{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_72880/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_72880","id":"gutenberg_72880","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/72880","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore","Fairy tales","Jews -- Folklore"],"text":"JEWISH FAIRY STORIES\n\n                             TRANSLATED BY\n                           GERALD FRIEDLANDER\n\n                             ILLUSTRATED BY\n                          BEATRICE HIRSCHFELD\n\n                        BLOCH PUBLISHING COMPANY\n                                NEW YORK\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPREFACE\n\n\nThe tales in this book have been gathered together from various Jewish\nwritings. The translation is not literal in any sense of the word. In\nfact, each story has been recast and presented in a modern setting.\nSome of the stories are fairy tales. Jewish fairy tales reveal an\naspect of the Jewish soul in much the same way as the various national\nfairy tales embody something of the spirit of the different peoples and\nnations.\n\nG. F.\n\nSeptember, 1917.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCONTENTS\n\n\n                                                                PAGE\n    King Solomon and the Worm (from the Babylonian Talmud)         3\n    Falsehood and Wickedness (from the Yal\u1e33u\u1e6d)                    19\n    The Wicked King and his Bride (from the Ma\u2019aseh Book)         25\n    The Two Jewels (from the Shebet Jehudah)                      43\n    The Beggar at the Wedding (from the Midrash Tanchuma)         53\n    The Clever Wife (from the Yal\u1e33u\u1e6d)                             69\n    The Coins of Elijah (from the Yal\u1e33u\u1e6d)                         77\n    The Fox and the Raven (from R. Berachyah\u2019s Fox Fables)        87\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS\n\n\n                                                                PAGE\n    Benaiah setting out on his journey                             2\n    The Queen sprinkling the Water of Life on Chaninah            24\n    Abraham being carried to his new quarters                     68\n    Elijah bestows his gift                                       76\n    \u201cGood-day, dear friend Raven\u201d                                 86\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKING SOLOMON AND THE WORM\n\n\nKing Solomon, the wisest of men, resolved to build a temple dedicated\nto the glory of the God of Israel. He remembered the sacred words of\nScripture: \u201cAnd if thou make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build\nit of hewn stones: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast\npolluted it\u201d (Exod. xx. 25). The tools of iron symbolized the sword,\nthe instrument of war and death; whilst the altar and temple were the\nsymbols of peace and life. Solomon desired that not only the altar, but\nall the stone-work in the sacred edifice should be made ready for the\nbuilders at the quarry without using any metal implement, so that in\nthe course of building the temple no instrument of iron should be\nemployed.\n\nHow was this wish to be realized? Even Solomon, the wisest of monarchs,\ndid not know how to set about his task. Again and again he asked\nhimself, How is it possible to split the immense blocks of stone or to\ncut down the huge trees if the workmen are not allowed to use metal\nimplements? In despair the King summoned his great council of state,\nconsisting of the wisest men in his kingdom. He told them his\ndifficulty and asked them if they could help him to achieve his\npurpose. The counsellors listened to the words of their beloved monarch\nin profound silence. After a while one of the most venerable of those\npresent arose and, turning to the King, spake as follows:\u2014\n\n\u201cLong live the King! Mighty Sovereign! Hast thou not heard that among\nthe countless creatures of the Most High there is one which can serve\nthee as thy heart desires? It can cut stone better than the sharpest\ntool of iron. I refer to the tiny but wonderful worm called the Shamir,\nor diamond insect. Dost thou not know, O wisest of rulers, how the\nAlmighty created ten marvels in the twilight of the eve of the first\nSabbath in the week of creation? Among these marvels was the worm\nShamir. Its size is that of a grain of barley. It is endowed with\nmiraculous power, for, behold! it can split the hardest stone by merely\ntouching it. Moreover, iron is broken by its mere presence.\u201d\n\n\u201cExcellent wisdom is this which thou shewest forth, beloved\ncounsellor,\u201d cried Solomon with joy in his heart. \u201cNow tell me, where\nis this marvellous little worm to be found?\u201d\n\n\u201cMay thy days be as glorious as the days of David thy father,\u201d replied\nthe wise servant of the King, \u201cbut more than I have already told thee I\nknow not. No mortal being has ever discovered the home of the Shamir.\nIt is useless to seek the information thou desirest by consulting the\nsons of men; has not God bestowed upon thee, knowledge and\nunderstanding more than He has given to any one else? Is it for nought\nthat thy wisdom exceeds that of all the children of men? Art thou not\nruler of all the spirits and demons? Seek their aid, Sire! and thou\nwilt find the Shamir. Invoke the wisest of the spirits who will reveal\nto thee even the secrets of the heavens above, of the earth beneath,\nand of the waters under the earth.\u201d\n\nThe good advice of the counsellor appealed with irresistible conviction\nto Solomon\u2019s heart, and after thanking his wise minister, dismissed his\ncouncil in order to carry out the suggested plan. He looked at the ring\non his right hand and read the Holy Name of God engraved thereon. No\nsooner had he pronounced the Divine Name than a demon appeared before\nhim and, making obeisance, cried,\u2014\n\n\u201cWhat is thy wish, Solomon, King of Israel?\u201d\n\n\u201cI command thee,\u201d said Solomon, \u201cto tell me where is the worm Shamir to\nbe found?\u201d\n\nIn a trembling voice the demon replied,\u2014\n\n\u201cMighty King of man and spirits! I am thy servant, I will always obey\nthee if I have the power so to do. Be not angry with me, for I fear I\ncannot help thee now. The secret thou desirest to know has not been\nrevealed to any of the inferior demons. It is only Ashmodai our King\nwho is in possession of the secret.\u201d\n\n\u201cTell me,\u201d interrupted King Solomon, \u201cwhere does Ashmodai, the King of\nthe demons dwell?\u201d\n\n\u201cMay it please your gracious Majesty,\u201d the demon responded, \u201cAshmodai\nlives far, far away from the haunts of men. His palace is built on the\ntop of a very high mountain. In this same mountain he has had a very\ndeep well dug. Daily he fetches his drinking water from this well. When\nhe has obtained sufficient water for his immediate needs, he closes up\nthe mouth of the well with an enormous rock which he seals with his\nsignet-ring. He then flies up to heaven to receive the orders of those\nwho are his superiors. His tasks take him to the ends of the earth,\neven beyond the great sea. With the going down of the sun in the west,\nhe returns to his own home. He examines very carefully the seal on the\nrock at the mouth of the well, in order to find out if it has been\ntampered with in his absence. He then proceeds to uncover the well and\nhe partakes of the water. Having quenched his thirst he covers up again\nthe mouth of the well and seals it afresh.\u201d\n\nKing Solomon sat on his wonderful throne of gold whilst the demon told\nhis tale. Not a word escaped the memory of the wise King. He then\ndismissed the demon, who disappeared in less than a second. Thereupon\nSolomon summoned to his presence his brave captain and friend Benaiah,\nson of Jehoiada. He told him briefly the nature of the task he was\nchosen to undertake, saying,\u2014\n\n\u201cGo, trusty servant Benaiah, and capture Ashmodai, the King of the\ndemons, and bring him before my presence. To assist thee in thy arduous\nand perilous undertaking I will give thee this golden chain on the\nlinks of which the letters forming the Divine Name are engraved. I also\nwill entrust to thy care my signet-ring which is also engraved with the\nHoly Name of the Most High. Take with thee also this large bundle of\nwhite wool and these skins full of strong wine.\u201d\n\nAfter giving him minute instructions about the journey and the way to\novercome Ashmodai, he sent Benaiah on his way, wishing him complete\nsuccess in all his undertaking.\n\nThe brave warrior, confident of success, set out on his dangerous\nexpedition. After many days of hard riding across the great desert he\nultimately reached his destination. Never had he seen such a desolate\nspot. In front of him stood the towering mountain without sign of any\nhuman habitation in the vicinity. The mountain seemed to be the abode\nof silence and death. Undaunted by the uncanny scene, Benaiah began the\nascent of the rugged mountain with a stout heart. He feared neither man\nnor spirit, for he was wearing on his little finger King Solomon\u2019s\nsignet-ring. When half-way up the mountain he bored a hole in order to\ndiscover the whereabouts of Ashmodai\u2019s well. Great was his delight when\nhe discovered the position of the well. He drew off the water and\nstopped up the hole with the wool which he had brought with him. Quite\nnear to this hole, Benaiah pierced an aperture which ran into the well.\nThrough this channel he poured all the wine in the skins. After this\nlabour was completed he concealed himself behind a large crag and\nwaited impatiently for the arrival of the King of the demons.\n\nSoon after sunset Ashmodai drew nigh. He carefully examined the seal on\nthe rock over the mouth of the well and found it intact, even as he had\nleft it early in the morning. After he had rolled away the rock, he\ndescended into the well to quench his thirst. The strange odour of the\nfragrant wine overpowered him so that he quickly returned to the mouth\nof the well to inhale the fresh mountain air. Realizing that the well\nhad been tampered with, he again examined the seal, but it did not\nappear to have been touched. Meanwhile a burning thirst in his throat\nforced him to descend again in order to obtain something to drink. No\nsooner had he tasted the wine than he desired to drink more and more.\nAfter he had partaken very freely of the strong wine, he felt quite\ndrowsy. All his senses were overpowered. His head became heavy, his\nbody staggered and his knees gave way. At last he fell to the ground\nand slept soundly.