ABRAHAM BEING CARRIED TO HIS NEW QUARTERS.
[[69]]
The Clever Wife
Long, long ago, there lived in the old town of Sidon a happy couple named Abraham and Ada. Although they loved one another very much, still there was something wanting to complete their happiness. They had been married for nearly ten years, but they had not been blessed with a child. Ofttimes Ada would sit in her room and weep. She prayed every day to God to fulfil her desire by giving her a son or a daughter. Abraham did his best to comfort her by telling her that all would come right in time. Nevertheless, he felt very sad when he came home and thought of the future. He would have given anything to have had a little son who might be taught the holy religion which he loved so well. [[70]]The neighbours in their street were none too kind and they slighted Ada. This made her grief more bitter.
Did not the people often say in Abraham’s hearing that children are a token of God’s blessing? Was it not true that the house which lacked the merry laughter of little innocent children was under a curse or spell? Did not the holy Law teach that it was a religious duty to marry and to have children? Would it not be better, he argued with himself, to divorce his wife, if, after being married for ten years, she had no child? She might marry another man and have children and so find her happiness. All these thoughts flashed again and again through his mind.
At last when the anniversary of their tenth marriage day arrived, Abraham said to his wife,—
“Let us visit to-day our true friend Rabbi Simeon, the son of Jochai.”