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Jewish Fairy Tales
and Fables

By AUNT NAOMI

ILLUSTRATED
E. STRELLETT AND J. MARKS

BLOCH PUBLISHING COMPANY

NEW YORK
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 S)e^)fcatiotu

TO MY LITTLE DAUGHTER,
RUTH.
 Preface

|LL the peoples of the world have

their fairy tales and fables, their
legends and their folk-lore, but
perhaps no literature is richer in
this respect than that of the Jews. Hebrew
lore has, indeed, been a source of inspiration
to the writers of many lands for ages, and yet
Jewish children of to-day have very little oppor-
tunity to read the beautiful stories to be found
in theTalmud and the Midrash, those vast
treasuries of Hebrew learning.
It is in the hope of meeting this want that
I have written these fairy tales and fables.
Mostly they are based on parables of the Tal-
mud and the Midrash, and these, although
they have been entirely re-written in a manner
best suited for children, have been treated
10 PREFACE
with the greatest possible respect. The central
allegory of each story has been left unsullied
to convey the beautiful moral as intended by
the great Rabbis who originally invented them
for the interest of their pupils.
A few of the stories are almost entirely
original, chieflyThe Ragged Pedlar,” which
is inspired by an old Rabbinic saying, and
''
The Enchanted Donkey ” and ‘‘ Honeim's
Magic Shoes,” which are based on Oriental
legends.

AUNT NAOMI.
 Content?
PAGE
The Slave who Became a King ... 15

How Reynard Fooled Bruin .... 31

The Ragged Pedlar 39

The Enchanted Donkey 49

The Greedy Fox 61

The Man who was a Hundred Years Young . 65

The King, the Queen and the Bee ^ .

*73
Honeim’s Magic Shoes 85

Saved by a Rose loi

The Fool of Athina 109

Sly Fox and Sly Fish 123

The Princess and the Rabbi . . . -131

Yussuf’s Three Punishments . . . *147
King Tongue 157
u
 Illustrations
PAGE
''May it please Your Majesty/^ he said, "here is

vour royal crown ” 21

"The basket began to roll over and over along

the rope” 45

"Pinkus was thrown from the donkey's back

on the top of the tower” • • • • 57

"This is no longer a garden, this is a wilderness,”

exclaimed the King 105

" Bow your heads,” said the Princess, " to this

man of learning and wisdom, for he has taught

me a lesson I shall never forget ” . . 143

13
THE SLAVE WHO BECAME A
KING.
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 The Slave who became a
King
DAM was the name of a slave whose
master was one of the kindest that
ever lived. He was very anxious
to make happy.
his slave
Adam/' he said, one day, although thou
art a slave, and it rests with me to do with thee
what I will, I never forget that thou art a man,
made in the same likeness as I, thy master.
Has it ever occurred to thee that thou art a
man, an ordinary man, apart from being a
slave ? " ,

u
i6 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
The slave merely bowed.
‘‘
I intend to give thee thy freedom/’ said
his master, that thou mayest be a true man.”
do with me as thou wilt,”
It is for thee to
replied Adam. If it so seems to thee that I
shall be a true man by my freedom, then shall
I be pleased to receive it from thee. Thy will
is mine.”
Nay, not so,” answered his master kindly.
It is my desire that thou shouldst use thy will
and thy judgment as thy own. I give thee thy
freedom to make the best use of it. But I will
give thee more than freedom. Thou shalt have
riches. I will give thee a shipload of varied
merchandise. Sail with it to different lands,
dispose it well, and what thou receivest in pay-
ment be thine to enjoy as thou thinkest
shall
fit. It will rest entirely with thee to make thy
journeys profitable. Fare thee well.”
‘‘
I thank thee, noble master,” replied the

slave reverently. ''

It shall indeed be my aim
to prove that I am a man fashioned in the like-
ness of my master.”
The ship which master gave him was
his
stored with goods of every description, and as
Adam stood on the deck waving farewell to his
master, he felt happy. Yet there was a touch
of sadness in his joy, for he realized that his
THE SLAVE WHO BECAME A KING 17

wealth brought great responsibihties with it,

and that to dispose of his wares successfully and
to the best advantage, he would have to be
careful.
For two or three days aU went well, and his
ship sailed gallantly before a favourable breeze.
But then a mighty storm Dark masses
arose.
of cloud hid the bright heavens, the wind in
great fury lashed the waters into foam, the
sailswere ripped from the masts, and the vessel
was borne rapidly along, helpless in the gale.
Adam himself took the rudder of the ship,
but he felt that some mightier power than his
own was directing the vessel. The ship gave a
great lurch and the rudder was wrenched from
his grasp. In a vivid flash of hghtning he
saw that the vessel was being driven straight
against a huge rock. A terrific crash of
thunder followed ;
it seemed to make the
ship quiver from stem to stern. Some of
the crew were on their knees, praying, others
had been swept overboard, and Adam stood
alone, with folded arms, on the deck of his
vessel, trying to pierce the blackness into which
he was being whirled by the gale.
‘‘
So, this it is to be free,'' he said.
Hardly had he spoken when there was a
fearful crash, followed by screams from the crew.
B
i8 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
The vessel had dashed against the rock. It
was smashed up as if it were a mere toy struck
by the club of a terrible giant. Adam was
flung amid a heap of wreckage into the sea*
He caught hold of a fragment of wood and was
carried with it against the rock. With great
deftness, he clasped a projecting spur and drew
himself upon it. There he sat, crouched
against the rock until the storm abated. The
thunder roUed away in fitful rumbhng, the
lightning ceased, and the wind abated as if it
were tired after its frenzy. Once again the
sun pierced the clouds, and Adam looked about
him.
Not a sign of his ship could he see. One or
two spars floated about, but the vessel with its
precious cargo and every one of the crew had
foundered. Dropping his head on his hands,
Adam wept hke a child.
‘‘
This it is to be free,*’ he cried bitterly.
But after a while, he felt ashamed of himself.
**
What would my he saw
old master say if

me weeping thus ? ” he said to himself. ‘‘ This

is not making the best use of my freedom.”

He roused himself and looked about him.

The tide was receding from the rock, and be-
low him was a stretch of sand. He walked
along the shore for some miles, but no sign of
THE SLAVE WHO BECAME A KING 19

lifecould he see. Not a ship was visible on

the water, not even a spar of wood from his
wrecked vessel now appeared.
All, all lost,'' said Adam, the tears starting
to his eyes afresh. ‘‘
But I am a man. I must
not despair."
He left the shore, scaled some low rocks and
struck inland. The land was a vast desert,
like
and he did not know where to go. He wandered
aimlessly about for a while, until at last he
saw what appeared to be trees in the distance.
Weary as he was with suffering and with hunger,
he hastened forward and soon came in sight
of a beautiful city. As he approached, he saw
people coming towards him.
‘‘
I must needs ask them to befriend me,"
he said sadly. Perchance I shall have to
become a slave again. That would be worse
than the shipwreck."
He could not quite understand why he
should now love his freedom, although it had
only brought him misfortune and sorrow.
As the people drew near, he saw that they
were well dressed and that they had a beautiful
drawn by gaily caparisoned horses.
carriage,
“ Long live the King," they shouted.
Adam, however, could not see the King.
There were numerous attendants in rich attire
20 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
about the carriage, but it was empty. He
stood still in surprise.
**
I must wait until His Majesty passes, he
said.
To his great astonishment, however, the
richly attired came and bowed
attendants
before him, and all the people cried, ‘‘ Welcome,
welcome Long hve the King ”
! !

The chief attendant, an old man, with a

flowing white beard, and priestly raiment,
bore a crown of gold on a crimson cushion.
He approached Adam, bowing low.
May it please Your Majesty,'’ he said,
here your royal crown," and all the people
is

cried Hurrah Long hve the King "

! !

I —
I do not understand," said Adam.
I think, good people, you have made a mis-
take. I am but a poor shipwrecked merchant
who was but a few days ago a slave. My kind
master freed me and gave me wealth, but
I have been wrecked on your shore and am a
beggar."
‘‘
Long live the King !
" cried the people
again.
'‘Welcome, Your Majesty," said the priest.
"Will it please Your Majesty to enter your
royal carriage
"
?

Like one dazed. Adam entered the carriage,

“‘May it please Your Majesty,’ he said, ‘here is your royal
crown “

ts
 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
the crown was placed upon his head, and,
accompanied by a cheering crowd, he was con-
ducted into the city. All the streets were gaily
decorated, and populace cheered and
the
cheered again. Across a beautiful square the
carriage was led to the gates of a magnificent
marble palace. When Adam alighted, a flag
was unfurled on the highest tower of the palace,
gaily dressed trumpeters with golden trumpets
blew a triumphant blast, and the cheering of
the people grew to a roar that made Adam
think of the thunder in the storm. He was
conducted to a chamber where many servants
gathered about him and dressed him in royal
garments.
What is Your Majesty’s pleasure ? ” asked
the aged priest, conducting Adam to a spacious
chamber at the end which was the Throne.
of
‘‘
I am faint with hunger,” he replied. ‘‘
I
would have food.”
Immediately he was conducted into another
magnificent apartment where a banquet was
prepared. Adam quickly appeased his hunger,
and then looked about him.
” Surely this is a dream,” he said.
It was real enough, however. Attendants stood
beside him to obey his slightest command, the
sound of beautiful music, from an adjoining
THE SLAVE WHO BECAME A KING 23

chamber, came to his ears, and through the

windows of the palace he could see the beautiful
city. The sun was setting, and everywhere
hundreds of coloured lights appeared. They
were the illuminations in honour of the coming
of the King.
Truly am I a fortunate slave,*’ said Adam to
himself.
He
stood up, and immediately silence fell
upon the throng of courtiers and attendants
in the banqueting chamber.
‘‘
Gentlemen,” said Adam. ** Whatever this
is, a reality or a dream, I know not. I fain
would know. But first, ere either the dream or
the reality ceases, I would thank you for your
great kindness. And pray you, tell me
now, I
the meaning of this, for truly my head is in a
whirl, and I understand it not.”
Long live the King ” shouted the courtiers
!

and attendants, and the crowds outside took it

up, and away rolled the cry from street to street
until it died into an indistinct murmur in the
distance.
The priest rose at the other end of the
table.
Your Majesty,” he said, the time has
come when you should know what it is that has
befallen thee.”
24 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
Proceed/* said Adam, re-seating himself.
I am eager to hear.**
''
Know then/* said the priest, that this
land is peopled not by mortals, but
an island,
by spirits and fairies. Long years ago we
prayed to God to send us a mortal to reign over
us, and our prayers were answered.**
Am
I that fortunate mortal ? ** asked Adam
eagerly.
Listen, Your Majesty, I beseech you,**
said the priest gravely. Your Majesty is

not the first king of this spirit island. Our

kings reign but one year.**
I understand not,** said Adam, looking
around in great fear.
Your Majesty need have no fear,** said the
priest, noticing this. ''You shall be treated
—
as our King and we know our duty, and how to
—
love and honour our King for one whole year/*
" And what will happen then ? ** asked Adam.
" One year from to-day,** answered the
priest, " Your Majesty*s royal vestments will
be removed. The crown will be taken from
you, and you will be placed on board a ship
and taken away to a vast desert island, and a
new king will be sent us to reign in your stead.’*
" This is very strange,** said Adam. "For
one whole year I shall be the happiest mortal
THE SLAVE WHO BECAME A KING 25

in the whole world, and then, perchance, the

most miserable for the rest of my life/*
''
That, Your Majesty,*’ said the priest
solemnly, with you alone.**
rests
How so ? ** asked the King.
All the kings who have reigned over us
before thee, gracious sire,** returned the priest,
have been careless, thriftless, thoughtless and
pleasure-loving. They have thought only of
their year of regal power and have made no
preparation for the desert island that is to
follow. And when the day of their dethrone-
ment has come, they have been taken by surprise
for the length of our years vary, and we know
not to-day what will be the length of this new
year. That is for the astronomers to decide
by the stars.**
The King sat thoughtful for a while. He
recalled his former master’s words and deter-
mined to use well his judgment.
''
I thank thee, noble priest,” he said at
last. I will ponder well thy words and seek

thy advice. But tell me now the name of my

island kingdom.”
That, Your Majesty,” was the answer,
**
may you not know until the day of your
departure.”
Adam found that he had many duties to
26 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
perform as King, but he did everything wisely
and acted always in the best interests of his
people, so that they quickly grew to love him.
The old priest was ever at his side to advise,
and one day he told him how to prepare for the
dread day of his dethronement.
Thou art King and thy commands must be
obeyed,*' he said. ''
Send, therefore, to the
desert island men who will till the ground,
plant corn and fruits and build houses, so that
the land may
be made habitable and beautiful.
Establish there a new kingdom where thou
wilt be received as here."
It is, indeed, excellent advice," replied
the King. “ And to make sure of the work
being successful, I will myself journey thither
and superintend aU the work."
That may not be," hastily replied the priest.
Our King may not leave our island. His
duty is with us, and he must stay here. But
Your Majesty has only to remember that you
are King. Your commands must be obeyed,
and you can choose the best work-people to
carry them out."
''
Truly, it is so," said the King.
At once he sent to the island the very best
workmen he could obtain, and he knew that
they carried out his commands faithfully.
THE SLAVE WHO BECAME A KING 27

Before the year was ended, he knew that the

island was no longer barren, and that he would
be welcomed to a fruitful and flourishing land
which had ceased to be a desert. So, while he
lived in happiness among his spirit subjects,
he looked forward with joy to the day when
he should leave them and enter into his own
kingdom.
The day came The crown was taken
at last.
from him, the royal robes were removed and
Adam was clad in the rags in which he had
made his entry into the island. The streets of
the city were draped in black, the people were
all in tears,and a band, playing doleful music,
marched at the head of the procession to the
desolate sea-shore where Adam had been saved
from the wreck. Adam was in tears. He was
loth to leave this beautiful island where for a
year, among his faithful spirit subjects, he had
been a King and happy, but as he thought
of the new land to which he was going, his
heart beat with joy and he smiled through
his tears.
”
''
Weep not, my good he said to the
people
crowd that gathered about his carriage, which
was draped in black ; you will have another
ruler. Be faithful to him, and he will be
truly a King to you. Forget not me, if you
28 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
think have deserved to live in your memory,
I
and weep not for me. My future happiness is
assured. I go to a new island, there to reign
as long as I live.’'

