“O, different kinds of crimes and sins. The pharisee thanked God that he had not committed any of them.”
“Was he a good man, grandmother?”
“Very likely he had not committed any of these great crimes.”
“Very well, grandmother, go on.”
“'Or even as this publican.' A publican, you must know, was a tax-gatherer. He used to collect the taxes from the people. They did not like to pay their taxes, and so they did not like the tax-gatherers, and despised them. And thus the pharisee thanked God that he was not like that publican. 'I fast twice in the week. I pay tithes of all that I possess.'
“Tithes?” said Caleb.
“Yes, that was money which God had commanded them to pay. They were to pay in proportion to the property they had. But some dishonest men used to conceal some of their property, so as not to have to pay so much; but this pharisee said he paid tithes of all that he possessed.”
“That was right, grandmother,” said Caleb.
“Yes,” said his grandmother, “that was very well.”
“If he really did it,” continued Caleb doubtfully. “Do you think he did, grandmother?”