They all went to the wood feeling sad that poverty was forcing them to part company.
As soon as they came to the wood the frog told them to rest themselves. Then at the bidding of the frog, the birds and beasts in the wood brought to Chaninah and his wife an immense [[29]]quantity of valuable gems and an assortment of roots and herbs. The kind-hearted frog gave these gifts to his good friends, explaining how the herbs and roots were to be used for healing purposes. Then at last the frog bids his friends farewell and tells them that he was really a son of Adam and the demon Lilith, and that he had the power of changing himself into any shape.
Chaninah and his wife gathered up the precious gems, roots and herbs and returned home. On the way they met a caravan and offered some of the gems for sale. A good bargain was struck and Chaninah and his wife found themselves with plenty of money. They left their old home and bought a nice house. Riches did not spoil them, for their hearts were kind. Moreover Chaninah kept faithfully the charge of his beloved father. He studied the holy words of Scripture by day and by night and observed the Divine precepts with a good will. Their home was always open to the poor. The good fortune of Chaninah spread far and wide. His reputation as a charitable man reached the ears of the King who invited him to visit his Court.
The King took a great fancy to Chaninah and persuaded him to take up his abode in the palace. The King was by no means a pious [[30]]man, in fact he was very wicked and cruel. He was unmarried, and this fact alone displeased his subjects. His counsellors urged him to find a good wife, saying to him,—
“Let us, O King, remind you that we require not only a king but also a queen and little princes; for there will surely come a time when a new king will have to be found—because kings and queens are mortals and they cannot live for ever.”
They did not tell the King what their real motive was in advising him to marry. They thought that if the King were to find a true and good wife it might be possible for her to use her influence and make him a better man.
The King dismissed his counsellors, promising to see them again in a week’s time, when he would tell them whether he would marry or not. When they came to the palace at the appointed time the King’s valet met them and told them that His Majesty would receive them in the palace garden.
They went there and found the King sitting on his throne. As they approached he rose up and bade them welcome. At that moment a beautiful bird flew over the King and dropped a long golden hair upon his shoulder. The King took the hair in his hand and turning to his counsellors said,— [[31]]
“I will marry only the maiden to whom this golden hair belongs. No other wife shall be mine. You wish me to marry—well and good—so be it. I now command you to discover the owner of this golden hair, and mark you, if you do not bring her to me within a year from to-day I will have you and all your families put to death.”
The counsellors were greatly distressed at the turn of events. They feared that their lives would be forfeit. How were they to find the lady whose golden hair had brought misfortune to them and their families? With sad hearts they left the royal presence, and when they were outside the palace they asked one another, “What is to be done?”