138

-

a cartload of coals. She found a treasure in it, boughtland and built on it a big rest house for travellers. Aftermany years the man came back poor and sick, and washospitably received. The woman recognised him, made her-self known to him and treated him kindly.

371( 66). A man used to walk about in tattered clothesand sit in the synagogue among the very poor. One dayR. Akiba wanted to sell a pearl of inestimable value. Noone would buy it. Meeting that man in the market, thelatter bought it and asked R. Akiba and his pupils to followhim to his house. Akiba wondered but reaching the housethey found a magnificent building with many servants. Theman sat on a golden seat. After paying for the pearl, hegave them a meal. Akiba, still more surprised, asked themeaning of it. The man replied," Riches are not stable.To- morrow I might lose everything. No man should, there-fore, be so proud and I prefer the poor station so as notto be dismayed if a change for the worse should come." ThenR. Akiba blessed him for his modesty and wisdom.

372( 68). A man who was very wise and clever was,however, very poor. So he went about crying," Why hasGod dealt so harshly with me?" The word reached the kingwho called him and asked him what he meant. The mantold him that he was very clever in many things and yetwas starving. The king ordered a sack of corn to be givento him every week. Whenever he received it he said," Nature." After some time a merchant brought a wonderfulring with a precious stone, which he claimed to be of onepiece. The wise man was called in and said that the preciousstone was of two pieces. He put the ring in boiling waterand the pieces came asunder. He was appointed councillorand received two sacks of corn a week. Again he said," Nature." Another time a beautiful horse was brought tothe king. The man examined it and said that after a runof twenty miles, the horse would get vicious and kill therider. A trial was made of it with a man condemned todeath and the statement was found to be correct. Three