As he stepped on board the vesselwhich

was to bear him away, he said to the aged
priest
me
now, I pray you, the name of the
Tell
kingdom over which I have ruled for the length
of a spirit year.”
‘‘
Its name,” replied the priest, is Nefesh
it is the Island of Life.”
”
And the name of the land to which I go ?
That, sire, depends on —
thee on what
have been thy commands as to its cultivation.
If the land has been well prepared, as I believe,
under thy instruction, it has, then its name
shall be Olom —
it will be the Island of Eternity.”
“ Fare ye well,” cried Adam, waving his hand
as the vessel moved off, I go to happiness and
peace in my kingdom of Olom.”
HOW REYNARD FOOLED BRUIN
%

I
 How Reynard Fooled Bruin

E day a hungry fox met a hungry

bear. They were not friends, and
the fox tried to slink away. But
the bear stopped him.
Don't run from me, my
good friend," he
said. I see that you are looking for your
dinner. So am I. Let us search together."
The fox did not like this proposal at all, for
when they hunted together before. Bruin had
taken more than his share. But Reynard was
too cunning to say '' No " and incur the bear's
anger, so he pretended to agree. His quick
brain, however, was making up a plan to outwit
Bruin.
**
Certainly let us go together," said sly fox.
32 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
was just thinking of teUing you that I know
I
where there is an excellent big pudding. It is
in a Jew's house. To-day is Friday, and the
Jews always make a fine tasty pudding for the
Sabbath."
Splendid," said the bear, smacking his lips.
" have heard that the Jews make delicious Sab-
I
bath puddings, and I have never tasted one."
Arm in arm they set off and soon reached a
large house where a Jew dwelt.
We must be cautious," said the fox. " Fol-
low me quietly round to the back. The pudding
is in the kitchen. We can enter and enjoy
ourselves."
Reynard found the kitchen door slightly ajar,
and he quickly slipped in and rattled a plate
on the floor.
Wait for me," cried Bruin, hearing the
noise. Don't eat it all."
‘‘

In his haste he did not notice that the kitchen

door was narrow, and he got stuck in it.
Oh," he cried in pain, and Reynard quickly
jumped out through the open window, purposely
upsetting a lot of plates to make a loud noise.
The people of the house heard this, and they
rushed into the kitchen. Bruin was still fast in
the doorway, so they took sticks and gave him
a good beating before he could extricate himself
 HOW REYNARD FOOLED BRUIN 33

and shamble off as fast as his bruises, which

pained him badly, would allow him.
Next day the fox and the bear met again,
and the latter said
You served me a shabby trick yesterday.
You had the Sabbath pudding all to yourself,
while I got a good beating. I shall tear you to
pieces.”
For a few minutes the fox was greatly fright-
ened, but a plan quickly formed in his mind to
get the better of Bruin again.
“ We have always been friends,” he said, '' so
why should you kill me now ? Have I not often
found you food ? I had no Sabbath pudding
yesterday. I fell over some plates which made
a noise and brought the people. I had no time
to get anything. True, I was not beaten, but
I might have been caught, and I was left as
hungry as yourself.”
I am still hungry,” answered Bruin. I
will spare your life on one condition. Find me
a good dinner. I have a liking for cheese. If
you provide me with a good dinner of cheese,
I will not kill you.”
Agreed,” cried the fox, but we must wait
until it is dark. We cannot take any further
risks in the daytime.”
Bruin demurred at first, but he saw that
0
34 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
Reynard's proposal was only reasonable, so he
watched over the fox to see that he should not
shp away before night came. As soon as it
was dark and the moon shone brightly in the
sky, Reynard led the way to a well.
“ See," he said, pointing to the reflection of
the moon in the water, is not that a fine
"
cheese ?

'Ht is," replied Bruin, looking at it with

hungry eyes, but how am I to get down to
"
it ?
''
Here are two buckets fastened by a rope
like a balance over the top," said the fox
‘‘
get into one and I will lower you down."
‘'No, thank you, my fine friend," said Bruin,
shaking his head. “ I am not going to let you
fool me again. You must go down first."
“ I have no objection to that at all," returned
Reynard then he added slily “ But I may
:
;

eat all the cheese."

“ That would not do," said the bear, begin-
ning to get angry ''we must go down both
;

together. Then I can take care that you play

me no tricks. If I go down alone, I might not
be able to get back."
“ Very well," said the fox, “ I am anxious
to prove to you that I am your friend, so I
agree that we should go down together. These
 HOW REYNARD FOOLED BRUIN 35

buckets work like a balance, and as I am

not as heavy as you, I must take a big
stone/’
They found a big stone and put it into one
of the buckets, while Bruin held the other to
prevent it from going down. Then the fox
got into the bucket with the stone and the bear
into the other.
**
We
are just evenly balanced,” said the fox,
laughing. ‘'J^st fancy I am as heavy as you,
and we can both go down for the cheese together.
What fools men are. They thought that by
hiding the cheese down there, I should not
know how ”
to get it. Ha, ha !

Oh, do hurry up,” said the bear, Fm get-

ting hungrier every minute.”
Hurry down, you mean,” said the fox, laugh-
ing still more loudly.
As he spoke, he dropped the stone from his
bucket into the well. That made his bucket
lighter, and Bruin being heavier went down
into the well while the bucket with the fox
went up.
I hope you have got the cheese,” cried the
fox down the well.
Help, help, or I shall drown,” shouted
Bruin. ''
There is no cheese here. It ’s water.”
Well, drink it up so that it should not
36 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
**
drown you/' the fox called back. Night-
night. I really can’t stay. I must go and
findsome supper.”
So Bruin was not only fooled but drowned.
THE RAGGED PEDLAR
 The Ragged Pedlar

the foot of a big, bleak mountain

stood a small town in which all the
people were grumblers. They were
never satisfied with anything, and
they were always unhappy.
Ours is only a very small town,’^ said the
tradesmen. Visitors never come to us, mer-
chants never tarry with their caravans.’’
Wehave no beautiful buildings, no fine
squares and streets,” said others, '' and the
mountain which frowns on us is bare of vegeta-
tion and always looks gloomy and even threaten-
ing.”
''
We
have no rich inhabitants,” said those
who were lazy. We have all to work, work,
work continually for a bare subsistence.”
40 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
Even the were discontented, and
children
lay idly on the ground at the street corners
when the day was hot. Nobody seemed to
notice that the fields at the foot of the mountain
were bright and fresh and beautifully green for
several months and that when the
in the year,
snow covered the mountain it glistened and
shone dazzlingly white in the sunshine and
glowed rosy pink in the sunset.
It was true that nothing seemed to happen
in the town, but if there were no wealthy dwellers,
there were also very few poor people. Nobody
had much to give away, and so everybody was
compelled to work to earn their living. But
people who grumble do not notice these things.
One day when the weather had been very
hot and the people lazier than ever, a strange
visitor came into the town just before the sun
began to set. The heat was passing, a little
breeze was beginning to spring up, and even
the barren mountain began to look a little
beautiful under the rosy glow of the sky. Some
of the huge frowning boulders and great stones
began to reflect the setting sun until they shone
like gold.
Perhaps the strange visitor noticed this, if
the inhabitants did not, and he called out, in
a loud, musical voice
 THE RAGGED PEDLAR 41

Come hither, ye dwellers of this beautiful

city of the setting sun. Yon mountain shines
likeburnished gold, your hundreds of roofs and
minarets and domes and spires reflect the rosy
hue of the sky. Yet ye are not happy. Come
to me and I will sell you happiness.'^
The people all laughed lou^y.
What manner of fool are you ? they said ’’

to the visitor, '' and where did you get those

”
strange clothes ?
’’
Yes, and what did you pay for them ?

asked the children.

I paid naught for this magnificent travelling
outfit,’' replied the stranger.
Everybody roared with laughter when he
said this, because the man was dressed in rags 1

Except for a huge basket slung from his shoulders

and a long rope wound round his body, he wore
almost nothing. The rest was made up of a
few patches of different colours. In his quaint
cap were many holes through which his un-
kempt hair wound itself in fantastic fashion.
''
It must take you an hour to remove your
hat,” said one.
Oh, no,” answered the pedlar, and he took
''

it off with a graceful flourish and put it back

again, and every hair found its way through its

old hole as if by magic I
42 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
Thou art no ordinary pedlar, sir stranger,**
said Ahmed, the fishmonger, to him.
Have I not said so ? ** replied the pedlar.
I sell happiness.**
**
thou but sellest cheaply,** returned Ahmed,
If
**
thou shouldst do well here. Set down thy
basket.**
The big jumped from the man*s
basket
shoulders by itself and stood itself upside down
in the midst of the crowd that had gathered.
The people stared in great wonderment.
**
There can be nothing in it,** they said.
Immediately the basket of its own accord
turned a somersault and stood the other way
up. It was empty.
**
The man must be mad,** cried Ahmed.
And the basket bewitched,** added Mus-
tapha Ben, the tailor.
The pedlar said nothing, but handed the end
of the rope which was round his waist to one
of the children. The child took it and began
to pull. The pedlar spun round and round hke
a top until the people could hardly see him, and
the rope that unwound seemed endless.
itself

It lay coil upon coil upon the ground until it

made a high as the basket. Then the
pile as
man stopped spinning. He took one end of
the rope and threw it up in the air. Away it
 THE RAGGED PEDLAR 43

spun, uncoiling itself right to the other end of

the street where caught itself neatly on a
it
post. There was a post a few yards away from
where the pedlar was standing, and he threw
the loose end of the rope towards that. Again
it caught, and the people then noticed that the

rope was just the length of the distance between

the two posts.
**
A funny performance,*’ they all said.
”
What does mean, sir pedlar ?
it
**
My store is open ; I am ready to begin
business,” he replied.
” But where are your wares ? ”
” You will supply those,” was the answer, as
the man took up his basket.
” Now then,” he cried, ” all you who are
unhappy bring here your miseries, your discon-
tentments. I will exchange them for happi-
ness.”
Everybody found that they could each bring
their unhappiness and they rushed forward
eagerly to put it into the basket. Soon it
seemed quite full, but there was always room
for one thing more. There was not a man or
woman in the town that did not bring something.
Even many of the children had something to put
into the basket.
**
Observe now,” said the pedlar, and he took
44 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
the basket and lifted it on to the rope. It
stood there, balancing itself like a tight-rope
walker.
“ Do your duty,” commanded the pedlar,
and the basket began to roll over and over
along the rope. All along tumbled merrily,
it

dropping the troubles as it went until every one

of them hung nicely across the rope. There
was Ahmed’s rheumatic leg, Mustapha Ben’s
red hair, an old woman’s aching tooth, Granny
Yochki’s crutch, Suliman’s empty pockets, and
lots of other queer things. Every cause of un-
happiness and discontent in the town was hung
upon the line.
” Harken now unto me, ye good people of
the city of the setting sun,” cried the pedlar,
in his loud musical voice. The day is waning
fast, and cannot stay with you. I promised
I
to barter all your miseries for happiness. It
is a simple task. Take each of you from the
line the smallest trouble that you can see.”
At once there was a big rush forward and a
general scramble to snatch the smallest thing
from the line. Everybody, to their surprise,
found that their own trouble was the smallest,
and that the troubles of other people were
bigger. In a few seconds the line was quite
empty.
“ The basket begau to roll over and over along the rope,’
46 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
Have each of you taken the smallest
**
trouble ?asked the pedlar.
‘‘
Yes/* answered Mustapha Ben, fixing on
his red hair again and feeling more comfortable
than without it.
‘‘Yes,** cried the others in chorus.
“ Then ye content, good people of the
rest
city of the setting sun,** answered the pedlar,
in his strong musical voice. “ come, my
faithful basket and rope,** and the basket
jumped on to his shoulder and the rope wound
itself rapidly round his body.
“ Farewell, be contented,** he sang out in a
cheerful voice, and the people saw him ascend
the barren mountain still glowing like gold in the
setting sun. When he got to the top, he waved
his hand and disappeared.
And ever after the people were happy.
THE ENCHANTED DONKEY
 i

*
 The Enchanted Donkey
US was a Jewish servant, and
; master always called him a fool,
her people called him donkey,
», mule, and various uncompli-
mentary names. Pinkus was always frightened
to go out in the dark.
‘^Witches and magicians are about at night,’’
he said, '' and they will do something to
me.
**
Perhaps they will give you brains,” said
his master sarcastically to him once.
**
No, no,” replied Pinkus ; I would rather
stay indoors at night and remain a fool.”
One day, however, his master told him that
he would have to go out that night.
49
D
50 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
A special service is to be held in the syna-
gogue between midnight and dawn/' he ex-
plained, '' and I want you to go and waken
the people to attend. The beadle is a very
old man, and he is ill. So you must do
it."
Pinkus was very frightened, and he began
to cry.
I— I can't go out in the middle of the
night when the sun is in bed fast asleep," he
whimpered.
**
The witches will catch me
they will beat me with their brooms, or perhaps
they will kiU me and eat me, or change me
into an animal."
Do try and not be a fool for once," said
his master. ‘‘You must do as I tell you.
The witches cannot change you into a donkey
at least. Have I not told you that you are
"
that already ?

Poor Pinkus did not laugh. He felt very

miserable for the rest of the day, and when
night came he did not gobed at all for a
to
few hours' sleep. When it was midnight he
opened the door of the house cautiously and
peeped out into the street. Not a sound could
he hear, not a soul could he see. He stood
trembling for awhile at the door, then he
stepped out.
 THE ENCHANTED DONKEY 51

The street was quite deserted, and it was

not dark at all. A beautiful full moon shone
in the sky, and the air was deliciously cool.
**
The town looks very strange,” said Pinkus,
''
without the crowds and the dust. It is nicer
now than when the hot sun shines.”
He walked with great caution at first, keeping
close to the houses like a cat does. Then he
began to laugh at his own fears.
‘‘
Perhaps it is all nonsense about witches
and magicians and demons being out at night,”
he said to himself, speaking aloud.
**
Take care,” said a voice behind him.
Pinkus turned round with a jump, feeling
very frightened. He could see nobody. The
street was still quite deserted.
''
What— who are you, or is it anybody at
all ? ” he whispered, trembling all over.
There was no answer, and when his knees
had stopped knocking together and his teeth
gave over chattering, Pinkus said "It was :

only my fancy, I suppose.”

