The Surprises of Life

tales, entertainer of the passerby, lover of all haunts where poor mortality resorts to eat and drink. He was an old Negro from the coast of Guinea, very black as to skin, wholly white as to hair,

icle of which by an unforeseen and kindly chance he was the owner. And as he saw that I delighted in his t

aking of the Bastille. No more will Passy see Mokoubamba, with his white burnous, his scarlet chechia, his green boots, and his drum-major's staff. A genuine loss to the truly Parisian

as wont to say, candidly adding: "Mokoub

comers. He was equally willing to announce what the weather would be on the morrow and what it had been on the day before. By means of cabalistic s

events, love knocked at the door of the young, children came into the world who were to be the pride of their famil

here and there, for the purpose of giving an edge to our pleasures, and that there must from time to time be a

eared, another has started upon its way. It may be a more or less long time in arriving, but

his saying seemed t

t you this

from whom the heaven

e been i

been eve

life. Will you not tell me something of it?

cigarettes, and if I may drink and smoke as lo

upon one of his own mats, inhaled the perfume of Arabia, exhaled three puffs of

ccupation?" I asked by

e, with a shamefaced air. "I

gh surprise. "Minister to

ng Matori. Down there-dow

say the profession seemed an easy one to you? Your

not know how to do anything. I could not even have braided a mat in those days. Well, then, all that I said was admirable, and as soon as I had given an order it was

were your

than his, and as he feared my power, he sold me to an English trader who needed carriers for his ivory. It was a long journey to the coast. If a man fell he was gently dispatched on the spot, so that he migh

t is you

h. I was not a slave. Oh, no! but I had been 'engaged,' and in order that I might better fill my

Mokoub

man chained beside me, was a great sorcerer in his own land. He could carve bamboo, he could cook; he was skilled in hammering red-hot iron, in stitching leather, in dancing; he could call up spirits. They took very good care of him

Mokoub

liated by it for a long time. But as my new master use

aster used

and I finally understood that he was talking about my Fetish, and that he wished to know what I had done with it. I answered that it was a sacred thing, and that I had it with me, but that I would willingly employ it in his service if he would acquire me for a sum of money. My answer had the good fortune to please him, it seems, for on that very evening the ex

s full of marvels, and he always ended

h a fine ceremony. Before long he was so pleased with me that he made me his sexton. I was the edification of the faithfu

ften at gatherings I recited portions of them after he had finished speaking. People understood me better than they did him, which was not to

exhibited at the Missionary Society as a model among converts. At dessert I would rise and speak of my complete happiness, which was but natural after so good a meal. People wept with emotion, and so di

which I ought to have expected. In Africa, at a six days' journey from our church, there was a Catholic Mission. I was careful never

was deeply shaken, and could not disguise the fact from my new friend, Father Joseph O'Meara. He increased his efforts, and so successfully explained to me the superiority of his Fetishes over Ebenezer's that I was obliged to agree he was right. No sooner had I uttered the word than he baptized me on the spot, gave me a good bed to sleep in, and on the morrow celebrated my reconvers

at was

of Ebenezer's bad Fetish. I was consequently hurried off to a mission in Bombay where the religion was very different. Here were priests who fasted all day long. A moiety of rice, much dust, and as much warm water as I cared to consume. This did not suit me in the least. I wandered about the streets looking for some Fetish willing to take an interest in me. There are all manner of people out there. I questioned conc

, and will not change it. There is no work there for Ebenezer Jones or Joseph O'Meara. And yet their Fetishes leave the people in great misery. They

thing extraordinary. And yet that bowl had the property of attracting money because of the belief established by the fakir that it brought good luck to the giver. Indeed, I have found the same thing true here in your country. But the mend

ght under the stars he taught me concerning the creation, and imparted to me his knowledge of all things. It was he who expounded to me the great mystery of Fetishes, since which I have lived without care for the morrow. Later, a Pa

did he tell you

I have no mor

how about this lit

there are creatures alive. Some are strong and some are weak. It is a great battle as to which shall come out on top. The wicked are those who work evil on ot

fakir speaking of

man are one and the same thing, for every man makes his Fetish according to the strength of his interest in himself, and the will power he expends in satisfying it. That i

n that the only Fetish to whom you have remained unalterably faithful, and whi

e is the great secret. Medit

fear. But do you suppose this great

one seems perfectly aware of what he is about. But I have never kno

hairs in Passy, mender of all things breakable, en