\n\nBenaiah now came forth from his hiding-place and crept very quietly to\nthe sleeping demon. Without wasting a moment, the good captain threw\nthe golden chain around Ashmodai\u2019s neck and secured it and sealed it\nwith the golden signet-ring engraved with the Divine Name. Benaiah sat\non the ground close by waiting for the effects of the strong wine to\nwear off. After a while Ashmodai awoke and found that he was no longer\nfree, for he saw the golden chain around his neck and he beheld the\nHoly Name on the seal. He uttered such a terrible groan that the\nmountain shook. In vain Ashmodai endeavoured to rise up. In his anger\nsparks of fire flew from his eyes and foam covered his mouth.\n\nHe continued to wriggle and to struggle with the air, but all to no\npurpose. He could not arise. He looked at Benaiah and cried in bitter\nanger,\u2014\n\n\u201cIs it thou who hast bewitched me?\u201d\n\n\u201cVerily,\u201d replied Benaiah, \u201cbehold the Name of the Lord of lords is\nupon thee.\u201d\n\nAshmodai immediately became quiet and calm. He knew that he was\nvanquished and realized that all further resistance would be futile. He\ntold Benaiah that he was quite ready to obey his orders.\n\n\u201cCome then,\u201d cried Benaiah, \u201cwe will go at once to King Solomon, thy\nmaster. Arise and follow me.\u201d\n\nAshmodai arose and followed Benaiah, who was surprised at the peculiar\nbehaviour of his captive on their way to the Holy City. Wherever they\npassed, Ashmodai left behind him a trace of his might or intelligence.\nIn one village he brushed against a palm tree. After its foliage had\nbeen shaken off by the terrific impact, he uprooted it with one hand.\nIn another place he knocked his shoulder against a house and overturned\nit. In a market-place in a large town they met a happy bridal\nprocession. When the bride and bridegroom passed, Ashmodai began to\nweep.\n\n\u201cWhy dost thou weep?\u201d Benaiah asked in surprise.\n\n\u201cAlas!\u201d replied Ashmodai, \u201cwithin three days the bridegroom will be a\ncorpse. Do I not do well to weep?\u201d\n\nIn the next town on their journey they overheard a farmer asking a\nbootmaker to make a pair of shoes which were to last him for seven\nyears. Whereupon Ashmodai burst out laughing.\n\n\u201cTell me, Ashmodai\u201d cried Benaiah, \u201cwhy dost thou laugh?\u201d\n\n\u201cBecause the poor fellow will not wear his shoes for even seven days;\nbehold within a week he will die\u2014yet he asks for shoes to last him\nseven years.\u201d\n\nOne day they met a blind man going astray. Ashmodai hastened to set him\non the right path. He showed a similar kindness to a drunkard whom they\nmet at the cross-roads. On another occasion they saw a magician who was\nexhibiting his skill in public. He claimed to be able to read the\nfuture and to disclose secrets. Here again Ashmodai found occasion for\nmirth and laughter. When Benaiah asked him to explain his strange\nconduct, he remarked,\u2014\n\n\u201cWouldst thou not laugh also at a man who pretends to reveal secrets,\nwhilst at the same moment he is unaware of the fact that a treasure\nlies buried at his feet? We demons judge persons and things according\nto their true value and not according to their deceptive appearance in\nthe eyes of man.\u201d\n\nAfter many strange adventures they finally came to the Holy City.\nBenaiah conducted his captive to the royal presence. As soon as\nAshmodai beheld King Solomon, fear seized him and he began to tremble\nviolently in every limb. He held a long staff in his hand on which he\nsupported himself. After his attack of nervousness had subsided,\nAshmodai threw his staff before the King.\n\n\u201cWhat art thou doing?\u201d asked Solomon.\n\n\u201cMighty Sovereign, gracious master,\u201d replied Ashmodai, \u201cdost thou not\nknow that in spite of all thy splendour and glory thou wilt occupy\nafter thy death no more space in the earth than is measured by yonder\nstaff, yet thou art not satisfied with ruling the children of men, but\nthou must needs hold the spirits and demons in subjection.\u201d\n\n\u201cBe not vexed,\u201d Solomon said in a gentle tone of voice; \u201cthou wilt not\nfind me a hard master. I merely demand one little service at thy hands.\nKnow then that I wish to build a great Temple to the glory of the\nCreator of heaven and earth, and for this purpose I require the\nservices of the wonderful worm Shamir. Tell me now, where can I find\nthis tiny creature?\u201d\n\n\u201cO wisest of mortals,\u201d replied Ashmodai, \u201cdost thou not really know\nthat the Shamir has not been placed in my charge? Why then hast thou\nbrought me here?\u201d\n\n\u201cWhere is it?\u201d thundered Solomon; \u201cspeak, slave! and speak truly.\u201d\n\nAshmodai with a trembling voice replied,\u2014\n\n\u201cMighty master! Since the days of Moses, who employed the Shamir when\nwriting on the tablets of stone, the worm has been entrusted to the\ncare of the Prince of the Sea who has given it into the charge of the\nwood-cock. The latter has sworn to the Prince of the Sea to carry the\nShamir with him at all times. The wood-cock lives in a big nest built\non the top of a very lofty pinnacle in a mountain range. He has\nemployed the Shamir to split the hard rock so as to plant seed in the\nclefts. The new vegetation which grows there is used for food by the\nwood-cock. Whenever he goes from his nest he takes the Shamir with him,\ncarrying it beneath his wing, mindful of his oath to the Prince of the\nSea.\u201d\n\n\u201cEnough,\u201d cried Solomon; \u201cthou shalt abide with me till the Temple is\nbuilt.\u201d\n\nOnce again King Solomon summoned his trusty captain Benaiah, telling\nhim to discover the nest of the wood-cock and to obtain the Shamir and\nto bring it back to the Holy City.\n\n\u201cTake with thee,\u201d said the King, \u201ca glass cover, a little wool and a\nsmall leaden box. May thy journey be as successful this time as thy\nformer one.\u201d\n\nBenaiah obeyed with a glad heart all the instructions which King\nSolomon had given. He set out on his journey, crossing hill and dale,\nstream and desert. At last he discovered the nest of the bird he\nsought. The wood-cock was away on one of his expeditions. In the nest\nwere the fledgelings. Benaiah now covered the nest with the glass cover\nwhich he had brought with him for this purpose. He then concealed\nhimself and awaited events.\n\nWhen the wood-cock returned he attempted to enter his nest, but found\nhimself foiled, for the glass was very hard and strong. He saw through\nthe glass his helpless young; and flapping his wings and screeching\nloudly tried to break the glass. All his efforts were in vain. The\nyoung birds frightened by the noise also began to screech.\n\n\u201cWhat is to be done?\u201d cried the wood-cock in the language of the birds.\n\nAgain and again he tried to smash the glass, but without success. As a\nlast resource, he determined to make use of the precious treasure\nentrusted to his care. He produced the Shamir from beneath his wing and\nput it on the glass which split into pieces as soon as it was touched\nby the wonderful worm. At that instant Benaiah raised a lusty cry and\nfrightened the wood-cock so that he dropped the Shamir. It had barely\nfallen upon the ground when it was seized by Benaiah, who carefully\nplaced it in the wool and secured it by putting it in the small leaden\nbox which he had brought for this special purpose.\n\nWithout lingering a moment, Benaiah set out on his homeward journey,\nrejoicing greatly at his complete success. In chagrin the wood-cock\nkilled himself, fearing the terrible vengeance which the Prince of the\nSea would execute when the disappearance of the Shamir became known.\nBenaiah reached the Holy City in safety and delivered to King Solomon\nthe wonderful worm. With its marvellous help the wise King built the\nTemple, and thereafter the Shamir has disappeared and no one knows\nwhere it is to be found.\n\n                                (Babylonian Talmud Gi\u1e6d\u1e6din, 68 a and b.)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFALSEHOOD AND WICKEDNESS\n\n\nAfter good old father Noah had completed the building of the ark, the\nanimals were gathered together near it by the angels appointed over\nthem. They came in pairs, and Noah stood at the door of the ark to see\nthat each one entered with its mate. As soon as the waters of the flood\nrose upon the surface of the earth, the children of men hid themselves\nin their homes for safety. All traffic and business ceased, for the\nangel of death was abroad. This state of affairs caused Falsehood to\nrealize that henceforth there was no chance of her plying her trade.\nWas it not quite evident that the ever-increasing waters of the flood\nwould soon sweep away the wicked folk who had rebelled against their\nHeavenly Creator? Where should Falsehood betake herself for safety?\n\nForthwith she hastened to the ark, but its door was shut. What was to\nbe done?\n\nFalsehood knocked at the door with trembling hand. Noah opened the\nwindow of the ark, and put out his head to see who was knocking. It was\na strange creature before his door. Noah had never seen her before,\nbecause he was a righteous man who never told lies.\n\n\u201cWhat dost thou want?\u201d he cried.\n\n\u201cLet me come in, please,\u201d she replied.\n\n\u201cGladly,\u201d cried Noah, \u201cwould I admit thee if thy mate were with thee,\nfor only pairs are admitted here.\u201d\n\nIn grief and disappointment Falsehood went away. She had not gone a few\nyards before she met her old friend Wickedness, who was now out of\nemployment.\n\n\u201cWhence cometh thou, dear friend Falsehood?\u201d asked Wickedness.\n\n\u201cI come,\u201d said Falsehood, \u201cfrom old father Noah. Just listen. I asked\nhim to let me come into the ark, but he refused unless I complied with\nhis rules.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat does he require?\u201d asked Wickedness.\n\n\u201cThe good old man stipulated that I must have a mate, because all the\ncreatures admitted into the ark are in pairs,\u201d Falsehood replied.\n\n\u201cNow, dear friend, is this the truth?\u201d queried Wickedness with a merry\ntwinkle in his evil eye.\n\n\u201cOf course it is the truth, on my word of honour,\u201d rejoined Falsehood.\n\u201cCome now,\u201d she added, \u201cwilt thou be my mate? Are we not just fit to be\njoined together, two honest and poor creatures?\u201d\n\n\u201cIf I agree,\u201d said Wickedness, \u201cwhat wilt thou give me in return?\u201d\n\nFalsehood thought awhile and with a cunning look at her friend she\nexclaimed,\u2014\n\n\u201cI faithfully promise to give to thee all that I earn in the ark. Have\nno fear, I shall do excellent business even there, because I feel very\nfit and energetic.\u201d\n\nWickedness agreed to the terms immediately, and there and then a proper\nagreement was drawn up, and duly signed and sealed. Without further\ndelay they both hastened to Noah, who readily admitted the happy pair.