"No, it was not,” said the mysterious voice
again.
Pinkus screamed with fear then gave
this time,
a big jump in the air. But whichever way he
looked he could see nothing.
" A witch, a tribe of demons, a congregation
52 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
of magicians, I am sure of it,” he said. I

must be bewitched already. Oh, let me look

at myself to see if I am Pinkus, a man, or a
monkey, or a fish, or a mule.”
In his terror, he turned back to run home.
He had only taken a few strides, however,
when he stumbled across something that lay
in the street. Before he could scramble to
his feet, the thing rose with him. It was a
donkey, and Pinkus found himself clinging to
its back.
“ Stop pulling my hair,” cried the donkey,
shooting out hind legs and making Pinkus
its

feel very uncomfortable.

He was too frightened to speak for a few
minutes. Then he said
Oh, kind donkey, gracious Mr. Mule, please
tell me what has happened. I think it was
your voice that I heard. Are you a magician,
and am I bewitched ? Who are you, am I you,
or are you me, are we one another, or what is
it ?”
''
It'sa fool on my back,” replied the donkey.
''
Pm not here to answer silly riddles. I know
I am a donkey, but I did not think you were
one also.”
‘‘
A donkey,” screamed poor Pinkus. Pm
an ass A four-legged unclean beast.
! I know
 THE ENCHANTED DONKEY >3

it. I knew
should be changed into something.
I
Oh, what shall I do ? I cannot go back to my
master. He will put me into a stable and make
me eat thistles.''
If you are a donkey, your own fault,"
it's

said the ass, prancing about and making Pinkus

cling all the closer. ''You are a man right
enough, even if you are a fool, and ought really
to have four legs and long ears like me. How
many feet and hands have you got ? "
" Two of each kind," answered Pinkus
tearfully, after examining them several times.
" Then you ought to be thankful," said the
—
donkey. " And listen to me if you want to
behave like a gentleman and keep yourself out
of trouble, you won't call me an unclean beast
again. I don't like it, and I won't have
it."
" I shall be very good, O most learned and
gracious Mr. Donkey," returned Pinkus. " Please
let me get off your back and go home."
" No," said the animal, beginning to kick
again, " I shan't let you get off my back. I

won't you go home. You are a lazy good-

let
for-nothing. Have you forgotten what you
have to do ? I have not, and I am here to help
you. Sit up straight and don't pinch. It
annoys me. I will take you allround the town,
54 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
so that you can waken the Jews and call them
to the synagogue. But you must not talk, or
ask questions. If you do, something serious
might happen to you.’’
''
Oh, woe unto me,” Pinkus began to cry.
**
Do stop that ridiculous noise,” said the ass,
beginning to dance again. It annoys me.
My ears are not used to such awful sounds.
My throat hurts me already from talking to
you, and I must be careful with it. I have to
sing a sentimental song at a fairies’ concert
to-morrow night.”
**
Fairies, demons, witches Oh, woe unto
!

me,” cried Pinkus again.

Stop ” cried the donkey in a rage.
**
! If
you go on like that, you will make me ill,
and I don’t know where to find a doctor at
this hour of the night. Don’t forget my
warning. You must not say another word, or
something serious may happen to both of us.
Hold tight.”
Pinkus shut his mouth, pressed his knees
close to the donkey’s side, and the animal
started went gently and slowly, and
off. It
Pinkus began to feel comfortable. It was a
long time since he had a nice ride like this. He
stroked the ass to show that he was pleased.
But Pinkus was a fool, and in two minutes he
 THE ENCHANTED DONKEY 55

had quite forgotten the donkey’s warning about

keeping his mouth closed.
**
Please tell me, kind and learned and gracious
Mr. Donkey,” he said, ** do you do this every
”
night ?
The next moment he was nearly shot over
the donkey’s head the animal had stopped
:

with a sudden jerk.

” Now you have got yourself into trouble,”
said the ass. You forgot my warning, so it

is your own fault. I told you not to say another

word. Don’t blame me.”
**
Oh, woe unto me,” cried Pinkus. ** What is
going to happen now ? Is the ass going to change
places with me, or to turn me into a pig, or an
”
elephant, or a bee ?
He looked at his hands and feet. He still
had two of each, and they showed no signs of
change. Then he looked round. The houses
seemed to be different. They seemed smaller
or rather, the housetops seemed nearer. They
were coming nearer still. Then he looked
down at the ground. He could hardly see it
at all. It was far away. What was the matter ?
He looked at the donkey, and gave a great cry
of fear.
The was growing.
ass Its ears were as big as
Pinkus himself, its body as large as an elephant.
56 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
With every step continued to grow
it took, it

until Pinkus could see right over the house

tops.
**
''
Woe unto me,” cried the poor man. I
will fall off and kill myself. Then the elephant-
donkey will eat me. What shall I say to my
master then ? He is sure to beat me.”
The ass took no notice, but went on growing.
Pinkus had never seen so big an animal. It left
the town and moved towards a tall tower.
When it got there, Pinkus was just level with
the top. The donkey stopped.
Take care of yourself, dear, kind, gracious
Mr. Fool,” it cried in a voice of thunder. It
kicked up hind legs, and Pinkus felt himself
its

thrown from its back on to the top of the

tower.
By-by, Mr. Foolman,” said the donkey,
waving its long tail and long ears. ** When
next you are told to hold your tongue, do
so.
Then it moved
growing smaller with
off,

every step until it vanished. Pinkus cried.

Help, save me, I am drowning,” and all sorts
of things, but nobody could hear him.
Everybody was late for the synagogue, and
many hours passed before the cries of poor
Pinkus were heard. All the town came to see
6?
58 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
what was the matter. It took a long time
before they could fix up ladders to bring Pinkus
down. He was tired and hungry, and everybody
laughed at him and called him fool when he told
his story.
You should not talk so much, you donkey/'
they said.
THE GREEDY FOX
A
 The Greedy Fox
FOX one day passed by a beautiful
vineyard. The grapes were just
ripe, and they looked very tempting.
''
Ah, I shall know where to find
my supper to-night/' said the fox. I shall
come back when everybody is asleep."
So he came back at night, but, to his dis-
appointment, he found that he could not get
into the vineyard. All around were railings
placed so close together that he could not pos-
sibly creep between them. He tried very
hard to squeeze himself through, and once he
nearly got stuck. At last he had to give up
the attempt.
I have to look elsewhere for my
shall
supper," said Reynard to himself. ''
But I
did so want some grapes, and I am tired."
61
62 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
He laid down and when he woke in
to sleep,
the morning, the grapes looked more tempting
than ever.
Well, this is exasperating,” said sly fox.
I must and shall have some grapes. I shall
sit here and starve myself until I am thin
enough to creep through the railings.”
For three days Reynard suffered the pangs
of hunger, and then he was thin enough to
crawl between the railings into the vineyard.
He ate his fill, enjoying himself hugely.
**
This is jolly,” he said, rolling on the ground.
**
It was worth starving myself three days to
enjoy such a feast.”
But when he tried to leave the vineyard, he
found that he had grown fat again from so
much feeding.
It seems to me I have been silly after all,”
he said ruefully. Now I shall have to starve
**

myself again for three days, with all these

beautiful grapes around me, to make myself
thin enough to creep out.”
It was very hard on the poor fox, but he
admitted to himself he had been greedy.
It serves me right,” he said, as he crept
out, feeling very weak. Now I am worse
off than before, for I have little strength, and
yet I must go and look for food.”
THE MAN WHO WAS A HUN-
DRED YEARS YOUNG
The Man who was a Hundred
Y ears Y oung
^ASSING through the city of Tiberias,
King Hadrian was surprised to see
a very old man, with a long, white
beard, planting a fig-tree. He told
his attendants to bring the man before him.
How old are you ?
''
the King asked the
man.
Your Majesty,'' he replied proudly, ''
to-
day is my birthday. I am just one hundred
years old."
''
Why do you plant that tree ? " asked the
King. ''
Had you laboured when you were
younger, you would have stored up something
for your old age."
I was not idle in my youth," replied the
66 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
old man, ''
and I hope to eat of the fruit of
this tree/'
The King was amazed.
Surely," he said, take years before
it will
that sapling that you have just planted will
grow into a tree and bear fruit. Do you hope
"
to live so many years ?

Why not ? " returned the man.

**
If it

be God’s pleasure to let me live even another

hundred years. He can so ordain it. If not,
well then, your Majesty, the fruit of this tree
shall be for my son. My father left the fruit
of his labour for me."
You are old only in years, but not in spirit,"
said the King. ''
You are one hundred years
young. I shall not forget you, and if you live
to eat of the figs of this tree, bring some to me
at the Palace."
The years rolled on, and one day a very aged
man stood before the Palace gates with a
basket of ripe figs in his hand.
''
I wish to see the King," he said to the

guards. Years ago, on my one hundredth

birthday, I planted a fig-tree, and the King
bade me bring the first fruit of it to the Palace."
The guards laughed at this story at first, but
at last they informed the King, who at once
ordered the man to be brought before him.
 THE MAN 100 YEARS YOUNG 67

What your wish with me ?

is he asked.
I am the
''
Sire/’ replied the old man,
man, old in years but young in spirit, whom
thou didst see on my hundredth birthday
plant the fig-tree of which these are the first
fruits. It was thy wish that if I lived, I should
bring them to thee.”
The King remembered, and he was so delighted
that he took the figs and ordered his soldiers
to fill the old man’s basket with gold pieces.
When the old man had left, the Vizier said to
His Majesty
This man is a J ew. Why didst thou honour
”
him so for a few figs ?
**
Silence,” commanded the King. Why
should I not honour a man whom God has so
”
honoured ?

When man
returned to his home, his
the old
neighbour’s wife saw his basket of gold.
''
Where did you get so much wealth ? ” she
asked in astonishment.
At the Palace,” he replied, in exchange
for a basket of figs.”
The woman at once ran indoors to her
husband.
Husband mine,” she cried, in great ex-
citement. We shall be very rich,wealthy
enough to buy a great palace, if you will but
68 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
do as I bid you. Take the biggest basket you
can find and fill it with ripe figs. Then carry
it to the Palace. The Emperor loves figs, and
he will fill the basket with gold for you.’'
The husband would not believe this until he
heard of his neighbour’s luck. Then he got a
huge basket of figs, so big and so heavy that
he could hardly carry it, and staggered off
under its burden to the Palace.
''
Let me in to the King,” he said to the
guards.
''What would you with His Majesty?”
they asked in surprise.
" I wish to give him this basket of figs for
gold pieces in exchange.”
The guards laughed loudly and sent word to
the King that a lunatic with a basket of figs
was at the gates.
Let me see him,” said King Hadrian, much
‘‘

amused.
The man was brought before the King, still
with his big basket on his shoulder.
I pray your gracious Majesty,” he said,
" to take these figs and fill my basket with gold
pieces, even as thou didst to my neighbour,
the aged Jew.”
In what way has God honoured you ? ”
asked the King. " It seems to me that He has
 THE MAN 100 YEARS YOUNG 69

dishonoured you by making you a fool. You

shall have the reward which a fool deserves.
Take your stand in the courtyard with your
figs.”
The man did so, thinking that he would get
a basket of gold, but instead, the guards, at the
instruction of the King, began to pelt him with
his own figs.

Feeling very sore, the poor man hurried

home and told his wife.
‘‘It is all your fault,” he whined.
“You have much to be thankful for,” she
replied, to his great surprise.
“ What do you mean ? ” he asked.
“ You can be thankful,” she answered,
“ that the Jew planted a fig-tree and not a
cocoanut tree. How would you have liked to
have been pelted with cocoanuts ?
THE KING, THE QUEEN, AND
THE BEE
 The King, the Queen, and
the Bee

Na bright summeris day, when the

sun beat down fiercely upon the
heads of the people, King Solomon
sought the shade of one of his
favourite gardens. But even where the foliage
on the trees was so thick that it seemed the
sun’s rays could not penetrate, it was also hot.
Not a breath of air was there to fan the monarch’s
cheek, and he lay down on the thick grass and
gazed through the branches of the trees at the
blue sky.
''
This great heat makes me weary,” said
the King, and in a few minutes he had quietly
fallen into a deep sleep.
78
74 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
All was still in the beautiful garden, except
for the sound few humming birds, the
of a
twittering of the moths whose many-coloured
wings looked more beautiful than ever in the
bright sunshine, and the buzzing of the bees.
But even these sounds grew still as the fierce
rays from the sky grew hotter until all
nature seemed hushed to rest. Only one tiny
bee was left moving in the garden. It flew
steadily from flower to flower, sipping the honey,
until at length it began to feel overcome by
the heat.
Oh, dear I wonder what is the matter
!

with me,'' buzzed the little bee. " This is the

first time I have come out of the hive, and I do

feel queer. I hope I am not going to faint."

The little bee felt giddy, and after flying
round and round dizzily for a few minutes it
fell and dropped right on to King Solomon's

nose. Immediately the King awoke with such

a start that the little bee was frightened almost
out of its wits and flew straight back to the
hive.
King Solomon sat up and looked round to
see what it was that had awakened him so
rudely. He felt a strange pain at the tip of
his nose. He rubbed it with his royal fore-
finger, but the pain increased.
 THE KING, QUEEN, AND BEE 75

Attendants came rushing towards him and

asked him what was the matter.
I must have been stung on the nose by a
bee/' said the King angrily. ''Send for the
Lord High Physician and the Keeper of the
Court Plaister immediately. I cannot have
a blister on the tip of my nose. To-morrow
I am to be visited by the Queen of Sheba, and
it will not do to have a swollen nose tied up in

a sling."
The Lord High Physician came with his many
assistants, each carrying a box of ointment, or
lint, or some other preparation which might be

required. King Solomon's nose, and especially

the tip of it, was examined most carefully
through a microscope.
"It is almost nothing," said the Lord High
Physician reassuringly. " It is just a tiny
sting from a very little bee which did not leave
its sting in the wound. It will be healed in an
hour or two and the Queen of Sheba will not be
able to notice that anything at all is the matter
to-morrow."
But meanwhile it smarts," said King
Solomon. I am seriously annoyed with the
little bee. How dared it sting me. King Solomon,
monarch of all living things on earth, in the air
and in the waters. Knows it not that I am
76 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
its Royal Master to whom all homage and respect
''
is due ?
The pain soon ceased, but His Majesty did
not like the smell of the greasy ointment which
was put on his nose, and he determined that
the bee should be brought before him for trial.
Place the impudent bee under arrest
little

at once,'' he commanded, '' and bring it before

me so that I may hear what it has to say."
But I know it not," returned the Lord
High Chamberlain, to whom the command was
given.
Then summon the Queen bee before me in
an hour and bid her bring the culprit," answered
the monarch. ''Tell her that I shall hold all
the bees guilty until the saucy little offender is

produced before me."

