THE FAITHFUL GUARD.
Ibrahim Adham who afterwards earned the celebrity of a saint was in early life employed by a rich man to watch over his orchard. The master one day came in with a few friends when the mango was in season and bade Ibrahim pluck and fetch him a few ripe and sweet fruits for the company. Ibrahim obeyed; but all the mangoes he brought turned out sour. The master was thereupon annoyed and rated him for his ignorance saying, "You have been in the place for three years and do not know the sweet mangoes from the sour?" Ibrahim meekly replied, "Master, I have guarded the trees having been appointed to guard them; never tasted the fruits. How should I know ?"
Here was a faithful servant who never strayed from the straight path of duty, at least, to his own advantage.