\n\nFalsehood soon began to be very busy and earned good money. She often\nthought of her agreement with Wickedness with regret, as she realized\nthat she alone did all the business. She even said to him one day,\u2014\n\n\u201cLook here, how easily can I carry on my trade single-handed?\u201d\n\nHe merely reminded her of the agreement, and day by day he wrote down\nin his ledger the sum total of the day\u2019s takings.\n\nAt the end of the year, for the flood lasted twelve months, they came\nout of the ark. Falsehood brought home much treasure, but Wickedness\ncame with her and claimed the whole of the hard-earned fortune.\nThereupon Falsehood said to herself, \u201cI will ask my mate to give me\nsome of my earnings.\u201d\n\nShe approached Wickedness and in a gentle voice said,\u2014\n\n\u201cDearest friend, please give me a share of what I have so honestly\nearned, for I alone did all the work.\u201d\n\nWickedness looked at her in contempt and with harsh voice cried aloud,\u2014\n\n\u201cThy share is nought, O cheat! Did we not solemnly agree that I was to\ntake everything which thou shouldst earn? How could I break our\nagreement? Would this not be a very wicked thing to do, now would it\nnot?\u201d\n\nFalsehood held her peace and went away, well knowing that she had been\nfoiled in her attempt to cheat her friend Wickedness. True indeed is\nthe proverb: \u201cFalsehood begets much, but Wickedness taketh all that\naway.\u201d\n\n\n                                                (Yal\u1e33u\u1e6d, Psalms \u00a7 638.)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTHE WICKED KING AND HIS BRIDE\n\n\nLong, long ago there lived in the Holy Land an old peasant and his\nwife. They had an only son who was also married. The family all lived\nhappily together in a little house in a village near Samaria. The son,\nwhose name was Chaninah, was a very good man, deeply learned in the\nHoly Scriptures and the ancient lore of Israel.\n\nIn course of time the old father, feeling his end drawing near, called\nhis beloved son to his bedside and said to him,\u2014\n\n\u201cHearken, my son, to the words which I am about to speak. Your mother\nand I will soon die. After our death and burial you will observe the\ncustomary period of mourning and lamentation. On the day following go\nto the nearest market-place and buy the first thing offered to you, be\nthe price what it may. I also charge you to continue the study of the\nHoly Word of the Bible by day and by night, keep the Divine\nCommandments, support the poor and be kind to the dumb creatures.\u201d\n\nAfter he had spoken these words he blessed his son and closed his eyes\nin the sleep of death.\n\nChaninah went to tell his mother of the death of his father. The sad\nnews was too much for the poor woman and the shock killed her\ninstantly. The pious son buried his beloved parents in the village\ncemetery and returned home to keep the customary period of mourning and\nlamentation, which lasted seven days.\n\nMindful of his father\u2019s dying words, Chaninah went on the following\nmorning to the nearest market-place. One of the merchants, carrying a\nbeautiful silver casket in his hands, came to him and said,\u2014\n\n\u201cWill you buy this casket?\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat is the price?\u201d asked Chaninah.\n\n\u201cI will take eighty pieces of silver for it,\u201d answered the merchant,\nand he added, \u201cI will not accept any less.\u201d\n\nChaninah agreed, and there and then paid the large sum of money\ndemanded, thinking all the while of his dear father\u2019s last wish. The\nmoney which he had spent in buying the casket was nearly all the\nfortune he possessed.\n\nWithout any further delay he returned home with his purchase, which he\nwas anxious to show to his wife.\n\n\u201cLook here,\u201d he cried, \u201cI have spent nearly all our money in buying\nthis casket, even as dear father told me to do just before he died.\u201d\n\n\u201cOpen it,\u201d said his wife; \u201cthere is sure to be something very valuable\ninside it.\u201d\n\nHe lifted the lid of the casket and was astonished to find that it\ncontained another silver box. He took this out and opened it, curious\nto learn what was inside. To their great surprise a little green frog\nleapt out.\n\n\u201cWell, I never,\u201d cried Chaninah, \u201cthis is an expensive creature.\u201d\n\n\u201cDo not forget,\u201d his wife said, \u201cyour father\u2019s command to be kind to\nthe dumb creatures.\u201d\n\n\u201cQuite right,\u201d says her husband, \u201cwe will provide for the frog even as\nthough the little fellow were one of us.\u201d\n\nThe frog grew larger and larger and the silver box was no longer large\nenough for its quarters. Chaninah therefore made a nice roomy cupboard\nfor their new friend\u2019s abode. After a while the wife told her husband\nthat there was no more money left to buy food. With a very sad heart\nthe good man called the frog to his side and said,\u2014\n\n\u201cI am awfully sorry to tell you, dear little friend, that we cannot\nfeed you any longer because we have no food left even for ourselves.\u201d\n\n\u201cPlease don\u2019t worry,\u201d cried the frog, \u201cI hope you will believe me when\nI tell you that I am indeed more than grateful to you both, for all\nyour kindness and hospitality. Let me prove my gratitude by giving you\nthis piece of advice. In the box where you found me, you will see a\nstrip of parchment. If you place it in the fold of your turban you will\nbe able to understand not only the different languages of mankind but\nalso the speech of birds, fish and beasts.\u201d\n\nChaninah did exactly as the frog told him, and calling his wife told\nher that they would accompany the frog to his new home wherever it\nmight be. The frog said this should be in a pond in the wood near by.\n\nThey all went to the wood feeling sad that poverty was forcing them to\npart company.\n\nAs soon as they came to the wood the frog told them to rest themselves.\nThen at the bidding of the frog, the birds and beasts in the wood\nbrought to Chaninah and his wife an immense quantity of valuable gems\nand an assortment of roots and herbs. The kind-hearted frog gave these\ngifts to his good friends, explaining how the herbs and roots were to\nbe used for healing purposes. Then at last the frog bids his friends\nfarewell and tells them that he was really a son of Adam and the demon\nLilith, and that he had the power of changing himself into any shape.\n\nChaninah and his wife gathered up the precious gems, roots and herbs\nand returned home. On the way they met a caravan and offered some of\nthe gems for sale. A good bargain was struck and Chaninah and his wife\nfound themselves with plenty of money. They left their old home and\nbought a nice house. Riches did not spoil them, for their hearts were\nkind. Moreover Chaninah kept faithfully the charge of his beloved\nfather. He studied the holy words of Scripture by day and by night and\nobserved the Divine precepts with a good will. Their home was always\nopen to the poor. The good fortune of Chaninah spread far and wide. His\nreputation as a charitable man reached the ears of the King who invited\nhim to visit his Court.\n\nThe King took a great fancy to Chaninah and persuaded him to take up\nhis abode in the palace. The King was by no means a pious man, in fact\nhe was very wicked and cruel. He was unmarried, and this fact alone\ndispleased his subjects. His counsellors urged him to find a good wife,\nsaying to him,\u2014\n\n\u201cLet us, O King, remind you that we require not only a king but also a\nqueen and little princes; for there will surely come a time when a new\nking will have to be found\u2014because kings and queens are mortals and\nthey cannot live for ever.\u201d\n\nThey did not tell the King what their real motive was in advising him\nto marry. They thought that if the King were to find a true and good\nwife it might be possible for her to use her influence and make him a\nbetter man.\n\nThe King dismissed his counsellors, promising to see them again in a\nweek\u2019s time, when he would tell them whether he would marry or not.\nWhen they came to the palace at the appointed time the King\u2019s valet met\nthem and told them that His Majesty would receive them in the palace\ngarden.\n\nThey went there and found the King sitting on his throne. As they\napproached he rose up and bade them welcome. At that moment a beautiful\nbird flew over the King and dropped a long golden hair upon his\nshoulder. The King took the hair in his hand and turning to his\ncounsellors said,\u2014\n\n\u201cI will marry only the maiden to whom this golden hair belongs. No\nother wife shall be mine. You wish me to marry\u2014well and good\u2014so be it.\nI now command you to discover the owner of this golden hair, and mark\nyou, if you do not bring her to me within a year from to-day I will\nhave you and all your families put to death.\u201d\n\nThe counsellors were greatly distressed at the turn of events. They\nfeared that their lives would be forfeit. How were they to find the\nlady whose golden hair had brought misfortune to them and their\nfamilies? With sad hearts they left the royal presence, and when they\nwere outside the palace they asked one another, \u201cWhat is to be done?\u201d\n\nChaninah, who was now one of the King\u2019s counsellors, offered to find\nthe lady destined to be their queen. He hastened home to bid his wife\nfarewell and to prepare for his journey. He took a bag into which he\nput six loaves, a small assortment of his precious herbs and roots and\ntwelve silver coins. Having blessed his wife he set out on his quest.\n\nHe walked during the best part of the day and at sunset, feeling very\ntired, he sat down on a large stone beneath a tree. He was just about\nto doze off when he was suddenly startled by hearing a raven\u2019s croak.\nHe listened and understood that the bird had not found any food for\nthree days. He at once opened his bag and gave the raven a large piece\nof bread. On the morrow Chaninah met a dog howling miserably.\n\n\u201cCome and tell me,\u201d he said to the dog, \u201call your troubles. I\nunderstand the speech of beasts and birds.\u201d\n\nThe dog said that he was very ill and hungry, for it was just a week\nsince he had eaten any food. Chaninah gave him one of the healing roots\nand a loaf of bread. The dog devoured the bread and ate the root and\nthanked his good friend.\n\nNext day Chaninah came to a river and found some fishermen trying in\nvain to pull in their net, which contained a large fish. The fishermen\npulled so hard that they feared their net would break. Chaninah lent\nthem a willing hand and then they were able to pull in the net. The\nfishermen shouted with joy,\u2014\n\n\u201cWe have enough now for dinner to-day and to-morrow.