Page:Hebrew tales; selected and translated from the writings of the ancient Hebrew sages (1917).djvu/110

106 rather impatiently, "what benefit is all this to me? Will this restore me the property of which I have been so unjustly deprived?" "Ah!" replied the good man, "I see that wisdom resides only with the aged. Knowest thou not that whatever a slave possesses belongs to his lawful master? And has not thy father left thee the power of selecting out of his property any one thing thou mightest choose? What hinders thee, then, from choosing that very slave as thy portion; and by possessing him, thou wilt, of course, be entitled to the whole property. This, no doubt, was thy father's intention." The young Israelite, admiring his father's wisdom, no less than his master's sagacity, took the hint; chose the slave as his portion, and took possession of his father's estates. After which, he gave the slave his freedom, together with a handsome present; convinced, at the same time, that wisdom resides with the aged, and understanding in length of days.

Midrash Tanhuma, § Lek Leka.