The order was by one of
carried to the hive
the butterflies in attendance on the King and
spread consternation among the bees. Such a
buzzing there was that the butterfly said
" Stop making that noise. If the King hears
you, it will only make matters worse."
The Queen bee promised to obey King Solo-
mon's command, and in an hour she made her
appearance in state before the great throne.
Slowly and with much pomp, the Queen bee
made her way to King Solomon. She was the
 THE KING, QUEEN AND BEE 77

largest of the bees and was escorted by a body-

guard of twelve female bees who cleared the
way before her, walking backwards and bowing
constantly with their faces to her.
King Solomon was surrounded by all his Court
which included living beings, fairies, demons,
spirits, goblins, animals, birds and insects.
All raised their voices in a loud hurrah when
His Majesty took his seat on the Throne, and
a very strange noise the Court made. The
lions roared, the serpents hissed, the birds
and the demons howled.
chirped, the fairies sang
The goblins that had no voices could only
grin.
Silence ! '' a herald.
cried ''
The Queen
bee is requested to stand forth.''
Still attended by her twelve guards, ^he
Queen bee approached the foot of the Throne
and made obeisance to King Solomon.
I, thy slave, the Queen bee," she buzzed,
''

am here at thy bidding, mighty ruler, great

and wise. Command and thou shalt be
obeyed."
“It is well," replied Solomon. “Hast thou
brought with thee the culprit, the bee that
"
did dare to attack my nose with its sting ?
''
I have, your Majesty," answered the Queen
bee. It is a young bee that this dav did
78 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
leave the hive for the first has con-
time. It
fessed to me. It did not attack your Majesty
but by accident, owing to giddiness
wilfully,
caused by the heat, and it could not have in-
jured your Majesty seriously, because it left
not its sting in the wound. Be merciful,
gracious King.''
Fear not my judgment," said the King.
''
Bid the bee stand forth."
Tremblingly, the little bee stood at the foot
of the Throne and bowed three times to King
Solomon.
Knowest thou not," said the King, that
I am thy royal master whose person must be
"
held sacred by all living things ?
''
Yes, gracious Majesty," buzzed the bee.
Thy slave is aware of this. It was but an
accident, and it is the nature of thy slave, the
bee, who duty bound to obey thy laws, to
is in
thrust forth its sting when in danger. I thought
1 was in danger when I fell."
''
So was I, for I was beneath you," returned
King Solomon.
Punish me not," pleaded the bee. '' I am
but one of your Majesty's smallest and humblest
slaves, but even I may be of service to your
Majesty some day."
These words from the little bee made the
 THE KING, QUEEN, AND BEE 79

whole Court laugh. Even the goblins which

could not speak grinned from ear to ear and
rolled their big eyes.
''
Silence !
''
commanded the King sternly.
There naught to laugh at in the bee’s
is

answer. It pleases me well. Go, thou art

free. Some day I may need thee.”
The little bee bowed its head three times
before the King and flew away, buzzing happily.
Next day it kept quite close to the Palace.
want to see the procession when the
I
Queen of Sheba arrives,” it said, ** and I also
must be near the King in case His Majesty
may want me.”
In great state, the beautiful Queen of Sheba,
followed by hundreds of handsomely robed
attendants, approached King Solomon who was
seated on his Throne, surrounded by all his Court.
Great and mighty King of Israel,” she said,
curtse3dng low, ” have heard of thy great
I
wisdom and would fain put it to the test.
Hitherto all questions put to thee hast thou
answered without difficulty. But I have sworn
to puzzle thy wondrous wisdom with my
woman’s wit. Be heedful.”
''
Beauteous Queen of Sheba,” returned King
Solomon, rising and bowing in return to her
curtsey, thou art as witty as thou art fair^
8o JEWISH FAIRY TALES
and if thou art successful in puzzling me, thy
triumph shall be duly rewarded. I will load
thee with rich presents and proclaim thy wit
and wisdom to the whole world.
“ I accept thy challenge,” replied the Queen,
''
and at once.”
Behind Her Majesty stood two beautiful
girl each holding a bouquet of
attendants,
flowers. The Queen of Sheba took the flowers,
and holding a bouquet in each hand, said to
King Solomon
‘‘
Tell me, thou who art the wisest man on
earth, which of these bunches of flowers is real
and which artificial.”
‘‘
They are both beautiful and their fragrance
delicious in the extreme,” replied King Solomon.
''
Ah,” said the Queen, ‘‘but only one bunch
”
has fragrance. Which is it ?

King Solomon looked at the flowers. Both

bunches looked exactly alike. From where he
sat, it was impossible to detect any difference.
He did not answer at once, and he knit his
brows as if perplexed. The courtiers also
looked troubled. Never before had they seen
the King hesitate.
“ Is it impossible for your Majesty to answer
the question ? ” the Queen asked.
Solomon shook his head and smiled.
 THE KING, QUEEN, AND BEE 8i

Never yet has a problem baffled me,'' he

said. ''
Your Majesty shall be answered, and
correctly."
''
And at once," said the Queen of Sheba
imperiously.
“ So be it," answered King Solomon, gazing
thoughtfully round and raising his magic
sceptre.
Immediately he heard what no one else did,
the faint buzzing of the tiny wings of the little
bee which had settled on one of the window
panes of the Palace.
Bid that window be opened," he com-
manded, pointing to it with his sceptre, '' and
let the bee enter to obey my wish."
The window was promptly opened, and in
flew the little bee. Straight towards the Queen
of Sheba it flew, and now its buzzing could be
heard by all the courtiers, who eagerly watched
its flight through the air. Without any hesi-
tation, it settled on the bouquet in the Queen's
left hand.
**
Thou hast my answer, fair Queen of Sheba,"
said King Solomon, rising, given to thee by
one of the tiniest of my subjects. It has settled
on the flowers that are natural. The bouquet
in your right hand is made by human hands."
The whole Court applauded the monarch's
F
82 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
wisdom in bidding the little bee help him out
of his difficulty.
Your Majesty is indeed the wisest man
on earth/ said the Queen.
^

Thanks, my little friend,'' said the King

to the bee, and it flew away, buzzing merrily.
HONEIM’S MAGIC SHOES
 Honeim’s Magic Shoes

N a large city in the Far East, in the

ancient days of romance and mys-
tery, dwelt a queer old shoemaker,
named Honeim. He was a Jew,
and those who were not Jews said he was a
magician. He could tell how rich, or how poor,
a man was merely by looking at him, and he
never would allow any one to purchase a pair of
shoes from him which they really could not
afford to buy.
Honeim sold all kinds of shoes, and his open
shop in the principal bazaar of the city was a
remarkable sight.Hundreds of shoes of all
shapes, all sizes and all colours were neatly
ranged on shelves, and on the floor, and were
N
86 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
hung from poles and from the ceiling. Honeim
had no need to ask any one who came to buy
shoes and sandals the measurement of their feet.
By merely looking at his customer, he could tell
the best shape and size and colour that was
wanted, and as a rule the very first pair of shoes
which he offered were the most satisfactory.
If a customer was not satisfied after seeing
three pairs, Honeim would say
I have not the pair of shoes which you
require. You must go elsewhere.”
Then he would take up a book and answer no
more questions. If the customer was anxious
to buy a pair of shoes which Honeim knew he
could not afford, the queer shoemaker would
say—
''It is my business only to satisfy my
patrons. I cannot you these shoes below
sell

a certain sum of money. That sum is beyond

your means. It has not been decreed that we
shall do business to-day. Peace be with
you.”
The next minute he would be deep in the
study of his book and would not say another
word.
One day an Arab on a camel stopped at his
shop and gazed admiringly at the hundreds of
shoes exhibited. Honeim saw him, but took no
 HONEIM^S MAGIC SHOES 87

notice. Usually,when any one stopped to look

at his shoes, Honeim immediately rushed for-
ward to describe their good qualities.
This
time, however, he kept on studying his book.
The Arab, failing to attract the shoemaker's
attention, induced his camel to go down on its
knees, and then he slowly descended from its
back. He entered the shop, but still Honeim
took no notice of him.
Sir," said the Arab at last, I desire to

purchase a pair of shoes.”

**
And wherefore ? ” asked Honeim, without
looking up from his book.
Surely, one only purchases shoes to wear,”
replied the Arab.
Thou dost not need shoes,” returned
Honeim, turning to look at the Arab. ” Thou
art a son of the desert. Thou dwellest not in a
city. Thy home is on the sandy plain where
shoes are useless. Thou hast but come into this
city to purchase trappings for thy camel, and
hast already spent freely of thy little store of
money. I cannot trade with thee.”
The Arab was astonished.
''
How earnest thou to know all this ? ” he
asked.
Seek not to learn how Honeim knows of
the things which most men know not,” replied
88 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
Honeim. ''Let it suffice thee that I know.
Have not spoken truth ?
I
" Verily thou hast/' said the Arab, wondering
all the more, but perchance thou hast been
informed."
" Waste not idle words," was Honeim's
answer. Who is there in this great city who
knows of thee, or who knew of thy coming
"
to-day ? None, I tell thee.
" True, true," said the Arab musingly.
"Thou art a strange shoemaker. Perchance
art thou a magician."
" It is not given to thee, son of the desert, to
learn the secrets which I choose to keep from
thee," answered Honeim. " Already hast thou
tarried long in this city. Get thee to thy tribe,
to thy tent again, ere evil befall thee. Thou
art ignorant of the ways of a great city. Depart
in peace."
The Arab grew impatient.
" Who art thou to speak thus to me ? " he
demanded angrily. ''Thou art but a shoe-
maker; I am
the son of a desert chief. My
father possesses great store of wealth in
camels."
" I see that thou art but a son of the desert
and knowest not the ways of the city," replied
Honeim with a smile. " Depart in peace, I
 HONEIM^S MAGIC SHOES 89

and enjoy the wealth of thy father, the

tell thee,

chief. Waste it not in the purchase of shoes for

which thou hast no need in the desert.’’
The Arab squatted on the carpet in the centre
of the shop.
Here, sirrah,” he exclaimed, remain will I
until I have selected a pair of shoes. There
are occasions when even a son of the desert
may need to encase his feet in the trappings of
the city.”
Honeim looked at him very keenly for a few
moments and then smiled.
She on whom thou hast set thy heart,” he
said at last, ''
will love thee more if thou seekest
not to follow the ways of the city swains. She,
too, is the daughter of a chief, a child of the
desert. Tell me, has she ever worn a pair of
”
shoes ?
The Arab sprang to his feet.
How knowest thou this ? ” he asked
fiercely.
Honeim laughed.
Have
''
I not already informed thee,” he
said, that it is useless to seek to learn of the
sources of my information. Suffice it that I
know thou art in love with a beauteous desert
maid. Tell me, why dost thou not propose to
purchase a pair of shoes for the maiden ? As
90 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
thou seest, I have a goodly store of shoes for
the dainty feet of damsels/'
''
She would not wear them/' said the Arab
dolefully, ceasing to marvel any longer at the
things which Honeim said.
''
Then," said the shoemaker, with a ring of
triumph in his voice, is it likely that it

will please her to see thy feet encased in

"
shoes ?

This time the Arab smiled.

Thou art a mysterious and wonderful man,
Honeim," he said, '' but thou art aged and
know naught, I perceive, of the ways of maidens.
Should I return with my feet encased in a pair
of red shoes, I will be different from the other
swains of the desert and will find favour in the
damsel's eyes."
Honeim sighed.
'' **
If so thou believest," he said, it will be
difficult to make thee think otherwise. Thou
art a stubborn youth and hast yet much to
learn. I will show thee some shoes, but have
a care. I have warned thee, and the warnings
of Honeim are not to be disregarded.
Silence Thou art merely a shoemaker,"
!

cried the Arab. The day is waning, and I

must return ere set of sun. Show me a pair of
red shoes."
 HONEIM’S MAGIC SHOES 91

Honeim put several shoes before the Arab,

but he rejected them at once.
''
These,'' he said, '' are shoes for a town
beggar and not for the son of a desert chief. I
must have shoes of more gorgeous appearance."
But I tell thee thou hast not the money
for such shoes," said Honeim.
have had enough of thy impertinent non-
I
sense," cried the Arab savagely. ''
Remember,
I am the son of a desert chief of wealth and
power, and thou, dog of a Jew, art but a miser-
able shoemaker."
Honeim's eyes flashed.
He who calls me dog of a Jew will have
cause to repent," he said in a quiet tone of
voice.
The Arab scowled. The old man's words
troubled him, but he was most anxious to have
a pair of shoes, and he bit his lip in vexation
and said not another word. Looking round, he
saw a pair of bright red shoes with golden
laces.
''
Those are pleasing to my eyes," he said.
They will surely be pleasing also to the bright
eyes of the maiden I adore. Permit me to see
if they are of the length of my foot."

Honeim handed him the shoes without a

word, and the Arab almost screamed with
9
'
JEWISH FAIRY TALES
delightwhen he saw that they fitted exactly.
He got up from the carpet and strutted round,
feeling very proud of himself.
She will not dare to refuse me now,'’ he
**

said, These will I take, Honeim."

Thou hast not yet inquired the price," said
the shoemaker.
The Arab took a gold piece from his wallet
and offered Honeim.
it to
“ This will more than pay thee, I think," he

said, so give me the change and let me begone.