\u201d\n\nChaninah asked them to sell the fish and he would give them twelve\npieces of silver as its price. They agreed and gave him the fish as\nsoon as he had paid them. They could hardly believe their eyes when\nthey saw Chaninah throwing the fish back into the river. Bidding them\nfarewell he continued his journey.\n\nAt last he came to a large town where, unknown to him, dwelt the maiden\nwhom he was seeking. She was a princess, the only daughter of the King\nof that country.\n\nChaninah came to the courtyard of the palace and stood still awhile\ngazing around. The Princess was looking out of the window of her room,\nand saw Chaninah, whose strange attire attracted her attention. She\nsends her chamberlain to bring him to her presence.\n\nIn reply to her inquiry as to the why and wherefore of his visit to her\nfather\u2019s land, Chaninah tells her the story of his quest. Looking at\nher he sees that she is the very lady whom he has to find to be the\nwife of the King, his master, for her tresses were golden even like the\nhue of the hair which the King found upon his shoulder.\n\n\u201cCome, good lady, with me,\u201d he cries, \u201cand save my people, the wise men\nof Israel and their families, who are in mortal danger. Come and be\nQueen in our land and save the soul of our lord the King.\u201d\n\nThe Princess had listened very attentively to all the strange story\ntold by Chaninah, and in reply she said,\u2014\n\n\u201cWell do I remember drying my hair one day last month in the garden of\nour palace, and whilst doing so a strange bird flew over my head three\ntimes and then plucked out one of my hairs. He flew away with the hair\nand I can now believe that this is the very bird which brought my hair\nto the King of your land. I will accede to your wish and consent to\nbecome the Queen of your land if you fulfil two tasks which I will set\nyou. The first I will mention at once. Here I have two empty flasks.\nYou must bring them back to me full of water. I do not mean the water\nof the brook or well, but the one flask must contain water from\nParadise and the other must be filled with water from Hell. When you\nhave done this task I will tell you all about the second one.\u201d\n\nWith a kind word of farewell the Princess dismissed Chaninah. He left\nthe palace with a sad heart and prayed to God to help him in his\ndifficulty. Was he not trying to save the lives of his brethren in the\nHoly Land?\n\nAfter a little while he hears the croak of a raven speaking as\nfollows:\u2014\n\n\u201cDear friend! do you no longer remember me? Did you not give me bread\nwhen you met me? I was so hungry then, for I had not tasted any food\nfor three days. Now just tell me, How can I be of service? I will\ngladly do my best to please you.\u201d\n\nChaninah told the raven all about the task which the Princess had set\nhim to do.\n\n\u201cHere are the flasks,\u201d he said; \u201cone must be filled with water from\nParadise and the other must be filled with water from Hell.\u201d\n\nThe raven told him to tie a flask to each wing and at sunset to be at\nthe spot where they were conversing. The raven flew to the netherworld\nand singed his wings in passing through the flames of Hell. At last he\nreached the black boiling waters in the centre of Hell and filled one\nflask. He then flew to the gates of Paradise and found the spring which\nflows from its midst and bathed in its cool water to heal his wings. He\nthen filled the other flask and flew to the spot where he had arranged\nto meet his friend. He gave the flasks filled with the desired water to\nChaninah, who returned to the palace and told the Princess that the\ntask was done.\n\nThe Princess was in doubt whether the water of each flask was genuine.\nShe proposed to test the contents there and then. Opening the flask\ncontaining the water from Hell, she poured a few drops upon the palm of\nher hand. The water burnt her skin and she quickly put some of the\nwater of the other flask upon the burnt spot and healed it at once. She\ntold Chaninah that she was quite satisfied with this performance.\n\n\u201cBut now,\u201d she said, \u201cyou have to perform a much more difficult task.\nJust listen. Some years ago I was playing with my ring in a boat and by\naccident I dropped it into the water. It was a golden ring with my\ninitials engraved on the gold and set with a beautiful pearl. Restore\nthis ring, and when I have it again I will comply with your request.\u201d\n\nThe Princess thought that it would be impossible to find her ring and\nthat she would not be bothered to accede to the wish of Chaninah. She\nagain dismissed him with a few kind words and told him not to be\ndisappointed if he failed to find the ring.\n\nChaninah at once turned his thoughts to God and prayed for Divine help.\nHe then went to the nearest river, hoping that his good fortune would\nnot forsake him. As soon as he came to the water he beheld the large\nfish which he had purchased and thrown back into the river.\n\n\u201cTell me,\u201d said the fish, \u201cwhat you desire, and I will try to help\nyou.\u201d\n\nChaninah told the fish the story of the ring of the Princess, and said\nthat he must have this ring as soon as possible.\n\n\u201cMeet me at yonder bridge,\u201d said the fish, \u201cto-morrow morning at\ndaybreak and I will bring you news concerning the ring.\u201d\n\nThe fish then swam away and made for the bottom of the great sea in\norder to seek the help of Leviathan, the monster king of the deep.\n\nLeviathan welcomed the fish, and having heard his story promised to\nhelp him. He issued an order throughout his vast kingdom compelling\nevery fish to report to him if any such ring had been heard of or\ndiscovered. If he should discover that a fish had the ring and failed\nto produce it, very severe penalties were sure to follow. Within an\nhour the ring was brought to the palace of Leviathan and placed before\nhis throne. Leviathan then gave it to the fish which had promised to\nhelp Chaninah.\n\nNext morning at daybreak the fish delivered the ring to Chaninah, who\nrejoiced greatly at the cleverness of the fish. How glad he was that he\nhad fulfilled his dear father\u2019s wishes in being kind to birds, beasts\nand fish.\n\nAt noon Chaninah entered the palace and was brought at once to the\nPrincess.\n\n\u201cBehold,\u201d he cried in a joyful voice, \u201cyour Royal Highness! is this not\nyour ring? Your initials are engraved on the gold.\u201d\n\nThe Princess admitted that this was her ring, and as the two tasks,\nwhich she had imposed, had been satisfactorily accomplished, she now\nconsented to accompany Chaninah to the Holy Land.\n\nOn the way they were attacked by robbers. Chaninah, fearing that he\nwould be overpowered, called for help. At that moment a dog ran up to\nhis side and barked so furiously that the robbers made off. The dog was\nglad to repay Chaninah for having fed him and healed him in days gone\nby.\n\nAt last they came to the Holy Land, and when the King saw the beautiful\nprincess with the golden hair he was very happy. Amidst general\nrejoicing the royal wedding took place. The King rewarded Chaninah by\nmaking him his chief counsellor of State. The good man\u2019s success,\nhowever, was marred by a great misfortune which had befallen him during\nhis absence. His good wife had died. Moreover, some of the royal\nservants were envious of his advancement in the King\u2019s favour. They\nresolved to hire some ruffians who were to waylay him. One day as he\nwas leaving the palace the ruffians attacked him and killed him in the\ncourtyard. As soon as the news of the sad event was told to the Queen,\nshe cried,\u2014\n\n\u201cNever mind! let me see what can be done.\u201d\n\nShe went to her cabinet and took out the flask containing the water\nfrom Paradise. She then went to the courtyard where the King and nobles\nwere gathered around the corpse.\n\n\u201cMake way for Her Majesty the Queen!\u201d the people cried.\n\nWhen the Queen saw the dead body of her friend she smiled. All eyes\nwere fixed on her. She sprinkled some of the precious water upon the\ncorpse and immediately Chaninah opened his eyes and arose. Now the\npeople understood why the Queen had smiled.\n\n\u201cCome now,\u201d said the King to his wife, \u201ckill me and restore me to life\nagain. I should just like to know how it feels to be dead.\u201d\n\nThe Queen declined to murder her husband, and turning to him she\ncried,\u2014\n\n\u201cDo not be so wicked. Life is sacred. Moreover, the wonderful water\nwill only bring a person back to life provided his life had been good.\u201d\n\n\u201cYour Majesty,\u201d she added, \u201cmust repent and mend your ways, otherwise\nyou will not be restored to life in the hereafter.\u201d\n\nThe King went away in anger and returned to his royal apartments. Here\nhe ordered one of his servants to kill him.\n\n\u201cIf you refuse,\u201d cried the wicked King, \u201cI will instantly kill you.\u201d\n\nWhereupon the servant obeyed the King and slew him.\n\nThe Queen was at once informed of the wicked death of the King. She was\ntruly sorry to find that he had not allowed himself to be influenced by\nher advice, but that he had trifled with his life. She therefore\nfetched the flask containing water from Hell. Then she sprinkled its\ncontents upon the body of the wicked King. His body immediately was\nburnt to ashes. She thereupon turned to the astonished members of the\nCourt who were looking on, and in a gentle voice she said,\u2014\n\n\u201cDo you not see, good friends, that if my husband had been a good and\nholy man he would have been restored to life, just like Chaninah. But\nthe fact is that he was a cruel and bad man. You all knew this even\nbefore I came here from my father\u2019s land.\u201d\n\nAfter the burial of the King, the counsellors came to the Queen and\nurged her to marry Chaninah, who had proved such a trusty friend. The\nsuggestion pleased the Queen, who gladly gave her heart and hand to the\ngood man. They ruled the people in justice and kindness, and as long as\nthey reigned there was peace in the land.\n\n\n                      (From the Jewish Chap Book, Ma\u2019aseh Book, \u00a7 143.)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTHE TWO JEWELS\n\n\nIn the early period of the Middle Ages there was a King of Spain, Pedro\nby name. He was a wise and tolerant ruler. In his kingdom Christians,\nJews and Mohammedans were to be found. It was a time when brotherly\nlove was to be discovered in the Holy Scriptures only.\n\nKing Pedro was one day about to set out at the head of his army to\nattack his enemies in a neighbouring land. Nicholas of Valencia, one of\nthe royal counsellors, came to Pedro and exclaimed,\u2014\n\n\u201cO most gracious sire! May I ask your Majesty a question?\u201d\n\n\u201cAsk, good friend Nicholas,\u201d said the King.\n\n\u201cWhat need is there for your Majesty to leave your kingdom to fight\nyour enemies beyond the border, when you have so many dangerous enemies\nwithin your kingdom?