During the Rabbi's absence from home, two of his sons died. Their mother
hiding her grief, awaited the father's return, and then said to him. "My
husband, some time since two jewels of inestimable value were placed
with me for safe keeping. He who left them with me called for them
to-day, and I delivered them into His hands." "That is right," said the
Rabbi approvingly. "We must always return cheerfully and faithfully all
that is placed in our care." Shortly after this, the Rabbi asked for his
sons, and the mother, taking him by the hand, led him gently to the
chamber of death. Meir gazed upon his sons, and realizing the truth,
wept bitterly. "Weep not, beloved husband," said his noble wife; "didst
thou not say to me we must return cheerfully, when called for, all that
has been placed under our care? God gave us these jewels; He left them
with us for a time, and we gloried in their possession; but now that He
calls for His own, we should not repine."
1957
_In Boswell's Life of Johnson_, he says:--Next morning, while we were at
breakfast, Johnson gave a very earnest recommendation of what he himself
practised with the utmost conscientiousness: I mean a strict attention
to truth, even in the most minute particulars. "Accustom your children,"
said he, "constantly to this: If a thing happened at one window, and
they, when relating it, say that it happened at another, do not let it
pass, but instantly check them; you do not know where deviation from
truth will end."
1958
Dare to be true: Nothing can need a lie.
1959