"
He took down the gourd cup from the wall, and went out and quenched
his thirst with long draughts at the spring, and then returned to
his mother. He was now restored to strength and vigor; the color
returned to his cheeks, and his knees no longer trembled.
"My eyes' delight, my Mohammed fresh and full of life again!" cried
Mother Khadra. "Light of my life, I am glad to see you yourself
again. But I beg you, my boy, not to make such cruel experiments on
yourself. It is wholesome to harden the body, but not to abuse it,
and you abuse your own handsome self when you torment yourself with
hunger and thirst unnecessarily."
"Not unnecessarily, Mother Khadra," he replied, shaking his head.
"He, only, who knows how to practise self-denial, can enjoy. At
first I couldn't understand this, now I do, and have experienced it
in myself. I have practised self-denial for two days, and now I have
enjoyed; and thus it shall be in the future, Sitta Khadra. I shall
learn to do without, in order that I may enjoy. Do not scold me for
this; do not say, with the rest, that I am an obstinate boy! I am
not, mother, but I must prepare myself for the future which you have
announced to me. Your dream must be realized, and therefore must I
do what I am doing. Let me have my way, and remember that Allah is
with me everywhere. And remember this, too, mother, that wherever I
may be, I shall hear your call should you need me.
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