I am eager that she who is to be my bride
should see them to-day."
Thou art in too great a hurry, son of the
desert," replied Honeim. ''
Gold will not pur-
chase these shoes."
What then ? " asked the Arab, greatly
surprised.
For these shoes," replied Honeim slowly,
—
the price is a camel such as thine by my
door."
Pshaw! " said the Arab. " Thou knowest
not what thou sayest. My camel is worth more
than twenty such pairs of shoes. It is one of
the noblest in my father's possession. It is a
camel fit for an emperor."
And so are these shoes," returned Honeim.
It is useless to haggle with me. Thou canst
 HONEIM^S MAGIC SHOES 93

not have the shoes and the camel at the same

time/’
Those are strange words/’ the Arab said.
''
What mean they ? ”
Honeim wastes not, nor repeats his words/’
Scorn not my warning.
^
said the shoemaker. '

I will sell thee another pair of shoes for less

than thy gold piece.”
''
It is as I surmised/’ the Arab said. Thou
must be a magician, and perchance there is
magic in the shoes/'
‘‘
Perchance,” said Honeim, shrugging his
shoulders. ''
Remember, I have warned thee.”
''A thy warning,” cried the Arab.
fig for I

am the son of a desert chief. Courage is not

lacking in my tribe. I defy thy magic, and will

have the shoes.”

Only in return for thy camel,” said Honeim,
quietly.
In vain Arab haggled and pleaded.
the
Honeim would scarce listen. He took up his
book and was deaf to all entreaties. At last
the Arab stormed and threatened, but all to no
purpose. Honeim
did not even reply. Half a
dozen times the Arab commenced to mount his
camel and then returned to plead again, but
still Honeim said not a word and quietly went
on studying his book. The Arab mounted his
94 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
camel at last, and as the animal rose from its
knees, he shouted, loudly enough for everybody
to hear
Dog of a Jew ” !

Honeim slowly rose from the carpet on which

he had squatted and looked after the Arab.
He would not heed my warning,"' he said to
himself. He must be made to see that it was
not an idle one."
Leaving his son in charge of the shop, he took
the red shoes with the golden laces and made
his way by a short cut to the road which
he knew the Arab would have to take. He
passed the city’s gates before the Arab on his
camel, and when he came to a lonely part of the
road he dropped one of the shoes and continued
his walk with quick strides for one so aged.
A little while afterwards the son of the desert
chief came along the road on his camel. His
brow was clouded and he seemed moody and
despondent. Suddenly, however, he saw the
red shoe in the road, and he sprang from the
camel with a cry of surprise and delight.
It is exactly like Honeim’s magic shoes,"
he said, in astonishment. '^I wonder how it
came hither."
Hecould see nobody, however, nor could he
see a second shoe. He threw it down in disgust.
 HONEIM^S MAGIC SHOES 95

What is the good of one shoe to me ?he ''

said. I am dallying, and it is growing

late.'*

Hastily, he remounted his camel,and made it

move along at a rapid pace. It had not gone
more than half a league, however, when he
suddenly stopped it and sprang to the ground.
He had caught sight of another red shoe !

Why," he said, it is the fellow of the other.

The two are a pair and must have fallen from
some caravan. What a fool I was not to have
taken the other. I should now have had the
pair and without any payment whatsoever."
He looked round. The sun was beginning to
set, only a league ahead was the desert where
his father was encamped, and on the lonely road
he could not see anybody.
Yes, I will," he said to himself, and tying
his camel to a tree, he started to run back along
the road as fast as he could. The Arab was a
and in a
swift runner, the swiftest in his tribe,
few minutes he was back at the spot where he
had found the first shoe. It was still on the
ground where he had thrown it.
I am in luck's way and can laugh at the

Jew's warning," he cried with delight, picking

up the shoe. I have the pair now, for no-
thing."
96 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
Swift as a deer he ran back again, but stopped
suddenly.
I think I have run all the distance/' he
"
said, panting, but where is my camel ?
There were not many trees, and he thought
he could recognize the one to which he had
tied his camel. Yet it was nowhere to be seen.
Up and down the road he ran for some time,
but no camel and no living thing of any kind
could he see.
Weary and sorrowful, at last he commenced
his walk home in the direction where the sun
was sinking, a ball of fiery red, like the colour
of the shoes which were no longer beautiful to
him, but which he carried in his hand.
What were the exact words of the Jew's
warning ? " he said to himself. ** Thou canst
‘

not have the shoes and the camel at the same

time.' Those were his words of warning, and I
disregarded them. What shall I say now to my
"
father and to the maiden ?
It was almost dark when he arrived at the
camp. His father was waiting for him, and by
his side was a beautiful Arab maid, with lustrous
eyes. With head bowed, he approached them.
Hast thou returned alone and on foot ? "
asked his father.
“ It is as thou seest," he replied sorrowfully.
 HONEIM’S MAGIC SHOES 97
''
Where is thy camel ?
It has been stolen from me”
His father's eyes flashed, and angry words
rose to his lips. But before he could speak, the
maiden said, in a voice of tender sweetness
**
But surely thou hast brought something
back ? "
I have brought back Honeim's shoes," he
replied, but when he looked for them in his
cloak where he had put them, they were gone !

They have disappeared," he said sadly.

I have been fooled by a magician. But it is
my own fault. He warned me, and I heeded
not."
The girl laughed loudly. So did his father,
and all the camp came out to laugh at him.
And from that day to this, people in the Far
East when they wish to say that a man has been
on a fool's errand use the words
He has brought back naught but Honeim's
shoes."

G
SAVED BY A ROSE
 Saved by a Rose

KING had a beautiful garden in which

he spent a portion of each day. He
loved to inhale the perfume of the
many fragrant flowers which grew
ftiere, to walk in the shade of the noble trees,
and to watch the blossoms burst open and the
fruit ripen. Never was he so happy as when
he was in the garden, and those who tended it
for him had instructions to spare no pains to
keep it always beautiful and in perfect con-
dition. So cleverly was it laid out, and so varied
were the many plants and blooms in it, that
there were flowers and green leaves all the year
round, even in winter.
One day the King left to take part in a war,
and he walked round the garden to take fare-
well of his favourite flowers and trees.
102 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
''
Take great care of them/’ he said to the
head gardener. ''
I shall never cease to think
of my beautiful and fragrant flowers.”
Your Majesty’s instructions shall be
obeyed/’ replied the man. ''
Flowers are like
living beings. It is a pity to let them die, or
cruelly killthem.”
''
What mean you by such extraordinary
words ? ” asked the King.
''
Nothing,” returned the man, wiping a tear
from his eye. '' Your Majesty leaves behind
these flowers and trees in my care, but you are
taking away my son, my only son, in your army.
He is to me what this garden is to Your
Majesty.”
duty to fight for his King,” said His
It is his
Majesty, and he strode away.
Many months passed before the war was
ended, but at last the King returned at the
head of his army. Many had been killed and
buried on the battlefield, many others had
been wounded and were coming along slowly in
chariots behind those who came with the King.
Among those severely wounded was the gar-
dener’s son.
The King himself told the old man so as soon
as he saw him.
Yes, yes. Your Majesty, I know,!’ he re-
 SAVED BY A ROSE 103
**
turned. heard the sad news weeks ago
I
when some of the wounded came home. He
will be like your garden, different, Your Ma-
jesty, different.''
''
What words are these ? " demanded the
King. Have not you carried out my orders
and kept my beloved garden in proper con-
"
dition ?

War a terrible thing. Your Majesty,"

is
''
said the gardener. It destroys life, it de-
vastates fields, plantations and gardens."
I understand not your mysterious words,"
said the King wrathfully. ''
Lead me to my
garden."
As soon as he saw it, he uttered an exclama-
tion of surprise and rage. The garden had
been neglected. Instead of beautiful, well-kept
lawns with dainty beds of flowers, were wild
patches of uncut grass and weeds. Yellow
leaves littered the paths that were once so
trim and neat, thorns, brambles and briars
grew everywhere.
This is no longer a garden, this is a wilder-
ness," exclaimed the King. Cut every tree
and every plant and shrub and bush down and
burn them."
‘'Yes, Your Majesty, war is a terrible thing,"
said the gardener.
104 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
''
You are doddering ;
I understand you not/^
said the King. ''
Obey my orders at once, and
I shallstand by and see that you do it.''
The gardener called his men, and they
brought axes and sickles and scythes and com-
menced to cut everything down and pile the
shrubs and bushes into great heaps ready for
burning.
''
Not a single flower left," said the King
sadly, as he watched the work of destruction.
But suddenly he cried Stop " !

I see a single rose, a briar rose in the midst

of all this wilderness," he said, hastily rushing
to it. He
picked it carefully, and inhaled its
delicious perfume.
How beautiful, how sweet !
" he exclaimed.
seems all the more beautiful because it is
It
the only one in this wilderness."
My son is my only child," said the gardener
sorrowfully.
The King looked him in surprise. Then
at
he seemed to understand, and he took the old
man gently by the hand.
Cut no more bushes down," he said. For
the sake of this one beautiful flower, the whole
plantation shall live and flourish again. I did
wrong to take your only child. But he shall
have the best attention of the most skilful
io6 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
doctors and physicians. And he shall be as
handsome and as perfect as I know you will
make my garden again. You shall live, too,
more my esteem than ever, for in the bitter-
in
ness of my heart I had determined on your
death for this neglect of my garden.^’
The old gardener set to work with all his skill
and determination. Before the summer passed,
thejgarden was as beautiful as ever, and in its
shady paths and its delightful arbours his son
was nursed back to health and strength again
and became the King’s favourite guard.
THE FOOL OF ATHINA
 The Fool of Athina

was a city a few days’ journey

Jerusalem. Its people were
IS of the reputation of Jeru-
They wanted to be con-
sidered asimportant as the people of the
famous city, and they never hesitated to say
nasty things about Jerusalem. Once, a mer-
chant of Athina paid a short visit to Jerusalem,
and when he returned home he told a lot of
silly stories about the sacred city and its
people.
‘‘
It is not a city at all,” he said, laughing.
''It is reallya big lunatic asylum. All the
people are mad, or fools. Their customs are
absurd everything they do is ridiculous.”
no JEWISH FAIRY TALES
Naturally, everybody laughed heartily, and
afterwards when anybody in Athina wanted
to call a person a fool, they said he came from
Jerusalem.
Go to Jerusalem,*’ meant that a person was
silly and only fit to live in Jerusalem and not
in Athina.
News of this reached the Holy City, and the
dwellers there were most indignant. A num-
ber of the leading merchants held a meeting,
and they decided that something must be
done to put a stop to the foolish stories told in
Athina.
It is easy for us to decide that this should
be done,” said one of the merchants, a man
named Hafiz Ben, but it will be exceedingly
difficult to carry out our desires. We must
do something to make the man who spread the
report ashamed of himself.”
How this was to be done was the puzzle,
and there was silence in the room while every
one thought deeply.
I have a plan,” cried Hafiz Ben suddenly,

and he told it to the others in a whisper. They

all chuckled, and said it was an excellent idea.

They agreed also that Hafiz Ben was the best

possible person to carry out the plan. One
day, therefore, Hafiz Ben left Jerusalem alone
 THE FOOL OF ATHINA III

for Athina. When he arrived there and said

that he came from Jerusalem, a big crowd
gathered round him and laughed at every-
thing he did.
When he went into an inn for refreshment,
they gathered round the door and jeered at
him.
‘‘
Put his plate of food on the floor ; he will
lap it like a cat,” shouted one to the inn-keeper.
Is it true,” asked another, making a mock
bow to Hafiz Ben, that in your great asylum
city you lie on your backs at your meals and
let your servants pour your food into your
”
throats through a funnel ?
Hafiz Ben took no notice, but sat and ate
his food quietly. The crowd grew bigger, but
suddenly the people parted to make way for
one who seemed to be a person of importance.
When he got to the door of the inn, he looked
closely at Hafiz Ben. Then he turned to the
crowd and said
Of a truth, it is a Jerusalem fool. I re-
cognize him by his long ears. All the Jerusalem
asses have long ears.”
The crowd laughed all the more, and the one
who had spoken entered the inn.
''
Pray, be seated, and peace be with you,”
said Hafiz Ben to him.
II2 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
Ha, ha Did I not tell you ? ** cried the
!

man of Athina to the crowd. '' In Jerusalem,

they always put the cart before the horse.
Did you not observe that he first asked me to
be seated and then gave me the saluta-
tion ?

Ben gathered from this man's speech

Hafiz
and manner that he must be the person who had
spread all the silly about Jerusalem,
stories
and he became very anxious to make friends
with him.
You know Jerusalem," said Hafiz Ben.
" Of a truth," replied the man proudly. I,

Sidi Abdulla, alone have visited your asylum

city. It is from me that they know of
you."
Hafiz Ben called for wine for Sidi Abdulla,
which greatly flattered that person. When
he had drunk his fill, he proposed that they
should take a walk through the city, and Hafiz
Ben readily assented. His plan was beginning
to work splendidly. A large crowd followed
Hafiz Ben and Sidi. Suddenly Hafiz stopped
and raised his hands in horror.
" Oh, I have broken my
shoe string," he
said, 4n a loud voice, so that all could hear.
" Please, friend Sidi Abdulla, lead me to a
shoemaker so that he may repair it for me."
 THE FOOL OF ATHINA 113

Sidi Abdulla laughed heartily.

Did not tell you ? ’’ he said to the crowd.
I
'"The Jerusalem man says that only a shoe-
maker can repair the string of his shoe.”
Hafiz said nothing, but walked quietly in
the midst of the jeering crowd to a shoemaker’s
shop.
I will leave my shoe with you, so that you
can repair the string,” he said. '' I will call
for it in an hour.”
The shoemaker was too much surprised to
speak for a minute. Then he was about to
say that it was not necessary to leave the shoe,
and that he had shoe strings of all colours to
sell, but Sidi Abdulla whispered to him that

the stranger was a fool from Jerusalem.

