in the world of
experience, where hearts understand each other intuitively and where
spirits are mature with knowledge.

ENTRANCE TO THE SHRINE
         
      In a few days, loneliness overcame me; and I tired of the grim faces
of books; I hired a carriage and started for the house of Farris
Effandi. As I reached the pine woods where people went for picnics, the
driver took a private way, shaded with willow trees on each side.
Passing through , we could see the beauty of the green grass, the
grapevines, and the many coloured flowers of Nisan just blossoming.
      In a few minutes the carriage stopped before a solitary house in the
midst of a beautiful garden. The scent of roses, gardenia, and jasmine
filled the air. As I dismounted and entered the spacious garden, I saw
Farris Effandi coming to meet me. He ushered me into his house with a
hearty welcome and sat by me, like a happy father when he sees his son,
showering me with questions on my life, future and education. I
answered him, my voice full of ambition and zeal; for I heard ringing
in my ears the hymn of glory, and I was sailing the calm sea of hopeful
dreams. Just then a beautiful young woman, dressed in a gorgeous white
silk gown, appeared from behind the velvet curtains of the door and
walked toward me. Farris Effandi and I rose from our seats.
      This is my daughter Selma,” said the old man. Then he introduced me
to her, saying, “Fate has brought