Page:Jewish Fairy Book (Gerald Friedlander).djvu/90

72 The fortunate poor man hastened home after he had bought food in the market. When he reached his home he found his children and his wife famished with hunger. He spread the excellent food which he had brought with him upon the table and called his dear ones to see what the good God had given them. They ran to their usual seats at table and could hardly believe their eyes. For two days they had seen no food, and now the table was loaded with fish and bread, cake and fruit. They all said the Grace before eating bread and enjoyed their meal more than they had ever done in all their life. They recited the Grace after meals with gratitude in their hearts. Now a strange thing struck all at table. In spite of all they had eaten, and that was not by any means a small quantity, there was enough food left for a week's supply. This made them all the happier, and they praised God for His never-ending mercies.

"Now please," said the wife to her husband, "tell me how did you manage to obtain all this beautiful food? It is all so good and there is so much of it. I am dying to know what happened to you in the market-place. I know you have not obtained all this food by theft. It was I who urged you to go to the market-place, for I felt convinced that the good God would help us in our terrible misfortune."

He told her all that had happened to him. He described how the stranger came to him in the