Page:Hebrew tales; selected and translated from the writings of the ancient Hebrew sages (1917).djvu/120

116 he fetches?" said the Athenian, rather surprised. "No," answered the boy, "but our custom is to speak what we mean, and to do as we are desired." "But," rejoined the stranger, "I did not desire thee to take half the fruit?" "Oh!" replied the boy, shrewdly, "what else couldst thou mean by saying bring Us? Does not that word include the Hearer as well as the Speaker?" The Athenian smiled, and was contented.

Ekah Rabbati, I, 1.

The Tailor and the Broken Mortar

Answer a fool according to his folly.—Prov. xxvi. 5.

Athenian, going along the streets of Jerusalem, found a broken iron mortar. Wishing to exhibit his wit, he entered a tailor's shop, and addressing himself to the master, said, "Master, be so kind and put a patch upon this mortar." "I will," said the Hebrew, "as soon as thou wilt make me a few threads of this material"—giving him a handful of sand.

Ekah Rabbati, I, 1.

Witty Retort of a Hebrew Child

" me some cheese and eggs," said an Athenian once to a little boy: the boy did as he was desired. "Now, my boy," said the stranger, "tell me which of these cheeses were made of the milk of white goats, and which of the milk of black goats!" "Thou art older than