\u201d\n\n\u201cTo whom do you refer?\u201d cried the King.\n\n\u201cI refer to all disbelievers in Spain, the heretics, the Jews and the\nfollowers of Mahommet\u2014people who deny the divinity of our Lord, our\nSaviour, and His Holy Mother. Do we not, as good Christians, hate the\nJews and Moslems and do they not hate us? Does not your Majesty know\nthat the Jews are commanded in their holy Bible to abstain from\ngreeting the Christians?\u201d\n\n\u201cHow can that be true,\u201d said the wise King, \u201csince the Hebrew Bible was\nwritten at a time when there were no Christians?\u201d\n\n\u201cNevertheless,\u201d continued Nicholas, \u201cI have heard it said, that even\nthough a Jew would greet a Christian saying to him, \u2018Peace be unto\nyou,\u2019 he immediately adds under his breath, \u2018but may the Devil take\nyou.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cHow do you know this?\u201d exclaimed the King in astonishment.\n\n\u201cI was told this,\u201d replied Nicholas, \u201cby a most saintly man, one\nGeronimo, a converted Jew.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo, no,\u201d interrupted Pedro, \u201cI would not believe such a man. Any one\nwho changes his religion will not scruple to change his word, twisting\nthe truth into falsehood. Do you not also realize that the testimony of\nsuch a convert is probably unreliable, because he is now anxious to\nshow how intensely he loves his new faith, and this he does best by\nhating the religion which he has abandoned?\u201d\n\n\u201cYour Majesty may be right,\u201d said Nicholas, \u201cbut,\u201d he added, \u201cthere is\nnothing which vexes my soul so much as the unbounded impudence of the\nJews, who would not hesitate to tell your Majesty that their Religion\nis better than our Holy Faith.\u201d\n\n\u201cDo not let this vex you, good Nicholas,\u201d said Pedro; \u201cprove your\nstatement by bringing a Jew before me and let me hear from his own lips\nthis glorification of his religion, and then I will tell you whether I\nfeel vexed or not.\u201d\n\nNicholas left the King in order to fetch a Jew as commanded by his\nroyal master. After a few minutes had elapsed, he returned, bringing\nwith him a venerable man with a long beard, white as the driven snow.\n\n\u201cWelcome!\u201d exclaimed King Pedro; \u201cbe seated, noble Jew, and answer me\nwithout fear or favour any questions I may put to you.\u201d\n\n\u201cMay it please your Majesty,\u201d said the Jew, who had risen from his seat\nwhen about to speak, \u201clife is dear to me and mine, but truth and honour\nare dearer still. For nearly ninety years have I remained steadfast to\nthe faith of my fathers. I most humbly beg your Majesty to suffer me\nand my people to continue to be loyal not only to God, our Heavenly\nKing, but also to your Majesty.\u201d\n\n\u201cHave no fear, good Jew, but now tell me your name,\u201d says King Pedro.\n\n\u201cI am called,\u201d he replies, \u201cEphraim, the son of Sancho.\u201d\n\n\u201cNow will you tell me,\u201d asks the King, \u201cwhich religion, Judaism or\nChristianity, is more true and real?\u201d\n\nAfter a moment\u2019s thought Ephraim replies,\u2014\n\n\u201cMy religion is the only good one for me in view of my circumstances.\nYour Majesty knows that my ancestors, the children of Israel, were once\nslaves in the land of Egypt. God in His great mercy redeemed my people\nfrom that land of bondage with signs and wonders. My religion is bound\nup with this wonderful love of God, who not only redeemed us, but He\nalso gave us our laws and commandments. In keeping these laws and\ncommandments we serve God, and this is our religion, and it is the most\nnatural for the people of Israel. For your Majesty, however, who is\nborn to rule nations and creeds, your religion is the most suitable,\nbecause Christianity is the predominant faith which has cramped my\nreligion in Ghettos and darkness. Christianity has even resolved in\nthis land to drive out the Mohammedans, so that a believer in the Koran\nshall not be found in Catholic Spain.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou have spoken wisely and daringly,\u201d says the King, \u201cbut I did not\nask you to discuss the various religions from the point of view of the\nindividual believer, but I wished to know which religion, in your\nopinion, is the best. You can limit your reply by discussing whether\nJudaism is better than Christianity, or, as we think, vice versa.\u201d\n\nEphraim replied,\u2014\n\n\u201cIn three days\u2019 time, if it please your Majesty, I will return and give\nyou my humble opinion. I cannot promise to satisfy your Majesty, but I\nwill do my best to justify my conscience.\u201d\n\nThe King consented to this proposal, and dismissed the Jew with a\nfriendly farewell.\n\nThree days later the King and Nicholas were anxiously awaiting the\npromised reply. At the hour appointed, Ephraim appeared. He was very\nmuch agitated and gasped for breath.\n\n\u201cMost heartily welcome,\u201d cries Pedro in his most friendly voice; \u201ccome\nand sit near my throne and tell me your answer to my question.\u201d\n\nEphraim sat in silence and failed to control his agitation.\n\n\u201cWhat is the matter, good Ephraim?\u201d asked the King, who was now\nbeginning to feel concerned at the Jew\u2019s prolonged silence and unusual\nexcitement.\n\nAt last by a great effort Ephraim exclaimed,\u2014\n\n\u201cI grieve to tell your Majesty that I am ill. I have this day been most\ngrossly insulted and abused. I am perfectly innocent of having done any\nwrong to the men who have been so cruel and unjust to me. Gracious\nKing! I appeal to you to hear my complaint and to see that justice is\ndone.\u201d\n\n\u201cHave no fear,\u201d cried the King. \u201cI am the fountain of justice, and\nevery one in my realm may look to me for impartial judgment. What is\nyour complaint?\u201d\n\nThe King and Nicholas turned to Ephraim and anxiously awaited his\nreply.\n\n\u201cMy story is as follows,\u201d says the Jew. \u201cA month ago my neighbour went\naway from home on a very long journey. In order to give some comfort\nand consolation to his two sons during his absence, he gave a precious\njewel to each of them. Early this day the two sons of my good neighbour\ncame to my house and asked to see me. I received them very politely in\nmy humble apartment and asked them how I could be of service. They\nshowed me their jewels and demanded that I should there and then\nexplain to them both the various characteristics of the gems. I was\nalso to point out the beauties and flaws\u2014if any\u2014in the precious stones.\nThey asked me to appraise their value and to decide which of the two\nwas the better and the more valuable. I told them that there was no one\nso well qualified to answer all their questions as their dear father\nwho happens to be an eminent authority on gems, for he is a jeweller.\n\u2018Go,\u2019 I said, \u2018to your beloved father and let him decide, for he will\ntell you all you desire to know about the jewels, and whatever he tells\nyou will be right and true.\u2019 No sooner had I said this, when the two\nsons attacked me, striking me upon my head. They abused me, calling me\n\u2018heretic and Jew,\u2019 just because I tried to answer their question to the\nbest of my ability.\u201d\n\n\u201cTruly,\u201d cried the King in a passion, \u201cthey have acted most shamefully;\nthey deserve to be most severely punished.\u201d\n\n\u201cListen, O sire, to the words of your mouth,\u201d rejoined Ephraim. \u201cTwo\nbrothers were Esau and Jacob, and to each one did their father give a\nprecious jewel. Now your Majesty likewise asks me to decide which is\nthe better? Let your Majesty send a messenger to our Father in Heaven,\nfor He is the greatest owner of jewels, and He will be able to explain\nexactly how the two jewels differ, and He will also tell your Majesty\nwhich of the two is the more precious.\u201d\n\nWith a smile on his face, King Pedro turned to Nicholas and said to\nhim,\u2014\n\n\u201cDo you not see how wisely this learned Jew has answered my question?\nHe deserves to be rewarded not only for his wisdom but also for his\ntoleration, for he implies that our religion and his own have both been\ngiven to humanity by our Heavenly Father, who, in His own good time,\nwill decide which is the best religion. Meanwhile, let all men, be\ntheir faith what it may, learn to be brothers and friends, trusting\nthat the time may come when love and charity will lead every one to the\ntruth.\u201d\n\n\n                             Shebet Jehudah, pages 53, 54 (ed. Wiener).\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTHE BEGGAR AT THE WEDDING\n\n\nOnce upon a time, long ago, there was a man whose fame had spread far\nand wide in the land where he lived. He was exceedingly good-hearted,\nand as he had plenty of money he was able to help the poor. David\u2014for\nthat was the man\u2019s name\u2014had a gentle and good wife. They had an only\ngirl, named Hannah.\n\nIn time Hannah grew up into a most lovely woman, whose hand and fortune\nwere sought after by many suitors. One lover in particular had\nsucceeded in gaining her favour by giving a few pence to a poor man\nwhenever Hannah drew his attention to the one in distress. This\ncharity, however, was not genuine, for if alone the lover would refuse\nto listen to the poor. Hannah consented to accept this suitor as her\nhusband, and at last the wedding day was fixed. When the day arrived\nher home resounded with the song of joy and gladness. At the marriage\nfeast happy laughter cheered the hearts of all the guests.\n\nNext day all this happiness was suddenly changed into grief, for death\nhad claimed the bridegroom as his victim. The lonely bride, weeping and\nlamenting, had laid aside her beautiful wedding robe and her bridal\nadornment and had put on the black dress of a mourner. All that had\nhappened seemed as though it were a dream to the poor girl. Even her\nparents could hardly realize the terrible misfortune which had so\nsuddenly befallen them. Yesterday saw the wedding and to-day was to see\nthe funeral of the luckless husband.\n\nIn time their sorrow gradually became less intense and the tears of the\nwidow dried off her beautiful face, for time cures every evil under the\nsun. Hannah\u2019s beauty and wealth soon brought new lovers, and she\naccepted as a husband a man who was harsh and domineering by nature. He\nwooed Hannah for the sake of her fortune.\n\nAgain the bridal eve was followed by a night of death. Grief and tears\nagain succeeded the joy and bliss of the marriage day. For a third time\nthis cruel fate overtook the unfortunate bridegroom, who, like his\npredecessors, had only married for the sake of money. In the presence\nof all the friends of her dear parents Hannah cried,\u2014\n\n\u201cThrice have I been wedded and thrice have I lost my husband. Never\nagain will I marry, for I will not again lead my beloved to death.