''
Good sir,” said the shoemaker to Hafiz,'' this
is indeed a most serious breakage of your

shoe string. I shall put three of my best work-

men to the task of repairing it, so that it may
be finished within the hour.”
In an hour, Hafiz Ben and Sidi Abdulla
called again, and the shoemaker showed them
the shoe with a new string.
" You perceive, sir stranger,” he said to
Hafiz, " a new lace had to be made. It
was no easy task, but as you see, sir, it fits
exactly.’'
H
114 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
‘‘
It indeed excellent/' replied Hafiz.
is

You are a wonderful shoemaker. What

is the amount of my debt to you for this mar-
"
vellous workmanship ?
“ To you, sir, a stranger, only one ducat,"
replied the shoemaker, winking at the crowd.
They all laughed merrily, because that was
the price of a new pair of shoes.
''It amazingly cheap," said Hafiz. " I
is

could not think of taking advantage of so

profoundly learned a workman, simply be-
cause I am a stranger. I must pay you two
ducats."
He paid the shoemaker two ducats, thanked
him profusely and left with Sidi Abdulla.
Everybody was convinced after this that the
people of J erusalem must be idiots. The next day
Hafiz Ben broke the string of his other shoe
and again he went to the shoemaker and paid
two ducats for a new one. Sidi Abdulla could
not refrain from expressing his astonishment.
" Shoes in Jerusalem," he said to Hafiz,
" must be most costly, if you pay two ducats
each for laces."
" They are indeed expensive in our city,"
Hafiz answered. "They seU for ten ducats a
pair. It is seldom that they can be bought
for so low a price as nine or eight ducats."
 THE FOOL OF ATHINA 115

Sidi Abdulla remained silent and thought-

ful for a few minutes. Then he said
''
If I bought shoes here and took them to
Jerusalem to seU, I could make a fortune
''
speedily ?

Even answered Hafiz gravely. ** You

so/’
could amass fabulous wealth in less than a
year.”
Of a truth I could/’ said Sidi Abdulla,
eagerly. I will do it.”
You are wise/’ said Hafiz.
**
Sir, you
have been exceedingly kind to me during my
brief stay here. I will help you when you come
to Jerusalem with shoes.”
Sidi Abdulla was delighted.
He bade an affectionate farewell to Hafiz,
and determined to keep his great secret to
himself.
“ The fools of Jerusalem will pour gold into
my he said to himself.
coffers,”
Quietly he set to work and spent nearly all
his money on shoes of all sizes. He loaded
them in huge bales on his camels and set sail
with his caravan for Palestine. He sent one
of his men on in advance to inform Hafiz Ben
of his coming. Hafiz immediately called to-
gether the merchants who had attended the
first meeting.
ii6 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
My proceeding excellently/' he ex-
plan is

plained to them, and they were overjoyed to

hear that Sidi Abdulla was coming.
''
Now we be avenged for the insults he
shall
has heaped upon us," they said.
A procession of merchants was formed to the
gate of the city by which Sidi Abdulla's caravan
would enter. There they waited while Hafiz and
two others went a little way out of the city
to meet Sidi Abdulla.
''
Greeting to you, Sidi Abdulla," said Hafiz,
when they met the merchant of Athina. '' All
the people of Jerusalem are looking forward
eagerly to your coming. We have been sent
out to give you welcome and to inform of the
rules of trading in our city."
''
What are your rules ? " asked Sidi Abdulla,
very much impressed by this deputation of
welcome.
''
They are but two," replied Hafiz,
where-
fore have I two companions with me. One
is a barber, the other a painter."

Why these people ? " asked Sidi Abdulla,

in surprise.
enacted by the laws of the great city of
It is
Jerusalem," said Hafiz, drawing forth from
his robe a long scroll and reading it, that
whosoever cometh from an outside city to trade
 THE FOOL OF ATHINA 117

with us here^ must first have his head shaved

and his face painted black/’
“ It a strange rule/’ said Sidi Abdulla, in
is

astonishment.
''
It is the law, Clause III, Section
89, sub-
section 302,’' Hafiz answered, reading from
the scroll. You would not have us break
our laws, would you ? We impose no duty
on merchandise, and your profits will be
great.”
Abdulla looked at the shoes of the two
Sidi
men with Hafiz. They were extremely shabby.
The men had put on their oldest and most torn
shoes purposely.
So be it,” he said, and while he sat on the
''

ground, one man shaved him and the other

painted his face black with sticky paint.
It feels uncomfortable,” muttered Sidi
Abdulla to himself, '' and my appearance must
be ridiculous. But what matters it. I shall
amass wealth by my large profits from these
idiots.”
A great crowd waited for the caravan at the
city’s gate,and when Sidi Abdulla, with his
black face and shaven head, entered, a huge
shout went up. He thought it was a cheer of
welcome, so he bowed repeatedly to the people
as he marched at the head of his caravan to the
Ii8 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
market Everybody knew, because of his
place.
black face, that he was the man who had
insulted the city, and he looked so funny that
even the children and the beggars laughed
heartily. Sidi Abdulla was, however, too busy
thinking of his profits to take any notice, and
as soon as he got to the market place, he un-
packed his shoes.
There were hundreds of them, of all shapes,
colours and sizes, and he spread them out
on the ground, while many people gathered
round.
''
I bring you cheap shoes, noble people of
Jerusalem,'' he cried loudly. I bring you
beautiful shoes of workmanship.
exquisite
Never before have you seen such splendour in
footwear, never in the history of your holy,
sacred and beautiful city, have shoes been
sold so cheaply as I shaU sell them to you."
''
What is the price ? " asked several people.
‘‘
Nine ducats a pair," said Sidi Abdulla.
But the people laughed so loudly that he could
scarcely make himself heard.
What did you say, black face ? " he was
asked again.
Repeat your words of wisdom, shaven
crown," cried others.
‘‘
I said nine ducats a pair," shouted Sidi
 THE FOOL OF ATHINA 119

Abdulla, “ but I shall certainly not sell for less

than eight/'
Take them home," cried the people. “ We
''

have never paid more than a ducat a pair."

What !
" screamed Sidi Abdulla, in great
astonishment.
Take them home while you have the
opportunity," said several people, picking up
shoes.
I will sell for seven ducats a pair, for six,"
cried poor Sidi. He was getting very hot
with excitement, and the perspiration on his
face was melting the black paint which began
to run in streaks down his cheeks.
We will not have them at any price, you
fool of Athina," shouted one man, and he
flung a shoe at Sidi Abdulla.
Fool of Athina," cried the others, and
everyone seized a shoe to fling at the poor
merchant.
Stop, stop," he screamed. Five ducats,
"
four ducats
But the shoes began to rain fast on him, and
fearing that he would be seriously injured,
he commenced to run towards the gate by
which he had entered. Through the streets the
crowd followed, pelting him with his own shoes.
At the gates of the city he saw Hafiz Ben.
120 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
Save, save me/' he cried piteously.
Once outside the gates you are safe/*
said Hafiz. “ The people will not follow you
outside the city. When next you visit a strange
place, you will not poke fun at it."
Bruised, footsore and weary, Abdulla
Sidi
set off for Athina, realizing that he had been
well punished for his folly.
SLY FOX AND SLY FISH
N

•..V
•*
V

'4
.
• • Lt

I
 Sly Fox and Sly Fish

LY fox was hungry. day long

All
he had wandered about and had
been unable to find anything to
eat. No matter how cunning he
was that day, everybody seemed to see him
coming and took warning. All the farmers
carefully locked up their chickens and got big
sticks ready, and everybody gave everybody
else warning. Even the foolish ducklings were
on their guard.
**
Quack, quack,” came the warning cry as
soon as he was sighted, and they hastily swam
over to the other side of the stream in which
they were so that he could not follow.
At last sly fox noticed a plank bridge across
123
124 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
the stream and he dashed across to the other
side, but old mother duck saw him and hastily
entered the water again with her family. Sly
fox dashed back again, but got tired of running
backwards and forwards across the plank.
The ducks were always too quick for him, and
finally they remained in the water altogether,
moving up and down in the middle of the
stream. Sometimes they came near, said
Quack, quack,* defiantly, and then swam
•

away again.
Tired, exhausted and hungry, sly fox laid
down on the plank bridge to think. He pre-
tended to be asleep, but kept one eye open.
The ducks, however, were wary, and sly fox
began to make up his mind to go without
duck that day.
After he muttered to himself, “ I
all,**

don*t think I am really fond of duck.**

A fish leaped out of the water a few feet away,
and sly fox was quickly on the alert.
‘‘
Why should I not have fish to-day ? ** he
asked himself.
Another fish leaped out of the stream and
fell back again, and sly fox peered into the

water to see what was the matter. All the

fishes were hurrying to and fro in great alarm.
**
Why are you excited, my good friends ?
**
 SLY FOX AND SLY FISH 125

he asked. Such beautiful creatures as you

are should be able to live in happiness and
peace.”
Even fishes like to hear pretty compliments,
and when sly fox spoke so kindly to them and
called them beautiful creatures, they stopped to
listen.
''
Ah, I have made a good impression,”
thought sly fox, '' I must flatter them a little
more. Then I will have fish for supper to-day.”
''
I have never seen such beautiful slender

bodies as yours,” he said aloud, '' and never

have I seen any creature move so gracefully
as you. You have no legs to grow tired, and
you have not to walk over the hot, dusty roads
where the sharp stones scratch you. Happy,
happy fishes. How I envy you How I wish
!

I could lie in the cool water like you.”

''
We are not so happy as you think,” said
one of the fishes.
''
Is that possible ? ” said sly fox.
It is indeed,” was the reply. ''Just now
we are all agitated, because some fishermen are
trying to tempt us with hooks on which they
put worms. Then they put nets in the water
to catch us.”
''
men, to torture such beautiful
Cruel, cruel
creatures as you are,” said the fox. " How
126 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
I feel sorry for you. Will you listen to my
''
advice ?
''
good/’ replied the fishes.
If it is
My advice is always good/’ replied the fox
you know that I am the cleverest of all the
animals.”
We have heard that you are cunning/’ replied
the fishes. “ Sometimes we hear the fishermen
talk.”
Sly fox was annoyed.
''
And do you believe what the fishermen
say ? ” he asked. '' Do you not know that
”
they are your greatest enemies ?
That is so,” they answered ; we have
no peace from them. They try to catch us
even at night.”
''
Why, then, do you remain in the water
where you are not secure ? ” asked sly fox.
Come with me and I will show you a beautiful
hiding-place under the ground. There you
will be able to find lots of worms without the
fear that they are stuck on hooks to catch you.
There you wiU be secure against all the snares of
the fishermen.’'
No doubt,” replied the fishes, but shall we
”
be secure against you ?
Have I not told you I am your friend ? ”
replied sly fox. ''
Come with me and we shall
 SLY FOX AND SLY FISH 127

dwell together and in peace as did our ancestors

in the long, long ago/'
''No, thank you," returned the fishes. " We
see now that your cleverness is but cunning, and
your wisdom only folly. If we are insecure in
our natural element, the water, how much
more dangerous will be our lot in a hole under-
ground where we canont swim and where we
cannot run because we have no legs. No, thank
you, sly fox, you shall not have fish for supper
to-night."
The fishes swam away to tell the ducks, and
the birds annoyed sly fox by going as near to him
as they dared and impudently calling, "Quack,
quack."
Poor sly fox slunk home, and went to bed
hungry that night.
•-»
THE PRINCESS AND THE RABBI

I
The Princess and the Rabbi
was a great day in the poor Jewish
quarter of Rome. The narrow streets
of the Ghetto were gaily decorated.
Everybody hung coloured flags from
their windows and in festoons across the streets.
Those who could not afford to buy flags, and
most of the people were too poor to do so, hung
out coloured cloths, blankets, carpets and even
table-cloths. The general desire was to make
the dark miserable streets of the Ghetto gay
with bright colours, and in this the people suc-
ceeded. Never had the squalid alleys looked
so beautiful, and those who were not compelled
to live in the Ghetto all their lives, as the Jews
were, came to the gates of the quarter to see
the wonderful sight.
181
132 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
The decorations were prepared for the visit
of the Princess. Never before had a Royal
personage visited the Jewish part of the city,
and the Jews, although sorely oppressed by
the Romans, were anxious to give every proof
of their loyalty and their love of peace. All
who had holiday clothes put them on for the
day, and everybody who could possibly afford
it, purchased some piece of ribbon, or lace, with

which to decorate their clothes. In short,

everybody tried to look their very best, and to
make their dingy dwellings appear as bright
and as handsome as palaces.
All the elders of the community and the
Rabbis in their festival robes awaited the Prin-
cess at the gates of the Ghetto. They were
accompanied by the choirs of the synagogues,
also in their festival robes, and when the Prin-
cess approached, they raised loud Hurrahs !

and sang a beautiful song of welcome.

Slowly, the beautiful, but proud and haughty
Princess came along in her chariot richly orna-
mented with gold, and drawn by four white
horses, caparisoned with crimson and silver
trappings. When the song of welcome ceased
and the chariot halted at the Ghetto gates, the
Princess descended. The Rabbis moved for-
ward in a procession to bid her welcome. At
 THE PRINCESS AND THE RABBI 133

their head was the famous Rabbi Joshua ben

Chananjah. He was not a tall man of dignified
bearing. Unfortunately he was misshapen and
had a humpback, and as he bowed low be-
fore the Princess, she could not help but
smile.
What a grotesque-looking creature,’’ she
remarked to her attendants, and they also
smiled.
A spasm of pain made the Rabbi’s face twitch
when he heard these cruel words, but he took
no notice, and calmly went on to deliver his
address of welcome. He remained by the
Princess’s side while she walked through two
or three of the principal streets of the Ghetto.
Everywhere the people greeted Her Royal
Highness with the greatest enthusiasm, and the
humpback Rabbi answered all her questions
so promptly and with such courtesy and wit and
wisdom that the Princess could not help but
admire him. But every time he bowed to her, she
noticed his misshapen back, and when at length
he escorted her back to her waiting chariot at
the Ghetto gates, she said to her attendants
That Rabbi is a rich kernel of wisdom in an
ugly shell.”
Again the Rabbi’s face bore a look of pain,
and the Princess noticing it, said haughtily
134 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
“ O wise man of the Jews, give me,
pray you, I
ere I leave your hospitable Ghetto, some words
of wisdom and advice with which to remember
you/’
'Tt shall be as Your Royal Highness graciously
commands,” said the Rabbi, bowing as low as
he possibly could, so that she should see his
hump again. Tell me,” he added, where
does your Royal father, the august Emperor,
”
on whom be peace, keep his choicest wines ?
It is a strange question,” said the Princess.
But peradventure, I am no ordinary man.
Your Royal Highness,” answered the Rabbi,
with a twinkle in his eye ; so, gracious Prin-
cess, I pray you answer it.”
My Royal father’s choicest wines,” she re-
plied, somewhat amused, '‘are kept in the Royal
cellars.”
" Dark, underground chambers ? ” asked the
Rabbi.
" Even so,” replied the Princess.
" And in what vessels, gracious Princess ?
”

the Rabbi asked again.

