The Devil and the Sultan.
THERE is an Eastern story of a sultan, who overslept himself, so as not to awaken at the hour of prayer. So the devil came and waked him, and told him to get up and pray. “Who are you?” demanded the sultan. “Oh, no matter,” replied the other, “My act is good, is it not? No matter who does the good action, so long as it is good.” “Yes,” replied the sultan, “but I think you are Satan. I know your face; you must certainly have some bad motive.” “But,” said the other, “I am not so bad as I am painted. You see I have left off my horns and tail. I am a pretty good fellow, after all. I was an angel once, and I still keep some of my original goodness.” “That’s all very well,” replied the sagacious and prudent caliph, “but you are the tempter; that’s your business; and I wish to know why you want me to get up and pray.” “Well,” said the devil, with a flirt of impatience, “if you must know, I will tell you. If you had slept and forgotten your prayer, you would have been sorry for it afterward and penitent; but, if you go on as now, and do not neglect a single prayer for ten years, you will be satisfied with yourself, and it will be worse for you than if you had missed one sometimes and repented of it. God loves your fault mixed with penitence more than your virtue seasoned with pride.”—Sel.