\nGod\u2019s hand is stretched out against me for some unknown sin. Thrice was\nI married in order to increase the joy of my dear parents, but this joy\nhas been changed three times into heartbreaking sorrow for all of us.\nHenceforth I will remain a widow. Daily will I weep and pray to God to\nforgive me the sin which has cost so dearly.\u201d\n\nThe friends held their peace and left the sorrowing girl and her\nparents to comfort one another as best they could.\n\nDavid had a brother named Samuel, who lived in a far-off country. For\nvery many years they had not heard from one another. In their youth\nthey had parted, each bent on seeking his fortune. As we have seen,\nDavid had become very wealthy. Samuel, however, although blessed with a\nworthy wife and ten children, had remained a poor man. He and his\neldest son collected wood in the forest near their hut. Sometimes they\nwere lucky and sold all the wood which they had gathered. One day they\nfailed to find any customers, and when they returned home at night they\nwere penniless. The result was that next day the entire family were\nwithout food.\n\nAgain that day Samuel and his eldest son, whose name was Joseph, went\nto the market-place to sell the wood, but without any success. They\nresolved to spend the night in the forest rather than see the misery of\nthe starving children in their unhappy home.\n\nSamuel and Joseph prayed to God for help. After a while Joseph turned\nto his father and suggested that the best thing to do would be to go to\nhis rich uncle David and to ask his assistance. Samuel gladly consented\nto this proposal.\n\nEarly next morning they returned home and told their dear ones about\nthe plan which they had adopted. Joseph took leave of his beloved\nparents, sisters and brothers and set out on his journey fortified by\nthe prayers and blessings of all the family.\n\nWhen he came to his uncle\u2019s house he was received with a hearty\nwelcome. His aunt and uncle inquired after the welfare of Joseph\u2019s\nparents, and when they heard of the terrible poverty in Joseph\u2019s home\nthey immediately sent their trusty steward to help the family with\nfood, money and clothing. Joseph wished to return home in company with\nthe steward, but he was persuaded by his aunt to stay with his uncle\nfor a short visit. His genial presence soon brought comfort and\nhappiness to his sad cousin Hannah. Often did they sit together in the\nbeautiful garden attached to David\u2019s house and read the stirring\nstories of the Bible.\n\nA few weeks of unclouded happiness soon passed by, and Joseph thought\nthat the time had come when he ought to return home. He went to his\nuncle one morning and said to him,\u2014\n\n\u201cLet me ask you, dear uncle, to do me a favour, which you can readily\npromise to do. You have given me so much already. I shall never forget\nall your love and kindness. One thing only is still wanting to complete\nmy heart\u2019s desire. Well do I know how generously you have assisted my\nbeloved father and mother. You have fed and clothed my poor sisters and\nbrothers. You have kept me here for many a happy day as your guest. If\nyou do not promise to do this one favour which I am about to ask, I\nmust at once leave you and return to my own home, for I fear I have\nalready stayed here too long.\u201d\n\n\u201cHow can I refuse you your request, dear Joseph,\u201d cried David. \u201cI\nfaithfully promise on my word of honour to do what you ask, for I know\nthat you are a good and noble lad with an honest and kind heart. I am\nsure you would never ask for aught which is neither right nor just.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat is so,\u201d said Joseph. \u201cNow, dear uncle, since you have given me\nyour promise, listen to my request. I know you do not really wish me to\nreturn home. I will agree to stay with you on one condition and make\nyour home mine also.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat is the condition?\u201d cried David impatiently.\n\n\u201cThe condition,\u201d continued Joseph, \u201cis that you give me your consent to\nmarry my dear cousin Hannah. When we are married, we will live with you\nand comfort you and dear aunt for the rest of your lives.\u201d\n\nDavid\u2019s face became white and with tears in his eyes he shook his head.\n\n\u201cWhat you are asking,\u201d he cried, \u201cis impossible. Do you not know, dear\nJoseph, that Hannah has already been married three times and each time\nher husband died in the night following the wedding. You are really\nasking me for leave to die, and I dare not consent. Please do not try\nto persuade me to agree to your proposal. If you do, it will be to your\nown hurt.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut you have given me your word of honour to grant my request,\u201d said\nJoseph, \u201cand your word is your bond. Well do I know the sad story of\ndear Hannah\u2019s weddings. I am fully aware that the three husbands who in\nturn married my dear cousin died in the first night of their marriage.\nThe fault was not Hannah\u2019s. She is so good and loving, so true and\ninnocent. I trust in God with all my heart and soul, and I will gladly\nrisk my life and happiness in marrying her. The love of God will shield\nme from all harm. Have no fear, give your consent and we shall all be\nhappy.\u201d\n\nDavid with tremulous voice addressed his nephew, saying,\u2014\n\n\u201cJoseph, I love you as though you were my son. Listen well to what I am\nabout to say. If by marrying my daughter you think you will obtain her\nfortune, tell me if this be the case; be candid and I will satisfy you\nand redeem my pledge by giving you her dowry. Nay, I will double the\namount if you agree not to wed my child. If this should not satisfy\nyou, name the sum of money you desire, and if I possess it, it shall be\nyours. I will gladly give it with a good will, only do not risk your\nprecious life by running into danger. You have been a source of real\ncomfort and happiness to us all ever since you set foot in our house.\nDo not, I beseech you, plunge us all into unutterable misery by risking\nyour life. To marry Hannah is to die.\u201d\n\n\u201cDear uncle!\u201d Joseph cried, \u201cdo you really think for one moment that I\nwish to marry Hannah for the sake of money. Do not even think that I\nwould take a penny piece if I am not allowed to marry her. I do not\nthink of money or worldly things now, for I know that love is the best\nof all treasures. In Hannah have I found my ideal; she alone of all\nwomen on earth will be mine, even as I alone of all men will be hers,\nnow and always. Providence is not against us, for I feel that we are\ndestined to make one another happy. Moreover, in our happiness you and\ndear aunt will find your true peace and joy.\u201d\n\nSeeing the folly of prolonging the discussion, David consented to carry\nout his promise, and said that he would at once tell the news to Hannah\nand her mother. No sooner had he disclosed the proposal to his daughter\nthan she began to weep and to pray to God for His support and counsel.\nJoyfully would she have suffered death sooner than see any harm befall\nJoseph, whom she loved with all her heart. She knew how noble was his\ncharacter, and she realized that nothing would induce him to change his\nmind. She felt that she was helpless and that there was nothing to be\ndone except to put her life and that of her beloved Joseph in the hands\nof God.\n\nLater in the day Joseph came to her and placed the engagement ring on\nher finger, meanwhile saying,\u2014\n\n\u201cWith this ring art thou betrothed unto me according to the Law of\nMoses and of Israel.\u201d\n\nThey sealed their engagement by a sweet kiss, exchanging promises of\nlove and constancy. In spite of her happiness, tears welled up in her\neyes, for she knew that their great joy and love were in the balance.\nJoseph tried to console her by telling her that all would be well.\n\nThe news of their engagement soon spread in the town where they lived,\nand the friends of Hannah\u2019s parents came to wish the couple joy and\ngood luck; thinking that their congratulations would gladden the hearts\nof Hannah and of her parents. Joseph\u2019s usual good humour was\nintensified by the happy event. He sought out the poor, to whom he gave\ngifts of money, well remembering the poverty in which he had lived till\nhe came to his uncle.\n\nA few weeks later the ceremony of marriage was fixed to be celebrated.\nOnce again Hannah put on her bridal attire, thinking the while of the\nterrible misfortunes she had experienced. At last the hour came when\nshe stood with Joseph at her side beneath the wedding canopy.\n\nJust as the marriage service was about to begin, an old man, unknown to\nall the assembled guests, approached Joseph and asked him to give him a\nmoment\u2019s attention, because he had to tell him something of vital\nimportance. Joseph immediately turned aside with the stranger and asked\nhim if he required any help. The stranger replied,\u2014\n\n\u201cI come to help you, for I know that you have a good and kind heart. I\nask you to remember that wealth will not avail in the hour of your\nneed, charity alone will save you and deliver you from death. Be\nhospitable this day and invite to your wedding feast the poor who will\nbless you for your kindness. This is all I have to say, and now let me\ngo, for I wish you well.\u201d\n\nThe stranger was Elijah the prophet, the friend and comforter of all in\ntrouble and distress.\n\nThe marriage service began, and at its conclusion the guests took their\nplaces at the banquet. At the head of the table sat the bridegroom, and\nat his side was his beautiful bride. The guests began to eat and to\ndrink, when all of a sudden there was seen at the door of the room a\nbeggar in rags and tatters, his skin yellow and unwashed, his hair\nunkempt and his stature bent. His eyes were flaming like fire, and at\nhis presence profound silence obtained. Not a sound was heard within\nthe room; all was hushed in strange suspense, till Joseph in a loud and\nfearless voice cried,\u2014\n\n\u201cCome hither, good friend; you are most welcome at this, my marriage\nfeast. At my side shall you sit, for here all are most heartily\nwelcome, rich and poor alike.\u201d\n\nJoseph told the servants to go to the door of the house and to invite\nall the poor who passed by to join his guests.\n\nThe beggar went to the seat next to Joseph\u2019s and sat down. Joseph\nwaited on his unknown guest and gave him of the best. When the banquet\nwas over the bride arose and retired to her apartment. Joseph arose\nlikewise and was about to follow her when the beggar placed his hand on\nJoseph\u2019s shoulder and said in a whisper\u2014\n\n\u201cI must have just one word with you in private, please. I cannot stay\nhere much longer, but I have to tell you why I am with you to-day.