" In earthenware vessels,” answered the Prin-
cess.
Strange, exceeding strange,” said the Rabbi
''
musingly, that the choicest vintages of the
world, selected to grace a great and mighty
 THE PRINCESS AND THE RABBI 135

Emperor’s table, should

be kept in jars of com-
mon earth and in an underground cellar.”
**
And how then should my Royal father’s wines
be kept ? ” asked the Princess, in surprise.
Gracious Princess,” replied the Rabbi, again
bowing very low and letting her see his hump
for a few seconds, '' should not the wines of an
Emperor be kept in casks and vessels of gold
in a beauteous chamber suffused with the rays
”
of the sun ?
The Princess seemed bewildered for a few
minutes.
Holy man of Israel,” she said at length,
*
thou art possessed of wisdom rare, and per-
haps thou art right. It shall please my Royal
whim to consider your unusual proposal. Fare-
well.”
As soon as the Princess reached the Palace,
she summoned the head butler before her.
Take a dozen slaves,” she said, '' and bid
them empty the wines in the earthen jars in
the Royal cellars into vessels of gold and
place them in the Royal gardens in the sun.”
But, Your Royal Highness ” said the
butler, opening wide his eyes in astonishment.
''
Silence, slave !
” commanded the Princess.
Perform my bidding, or your life shall be
forfeit.”
136 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
Without another word, the head butler
hurriedly and had the Princess's orders
left
carried out. Everybody in the Palace wondered
when they saw the rich red wines poured into
big golden jugs which were ranged in rows in
the gardens.
A week later the Princess gave a banquet
to a large number of guests. When they wer
all assembled, she said
“ I bid you welcome. Ihave prepared a great
surprise for you. It is wine of a new vintage.
All were eager to see and taste the wines,
and when they were placed upon the table,
everybody admired the big golden jugs and
hastened to fill their goblets.
''
To Her Royal Highness, the gracious and
the beautiful Princess," they cried, and then
all put the goblets to their lips.

The next moment they put down their goblets

hastily and all made wry faces. One or two,
indeed, began to splutter, and one old man
jumped up and left the table.
What means this unseemly conduct ?

cried the Princess in a great rage. ''

Is this how
you behave at the Royal table and in honour
of the toast of the daughter of your Emperor ?
"

For a few moments nobody answered, but

all continued to make wry faces, and one or
 THE PRINCESS AND THE RABBI 137

two could not stop spluttering and coughing

cried the Princess to a man
''
You, sirrah !

who was still spluttering near her, you shall

tell me the meaning of this, or your life shall be

forfeit/’
Instantly the man ceased to splutter.
Your Royal Highness,” he said slowly,
there must be some mistake. This is not
wine, but vinegar.”
''
Vinegar !
” exclaimed the Princess. How
dare you ? How dare you insult your Royal
master’s choicest wine. Guards, seize him. He
shall be cast to the lions and torn limb from
limb for this.”
A upon the guests and they
great silence fell

stared at the Princess in horror. One of the

oldest, a grey-haired officer of the guards, rose
at the other end of the table.
Gracious Princess,” he began, ** give me leave
**

to speak, ere your dread command be obeyed.

I am an old soldier ; I fought by your father’s

side in the great wars ere yet you were born, and
in your childhood’s days oft did I dandle you
on my knee. I, too, have tasted of this wine. It
is strange, but it is scarce like wine. Indeed
its taste is more like that of vinegar —bad
vinegar, gracious Princess.”
The Princess looked from one to the other of
138 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
her guests in blank amazement. Then slowly,
defiantly almost, she raised her goblet to her
lips. All present held their breath. The Prin-
cess took a tiny sip from her goblet. Then she
put it down slowly and tried to keep a straight
face. She tried to speak, but for a few moments
could not.
My guests,'* she said at last, in a husky voice,
I This wine is sour. It
crave your pardon.
is bewitched and has a taste that cannot be

good for human beings. I crave your pardon

and will severely punish the knave who is
responsible for this."
Know you who he is ? " asked the grey-
haired officer.
“The hunchback Rabbi of the Jews," was
the answer. “ Bid your guards fetch him hither
on the instant. And, my guests, I crave your
permission to retire awhile. This vile drink
has made me ill."

All the others were ill, too, for they had each
taken a big drink of the sour wine, and while
the guards marched to the Ghetto to bring back
Rabbi Joshua ben Chananjah, the doctors of
the Palace were very busy. Everybody had to
swallow some nasty medicine, and one of the
guests was so ill that it was thought he was
poisoned, and he was sent home l5dng down
 THE PRINCESS AND THE RABBI 139

in a chariot. In the streets the people who

saw him pass thought he was drunk, and they
jeered at him and threw stones.
Very soon Rabbi Joshua ben Chananjah
arrived, guarded by a dozen stalwart soldiers.
A dozen others had to be left behind at
the Ghetto gates which they locked. The
Jews were astounded when the soldiers arrived
to arrest their beloved Rabbi, and they would
have followed the soldiers to the Palace, but
they were not allowed out of the Ghetto and
soldiers guarded the gates.
Rabbi J oshua was brought before the Princess
and her guests. He looked round in great
astonishment. Everybody had a white face.
They all seemed iU. When he saw the Princess,
he bowed very low and kept his head down, until
she said
''
Raise your head. not have me
You would
**
gaze upon your humpback for ever ?
''
If it pleases Your Royal Highness to do so,’’
he answered.
It pleases me not,” she said haughtily.
Know you, wise and ungainly man of Israel,
”
why it is you have been brought hither ?
Rabbi Joshua looked round the banqueting
chamber and saw the half-filled goblets of
wine.
140 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
''
Yes, I know,’' he said, again bowing his head.
Stop, stop,” the Princess cried. Do not
bow before me again. I have seen enough and
too much your hump. How do you know
of
”
why I have sent for you ? Are you a magician ?
We Jews practise not the black arts,” he
replied. ''We apply the teachings of our fore-
fathers, our prophets and our Rabbis, to all
things.”
''
And by that means you read the secrets
”
that are not open to others ?
" It is not difficult to read what Your Royal
Highness calls secrets,” he replied. " I perceive
here a banquet hastily finished, goblets of wine
left half-filled, and your guests standing round
with white, frightened faces. They are not
well. They have partaken of something which
—
disagrees with them wine perhaps.”
''
Truly art thou wisdom in an ungainly shell,”
answered the Princess " but does your wisdom
;

warn you that you have incurred my grave

”
displeasure ?
" No,” was the prompt reply, which surprised
everybody.
" You
suggested that the Royal wines should
be taken from the earthen jars in the cellar and
placed in golden vessels in the sun, wise man
of Israel,” went on the Princess, in tones of dis-
 THE PRINCESS AND THE RABBI 141

pleasure ;
knew you, then, that the wines
would turn sour and be unfit to drink ?
‘‘
I did, gracious Princess,'' answered the Rabbi.
"
‘'Was not that folly, instead of wisdom ?
Not so."
“ Why ? " inquired the Princess.
“ Gracious Princess," replied the Rabbi, ‘‘ we
are as the good God made us, and not all the
things that are in outward appearance the most
beautiful are the best. These golden vessels
of yours are of exquisite beauty compared ;

with them the earthen jars of your cellars are

coarse and ugly. But they are the best in
which to keep your choicest wines pure and
good."
‘‘
Then why did you advise me to put the
wine into golden jugs ? " demanded the Princess
angrily.
“Your Royal Highness," replied the Rabbi,
“ was but an answer to your mockery of me
it

when you did laugh at my ungainly figure and

even at my learning and say it was but wisdom
in an ugly shell. Gracious Princess, I am but
"
an earthen jar among mortals
" And I the golden jug in which the wine of
wisdom has turned sour," said the Princess,
with bowed head.
All present were silent, and they trembled
142 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
as they saw the Princess from her luxurious
rise
couch. All expected her to summon the guards
and order them to take the daring Rabbi to the
place of execution. But she took him by the
hand and said to her guests
Bowyour heads, all of you, to this man of
learning and wisdom, for he has taught me a
lesson I shall never forget/'
‘
Bow your heads,’ said the Princess, to this man of learning
‘

and wisdom, for he has taught me a lesson I shall

”
never forget.’
143
 •
i

tN‘
YUSSUFS THREE PUNISHMENTS
 YussuPs Three Punishments
JF was the servant of a wealthy
V and always pretended to be
st faithful in the performance
his duties.
I do not rob my master, as is the practice
of other servants,'’ he said, not once but many
times.
At master became suspicious.
last his
I am beginning to doubt Yussufs honesty,"
he remarked to a friend. He talks too much
of it. The man who is really honest does not
constantly say so to everybody. He proves it
by his actions."
That is true," replied his friend ** therefore
;

you must put your servant to the test. I have

heard it said that he is a rich man, and that he
147
148 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
charges you double for everything which you
send him to buy/’
''
That is my fear/' said Yussuf s master. I
know that nothing which he purchases for me
is cheap. But teU me, my friend, how to put
a stop to the deceit and dishonesty.”
His friend thought the matter over, and then
said he had a good plan.
I have a friend who is a fishmonger,” he said.
Let us go to him and select some fish. Then
send your servant to purchase the fish, and
tell the dealer to sell him only that which you

have selected. Then you will discover whether

Yussuf charges you more than the price for
which you will have bargained with the fish-
monger.”
It is excellent advice,” said Yussuf s master
I will put it to the test at once.”
They went to the shop of Ali, the fishmonger,
and selected three fine fish for which the dealer
said the price was ten pieces of silver.
That is a large sum of money for three
fishes,” said Yussufs master.
''
Not so,” returned Ali. They are fresh fish,
taken from the water this morning only. I
have the same fishes but not so fresh, and I care
not to sell them. If you care to have them, you
may for five pieces of silver.”
 YUSSUr’S THREE PUNISHMENTS 149

He brought the fish for them to see, and they

could scarcely tell the difference.
This gives me an idea,'' said Yussuf's master.
I will send my servant and tell him I desire
this particular kind of fish. If he is honest,
he will bring the fresh fish. If not, he will
bring the other and charge me the higher
price."
It was arranged with Ali that he should show
Yussuf both kinds of fishes and then forward a
note saying which were purchased. Yussuf,
when his master returned home, was sent to
the shop to get the particular kind of fish which
hismaster said he liked.
Get them good and fresh," he was told.
You know I care only for the best, no matter
what the price."
Yussuf salaamed before his master and im-
mediately hurried off to the shop.
What is the price of those three fishes, friend
Ali ? " he said, pointing to the kind described

by his master.
Ten was the answer.
pieces of silver,"
Nonsense, rascal," said Yussuf. Dost wish
to ruin so excellent a man as my good and
"
faithful master ?

Certainly not,'* returned Ali, but I could

not offer you anything that was not of the best.
150 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
I have here three fishes exactly like these in
appearance, dut they are not fresh, and I would
not sell them for your master/'
Did I say they were for my master’s dinner ?”
said Yussuf slily. They are but for the ser-
vants, and the fish which are not fresh will do
Name your price.”
Five pieces of silver.”
I will take them,” was Yussufs answer.
Five silver pieces is enough for an honest
servant to allow his most excellent master to
spend on the lazy rascals of the household who
are not faithful.”
When
he brought the fish home, his master
said they were the ones that he saw, and he
gave orders that they should be prepared for
his meal at once.
Yes, they are excellent fish,” said Yussuf.
The rascal, Ali, wished me to pay twelve silver
pieces, but I know their value, and I made him
let me have them for ten. I saved you two
silver pieces.”
Splendid, splendid,” murmured his master.
In a few minutes, however, Ali’s messenger
brought a note which stated that Yussuf had
bought the three fishes for five silver pieces.
His master flew into a rage, and would immedi-
ately have whipped and dismissed Yussuf, but
 YUSSUFS THREE PUNISHMENTS 151

his friend, who was with him, told him not to be

so hasty.
You must teach him a lesson once and for
all,'* and he unfolded a plan which made them

both laugh very heartily.

Yussuf soon brought the cooked fish on a
dish and set it before his master.
Now that they are cooked," said the latter,
they do not seem to be fresh. I have no desire
to be made iU."
They are quite fresh I assure you on my
honour as a faithful and honest servant," replied
Yussuf.
Your honour, you thief " cried his master,
!

in a rage. ''Now have I found you out. I have

here a note from Ali telling me that he sold you

the fish that was not fresh for five silver pieces."
" He is a dishonest rascal," retorted Yussuf.
" Have a care," said his master. " Speak
the truth and I will forgive you. But if you
"
persist in your lie, you shall be punished thrice.
" I never speak aught but the truth to thee,
my master," replied Yussuf.
" Enough," cried his master. I see that
you are an adept at roguery. Choose your
punishment, and choose carefully. Eat this
wretched fish, or receive 100 lashes with the
whip, or pay me 100 pieces of silver."
152 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
A
hundred pieces of silver ! cried Yussuf,
holding up his hands in astonishment. I am
but a servant, not a rich man. And lOO lashes
with the whip would kill me.’^
''
Then you will eat the bad fish ? said his
master.
If, must be
indeed, I punished.'’
Sit down and eat."
Yussuf did so, but after he had eaten one
fish, he said he could not eat the others.

They will make me ill and I shall die," he

said tearfully.
“ Then will you have the hundred lashes ? "
his master asked.
''
I have not a hundred pieces of silver," said

Yussuf, hanging his head.

Another servant with a leathern whip was
called and ordered to give Yussuf a hundred
lashes. The poor fellow howled with terror
and pain, and when fifty of the stripes had been
given, he cried
Enough, enough. Stop, stop I will confess.!

