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180. R. Meir told a Samaritan that he was a descendant ofIsachar( whose name was Shomron) and not of Joseph ashe had thought. The Epitropos of the Samaritans said tohim," He removed you from Joseph and did not bring youto Issachar."

181. An inn- keeper used to frighten his guests in themiddle of the night and force them to leave. Then robbersused to attack them and they divided the spoils with theinn- keeper. R. Meir however did not leave, as he waited forhis brother Tob until the morning.

182. R. Ishmael b. Jose, stopped by a Samaritan in hispilgrimage to Jerusalem, told him that they were stillhankering after the idols buried by Jacob at the foot ofMount Sichem.

183. R. Gamliel explained to a philosopher that one couldalways give to the poor with a pleasant countenance, as Godwas the guarantor and the donor was sure to obtain hisreward.

184. An Emperor sent some men to dig for the grave ofMoses. Those that worked at the foot saw the grave at thetop of the mountain and vice- versa.

185. A man prayed a long time and another a short timebefore R. Eliezer. The latter said to his expostulating pupils,that the one was not praying longer than Moses, who hadprayed 40 days and the other's prayer was not shorterthan the one sentence used by Moses on the occasion ofMiriam's illness.

186. A Rabbi sent Levi b. Sisi to Simonia to teach. Whenhe arrived there he could not answer a single question, be-cause he had grown proud in his promotion. He lost allhis knowledge, but on being humbled he recovered it.

188. The respect of Dima b. Netina for his father was sogreat that he would not awaken him, when he was resting ona chest in which was a precious stone, which was wantedfor the breast plate. The Jews, thinking he wished merelyto obtain a higher price for it offered to give more. Whenhis father awoke he sold the stone at the first price offered