\u201d\n\nJoseph led him to an empty room and requested him to be seated. After a\nmoment or two had elapsed the stranger began to speak as follows:\u2014\n\n\u201cMy friend, I am truly sorry for your own and also for your dear wife\u2019s\nsake, but I have come here on a very sad errand. I am sent to you\nagainst my will. It is God who has sent me here to take you to Him.\nPrepare now to leave the world and all its joys.\u201d\n\nJoseph looked at his guest without fear, and in a very calm voice he\nsaid,\u2014\n\n\u201cIf this be God\u2019s will, so be it done in love and obedience.\nNevertheless, I do beseech you grant me a respite\u2014just one year in\nhappiness with my wife, and then I promise to go with you.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo, my good friend, it cannot be,\u201d cried the angel of death, who was\nin the beggar\u2019s guise. \u201cNot even a month,\u201d said the angel, \u201cnot even\nthe seven days of rejoicing appointed to be kept by bride and\nbridegroom, not even one day\u2019s delay, but this very day must you die\neven as the former three husbands of your beloved wife.\u201d\n\nJoseph made haste to reply,\u2014\n\n\u201cGod\u2019s word is true, and He is true. If you cannot accede to my\npetition to grant me a respite, give me leave to go to my wife and to\nbid her farewell.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis will I gladly allow,\u201d exclaimed the angel, \u201cin return for your\nkindness to me this day; you knew me not\u2014yet have you treated me as a\nfriend.\u201d\n\nThe angel spoke so gently because his heart was full of sorrow. He knew\nthat Joseph was a good and true man, and it grieved him to lead him\nthrough the valley of the shadow of death.\n\nJoseph hastened to his wife\u2019s apartment and entered. He found her rapt\nin prayer with tears in her eyes.\n\n\u201cQuick, my beloved,\u201d he whispered, \u201cmy time is very short, I cannot\nstay here, I must hasten far away with the strange beggar. He has come\nto fetch me. Let me bless you for your unfailing sweetness and love;\ncome, let me kiss you for the last time.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf,\u201d she cried, \u201cyou hasten away I will go with you, for now we are\none and nothing shall ever part us, not even cruel death itself.\u201d\n\nWith a passionate grip she took his hand and told him to lead her to\nthe beggar. When she saw him, she said,\u2014\n\n\u201cStranger! you are still our guest beneath our roof. If you would repay\nour hospitality this day just grant me one little favour. Take me with\nmy husband to the Eternal Judge and I will ask Him whether His holy\nword in the Law is true. Is it not written therein: \u2018And what man is\nthere that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her, let him go\nand return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man take\nher\u2019\u201d (Deut. xx. 7)?\n\n\u201cNay,\u201d cried the angel, \u201cI will go for you and I will bring you answer\nagain.\u201d\n\nHis sorrow for the unfortunate bride and bridegroom prompted him to do\nthis service of love. The angel added,\u2014\n\n\u201cI will join in the choir of angels who praise God morning and evening,\nand I will put your question before the Father of Mercy who dwells with\nthe meek and the broken-hearted. I hope for the sake of both of you\nthat Joseph\u2019s life will be spared.\u201d\n\nIn a moment the angel was gone and in another moment he returned. His\nface was shining with heavenly light and his voice was sweet and soft.\n\n\u201cListen,\u201d he said. \u201cGood friends! I rejoice to tell you that your\nprayers have been heard. Live well and long together, enjoy your life.\nThe other husbands died because they married, not for love, but for\ngreed of gold. They were hard-hearted, scorning the poor and the weak.\nYou shall live to help others to live and to prosper. Farewell!\u201d and in\na second the angel was seen no more.\n\nThe bride and bridegroom spent that night in giving praise to God for\nHis love and mercy. The parents, however, were weeping throughout the\nlong night, whilst their friends had prepared the grave for Joseph\u2019s\nbody. At dawn, Joseph went to his uncle and aunt to greet them. They\nwere greatly overcome with joy and comforted one another by praying\ntogether to the Almighty. All then hastened to fill in the unused\ngrave. In this plot they planted seeds of daffodils, so that in time to\ncome they might look upon the beautiful flowers as an emblem of the\nDivine Mercy.\n\nJoseph continued to be charitable and kind to all who needed his help.\nWhenever the people saw him they were wont to exclaim: \u201cTruly charity\ndelivers from death.\u201d\n\n\n                                    Midrash Tanchuma, Ha\u2019azinu, \u00a7 viii.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTHE CLEVER WIFE\n\n\nLong, long ago, there lived in the old town of Sidon a happy couple\nnamed Abraham and Ada. Although they loved one another very much, still\nthere was something wanting to complete their happiness. They had been\nmarried for nearly ten years, but they had not been blessed with a\nchild. Ofttimes Ada would sit in her room and weep. She prayed every\nday to God to fulfil her desire by giving her a son or a daughter.\nAbraham did his best to comfort her by telling her that all would come\nright in time. Nevertheless, he felt very sad when he came home and\nthought of the future. He would have given anything to have had a\nlittle son who might be taught the holy religion which he loved so\nwell. The neighbours in their street were none too kind and they\nslighted Ada. This made her grief more bitter.\n\nDid not the people often say in Abraham\u2019s hearing that children are a\ntoken of God\u2019s blessing? Was it not true that the house which lacked\nthe merry laughter of little innocent children was under a curse or\nspell? Did not the holy Law teach that it was a religious duty to marry\nand to have children? Would it not be better, he argued with himself,\nto divorce his wife, if, after being married for ten years, she had no\nchild? She might marry another man and have children and so find her\nhappiness. All these thoughts flashed again and again through his mind.\n\nAt last when the anniversary of their tenth marriage day arrived,\nAbraham said to his wife,\u2014\n\n\u201cLet us visit to-day our true friend Rabbi Simeon, the son of Jochai.\u201d\n\nWhen they came before the famous master, Abraham, with tears in his\neyes, said,\u2014\n\n\u201cO good Rabbi! My dear wife has been faithful to me and loving during\nthe past ten years. It has pleased our Heavenly Father to withhold from\nus the blessing of children. I fear this is on account of my many sins.\nIt seems to me that our home henceforth will not be as happy as it\nshould be; my wife grieves over her barrenness and I fret because she\nis unhappy. Is it not my duty to set her free?\u201d\n\nWhilst Abraham was speaking, his wife wept. She knew that if he sent\nher away from his heart and home, her life would be utterly miserable\nand unendurable. Her genuine sorrow touched the heart of her husband,\nwho turned to her and exclaimed,\u2014\n\n\u201cMy dear and sweet wife! be calm and do not grieve, for we must ever\nsubmit to the will of Providence. Do not think that I am not ofttimes\nsad, because we have no child to cheer your long days. If I could only\ngive you some substitute, I would most gladly do so. Listen, dearest! I\nnow faithfully promise to allow you to choose whatever you like best in\nour home and you may take it with you to your father\u2019s house as a\nkeepsake when you leave me for good. This will always be a visible\ntoken of the deep affection and true love which united us during the\npast ten years.\u201d\n\nThe Rabbi watched his guests with sympathetic eyes. He knew that\nAbraham had made up his mind to divorce his worthy wife. Nothing would\nmake him waver. With a merry twinkle in his far-seeing eye, he began to\naddress them, saying,\u2014\n\n\u201cMy dear children! I can only pity you, for I am deeply grieved to see\nhow you are about to lose one another. Before you finally part,\nhowever, let me advise you to invite this day your good friends to a\nfarewell banquet, even as they gathered around you ten years ago at\nyour marriage feast. Love united you and in love prepare to separate,\nif it must be.\u201d\n\nThe wise master was in hopes that all the old ties would be revived by\nthe presence of the family circle of friends and that love would still\nhold them together. Abraham and Ada promised to follow the advice of\nthe Rabbi and they returned home.\n\nAda at once sent to all their friends and provided a most liberal\nbanquet. Her husband sat beside her as usual, and she took care that\nhis wine-glass was constantly refilled. Good cheer made the company\nvery happy, and Abraham determined to spend a jolly evening for the\nlast time in the company of his wife, whom he really loved.\n\nAda had carefully prepared her plans. Her husband had toasted each of\nhis guests, and soon the excellent wine which he drank sent him into a\ndeep sleep. Without a moment\u2019s delay, Ada beckoned to her servants to\ncome to her. She told them to lift up the armchair in which her husband\nsat asleep and to carry it at once to her father\u2019s house in a\nneighbouring street. The company looked on in surprise, and guessing\nthe meaning of what they saw, they took their departure.\n\nMeanwhile Abraham, fast asleep, had been carried to his new quarters.\nHe was put in a beautiful room, with Ada at his side waiting for him to\nawaken. At dawn the effect of the wine began to wear off and he awoke.\nLooking around with great surprise, he exclaimed,\u2014\n\n\u201cWhere am I?\u201d\n\nAda took his hand and stroking it gently, she said to him,\u2014\n\n\u201cMy beloved! you are in my father\u2019s house.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat am I doing here?\u201d he cries.\n\n\u201cYou are just waking up,\u201d she says; \u201cyou remember when we yesterday\nvisited Rabbi Simeon, the son of Jochai, you faithfully promised me\nthat I might choose anything I liked best in our home and take it with\nme when I left your roof. Last night I left your house and I took you\nwith me as there was nothing in your home, or, for the matter of that,\nin all the world so precious to me as your dear self. You were the\nchoicest possession in our old home, and you are mine now and for ever.\nYou have, by your promise to me, given yourself over to me. Divorce or\nno divorce, you are my property, for I know very well you always keep\nyour promise.\u201d\n\nAbraham saw the humour of the situation in which he found himself, and\nlaughed again and again at the huge joke his clever wife had\nperpetrated at his expense.