"
"That is hard to tell," replied Lion, with a sigh. "For every thing
a certain something is necessary, which you, unfortunately, do not
possess."
"And what is this something? " asked the boy, hastily
"Money," replied the merchant. "It is not enough to pray to Allah,
and to receive into one's soul the precepts of the Koran; one must
also use one's hands industriously, and learn the precepts of
worldly wisdom, and the very first of these is, 'Have money, and you
can obtain all else.'"
"I will have money, that I may obtain all else!" exclaimed Mohammed;
"only tell me how to procure it."
"That is just where the difficulty lies, you foolish boy," said the
merchant, stroking his brown hair gently. "Those who rob and plunder
make it much easier for themselves in the world, and I have known
many a one to begin his career as a robber who, subsequently, ruled
over men as a grand pacha. Yet I am confident that it is not in this
manner you wish to acquire riches, but as an honest man."
"Yes, as an honest man! I desire to gain honor, magnificence, and
wealth, by the power of my will and my intellect."
"Honor, magnificence, and wealth?" repeated Mr. Lion. "These are
grand words, my boy! It will be very difficult to accomplish so
much, and I can render you no assistance in doing so, yet I will
take you into my business and try to make a merchant of you, if you
wish it.
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