There was once a devout man of the Children of Israel, whose family span cotton thread; and he used every day to sell the yarn and buy fresh cotton, and with the profit he laid in daily bread for his household. One morning he went out and sold the day's yarn as wont, when there met him one of his brethren, who complained to him of need; so he gave him the price of the thread and returned, empty handed, to his family, who said to him, "Where is the cotton and the food?" he said, "Such an one met me and complained to me of want; whereupon I gave him the price of the yarn." And they said, "How shall we do? We have nothing to sell." Now they had a cracked trencher and a jar; so he took them to the bazar but none would buy them of him. However presently, as he stood in the market, there passed by a man with a fish,—

When it was the Three Hundred and Forty ninth night

"Yes," answered the Jew; and, giving him the wooden trencher and jar, took the fish and carried it home to his family, who said, "What shall we do with this fish?" he said, "We will broil it and eat it, till it please Allah to provide bread for us." So they took it and ripping open its belly, found within it a great pearl and told the head of the household who said, "See you if it be pierced: if so, it belongs to some one of the folk; if not, 'tis a provision of Allah for us." So they examined it and found it unpierced. Now when it was the morrow, the Jew carried it to one of his brethren which was an expert in jewels, and the man asked, "O such an one! From where had you this pearl?"; whereto the Jew answered, "It was a gift of Almighty Allah to us," and the other said, "It is worth a thousand I will give you that; but take it to such an one, for he has more money and skill than I." So the Jew took it to the.jeweller, who said, "It is worth seventy thousand dirhams and no more." Then he paid him that sum and the Jew hired two porters to carry the money to his house. As he came to his door, a beggar accosted him, saying, "Give me of that which Allah has given you" the Jew to the asker said, "But yesterday we even as you; take you half this money:" so he made two parts of it and each took his half. Then said the beggar, "Take back your money and Allah bless and prosper you in it; I am a messenger, whom your Lord has sent to try you."

Abu Hassan Al-Ziyadi and the Khorasan. 285 the Jew said, "To Allah be the praise and the thanks!" And abode in all delight of life he and his household till death. And men recount this story of