Page:Jewish Fairy Book (Gerald Friedlander).djvu/30

14 and saw on his left a fine tree with very large apples, as bright as silver. He dragged himself to the tree and picked off an apple. He then seated himself under the tree and began to eat the fruit. The taste was very bitter and he had barely eaten half when he noticed a strange feeling coming over him. He felt sick, and his skin seemed to grow cold. His hands were as white as snow, like a leper's skin. He looked at his feet and legs and they were also white. He knew that it was leprosy.

&quot;I have eaten,&quot; said he, &quot;poisonous fruit. Woe is me! Surely this is not Elijah's blessing. I will rest here no longer; I will go on my way till I fall to the ground. To die would be a release.&quot; On he went, and after a few steps he came to another tall tree laden with very large apples with a golden hue. &quot;I will taste,&quot; said he, &quot;one of these apples, they look so lovely. If I die well and good, for what am I to do now that I am a leper?&quot;

He plucked an apple and began to eat it. It had a most delicious taste, as sweet as honey, as juicy as a grape. He felt ever so much better, his faintness disappeared and, miracle of miracles! the awful white color of his hands vanished. His leprosy was cured. He thanked God for His wonderful mercy and love.

He felt himself renewed with vigor and life. &quot;This is all indeed a blessing,&quot; he mused. &quot;I must go back and fetch some of the silver apples,&quot; and he