‘Abdu’l-Baha was with His Father, Baha’u’llah, all the time
and they loved each other very, very much. But one day Baha'u'llah had to go
away into the mountains and did not come back for two long years. ‘Abdu’l-Baha
was about nine years old.
Missing His Father so much, ‘Abdu’l-Baha sometimes cried. He
read the books of the Báb and prayed and helped the Family as much as He could.
There was a bad uncle who was living in their house. So
afraid of being arrested as a Bábí, he would lock the main gate of the house and
would not let the children go out to play. During this sad time many of the
Bábís in Baghdad forgot the good teachings of the Báb and began to quarrel among
themselves.
Then one day Baha'u'llah returned! His clothes were made of
rough cloth, His hair and beard were long and His face was brown from being so many
months outside in the wind and sun. ‘Abdu’l-Baha fell to the ground and kissed
His Father's feet, and tears fell from Baha'u'llah's eyes as He looked at His beloved
Son.
After Baha'u'llah's return there was much happiness among the
people of Baghdad and many came to visit Him. Some came because they wanted to ask
questions and others came just to see what was going on.
Baha'u'llah was very busy with all these people so ‘Abdu’l-Baha
decided to help Him. Whenever anyone came to the house He asked them what they wanted,
and if they really wanted to learn the truth then He would take them to Baha'u'llah.
(Adapted from ‘Stories of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’, by Jacqueline Nehrabi)