\n\n\u201cWell done,\u201d he exclaimed, \u201cwe are now agreed that the question of\ndivorce is solved. Once again are we united and this time for ever.\nNothing shall part us as long as we live.\u201d\n\nLike all good people they lived a very happy life. In time a son was\nborn and later on a daughter was given to them, and they all rejoiced\nin one another\u2019s happiness.\n\n\n                                                  Yal\u1e33u\u1e6d, Genesis \u00a7 16.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTHE COINS OF ELIJAH\n\n\nOnce upon a time there was a really pious man who was ever ready to\nassist all who needed his help. Prosperity and happiness smiled upon\nhim. Year in and year out all went well with him and his dear ones. All\nof a sudden a change took place. The business which he carried on\nproved to be gradually showing a loss instead of the former profit.\nTrade began to dwindle, the regular customers died or moved away. Bad\ndebts increased and eventually the entire fortune of the good man was\nlost. In order to provide for the daily needs of his wife and children\nhe worked in the fields as a labourer paid by the day. The day\u2019s work\nwas long and hard, but a good heart and a willing spirit enabled him to\novercome all difficulties. He even spared a coin of his wages to help\nthose in a worse plight than he found himself.\n\nNow it happened one day whilst he was engaged in ploughing a field that\na stranger approached and greeted him, saying,\u2014\n\n\u201cPeace be to thee and to all thy house.\u201d\n\nHe replied,\u2014\n\n\u201cPeace be also to thee and thine.\u201d\n\nThe stranger then continued,\u2014\n\n\u201cFriend, I come to tell thee that thou art destined to regain thy\nfortune and to live in affluence for a period of six years during thy\nlife here on earth. It is thine to choose when this period shall begin;\nshall it be now or later in life?\u201d\n\nAstonished at the strange words which he had heard, the labourer looked\nat his companion to see if he was dreaming.\n\n\u201cGood stranger,\u201d he cried, \u201cart thou a prophet or a magician that thou\nspeakest in this wise? I fear thou art a poor man even as I am. Go thy\nway in peace, for I cannot help thee to-day, for I am penniless at the\nmoment. I should be happy to give thee a fee for thy happy forecast,\nbut I cannot give what I have not got. Go in peace and may Heaven send\nthee help.\u201d\n\nThe stranger went away and the labourer resumed his work without\nthinking any more of the strange conversation which he had just had.\nAfter a short interval the stranger returned and repeated the offer,\nonly to be refused. When, however, for the third time he urged the\nunwilling labourer to accept his gift by believing in the proffered\npromise, the poor toiler, weary of his hard daily struggle in the\nfields, at last consented to consult his wife before coming to a\ndecision. A glimmer of hope in the possibility of the promise had\narisen in his heart.\n\n\u201cPerhaps, after all,\u201d he thought, \u201ckind Providence has sent this\nmessenger to help me in my dire distress and that now the poverty which\nhas harassed me and my dear ones will be replaced by wealth and\nprosperity.\u201d\n\nHe ran home as quickly as his legs would carry him and told his wife\nall that had transpired. He emphasized the insistence displayed by the\nstranger. He said to his wife,\u2014\n\n\u201cAssuming that the stranger is speaking the truth and that I am to be\nrich for a period of six years, when do you advise me to choose our\ntime of prosperity\u2014now or later in life?\u201d\n\nAfter a moment\u2019s consideration she cried,\u2014\n\n\u201cNow, now.\u201d\n\nHer husband returned to the field without further delay and found the\nstranger awaiting his decision. When the labourer told him his wish to\nenjoy there and then the promised wealth and prosperity, the stranger\nopened his purse and took out two pieces of silver.\n\n\u201cHere, my friend,\u201d he said, \u201ctake these two coins and return them to me\nsix years hence when I shall call on thee. Do not forget I shall\nrequire my money to be restored to me when I come to demand it.\u201d\n\nAfter the labourer had taken the coins he thanked his benefactor and\npromised to return the gift as arranged. In a second the stranger had\ndisappeared; no trace of the direction he had taken was discerned by\nthe labourer, who also recalled the fact that the stranger had come\nupon him all of a sudden.\n\n\u201cVery strange,\u201d he said; \u201cthere is some mystery about this stranger, he\nseems to come from nowhere and to return to the same place.\u201d\n\nNo sooner had the labourer placed the silver coins in his pocket than\nhe perceived a sudden change coming over him. He no longer felt the\nsame man. His poverty and sorrow fled away from him and a new feeling\nof contentment and security arose in his heart. He bowed his head in\ngratitude and thanked God for His manifold mercies.\n\nMeanwhile, wonderful events were occurring in his home. His eldest son\nwas turning the soil in the garden at the back of their house, when he\nsaw gold glittering in the sunlight. He dug deeper and deeper and\ncontinued to find the precious metal; in fact there was evidently a\ntreasure which had been lying hidden there all the years of their\npoverty. The young man cried aloud in his joy. His mother and her other\nsons came to see what was amiss. As soon as she saw what was happening\nshe sent her youngest son to his father. She said,\u2014\n\n\u201cDo not fail to tell him that God has given us back our fortune.\u201d\n\nBefore the door of their house, however, stood the father. In a moment\nhe was with his wife and children, and uniting with them gave thanks to\nHim who giveth and taketh away.\n\nThe pious man and his virtuous wife resolved to make good use of their\nwealth as long as it was entrusted to their care. They were very happy\nbecause they were now in a position to help the poor who so sorely\nneeded their assistance. The wife said to her good husband,\u2014\n\n\u201cMy dear, we must not forget that our prosperity will not last for\never. We are to be rich for six years only. Let us during this period\nfeed the hungry, clothe the naked, and assist the needy. We shall\nalways have the satisfaction of knowing that we made other people happy\nduring the years of our good fortune. We shall be happy in realizing\nthat we have made good use of our trust.\u201d\n\n\u201cVerily,\u201d he said, \u201cthe law of kindness is on thy tongue.\u201d\n\nNot a day passed without an occasion offering itself to these good\npeople to bestow their wealth upon those less fortunate than\nthemselves. They did not fail in seizing every opportunity of doing an\nact of charity and kindness. The youngest son was told by his mother to\nkeep an account of their own expenses and also an account of the money\ngiven in alms.\n\nThe six years passed like a dream. One day the expected benefactor came\nto their house, and after receiving a warm welcome turned to his host\nand said,\u2014\n\n\u201cThe six years have passed and I have come to ask thee to return my\nmoney.\u201d\n\nThe pious man exclaimed,\u2014\n\n\u201cDear friend! Thy demand is quite fair and just. Yet, stay! I accepted\nthy gift only after I had consulted my wife, and now before I repay my\ndebt, I must again ask her advice.\u201d\n\nWhereupon he turned to his wife who was present and said to her,\u2014\n\n\u201cBeloved wife! please advise me how am I to repay our debt to our\ngenerous benefactor here?\u201d\n\n\u201cLet me,\u201d she cried, \u201csettle accounts with him.\u201d Turning to him she\nsaid, \u201cI will show thee how we have spent the fortune entrusted to our\ncare through thy kindness. Behold the account books.\u201d\n\nThe kind stranger looked with deep interest at the long lists recording\nthe money spent in charity.\n\n\u201cYou have, indeed,\u201d he cried, \u201cspent plenty of money.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut, good sir!\u201d she added, \u201cif thou dost believe for a moment that thy\nmoney might be entrusted to better guardians, take away then thy gift.\nIf, on the other hand, thou art satisfied with the manner in which we\nhave used the wealth placed in our care, then let us continue to hold\nour trust.\u201d\n\nThereupon the stranger, who was Elijah the prophet, blessed the good\ncouple and bade them enjoy the wealth they knew so well how to use. In\na moment the prophet had departed and the happy couple kept his coins\nand bequeathed them to their eldest son as a family heirloom.\n\n\n                                              Yal\u1e33u\u1e6d, Ruth \u00a7\u00a7 607, 601.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTHE FOX AND THE RAVEN\n\n\nOne fine day a raven found a nice piece of fresh cheese, which he\ncarried away to a favourite resting place on the leafy branch of a\nbeautiful fig-tree. Believing himself to be out of harm\u2019s way, he was\nabout to eat and enjoy his booty, when he heard a well-known voice\nsoftly calling to him,\u2014\n\n\u201cGood day, dear friend Raven.\u201d\n\nWhence did the voice come? Lo and behold, at the foot of the fig-tree\nstood Master Fox, eyeing with a greedy look the raven and the cheese.\nHow to obtain the latter was the thought uppermost in the mind of the\ncrafty fox.\n\nBeing unable to climb the tree, he resolved to trick the raven so as to\nmake him drop the cheese. Again Master Fox cried,\u2014\n\n\u201cGood day, dear friend Raven, thou art verily the most beautiful of\nbirds. If all the winged creatures beneath the heavens were gathered\naround thee, thou wouldst easily excel them all by reason of thy lovely\nfeathers. Moreover, if thou wouldst only sing then would thy song\nsurpass the sweetest melody of any other of thy winged companions and\nthou wouldst become King of the birds.\u201d\n\nThe sweet words sank deeply into the raven\u2019s heart and he rejoiced at\nthe prospect of attaining to such undreamt-of greatness. All that he\nhad to do was merely to sing.\n\nExcited with joy and pride he quickly opened his mouth and raising his\nvoice, he tried to sing. Alas! he only croaked; meanwhile the cheese\nfell from his mouth to the ground. The greedy fox pounced upon the prey\nand with a joyful cry he said,\u2014\n\n\u201cDear friend Raven, never again will I listen to the voice of other\nsweet singers after hearing thy beautiful voice. Pray excuse me, if I\nhasten away to finish the cheese thou hast so generously given me as a\nreward for my flattery. Great indeed must be the power of pride since\nit overcomes the desires of thy appetite.\u201d\n\n\n                       (The XIIIth Fable in R. Berachyah\u2019s Fox Fables.)","title":"Jewish fairy stories","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":14955}