I have been dishonest and faithless. I will

pay the hundred pieces of silver."
He brought them from the hiding-place where
he had put them and handed them to his master.
''
It is all the money I have stolen from you,"
he said.
 YUSSUF’S THREE PUNISHMENTS 153

Let this be a warning to you to be honest

in future/’ replied his master. You see
now that dishonesty did not pay* I warned
you that if you failed to speak the truth,
you would be thrice punished. You have eaten
of the bad fish, you have had half of the hundred
lashes, and you have had to pay me all the 100
silver pieces/-
 T

* ' *i.f j
KING TONGUE
 King Tongue

King of Persia was veryand all

ill,

le remedies of his doctors had no

feet on him whatever. At last he

ew impatient with them and sum-
moned all his physicians before him.
Where is your boasted skill ? ” he asked.
**
For months now have I lain on this bed of
sickness. I am
weary with lying here, I feel
like a helpless and wounded beast left alone in
the fastness of the forest. Be your
heedful. If
medicines have no effect upon me within a week,
you shall pay forfeit with your lives. Not one
of you shall live.''
Wehave done our best," said one of the
**
physicians, in a trembling voice, but your
illness is so unusual."
158 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
What matters that/' cried the King in a
rage.
"
''
Are ye not unusual men physi- —
cians ?

Sire/' said one of the young physicians

coming forward, 'tis my belief that your
Majesty is not ill, but bewitched."
Then must you remove the spell that is
over me ;
I command
returned the King. it,"
Are not physicians magicians of the art of
"
healing ?
''
Truly so, sire," answered the young phy-
sician, '' and with your leave we wiU cure
you. But it will not be easy."
''
What mean you ? " questioned the King, in
surprise. What difficulties can be placed in
''

"
the way of the desires of the ruler of Persia ?
But your Majesty," returned the
listen,
physician. ''
It is a fairy cure which I suggest
for your strange illness. Your Majesty must
drink the milk of a lioness if it can be ob- —
tained."
''
So that is the difficulty," said the King
thoughtfully. Are there no brave men in
Persia whoundertake this great task ? "
will
I will undertake it, gracious Majesty,"
said a young officer of the guards standing by
the Throne.
**
You are a brave man," said the King,
 KING TONGUE 159

glancing with admiration at the handsome

and sturdy young officer who stood before him.
**
If successful you shall not go unrewarded.
Should you fail, your courage shall not be for-
gotten.”
The officer knelt at the feet of the King,
kissed the hem of his royal robe, and immedi-
ately started on his dangerous mission.
Be heedful,” whispered the young phy-
sician to him. The fairies give not their
remedies to human beings easily. They may
lead you into greater danger than the lioness
from whom you must obtain the milk. Above
all, drink not of the milk yourself.”
**
Fear not for me,” laughed the young
officer. The life of my King is at stake.
Why should I think of dangers ? They are
made but to be overcome by those who have
daring.”
Carefully selecting his weapons and his fol-
lowers, the young officer started off, taking
with him half a dozen sheep. All the people
followed him to the gates of the city to wish him
success.
The young officer and his men plunged im-
mediately into a dense forest infested with wild
animals of all kinds. They had to proceed
cautiously, and they were instructed to take
i6o JEWISH FAIRY TALES
the life no beast. At night they built a big
of
fire to keep away the animals, and half of the
party kept watch, while the other half slept.
Towards early morning, the roaring of a lion
was heard and the officer was quickly awak-
ened. Selecting half a dozen men and taking
two sheep and a strong net, he crept slowly
through the tangled undergrowth of the forest
in the direction of the roaring.
Soon they came to a clearing where a lion
was struggling with an antelope. In a few
minutes the struggle ceased and the lion com-
menced to feed on his prey.
He will take some food to his partner, the
**
lioness,’' said the officer. Then we shall
follow.”
But the lion was evidently very hungry and
devoured the whole of the antelope. Then
he laid down to sleep. It was now nearly
daylight, and the young officer was puzzled
what to do. Suddenly a noise was heard, and
a huge yellow body was seen creeping through
the long jungle grasses. It was a lioness.
She was followed by three tiny cubs.
“ Quick, a sheep,” exclaimed the officer, and
a poor lamb was tied to a long rope and pushed
out of the grass into the clearing. It was some
minutes before the lioness saw the sheep, and
 KING TONGUE i6i

then with an angry roar she sprang upon it and

killed it with a blow. Seizing it in her mouth,
she was about to carry it off, but the officer, who
had crept as near as he dared, suddenly flung
his net with unerring aim. It caught the
lioness's head and her two fore feet. Finding
herself entangled, she turned towards the officer,
but just then one of his men flung another net
which caught her hind legs. The ropes were
tightened quickly, and in a few moments the
huge beast lay helpless on the ground.
''
Two of you go and kill the lion while he
sleeps," said the officer. ''
One of you run
back to the camp and bring the other men and
all the ropes we have. Our work is not yet
half done."
Half a dozen more men soon appeared from
the camp, and stealthily approaching the strug-
gling lioness, they threwmore nets round her.
One of them then went quite near and deftly
slipped a noose round her fore legs and another
round her hind legs. The other ends of these
ropes they tied to trees to make the lioness
lie still. She was still dangerous, however, for
she had bitten the net about her mouth and she
snarled and roared fearfully. Taking the dead
sheep, the officer stuck it on a spear and thrust
it into the lioness's open mouth. He ordered
L
i 62 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
one of the men to hold it there, and then he
proceeded to try and milk the animal. She still
struggled, and half the milk was spilt, but he
managed to fill four leathern bottles.
Let us leave the lioness as she is,'’ he said.
It would not be fair to kill her after she has
been of such use to us. She will free herself in
time. We shall not kill the cubs either. They
seem frightened, poor things. Let us take one.
The mother will be able to attend to the other
two in a few hours."
With the precious milk carefully guarded,
the hunters began their return. But the men
were tired, and when the sun rose and shone
fiercely, they could scarcely walk.
''
I, too, feel tired," said the officer, at last.
Let us sleep for a while and then continue our
journey when the sun is less strong in the after-
noon."
The men were very grateful for this, and in
a few moments nearly all of them were fast
asleep in the shade of a big banyan tree. Only
the officer and one who was ordered to keep
guard were awake.
''It is strange that I cannot sleep, although
I am so tired," mused the officer. " Perhaps I
ought not to sleep, but ought to get back to the
Palace as quickly as possible."
 KING TONGUE 163

He looked at the leathern bottles containing

the lioness’s milk.
‘‘
I wonder what it he said,
tastes like/'
opening one. '' I suppose I ought to take
every drop to the King. But I should just like
to taste it. Let me see, did not the physician
warn me that I must not taste it ? I wonder
why. Perhaps it is for kings only. Perhaps it
will make me a king. He said there was magic
in it. I will taste it."
Heput the bottle to his lips and then quickly
put it down.
''
How strange," he said. If I did not know
that this was the milk of a lioness, I should say
it was like strong wine. It has made me feel
quite drowsy."
The next minute the officer’s head fell heavily
to the ground. He was fast asleep.
In his sleep, the officer had a strange dream.
Every part of his body seemed to have got
separated, and all the parts were quarrelling.
“ We deserve all the credit," said the two
legs, proudly standing up. '' We carried the
officer to the place where the lioness was. With-
out us he could have done nothing."
''
Don’t talk nonsense," said the hands,
shaking themselves menacingly. We threw
the net that entangled the lioness. Then we
i 64 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
milked the beast. It is we who deserve all the
credit.''
**
Both of you are wrong," said the eyes>
blinking, as if they could not keep themselves
awake. '' We saw the lioness, and we directed
your footsteps, feet, and your movements,
hands."
The feet looked like getting ready to kick,
one of the hands clenched itself into a fist, and
it appeared as if a fight was inevitable.

Listen to me," said the heart in a throbbing

voice. ''
You all claim too much. After all
it was I who inspired the idea. Had it not
been for me, the impulse would never have
entered the officer's mind to undertake the
task."
''
Which reminds me," said the mind thought-
''
fully, deserve the most credit.
that I It is
one thing to get hold of an impulse, but it is
another to put it into force. I made up the
officer's mind and made him suggest that he
would get the milk. "
Is it not so ?

The the hands, the eyes and the heart

legs,
seemed abashed for a moment, and the tongue
took advantage of the silence to burst out with
the remark that he was chiefly responsible for
the great enterprise.
''
Rubbish " exclaimed the others
!
angrily.
 KING TONGUE 165

You don’t know what you are talking about.

You wag because you can’t help it. You stop
in your little prison, the mouth, or we shall tell
our friends the teeth to bite you.”
The tongue thrust itself out very pointedly.
Just you be careful,” it said. ''
You are all
very clever, and I am a prisoner, of course.
But I warn you not to offend me. If I take my
revenge, you will all get hurt. And then you
will see that I am more important than all of
you.”
‘‘
Don’t talk so much,” retorted the others,
but before another word could be said, the
officer showed signs of waking, and the hands
and feet and the other parts of the body took
their proper places.
What a funny dream ” exclaimed the
!

officer, waking up. And oh how my head !

does ache. I ought not to have tasted that

milk.”
When he got up he found that he could not
walk quite steadily and the journey to the city
took longer than he expected. A great crowd
awaited him at the gates. They cheered him,
they carried him shoulder high, they decorated
the city and in every way manifested their great
joy.
Our King will soon be well again thanks to
i66 JEWISH FAIRY TALES
the brave officer/’ they cried, and a public
holiday was proclaimed.
The officer was brought before the King,
holding the leathern bottles containing the milk
in his hand.
Have you succeeded ? ” inquired the King
anxiously.
The officer seemed dazed and unsteady.
He pressed his hands to his head then suddenly
;

holding out the bottles he said, huskily

''
your Majesty, I have brought
Here, —
have brought your Majesty the milk of the dog.”
The dog What mean you, slave ? ”
!

cried the King in a rage.

‘‘
I don’t know,” replied the officer un-
steadily.
“ Cast the slave into a dungeon cell and bind
him with strong chains,” cried the King. I
will teach him to play such pranks with me.”
His attendants obeyed, and the officer was
put in irons and locked in a dark prison cell.
‘‘
I will surely be put to death,” he said to
himself, and at the thought of this, he trembled
all over.
Then it seemed to him that his hands and feet
were talking again.
''
We shall have to walk to the scaffold,” said
the feet.
 KING TONGUE 167

“ And I shall have to stop beating/’ said the

heart.
The tongue, however, was not sorrowful at
aU.
Did I not warn you all ? ” it said. '' I
''

told you to be careful. Will you not admit now

that I have more power than all of you ? I am
king of the body. Just see what I have done
’
with one little word. 1 simply said ‘
dog
instead of '
lioness ’
and you are all impri-
soned.”
Suppose we acknowledge your power,” said
the hands, '' will you help us out of this great
”
trouble ?
''
Yes, I will,” replied the tongue. At least,
m But you must all keep quiet.”
try hard.
This they agreed to do, and when the prisoner
was brought before the King for sentence, the
tongue asked for permission to say a few words.
The request was granted, and then the tongue
displayed all its powers of eloquence.
''
Oh, mighty King, live for ever,” it ex-
claimed, and have mercy on me, thy slave
who risked his life in thy service. Oh, mighty
ruler of this great land, be thou truly great in
all attributes of Majesty, and spare the life of
him who thought not of his own in thy hour of
need. I ask not for reward for my service ;
I
i6S JEWISH FAIRY TALES
ask only that my life should be spared that I
may devote it to thee.”
''
I have heard you patiently,” returned the
King sorrowfully, ''
and it grieves me to have
to ti.cer the dread sentence of death. But
where has been your great service ? Did you
not bring dog's milk and not the milk of a
”
lioness ?
It is not so, gracious Majesty,” the officer
replied. The milk is truly that of a lioness.
Those who were with me can vouchsafe for that.
I tasted it. That was my sin. For that I have
been punished. It was like strong wine. It
made me giddy, and in my eagerness to tell
thee, my tongue played me false. It was but a
slip, sire the words
;
dog and '
lioness ' '
'

are so much alike in Persian. Put the milk to

the test. A dog, I swear, will not touch it, but
will fly from its mere smell.”
The King was thoughtful for a while. Then
he ordered one of his dogs to be brought. A
little of the milk was poured from one of the

leathern bottles and put before the dog. No

sooner did the animal put its nose to the saucer,
however, than it gave a great growl of fear and
fled quickly from the room.
” It not dog's milk,” said the physician
is

who had suggested the milk of a lioness to the

 KING TONGUE 169

King. That is clear. But we can make an

even better test. One of the men brought a
lion cub back with him. Will your Majesty
''
permit that this milk be offered to the cub ?
The cub was brought, and it lapped the milk
very greedily.
‘'You are -pardoned,'' said the King to the
officer, and for your bravery you shall be
rewarded."
The milk of the lioness soon cured the King
of his illness, and afterwards whenever the
young officer laid down to sleep, he always
imagined that he heard the tongue say to the
other parts of the body
You see, I am King. I have great powers
both for good and evil."
The officer guarded his tongue as well as his
King after that, and he was promoted to be
chief of the guard. In that high position he
lived happily until the end of his days.

^ T«nn»r. Th# WnrVs. Prom®. «n<! Londoa

AN INTENSELY INTERESTING VOLUME.

JEWISH LEGENDS
OF THE

By WOLFF PASCHELES and others.

Selected and Translated by CLAUD FIELD

Illustrated by

MAY MULLINER
Square Crown 800. Handsome IllustraUd Cover.

This extremely interesting collection of Jewish Legends is

mostly taken from a German work, “ Sippurim,** by Wolff

Pascheles, a learned Jewish scholar of Prague. They are mostly

concerned with the Jews in Spain and Bohemia, and throw a
vivid light on Jewish Life in mediaeval Ghettos and the cruelty
of their persecutors.

Ct. The work contains fifteen illustrations from black and white
drawings by Miss May Mulliner, whose charming children’s
colour books, “ Stuart and Son
**
and “ Adventures of Mont-
gomery Stuart,** are well known.

BLOCH PUBLISHING COMPANY

NEW YORK
 '
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