ameved

give

I he

5 lit

He

dif-

Hah

ng.

to

ah.

ave

but-eak

was

- it

- of

me

por

ted

ing

ask

ied

sed

ich

the

im

he

a

ed

ng

nd

He

in

- 153-

front of it. He understood it to mean that it was to beworshipped. He took an axe to break it, but a demon cameout and offered great riches if he would spare the statue.He refused and destroyed it. Next year he found a richtreasure in the garden.

397. 17. Wicked man, very ill, asked for an egg. A poorman at the door asked for some food. The man who hadnever given any alms told them to give the egg to the poorman. After death he appeared to his son whom he exhortedto give charity, for the single egg had sufficed to weighdown the scale in his favour and to grant him place inParadise.

398. 18. Story of Ben Sabar, a very charitable man whowent to a distant place to marry a young couple. On hisreturn he crossed safely over the back of a dragon stretchedacross the lake; the dragon used to kill everyone. He wasmet by an ugly man who was the Angel of Death, readyto take his soul. He prayed to be allowed to go home andput his house in order. On the way he came to the placeof the sage Shephiphon ben Laish, who sheltered him. Acloud descended and surrounded the house and the Angel ofDeath claimed his pledge. Shephiphon refused and claimeda reward for Ben Sabar. God granted it and prolonged hislife.( Cf. No. 137.)

399. 19. A rich merchant died far away from his homeand left everything to his slave with the exception of onething which his only son was afterwards to claim. Whenthe slave first came into possession of the property, herefused to give up that article. The rabbi then said," Choosethe servant and so you will also get the property." Thatwas the meaning of the father who left the codicil in hiswill so as to safeguard his property thus.

400. 20. A young lad, going on a journey, encountered astorm at sea. All the other passengers who were very richtook out their idols and prayed without any result. He whowas poor went down to sleep. They called upon him; heprayed and the sea became calm. When they landed, each