"I will not take the life of the dumb fish that has ministered to the Master's need," thought Peter, as he cast it back into the water. For a moment, the shining scales glittered in the sunlight, then disappeared under the waves.
The shekel was duly paid into the Temple treasury as the tribute-money contributed by the Lord and His apostle.
In that treasury, under the care of the avaricious and worldly priests, the money remained for awhile. They saw in it nothing remarkable; it was merely, to them, a bright, newly-coined piece of silver, resembling, in everything but its freshness, the thousands of shekels that passed through their hands.
At last, for some needful work done in the Temple, the shekel was paid out to a poor artisan, who thought at first that it had been hardly earned by the labour of several days.
Michael, however, took the shekel without a murmur from the hand of a pampered priest, who seemed almost to grudge the workman his well-earned hire. Michael turned from the door of the Temple, which had become a den of thieves; made his way amongst bleating flocks; passed the gate of the money-changers; and would have turned his shekel into smaller coin, had not conscience hindered the pious Jew from doing any worldly business in precincts so holy.
"I will change my shekel elsewhere," said Michael to himself; "though I am a little loth to part with one which looks so unsullied by the touch of man."
Looking down at the money in his hand, Michael was amazed to behold on it in letters distinct as if fresh from a dye, but extremely minute, the first verse of the book of Psalms.
With wonder and delight Michael gazed on the marvellous coin; and as he gazed his wonder increased. The words melted away before his eyes; but no blank remained on the miraculous silver. The second verse of the Psalm had succeeded the first; and this, in a few seconds, was followed by the third: and so on to the end of the Psalm. The shining shekel, won from the sea, was like a roll of the Holy Scriptures—Psalm after Psalm, in regular progression, appearing on the small bright disc.
"Oh, marvellous! Most marvellous and blessed shekel!" exclaimed the enraptured Michael. "Possessed of thee, I am the owner of inestimable wealth! I would not part with thee for a thousand pieces of gold."
Michael saw a learned Scribe advancing towards him; and, eager to know more of the nature of a thing of such miraculous virtue, the artisan ran towards the interpreter of the law, and eagerly showed him the piece of silver.